Picture a world without beauty tools. Straight hair condemned to be eternally so, a lifetime of stick-straight lashes, wobbly hand-executed cut creases everywhere… It's not the stuff of tragedy, but without tools, life would definitely be a lot more frustrating for anyone who likes to have complete control over their look.
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Thankfully, that's an alternative beauty universe. We not only have oodles of makeup brushes and hairstyling implements at our service, we have some really, really, really good ones to choose from. And the greatest of the really, really, really good ones get an Allure Best of Beauty Award.
The class of wowed our editors by making makeup look its absolute best (this year's top concealer brush isn't a game-changer, it's a life-changer) and giving hair pros a run for their money with gadgets that go hard on style and easy on strands. Here are the brushes, devices, and doohickeys that we're so very glad we don't have to live without.
Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best hot tools, makeup brushes, and hair accessories.
Best Foundation Brush
Why It Won: Your skin may be the canvas, but the Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Kabuki Complexion Brush looks like a work of art with its curvaceous design. The soft bristles work wonderfully with liquid, cream, and powder foundations for an even, thorough application.
Tester Feedback: "I use this brush on my face like I'm in a commercial (slow and dramatic) because of how soft and luxurious it feels," says beauty closet associate Edward Horgan. "It blends out complexion products evenly with its curved shape and makes applying foundation something I actually look forward to doing."
Best Foundation Makeup Brush, Foundation: Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation BrushBest Foundation Brush
Why It Won: The 18-degree angle of the Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush lets its cushiony bristles blend in your foundation with streak-free precision. And with its domed, triangular shape made to hug every contour, you'll never miss a spot.
Tester Feedback: "Whenever I get a compliment on my complexion, I share some highlights of my skin-care routine, but, really, I think I should be giving props to this foundation brush," says executive beauty director Jenny Bailly. "Ever since I started using it to apply my liquid foundation, the finish—no matter the formula—has been smooth, air-brushed, and compliment-worthy. And I love how the shape lets me blend around my nose and right up to my lower lash lines with one brush."
Best Concealer Makeup Brush: Ami Colé The Concealer BrushBest Concealer Brush
Why It Won: After trying the Ami Colé The Concealer Brush, you'll want to bop yourself on the head with it for using your fingers for so long. The vegan bristles are angled in such a way that your undereye and around-the-nose coverage is stunningly, effortlessly seamless.
Tester Feedback: "The perfect concealer brush," says content director Kara McGrath. "The angled cut gets easily into the corner under my eyes, while the dense bristles make blending concealer a breeze."
Best Powder Makeup Brush: Hourglass Veil Powder BrushBest Powder Brush
Why It Won: The fluffy, synthetic bristles of the Hourglass Veil Powder Brush are made to distribute loose powder like a dream. The bigger end is ideal for finishing your full face, while the small side allows you to dab specific spots and do precision touch-ups.
Tester Feedback: 'This double-ended beauty has endured [redacted] years of use with little to no shedding—from either end!—and is perfect for cutting back on tools when I'm traveling," says associate director of special projects Hunter Lacey.
Best Contour Makeup Brush: Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Dual-Ended Sculpting BrushBest Contour Brush
Why It Won: Whenever we see an alleged contour brush that doesn't have two sides, we have to ask, "Do you even blend, bro?" That's why we so deeply appreciate the Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Dual-Ended Sculpting Brush: You can meticulously apply powder or cream contour with one end, saving the other's synthetic bristles for flawless blending.
Tester Feedback: "Contouring, quite frankly, is so freaking annoying to me—it's tough to find the right products and even tougher to learn the 'right' application techniques for your own unique bone structure," says senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen. "The Patrick Ta Sculpting Brush does make life a little easier, though, thanks to one slim, tapered brush that places cream contour precisely where you need it and a denser, fluffier brush that blends seamlessly on the other side. Am I doing contouring right? Who knows, but at least this brush helps me do it quickly and easily."
Best Bronzer Makeup Brush: DIBS Beauty Duo Face BrushBest Bronzer Brush
Why It Won: If you go back and forth between cream and powder blushes, this smart space saver eliminates the need for two separate tools. The denser, angled end on the DIBS Beauty Duo Face Brush is made for applying and blending your favorite cream complexion products (give it a shot with bronzer), while the large, rounded head builds and sets powder products beautifully.
Tester Feedback: "I'm a makeup minimalist and typically only use, at most, three brushes (blush, bronzer, and powder) in my routine," says associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen. "After adding this dual-ended tool, though, that number was cut down to one: the dense side for my cream blush and bronzer, and the fluffier side for my setting powder. It really does it all with impeccable application."
Best Blush Makeup Brush: Jones Road The Blush BrushBest Blush Brush
Why It Won: The rounded, ombré bristles of the Jones Road The Blush Brush strike the perfect balance between thickness and softness. This allows it to pick up the optimum amount of powder blush and buff it evenly, regardless of your skill level.
Tester Feedback: "This is a blush no-brainer for me," says contributing editor Marci Robin. "Even when I think I've added too much product, it proves me wrong as I watch it blend out with ease."
Best Highlight Makeup Brush: Sigma Beauty F03 High Cheekbone Highlighter BrushBest Highlighter Brush
Why It Won: Firm, tapered bristles on Sigma Beauty F03 High Cheekbone Highlighter Brush cover the ideal amount of area for glowing up the high points of your face. Whether you prefer a pressed shimmer or a creamy gleam, it buffs precisely so you don’t look striped with shine.
Tester Feedback: "I love that the brush has a thin, long handle, which makes it much easier to control when applying product to my cheeks," says Horgan. "I swipe it in a light side-to-side motion with the taper of the brush, hugging my cheekbone for a precise application."
Best Eye Shadow Makeup Brush: Half Magic Pyramid Eyeshadow BrushBest Eye Shadow Brush
Why It Won: The Half Magic Pyramid Eyeshadow Brush has the most interesting triangular shape—we keep looking at it from different angles because it's just that fascinating. Also captivating: how it allows you to execute sharp, angular shadow looks but also softly diffuse for the smoothest transitions between shades and your skin.
Tester Feedback: "For years, I'd dreamed of a small but dense makeup brush with a finely pointed tip so that I could more easily snatch my cat eye-shaped eye shadow looks. Of course, it was makeup artist Donni Davy who understood my vision when she launched Half Magic Pyramid Eyeshadow Brush," says Dall'Asen. "Whether you're blending outward from the corners, smudging along the lower lash lines, or simply placing base colors where they need to go, this brush gets it all done effortlessly."
Best Makeup Sponge
Why It Won: It's not that we don't want to give a different makeup sponge a Best of Beauty Award. It's just that in all of the years the Beautyblender has been around and won countless Allure honors, none of the imitators have been able to match its famous water-activated ability to marry complexion products to skin.
Tester Feedback: "No other sponge (or brush, in my opinion) holds a candle to this classic tool," says Kinonen. "It's the best of the best and blends cream products like a dream: mess-free, leaving behind a dewy, even finish."
Best Tweezers
Why It Won: With over 20 years of Allure Best of Beauty Awards, it's no surprise that the Tweezerman Slant Tweezer is still the gold—or, sorry, stainless steel—standard. With 25-degree-angled tips and optimum tension, it's the most reliable way to "clean up" brows and pluck stray hairs.
Tester Feedback: "This is the best tweezer made, hands down," says senior business director Eilish Morley. "It can pluck the most stubborn of hairs or grab the finest. I won't use any other brand."
Best Eyelash Curler
Why It Won: Shu Uemura isn't just tooting its own horn by giving its Iconic Eyelash Curler such a boastful name—it really is iconic. This curler has been a makeup artist and celebrity go-to for years and years. But the brand has still managed to improve upon what was arguably already perfection by upgrading the silicone pad to an even safer, better-curling mushroom shape and revamping the hinge for optimal pressure.
Tester Feedback: "If you suffer from long-lash envy, this eyelash curler is for you," says social director Kassidy Silva. "In less than 20 seconds, you'll have all the lash volume you've been looking for."
Best Blow-Dryer: Shark Beauty Shark SpeedStyleBest Blow-Dryer
Why It Won: Cleverly customizable with attachments like the RapidGloss Finisher and DeFrizzFast Diffuser, the Shark Beauty Shark SpeedStyle makes achieving your chosen hairstyle incredibly easy. And, thanks to a high-velocity dryer system that never gets hotter than 230 degrees F, it's so much less damaging than the dryers and stylers we've tolerated for too long.
Tester Feedback: "The attachments are amazing for someone who isn't so skilled at blow-drying," says senior talent casting manager Gabrielle Seo. "I get the ultimate shine that looks like I got a professional blowout."
Best Brush Dryer: Kristin Ess Hair Soft Volume Blow Dry BrushBest Blow-Dry Brush
Why It Won: In addition to three speeds and three heat settings, the Kristin Ess Hair Soft Volume Blow Dry Brush gives even more control over your look with an ionic setting that lets you focus on either frizz-smoothing or volume. Its hybrid nylon and tufted bristles detangle like a champ whether your hair is wet or dry, giving you a gorgeous blowout without a clunky separate blow-dryer.
Tester Feedback: "It usually takes me an hour to blow-dry my hair, but this tool cut that time in half," says associate beauty editor Annie Blay. "I love how easy it is to use: just brush."
Best Flatiron: ghd Platinum+ StylerBest Flatiron
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Why It Won: The ghd Platinum+ Styler has repeatedly won us over because it's so much more than just a flatiron. Always set to 365 degrees—for ideal results with less damage—special sensors in the shine-inducing plates get to know your hair's thickness and your styling speed to adjust to your needs and maintain optimal heat distribution.
Tester Feedback: "I've had my styler for years and have used it through all sorts of styling stages, but for the past year or so, I've been using it to create S-shaped waves that are so convincingly natural, people think they're my real hair pattern," says shopping director Shanna Shipin. "The one-inch is the perfect size to do any kind of style while getting as close to the roots as possible and the beveled edge helps make those convincing curls and waves to give your hair movement."
Best Curling Iron: Pattern Interchangeable Curling IronBest for Tight Curls
Why It Won: With the Interchangeable Curling Iron, Pattern gives you not one, not two, but three tourmaline ceramic barrels—3/8-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch—for the most personalized and versatile curling experience. You can also choose the temperature that’s right for your hair type, whether you're starting with fine, straight hair or touching up coarse, natural coils.
Tester Feedback: "I love the interchangeable parts," says associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez. "It's easy to use, and it's great for those with a variety of curl patterns throughout their hair. For my thick, wavy hair, I use the medium and large barrels, while the small one works well for tendrils with an updo."
Best Curling Iron: Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling IronBest for Waves
Why It Won: Loose curls and romantic waves will never not be in style and the Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron 1.5" will never not be the superior way to achieve them. With a barrel two inches longer than the average curling iron, it makes styling go more smoothly in terms of both ease and sealing the cuticle with ionic technology.
Tester Feedback: "I love the weighty feel of this wand and how my hair slips off of the barrel without snagging," says senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor. "It features temperature settings on the side of its body, so I know exactly how hot I'm heating up my strands. I never feel like I'm singeing my hair."
Best Waver: Amika High Tide Deep Waver Beach Waver Curling IronBest Waver
Why It Won: As you move the Amika High Tide Deep Waver Beach Waver Curling Iron from section to section of your hair creating soft, zigzag waves, the picture starts to come together: You've just executed the easiest, prettiest, beach-free waves ever. The tourmaline ceramic triple-barrel tool gives you a wide temperature range to work with and you can trust that it will always feel cool and comfortable to hold.
Tester Feedback: "I have little patience for heat-styling and Amika's waver saves me so much time," says commerce editor Sarah Han. "It's not a super-hefty, hard-to-manage tool unlike some wavers and the 0.7-inch barrels create the ideal, uniform waves that I love."
Best Multi-Tasker: Mane It's Giving Body Hot Round BrushBest Multitasker
Why It Won: The days of navigating your hair with a round brush in one hand and a blow-dryer in the other are so very over now that the Mane It's Giving Body Hot Round Brush is here to create voluminous, flowy styles all by itself. The vented, ceramic barrel glides 355-degree F heat through your hair as the bristles shape strands into a bombshell blowout.
Tester Feedback: "Using this hot brush is the easiest way to trick people into thinking you got a blowout," says McGrath. "It adds a ton of volume and makes adding loose waves a breeze."
Best Hair Tool: Curl Queen The GloveBest Hair Glove
Why It Won: We didn't know the simple act of running your fingers through your hair could get an upgrade, but then the Curl Queen The Glove entered our lives. Each ingenious pair's palms are covered in rubber and silicone nubs that help detangle, distribute product, and stimulate the scalp, earning it a permanent spot on your shower shelf.
Tester Feedback: "This nifty tool helps me cut through the toughest tangles on washday," says Horgan. "It distributes whatever product I'm using (shampoo, conditioner, curl cream) as evenly as possible through my curls so they come out perfectly coily."
Best Paddle Hairbrush
Why It Won: The ghd Paddle Brush immediately endears itself to your hair by being a classic multitasker. Use it to detangle, to help with heat styling, or simply to brush your hair longingly in the mirror as woodland creatures surround you to sing songs about love and repairing dresses.
Tester Feedback: "I've lost count of how many brushes my thick, wavy hair has broken over the years," says Gutierrez. "Whether it's the handle detaching from the base of the paddle while I brush through a knot at the nape of my neck or the bristles popping out from the brush itself, the brush is always done-zo. It's been a frustration that I've thankfully put behind me with the design of this ghd paddle brush. The handle and base are all one design, making it impossible for the handle to pop off while raking through my hair. And while I'm not quite sure how the bristles have stayed in place through my tangles, I'm not going to question it."
Best Round Hairbrush: British M Hot Curling Ceramic BrushBest Round Hairbrush
Why It Won: The vented, cylindrical barrel of the British M Hot Curling Ceramic Brush is built to conduct and distribute heat in a way that simultaneously limits damage, cuts down on styling time, and—with the help of the bristles' tension—boosts your blowout results.
Tester Feedback: "My daily dose of bang maintenance comes down to one tool, the British M Hot Curling Ceramic Brush," says Silva. "After a quick spritz of water to dampen my bangs, I part them into two sections and hit them with a blow-dryer for about a minute on each side, while simaltaneously working the brush backward to get a fluffy, feathered look."
Best Detangling Hairbrush: Tangle Teezer The Ultimate DetanglerBest Detangler
Why It Won: You haven't really conditioned your hair until you brushed the conditioner through with Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler. Keep it in the shower to distribute product evenly or as a last step to detangle before you step out of the stall. The two tiers of teeth mean less breakage, and the flat, wide handle helps you get a good grip even under wet circumstances.
Tester Feedback: "I have one in my shower, yes, but also on my dresser for raking my hair back smoothly on non-washdays," says Bailly. "And if you have a child who possesses hair, I can attest that detangling will meet far less resistance if you’re wielding this brush."
Best Comb: Pattern Retractable CombBest Comb
Why It Won: Divide and conquer any style with the Pattern Retractable Comb. Made for tighter textures, it features heat-resistant teeth for sectioning and its metal tail, made for precision parts, slides in and out to make it a perfect pocket-size hair assistant.
Tester Feedback: "I didn't realize that a rat tail comb could be innovative. It's something my mom has used on my hair since I was a toddler," says editor in chief Jessica Cruel. "But when I saw the Pattern comb has a sliding tail, I was impressed. I didn't know I needed it, but every travel bag with a hole in it is currently cheering at this addition to my hair tool arsenal. The parting tine at the tip also makes sure that even someone who is half blind (me, I am someone) can get decently straight parts. It's not the tool, it's the technician.”
Best Edge Styler: Baby Tress Edge StylerBest Edge Styler
Why It Won: Every angle of the Baby Tress Edge Styler reveals how multifaceted it is. Available in a variety of adorable colors, it features a comb to smooth and separate, natural boar bristles to shape, and a pointed end to create perfect parts.
Tester Feedback: "Not all edge brushes are created equal and this one has a little something extra," says Blay. "The Baby Tress Edge Styler is so functional it makes doing my edges a breeze. The brush is big enough that I can swoop my edges with a few flicks of my wrist, and the rattail end allows it to double as a precise tool for fashioning my middle-parted, slicked-back bun. It truly does it all."
Best Hair Accessory
Why It Won: Whether you sleep in them or wear them out as an adorable accessory, one thing is true: Slip Small Slipsilk Scrunchies will always respect your hair more than conventional hair ties. The satiny texture, made from real silk, prevents dents and breakage so hair can live to ponytail another day.
Tester Feedback: "These are the only scrunchies I use," says Calaor. “I love how they don't leave a crease but are strong enough to hold up a high ponytail.”
Best Claw Clip: The Hair Edit Epic ClipBest Hair Clip
Why It Won: The Hair Edit Epic Clip does what most claw clips can't: It holds up all of your hair and looks great doing it. The extra-large, rectangular design is as secure as it is chic, marrying fashion and function in a versatile accessory you’ll keep with you constantly.
We’ve covered and discussed the importance of good makeup brushes, now it’s important to talk about buying these brushes. How do you know a brush is right for you? How do you know you’re buying the right brushes? How do you know which ones to buy? These questions and more will be answered in this article, just read on to find out.
Makeup has been widely compared to art and painting, and this comparison is not really farfetched. Just like the right brushes have the ability to make or mar a painting, the right makeup brushes can make or mar your final makeup look. Some people like to buy drugstore makeup, while others decide to splash cash and buy high-end name brand makeup. Whichever category you fall in, your makeup will still look bland and tacky if you use brushes of low quality.
Tips on Choosing Brushes
You might want to look out for cruelty-free brands: If you’re vegan or you just frown on animal cruelty and the use of animals in makeup and makeup research then you might want to dig deep into your brush purchase to make sure the one you’re buying is made of synthetic and not natural (animal) hair. Even though natural hair brushes have the softest and best feel, there are some synthetic brushes that feel very soft and are good on your skin.
Do the quick test: This is better done when you’re shopping for brushes in person and not online. All you have to do is take the brush and well, brush it against your skin. If it is soft and fluffy, add it to your shopping basket. If it is scratchy and rough, just put it back. If the fibers fall out when you run your hands through it, that’s a red flag.
Shop within your budget: You should always shop for brushes within your budget, but this does not mean you should shop for cheap low-quality brushes. There are low-end name brands that still deliver quality for a lower price.
It is okay to mix and match: While some makeup brush sets contain most brushes that are good for most areas, one or two of them might be subpar. For example, of you have a makeup set with twelve brushes, it might have a great powder brush and an amazing foundation brush, but the eyeshadow brushes might not be good enough. For this reason, it is best to shop individually for brushes. You might buy some out of a set, and other singles. Having all your brushes work for you is better than having brushes that ruin your makeup in the name of getting a set.
Shopping for brushes and makeup in general is a fun and enjoyable experience. Armed with the right tools like the tips above, you know what to look out for when choosing your brushes.
Happy shopping!
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