Buying your first makeup brushes should make applying makeup easier, not leave you with 20 tools that all look the same. The best makeup brushes for beginners cover a short list of useful jobs: blending foundation, adding powder or blush, placing eyeshadow, softening edges and applying smaller details. A well-chosen set is usually better value than a huge collection filled with shapes you may never use.
We compared five beginner-friendly sets sold by familiar UK retailers. Typical prices below are useful shopping targets rather than guaranteed offers, because beauty prices and promotions change often. Check the retailer page and delivery charge before paying. Our Best Overall pick is the Real Techniques Everyday Essentials set because every included tool has a clear purpose and the sponge adds extra value. The EcoTools Start the Day Beautifully Kit is our Best Budget choice when it is available near £18.
Best makeup brushes for beginners at a glance
| Set | Typical UK price | Brushes/tools | Best for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Techniques Everyday Essentials | About £20 | 4 brushes plus sponge | Best Overall | Boots, Superdrug, Lookfantastic, Amazon UK |
| EcoTools Start the Day Beautifully Kit | About £18 | 5 brushes plus tray | Best Budget | Amazon UK, selected beauty retailers |
| e.l.f. Cosmetics 12 Piece Brush Set | About £25 | 12 brushes | Full face variety | e.l.f. UK, Boots, Superdrug |
| Morphe Eye Obsessed Brush Collection | About £32 | 12 eye brushes plus bag | Eyeshadow practice | Morphe UK, Selfridges |
| Spectrum Collections 8 Piece Essential Set | About £40 | 8 face and eye brushes | Giftable upgrade | Spectrum Collections, selected UK stockists |
Prices are typical guide prices observed for these product lines and may vary by colour, stockist and promotion. A lower price is only a good deal when the seller is reputable and the set is new and authentic.
1. Real Techniques Everyday Essentials: Best Overall
Typical price: £20. Where to buy: Boots, Superdrug, Lookfantastic or Amazon UK.
This compact set gives a beginner the tools needed for a normal base routine without padding the box with near-duplicates. It usually includes the RT 200 Expert Face Brush, RT 300 Deluxe Crease Brush, RT 400 Blush Brush, RT 402 Setting Brush and a Miracle Complexion Sponge. That mix handles liquid foundation, concealer, cream or powder blush, setting powder, highlighter and simple eyeshadow.
The larger brushes have soft synthetic fibres and clearly different shapes, so it is easy to remember what each one does. The setting brush is particularly useful because it can apply powder under the eyes, add highlighter or blend a small area. The sponge helps with foundation and concealer, although it needs washing after each use and eventually replacing.
Pros: useful selection, widely stocked, soft synthetic fibres, includes a complexion sponge, easy to replace individual Real Techniques brushes.
Cons: no small angled liner brush, sponge adds cleaning work, not enough eye brushes for detailed looks.
Deal verdict: Strong value around £20 and an excellent buy below £18. Avoid paying much over £25 unless delivery is included and other retailers are out of stock.
2. EcoTools Start the Day Beautifully Kit: Best Budget
Typical price: £18. Where to buy: Amazon UK and selected beauty retailers.
EcoTools is a sensible starting point for shoppers who want a small face-and-eye kit. The Start the Day Beautifully format commonly includes an angled foundation brush, blurring brush, defined crease brush, angled liner brush and full blush brush, plus a storage tray. The handles are light and the synthetic bristles feel soft on the face.
The angled liner and crease brushes make this set more balanced for eye makeup than the Real Techniques kit. Its foundation brush is flatter, however, and some beginners may find a dense buffing brush quicker for a streak-free base. You can also use the blurring brush for foundation or concealer if you prefer a circular blending motion.
Pros: low entry price, five distinct shapes, useful liner brush, soft fibres, simple storage tray.
Cons: availability can be patchy, foundation brush may feel slow, tray is not a travel case.
Deal verdict: Our Best Budget choice at £18 or less. Compare the total after postage because a £15 marketplace listing can cost more than an £18 set with free delivery.
3. e.l.f. Cosmetics 12 Piece Brush Set: Best full starter collection
Typical price: £25. Where to buy: e.l.f. Cosmetics UK, Boots or Superdrug.
A twelve-piece e.l.f. set suits someone who wants to try more techniques without buying each brush separately. Sets in this range usually combine face brushes for powder, blush and foundation with eye brushes for shadow, crease work, brows and liner. The larger selection also lets you separate light and dark shades.
The trade-off is consistency. Some shapes in an entry-level multipack will earn daily use, while others may stay in the holder. Check the exact contents before ordering because e.l.f. changes bundles and names. Prioritise a fluffy powder brush, blush brush, dense face brush, flat shader, fluffy crease brush and angled brow brush. Those six shapes matter more than the headline piece count.
Pros: broad face and eye coverage, cruelty-free synthetic options, easy brand availability, good room to practise.
Cons: exact bundle can change, several brushes may overlap, no sponge in many versions.
Deal verdict: Good value near £25 if the listed set contains at least six shapes you expect to use. A high brush count alone does not make a bargain.
4. Morphe Eye Obsessed Brush Collection: Best for eyeshadow beginners
Typical price: £32. Where to buy: Morphe UK or Selfridges.
If you already apply base makeup with fingers or a sponge and mainly need eye tools, an eye-focused collection is the smarter purchase. Morphe’s Eye Obsessed collection has commonly offered a dozen shapes for packing colour, blending the crease, smudging liner, highlighting small areas and working on brows. A storage bag keeps the collection together.
Beginners do not need every brush on day one. Start with a flat shader, medium fluffy blender, small pencil brush and angled brush. Add the others as you learn placement and different finishes. Wash dark pigment from the brushes regularly so yesterday’s smoky shade does not muddy a light look.
Pros: strong range of eye shapes, useful for learning detailed looks, storage bag included, good cost per brush.
Cons: no face brushes, more pieces than a minimal routine needs, natural and synthetic fibre mix may vary by edition.
Deal verdict: Worth considering around £32 for regular eyeshadow users. Skip it if you mostly wear mascara and one wash of shadow.
5. Spectrum Collections 8 Piece Essential Set: Best giftable upgrade
Typical price: £40. Where to buy: Spectrum Collections or selected UK beauty stockists.
Spectrum’s essential sets cost more, but they combine coordinated styling with practical face and eye shapes. An eight-piece format is large enough for foundation, powder, blush, eyeshadow and detail work while remaining manageable for a new user. The synthetic fibres also suit shoppers who prefer vegan brush options.
This is the pick for someone who wants brushes that look good on a dressing table or needs a present that feels more special than a basic drugstore kit. Pay attention to the exact collection because handles, cases and brush combinations differ. A case is useful; decorative packaging alone should not justify a large premium.
Pros: attractive coordinated design, mixed face and eye selection, soft synthetic fibres, good present option.
Cons: highest price here, designs can sell out, cheaper sets perform the core jobs well.
Deal verdict: Best bought during a brand promotion near £35. At full price, choose it for the design and set composition rather than expecting a dramatic performance gain.
How to choose a beginner makeup brush set
Buy useful shapes, not the biggest number
A practical starter set needs one medium or dense face brush, one powder or blush brush, one flat eyeshadow brush, one fluffy blending brush and one small detail or angled brush. A sponge is helpful for liquid base products but is not essential. Ten almost identical eye brushes offer less value than five clearly different tools.
Choose synthetic fibres for easy care
Modern synthetic brushes work with creams, liquids and powders, and they are often easier to wash than natural hair. They are also the straightforward choice for buyers seeking vegan options, though you should confirm the product description because policies and materials can change.
Check the handle, ferrule and shedding
The metal ferrule should not wobble where it meets the handle. A few loose fibres after the first wash can happen, but repeated shedding is a reason to return the product. Buy from the brand or a recognised retailer, especially when a marketplace price looks unusually low.
Allow for cleaning
Wash brushes used with liquid or cream products at least weekly, and wash eye brushes more often if you switch colours. Use mild brush cleanser, keep water away from the top of the ferrule, reshape the bristles and dry brushes flat with the heads over an edge. Do not share eye or lip brushes.
Buyer Q&A
How many makeup brushes does a beginner need?
Five well-chosen brushes are enough for a simple full face. Add a sponge if you like a pressed-in foundation finish. More brushes become useful when you wear several eyeshadow colours or want separate tools for cream and powder products.
Should beginners buy a set or individual brushes?
A set is usually cheaper when at least two-thirds of its contents match your routine. Buy individually if you only need one foundation brush and one eyeshadow blender, or if a set repeats tools you already own.
Can one brush be used for several products?
Yes. A small fluffy brush can set concealer, apply highlighter and blend eyeshadow. A medium face brush can handle foundation, cream blush and bronzer, provided it is cleaned between products when colours could mix.
Are expensive makeup brushes better?
Not automatically. Higher prices may bring refined shapes, balanced handles, better cases or longer wear, but affordable synthetic brushes can apply everyday makeup very well. Shape, softness and construction matter more than branding.
What is the best deal here?
Real Techniques Everyday Essentials is the safest all-round buy near £20 because its four brushes and sponge cover the most common beginner tasks. EcoTools is the better budget deal at £18 or less, while the e.l.f. set makes sense for shoppers who want more variety. Compare current prices at two recognised retailers before ordering, and include delivery in the total.
Final recommendation
Choose Real Techniques for the simplest full-face starting point, EcoTools for the lowest sensible spend, or e.l.f. for a larger practice set. Morphe is the specialist choice for eyeshadow, and Spectrum is the more polished gift option. Whichever set you buy, five clean brushes that match your routine will serve you better than a crowded case of unused tools.