The 10 Best Blush Brushes to Buy in 2026

Top 10 Best Blush Brushes 2026

1. Best Overall Blush Brush: Real Techniques Blush Brush

Features:

• Works With: Powder Blush
• Firmness Level: Low
• Size: Large
• Style: Pink Handle with White-Tipped Black Bristles

Application

You can’t go wrong with this classic blush brush. It’s extremely soft and fluffy, with extra-long bristles that have a lot of give. As a result, it gives a very soft and diffused blush application. Overapplying is practically impossible, and even blushes that normally make you look like a clown become wearable.

It’s relatively large for a blush brush, so if you like a draped blush look it’s perfect, but it can be hard (though not impossible) to work with if you have very small features or if you like your blush placement to be very precise. If that’s the case, but you still want the intense softness, consider picking up the Wet n Wild Blush Brush, instead.

With this brush, blushes with very low pigmentation might not show up on the skin. If you like your blush to look a little more intense or heavy or you tend to buy sheer blushes, you might prefer the equally-large but slightly more firm NYX Pro Fan Brush.

Design

Real Techniques brushes are made to last. They’re designed with an elongated ferrule that is very securely attached, so breakage is never an issue. The bristles themselves are immaculate and retain their softness for years and years. This is not bad at all for a brush at a drugstore price point! The bright color of the handle is fun and playful, so it’s nice for at-home use, although even professionals don’t mind using Real Techniques!

2. Best Budget Blush Brush: Wet N Wild Blush Brush

Features:

• Works With: Powder Blush
• Firmness Level: Low
• Size: Medium
• Style: White Handle with Pink-Tipped White Bristles

Application

Don’t be fooled by the youthful design or absurdly low price point of this brush – it’s a heavy hitter in the brush world. Despite being synthetic, this is one of the softest brushes we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing!

It’s very gentle on the skin, and like the Real Techniques Blush Brush, it imparts a very sheer and natural wash of color over the cheeks. The difference is that this brush is smaller with a fan-like shape (though it’s too thick to be a real fan brush). As a result, it allows for a more precise application of blush, especially going from the apple of the cheeks to the temples.

If you struggle with blush placement or with overapplication, it’ll solve your problems, and we think it’s a particularly good choice for teens who are just starting to experiment with makeup.

Design

We generally like a brush with a little bit of heft to it, and unfortunately, that’s the one area where Wet n Wild lacks. It’s a very light brush so it can feel a little flimsy, and it probably won’t hold up against rough handling. However, if you keep it safely stored in a brush holder rather than haphazardly thrown in your makeup bag, it could stay intact and retain its integrity and softness for years. The white handle is also at risk of getting stained very easily, especially if you’re not careful when using pigmented blush.

If you love the idea of an ultra-soft blush brush that allows for a precise application but want something that will look and feel more luxurious, consider the Bobbi Brown Blush Brush instead.

3. Best Blush Brush Set: Real Techniques Makeup Brush Set

Features:

• Works With: Cream and Powder
• Firmness Level: Low-High
• Size: Small-Large
• Style: Colorful Handles and White-Tipped Black Bristles

Application

This amazing set gives you a ton of options for blush application and includes a few more goodies to help with the rest of your makeup. It’s from Real Techniques, so you know it’ll be good!

The set includes the Real Techniques Blush Brush, which we’ve already talked about at length, but it features a few other brushes that you can use for different blush styles!

For example, the expert face brush is small yet firm with an elongated design, so it’s fantastic for cream blush and will also work for contouring. It’s comparable to the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush, but without the angle.

Finally, the small setting brush does an exquisite job of applying a sheer yet targeted layer of blush, similar to what you’ll get from the Sigma Tapered Brush. It’s also great for applying highlighter or setting the under eyes!

If you find yourself debating between a few of the brushes on this list, save yourself those worries and just pick up this entire set! For the price, getting these three brushes is already a bargain, but it also features a wonderful makeup sponge and a deluxe crease brush that works for both eyeshadow and concealer.

Design

With many brands, brushes sold in sets are of slightly lower quality than the brushes sold individually. That’s not the case with Real Techniques! The set includes the same brushes that the brand sells individually, with the same impeccable construction.

If we really have to get nitpicky, the only flaw is the color story, which is a little random and not particularly attractive. Individually, each brush looks great, and the colors hint at which line each brush belongs to, but all together they don’t make much sense.

4. Best Fan Brush: NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Pro Fan Brush

Features:

• Works With: Powder & Cream
• Firmness Level: Medium
• Size: Large
• Style: Black Handle and Ombre Bristles

Application

We’re upping the intensity with this NYX fan brush. Because of its size and firmness level, it’s an incredible choice for more dramatic blush applications!

It’s a little more firm than other large brushes like the Real Techniques Blush Brush, so it can enhance a blush’s color payoff, so you end up with a more visible layer of color over the cheeks. This is awesome if you like a lot of blush or if you’re using products with very little pigmentation.

Even though this brush is very large, the fan shape means that it’s slim at the center, so you can still use it for a more precise application. Applying blush with the edge of the brush will even give you a fairly thin line!

In general, we find that this brush is better for applying powder blushes, but it’s excellent for blending out cream blush that’s been applied with fingers or a sponge.

Design

This brush fairs well over time, with a very solid handle and bristles that retain their softness. That said, you’ll need to be careful when washing it. If you clean the brush too aggressively or don’t reshape the bristles so they remain flat, the brush can fan out a bit from the sides and lose its sleek shape.

5. Best Premium Blush Brush: Bobbi Brown Blush Brush

Features:

• Works With: Powder Blush
• Firmness Level: Low
• Size: Medium
• Style: Wooden Handle with Black Ferrule and Bristles

Application

This is probably the most famous blush brush out there! It has the quintessential blush brush design, without any unnecessary gimmicks. It’s a classic powder brush that gives the perfect blush application, so it’s totally fitting for a brand named after a powerhouse makeup artist like Bobbi Brown.

This brush is medium-sized, with a rounded, slightly tapered shape. It’s fantastic for all kinds of application techniques, from a one-and-done swipe of blush with the flat side to a more targeted application using the tapered tip. The e.l.f. Flawless Face Brush is a similar choice if you’re on a budget, but this premium brush is a touch smaller so it’ll give you even more control.

Design

This brush was first released over a decade ago, and the hundreds of women still using the original one they bought back then is a testament to its longevity. The quality is exceptional on every level, from the well-built wooden handle to the ultra-soft vegan bristles.

Whether the build quality actually merits the high price-point is hard to say. It’s more than double the cost of the next most expensive brush on our list, the Sigma Tapered Brush. Affordable brushes definitely hold up against their premium counterparts, but if you generally prefer buying luxury beauty products then we don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

6. Most Affordable Pro-Looking Blush Brush: e.l.f. Flawless Face Brush

Features:

• Works With: Powder
• Firmness Level: Low
• Size: Large
• Style: Black Handle with White-Tipped Black Bristles 

Application

This soft, large brush is another nice choice for anyone on a budget. It gives a really lovely and natural-looking blush application. It applies products in a very diffused manner, and will definitely sheer out the color.

At first glance, it might seem quite similar to the Real Techniques Blush Brush. The major difference is that this brush is tapered at the top, so it’s more dome-shaped. This means that there’s more variation in the kinds of surfaces you can work with. You can use the tip to cover a smaller area or work with the flat side to cover more space.

Design

Though this brush is a touch more expensive than the Wet n Wild Blush Brush, it’s still one of our most affordable options. It’s also larger and sturdier, so you won’t have any fears about treating it a little roughly. The bristles themselves do require a bit of care, however, since they can lose their softness. If you stick to gentle shampoo, though, that won’t be an issue.

Compared to Wet n Wild, the design of this brush is also more mature. The black handle and ferrule combo is timeless, and it’ll help it blend in with professional brushes.

Unfortunately, quality is not always consistent. In general, it’s a sturdy brush, but sometimes the brand sends out “duds” that can break easily.

7. Best for Cream: Real Techniques Sculpting Brush

Features:

• Works With: Cream and Powder
• Firmness Level: High
• Size: Medium
• Style: Pink Handle with White-Tipped Black Bristles

Application

It’s a little known fact, but sculpting brushes are perfect for a cream blush application! This brush, in particular, is an incredible choice because it deposits just the right amount of color in seconds, but it also gives a seamless blend if you use it when it’s clean after dotting on blush.

You can use it with powder if you have to, but unless you love a super-strong blush, it’s best reserved for creams. With powders, the bristles are just too tightly packed and it picks up a ton of product.

The angled shape of the brush is especially nice as a guide for applying blush on a slight angle, from cheekbone to temple. This technique lifts the face, and is almost always flattering!

The size of this brush should work for almost all face shapes, but if you prefer to have more control or you like even your cream blush to go on very softly, you might prefer the Wet n Wild Small Stipple Brush.

Design

Like every other Real Techniques brush we’ve tried, this is a high-quality, durable choice that won’t break, lose its shape, or ever start to shed! Before buying it, you should know that this brush has a minor drawback – it can be very difficult to clean it thoroughly because it’s so tightly packed with bristles. Cream blushes generally don’t penetrate too deeply into it, but if they do, you’ll find yourself having a hard time cleaning.

8. Most Affordable Stipple Brush: Wet n Wild Small Stipple Brush

Features:

• Works With: Cream
• Firmness Level: Medium
• Size: Small
• Style: White Handle and White-Tipped Pink Bristles

Application

This is another one of our favorite brushes for a cream blush application! It’s like it was made for the job, although Wet n Wild wasn’t prescriptive when naming it.

The name “stipple brush” is usually used to refer to dual-fiber brushes. This means that the brush has two bristle lengths: shorter ones that pick up and deposit the cream blush, and longer ones that blend things out. The top of the brush seems to be flat, but when you buff the product into the skin you’ll be able to see the effect of the dual-length fibers. Even though this brush isn’t very firm, it still works best with creams.

Compared to the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush, this brush is more subdued. It’s smaller so you can apply blush to a smaller area, and because it’s less firm, it doesn’t pick up as much blush so the final look is soft. It simultaneously deposits color and blends it out, so it’s easy to achieve a very sheer look.

Design

This brush is part of the same line as Wet n Wild’s Blush Brush, so it has the same girlish aesthetic. If you’re really into it, you can get both brushes! This also means that it has the same flaws: it’s a little too light in the hand so we worry about its durability, and the handle is practically guaranteed to stain if you use it with a dark cream blush. However, with careful care, you could definitely make this brush last.