Quality doesn’t necessarily mean more expensive. Some of my makeup artist friends have complained about how they spent a pretty penny on brushes that have been nothing but junk—and if they’ve fallen prey to business’s brush gimmicks it’s not hard to imagine how many others have too.
One of the first, and easiest, things to do is to look at the handle and the ferrule on the brush. It’s important to choose a wooden handle and titanium/nickel-plated brass ferrule with deep “crimps”, if you want a brush that isn’t going to come apart.
It’s also important to know if the bristles are natural or synthetic. Natural bristles (such as goat, sable, or squirrel) are best for working with powder applications. They are typically brown, white, or black in color and very soft. Whereas synthetic (such as taklon and nylon) are going to be best for cream-based products. They are typically orange or white in color, soft but stiffer than natural hair. I don’t typically recommend blended bristles (both natural hairs and synthetic) unless you are a little more experienced with what mediums do well with blends (ah-ha that explains those streaks). It’s a safer bet to stick with the general rules mentioned above.
Lastly, (yes I will be Captain Obvious) it’s a good idea to test how a brush feels when you hold it in your hand. It needs to feel comfortable and easy to use. Now you know what you are looking for and which makeup brushes are worth investing in.
Before we part here’s a few things I recommend you purchase to get your makeup brush collection started (Of course only buy what corresponds with the products that you use but I find these to be common for most people) and something to safely store them in: