Here’s The Difference Between Synthetic and Natural Brushes

Updated:

12 Nov 2024

I’m the go-to guide gal and routine queen here at Adore Beauty. I have a background in media and communications, and over 3 years experience in the beauty industry. When I’m not answering all of your burning questions, you can find me spruiking underrated products to my co-workers and trying to figure out what our best bloody mascara is.

Apart from the source of their fibres, what’s the difference between synthetic and natural brushes, really?

If you’re choosing between natural or synthetic brushes, it’s important to understand what makes a good makeup brush for each purpose.

So, are natural or synthetic makeup brushes better?

Basically, in terms of performance we think you should choose your brush based on what you’re doing. However, if you are looking for Vegan brushes, synthetic brushes will be your best choice.

What you need to know about natural bristle makeup brushes

Let’s get to the point: what are natural makeup brushes made from?

Natural bristles are real animal hair—often sable, squirrel or goat hair in the case of makeup brushes.

Like human hair, natural bristle brushes have cuticles and these cuticles are particularly good at picking up the smallest bits of pigment and blending it out seamlessly for a natural look

Natural makeup brushes are great for powder eye shadow, blush, bronzer, and setting powder.

A fabulous full set

If you’re looking for a full set of new brushes the Kryolan Classic Beauty Set - Silver Handle Brushes - 12 Piece contains a set of 12 different brushes including brushes with pony, goat and synthetic fibres. This way you can find the right brush for your purpose. These brushes provide a professional and flawless application, and they are conveniently sized and contained in a travel carry case. For the quality you can’t look past this affordable price.

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So, what are synthetic brushes good for?

Synthetic makeup brushes are made from factory-created materials such as nylon and polyester.

Completely synthetic brushes contain no animal hair, and depending on the brush handle, should be vegan and cruelty-free.

Unlike natural brushes, synthetic makeup brushes stick together much better and can be easily shaped.

Synthetic makeup brushes are also perfect for liquid formulas like foundation, cream blush, and gel eyeliner.

This is because synthetic hairs don’t soak up makeup like natural brushes do, so they stay a bit cleaner and are especially good for products you use frequently like foundation.

A simple sculpting set

The Real Techniques Sculpting Set contains three synthetic brushes cut into specific shapes for precise application. This set comes with a sculpting brush for contouring, a fan brush for precise highlighting and a setting brush for concentrated powder application. These brushes are made with soft Taklon bristles, which are cushiony and designed for superior blending. All together this brush set is the perfect collection for creating a perfectly defined look.

Perfect for cream blush

For an absolute makeup bag staple and an affordable synthetic brush try the elf Small Stipple Brush. This cult favourite brush has two layers of bristles for a natural airbrushed result. It’s an ideal brush for liquid or cream products and can be used for anything from foundation to cream blush. This multipurpose brush allows you to shift between sheer and full coverage seamlessly.

This Vegan powder brush is a powerhouse

The INIKA brush line is perfect for Vegans opting for synthetic brushes because they are a cruelty-free option. The INIKA Vegan Powder Brush is an excellent choice from this collection, and is perfect for applying powder to larger areas like the cheeks and foreheads. The high quality fibres used to make this brush make powder simple to apply and are also easy to clean.

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Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.

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Makeup Brushes

There’s been a makeup brush revolution in recent years. Long gone are the days where you’d use your fingers or those dinky sponges that come with eyeshadow compacts. With the ability to elevate your look from passable to flawless, makeup brushes are exactly what you need to mimic the that professional finish. Adore Beauty stocks a wide range of makeup brushes to choose from, whether you’re looking for high quality natural hair bristles, or if you’re looking for vegan synthetic bristles. You can also shop from a range of makeup brush accessories, including makeup brush cleanser and brush cleansing tools from Sigma and Palmat. It’s also easier than ever to choose a tool that matches your budget - though makeup brushes are an investment, technological advancements from companies like Real Techniques and elf Cosmetics means that you can get a five star makeup brush on a budget. For people who are looking to build a complete brush set, there’s no need to put in hours of research. Many brands, like Sigma, Real Techniques and Nude By Nature have all created the perfect minimal brush set that ticks all the boxes. Just choose your price point and you’ll have your whole face covered - usually these sets contain all the makeup brushes you need for your eyes, foundation, powder and brows. If you’re not starting from the ground up and already have a few brushes, you can also buy specific brush sets for the eyes or face. Sigma and Real Techniques both offer makeup brush kits that are created to get the perfect highlight and contour, or a total eye makeup look.   <h2>Which is the best makeup brush for total beginners?</h2> This question really depends on what you struggle with the most. If you could only have one makeup brush or tool, many makeup artists would recommend a blending sponge. This versatile tool makes it super simple to blend out foundation and apply powder, while also blending away excess product. <a title="Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge" href="https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/real-techniques/real-techniques-miracle-complex-sponge.html">Try the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge</a> for an affordable day to day sponge, or the <a title="https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/napoleon-perdis/napoleon-perdis-pro-makeup-blending-sponge.html " href="Napoleon%20Perdis%20Pro%20Blending%20Sponge%20">Napoleon Perdis Pro Blending Sponge</a> for something a bit more precise. In general, it’s highly recommended to get a brush for powder - you’re looking for something big and fluffy, like the <a title="Sigma F30 Large Powder Brush" href="https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/sigma/sigma-f30-large-powder.html%20">Sigma F30 Large Powder Brush</a>, or the <a title="Real Techniques Powder Brush" href="https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/real-techniques/real-techniques-powder-brush.html">Real Techniques Powder Brush</a>. Usually these brushes can be also used for powder and bronzer - if they’re too large for the area you’re applying makeup too, try holding the brush at the bristles to create the right shape for you.

Here’s The Difference Between Synthetic and Natural Brushes

What you need to know about natural bristle makeup brushes

So, what are synthetic brushes good for?

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