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Byrdie / Jaclyn Mastropasqua
Let's chat kabuki brushes—they’re compact, cute, and incredibly versatile, perfect for applying all kinds of face makeup. Fun fact alert: They were originally named after the Japanese theatre, where actors used them to apply heavy layers of white rice powder across their entire faces.
So, what defines a kabuki brush? First, the short handle (technically called a stem, FYI) and large, dense head of bristles. The bristles can be either flat, rounded, angled, or slightly tapered at the tip but either way, they are chosen for seamlessly applying makeup over large surface areas. In other words, a kabuki brush is ideal for buffing on foundation, layering on powder, dusting on blush and bronzer, or using it as a finishing step to ensure all of your face makeup is perfectly blended. One brush, so many possibilities.
Ready to add one to your makeup brush arsenal? We tapped an expert for recommendations and tried a few top-rated options ourselves. The result: This curated list of kabuki brushes that effortlessly applies, blends, and buffs makeup. We considered each tool's angle, how easy it is to hold, and how well it deposits makeup onto the skin. We also took into account the size and type of bristles of each one. We then cross-referenced our expert-recommended picks with the top-rated options we loved (and that have garnered five-star reviews).
Best Overall
Dior Kabuki Brush 17
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Saks Fifth Avenue
Retractable for on-the-go use
Rounded, dense bristles
Can feel brittle after washing too harshly
Drawing inspiration from backstage Dior runway shows, this kabuki brush is ideal for powders—specifically bronzing powders. It features a rounded shape and dense synthetic bristles that pick up the right amount of powder and blends it into the skin for a subtle touch of dimension. Just keep in mind that the bristles can feel brittle after washing with a too-harsh soap. Opt for a gentle formula to keep the bristles nice and soft.
Price at time of publish:Â $60
Size: Medium | Material: Synthetic
Best Drugstore
Real Techniques Foundation Blender
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Amazon
Covers large areas
Cute design
Inexpensive and high-quality
Can leave streaks with liquid products
Ultra-plush bristles blend, press, and buff on any complexion product. With a wider surface, we especially like this for full-face foundation application, particularly since it works with liquids, creams, or powders. Also nice: Because the handle isn’t made of wood, you don’t have to worry about it getting wet and damaged when you clean your brush.
Price at time of publish:Â $9
Size: Large | Material: Synthetic
Best Budget
e.l.f. Kabuki Face Brush
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Amazon
Works wet or dry
Feels soft on the skin
Inexpensive
Can shed
You could easily spend big bucks on a kabuki brush, but if that’s just not in your budget, this mega-affordable option will most definitely get the job done. The synthetic bristles are as soft as those found in much more expensive brushes and can be used with either wet or dry formulas.
Price at time of publish:Â $4
Size: Large | Material: Synthetic
Best for Foundation
Fenty Beauty Face & Body Kabuki Brush 160
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Sephora
Great for sculpting the face
Beautifully designed
Feels soft on the skin
Can shed
With an angled brush head and synthetic bristles, this option from Ri-Ri’s line works equally well with either powder or liquid foundation formulas. Happy users repeatedly call out how well it applies and buffs in makeup, and love how easy it is to hold thanks to the rounded handle. Plus, how pretty are the pink bristles?
Price at time of publish:Â $34
Size: Medium | Material: Synthetic
Runner-Up, Best for Foundation
Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush
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Amazon
Long-lasting
Doesn't shed
Great for packing on product
Pricey
The brand’s best-selling foundation brush, this one is also a favorite of Byrdie Associate Editor Eden Stuart. The bristles are unlike those you’ll find on any other brush, given that they’re made of the brand’s proprietary synthetic fibers, which are ultra-soft. No matter whether you’re using a liquid or a cream base, buffing it on with this guy yields a perfectly airbrushed finish every time.
Price at time of publish:Â $25
Size: Medium | Material: Synthetic
Best for Blush & Bronzer
Nars Ita Kabuki Brush
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Nordstrom
Ideal for precise application
Great for sculpting the face
Blends product well
Could be softer
With a longer stem than many kabuki brushes, this is choice for those who may find traditional ones tough to hold. The small, flat head is designed for controlled color application and medium coverage, perfect when you’re trying to add a targeted flush to the apples of your cheeks and some dimension to your cheekbones, jawline, and forehead.
Price at time of publish:Â $40
Size: Small | Material: Synthetic
Best for Powders
IT Cosmetics Airbrush Essential Kabuki Brush #145
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ULTA
Makeup artist and beauty expert Nick Stenson loves this pick, raving about the luxuriously soft bristles and weighted handle. This brush was created especially for Ulta, and works just as well on the body as it does on the face. It pairs perfectly with your favorite mineral or powder foundation, finishing powder, bronzer, and blush for a flawless, airbrushed finish.
Price at time of publish:Â $23
Best for Body
Goerti Professional Body Makeup Brush
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Amazon
Cute design
Great for sculpting
Works with a variety of products
Can soak up product
Kabuki brushes aren’t just for the face. They’re also the perfect tool for applying concealer, highlighter, or bronzer on the skin-below-your chin, think to add a glow to your collarbone or camouflage imperfections on your legs. One of Amazon’s top-rated kabuki brushes, this has a curved shape that hugs contours and makes this type of application easier than ever. The oversized handle is also great for covering larger areas of your body.
Price at time of publish:Â $15
Size: Large | Material: Synthetic
Best Angled
Real Techniques Angled Kabuki Brush
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Amazon
Feels soft on the skin
Distributes product evenly
Inexpensive
Could be denser
Kabuki brushes are most often touted as best for all-over makeup application, as is the case with powders and foundations. But they can also be used for contouring and highlighter, particularly when they’re angled like this one. “This super-soft brush is extra versatile and works well with liquid and powders alike,” says Stenson. Synthetic bristles make it easy to clean, he adds.
Price at time of publish:Â $10
Size: Large | Material: Synthetic
Best Wet/Dry
BLK/OPL Kabuki Brush
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Black Opal Beauty
Good for creams, liquids, and powders
Compact design
Too big for precise application
This all-star kabuki brush is designed for both wet and dry uses. You can use it for creams, liquids, and powders, whether you're applying, blending, or touching up. Though the compact size is great for travel and on-the-go use, we should note the brush itself is slightly too large for precise applications.
Price at time of publish:Â $10
Size: Medium | Material: Synthetic
Best Splurge
Jane Iredale Kabuki Brush
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Amazon
Soft, natural bristles
Picks up lots of powder
Too large for many purposes
Jane Iredale's take on the kabuki brush is this large goat hair number. Though it's not as versatile as other options, this makeup tool effortlessly picks up loose powder, allowing you to sweep it across your face as a finishing touch to your glam routine. It is on the pricier side, but we say it's totally worth it.
Price at time of publish:Â $38
Size: Large | Material: Goat hair
Best Retractable
EcoTools Retractable Face Brush
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Amazon
Travel-friendly
Prevents bristles from crushing
Aluminum case may rust
This travel-friendly kabuki brush from EcoTools has retractable bristles and a handy lid that prevents them from crushing in your purse or makeup bag. It's generally easy to clean, but you'll want to be careful to prevent the aluminum case from rusting if it gets wet.
Price at time of publish:Â $9
Size: Medium | Material: Synthetic
Final Verdict
Kabuki brushes are much more of a versatile makeup tool than you might think. The Dior Kabuki Brush 17 is our favorite, a great choice for both foundations and powders of all kinds. You can also find top, affordable picks at the drugstore. The Real Techniques Angled Kabuki Brush is one of our go-to's, with angled bristles that are perfect for contouring and/or highlighting. And keep in mind that you can use a kabuki brush, like the Goerti Xuweigood Professional Body Makeup Brush, for applying body makeup on arms, legs, and décolletage.
Meet the Expert
- Nick Stenson is a beauty expert, licensed hairstylist, esthetician, and makeup artist. Stenson is currently an Ambassador and celebrity stylist for L’Oréal and Matrix, as well as Ulta Beauty’s Senior Vice President for Store & Service Operations. He’s also the founder of Curious Brushes.
What to Look For In a Kabuki Brush
Shape
Angled shapes like the Real Techniques Angled Kabuki Brush are better for precision techniques, such as contouring or applying bronzer. Rounder shapes like the E.l.f. Kabuki Face Brush offers a softer, seamless blend.
Density
According to Stenson, the density of the bristles will dictate how solid your product application looks. The denser the brush, the more pigment is applied with each swipe, so keep that in mind. The NARS Ita Kabuki Brush has super dense, tightly packed bristles. But if you prefer something fluffier, go with the IT Cosmetics Airbrush Essential Kabuki Brush #145.
Handle
“While a traditional kabuki brush has a very short handle or stem, they can still vary in shape and length. Make sure you feel comfortable holding and maneuvering the brush,” suggests Stenson. If you want a traditional short handle, the Real Techniques Foundation Makeup Blender is an excellent choice. For those more comfortable with a longer stem, we recommend the NARS Ita Kabuki Brush.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. While she tries to keep her stash of makeup brushes fairly streamlined, a kabuki brush is always in the mix.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough kabuki brushes from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.