When you think of pinkeye, you probably picture red, watery eyes caused by a disease that really only affects schoolchildren.

The first thing I look at is the shape," says makeup artist Nick Lujan, explaining that this determines where to use a brush and what product to use it with. What this means, though, is that it’s too flat for creating a perfectly smooth, diffused finish, so you'll need to reach for a different brush (like a buffing brush, which is not included) for the second step. The full coverage touch up brush is ideal for blending liquid and cream products in targeted areas, the eye shadow brush evenly distributes matte and shimmer shadows while the ultra-fine eye liner brush is great for smudging out cream eyeliner along the lid. Added Brown, "If your brushes become too pinched or squashed, then they simply will not be up to the job. Though the synthetic bristles felt feathery-soft on the skin, many of them were noticeably sticking out from the pack and some of the hairs were longer than others.The softness and quality of the bristles determine how the makeup applies and whether or not it will evenly distribute," she tells Byrdie. The mesh makeup brush covers are designed with flexible features so that every brush can fit in them easily. I used each foundation brush with both a liquid and cream formula, the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless and the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, respectively. It’s clear that Vieve’s founder, Jamie Genevieve, has poured her professional makeup artist expertise into them. According to Insider , a study from the Journal of Applied Microbiology found that people who used expired makeup products had even more bacteria on their makeup brushes.

The brushes’ material is no toxic, elastic, reusable, having good tenacity, and odourlessness features. Some sets also include makeup sponges as an alternative applicator for foundation or silicone brush mats, a palm-sized disc on which to suds up bristles for cleaning—both are nice-to-haves but not essentials. Moreover, the makeup brush protector is perfect for keeping brushes in the right shape and proper hygiene. Famous makeup artist Bobbi Brown told Allure that it's important to spend time going through your old makeup brushes and throwing some away.

Throughout this, I’ve come to realize that I'm quite the snob when it comes to makeup brushes—but not in the way that you might think. Why is it necessary to spend a lot of money purchasing a new brush when we can take care of an old one for a few bucks? However, when you use makeup brushes every day to apply your powder, blush, eyeshadow, bronzer, highlighter, or any other products you may use daily — the bristles on those brushes tend to become, well, dirty.

Waitesmith continued, saying, "When a brush is dirty, many people try to push harder on the brush to get a result. Makeup brushes aren't the only items in your makeup bag that need to be thrown away and replaced from time to time. You have to clean your brushes and maintain a proper distance between brushes to keep them away from cross-contamination. According to my experience with different brushes, if we take proper care of our brushes, they can last longer for years. Though the bristles on this brush still weren't uniform and the eyeshadow appeared blotchy, it applied the product where I wanted it to go.Some dermatologists said, clean your brushes at least once in 7 days, and brushes that use nearer to the eyes can be cleaned at least twice a month. Most of our expensive and favorite makeup brushes are wasted just because of laziness towards their protection. Though it's extra work, it made a huge difference in the outcome of my face makeup—both the cream and liquid foundations looked like they were airbrushed on. Dense brushes are considered ideal for building up foundation to full coverage, while less dense brushes are ideal for achieving light to medium coverage, such as when you're applying setting powder, bronzer, or blush.

Made up of five brushes, it covers all the basics, with each brush being multi-purpose, versatile and essential for all the products in your makeup routine. And there are definitely things you can do to prevent wrinkles, such as using sunscreen, watching your diet, or just springing for Botox.

Not all brushes are made equal however, so we set about finding the best brush set for your makeup routine, spanning a range of budgets and needs, from designs crafted by professional makeup artists to budget-friendly kits that won’t break the bank.