These dense-to-fluffy, compact brushes (named after Kabuki theater, a Japanese form of dance-drama where performers would frequently pat on powder for shows) lend a pillowy makeup application without ever appearing caky—a balance considered the gold standard when it comes to full-coverage makeup. You can use them in slightly different ways (scroll below for a tutorial), but each brush can effortlessly pick up loads of pigment—from foundations, powders, bronzers, you name it—and deposit the formula evenly onto the skin. Oh, and did we mention it fits innocently in the palm of your hand? Find our all-time favorite kabuki brushes below, with tips to use each and every shape. Kabuki Brush, W3LL PEOPLE ($25) Palm Brush, Artís ($65) Airbuki Bamboo Powder Foundation Brush, Tarte ($18) Seamless Buffing Brush With Antibacterial Charcoal, bareMinerals ($22) Sadaharu AOKI Paris Limited Edition Petal 55 Brush, Shu Uemura ($50.70) Kabuki Blending Brush, Isle Of Paradise ($24) Retractable Kabuki Brush, ULTA ($16) 912 Kabuki Brush, Nanacoco ($20) Kabuki Polisher, RMS Beauty ($40) Super Kabuki, Lily Lolo ($21) Kabuki Brush, jane iredale ($38) Flat Kabuki Brush, Sigma F80 ($25) They come in a range of shapes and sizes (round, flat, dome-shaped, et al.), but most brushes will have short handles with tightly packed fibers so you can land a precise application without caking on product.
