Quick answer

Buy a brush set first if you are starting out or replacing several tools at once; buy individual brushes first if you already have a working kit and only need one specific tool. Sets usually cost less per brush and cover the basics, while single brushes let you target one job without paying for duplicates. Match the decision to the brushes you actually use, not to the size of the set.

How to compare cost per brush without guessing

The useful comparison is cost per brush you will actually use. A set only saves money if most of its brushes match your routine. If you wear foundation, blush, and eyeshadow daily, a face-and-eye set covers those jobs in one purchase. If you only fill in brows and apply concealer, most set brushes sit unused and the savings disappear.

Single brushes make sense when your routine is narrow or when you have already built the core of a kit. You pay more per brush, but you buy only the tool you need. That is usually cheaper than a set where half the brushes duplicate what you own.

  • Count the brushes you would use weekly, not the total in the set.
  • Check whether the set includes the one tool you keep reaching for.
  • Price single brushes you would add if you skipped the set.

What a starter set covers that singles often miss

A starter set is built around a full routine: base, complexion, and eyes. The Best of Blends 8-Piece Face & Eye Brush Set includes an M104 Domed Foundation Brush for pressing in and buffing out foundation, an M133 Domed Concealer Brush, an M161 Large Rounded Powder Brush for setting your complexion, an M204 Rounded Cream & Liquid Blush Brush, an M303 Large Paddle Packer Eyeshadow Brush, and an M332 Medium Rounded Blender Eyeshadow Brush for creases and outer corners. That is coverage across the steps most people do daily.

If you buy those jobs as singles, you often stop at two or three brushes and still lack a powder or blending tool. A set closes those gaps in one purchase, which is why it is the faster route for a beginner brush kit.

When buying single brushes is the smarter first move

Singles win when you have a specific gap. The M202 Slanted Blush Brush applies, builds, and diffuses blush, and its fluffy slanted tip targets product along the cheekbones. If blush is the only step your kit is missing, one brush solves it. Buying a full set to get that one shape means paying for tools you may not use.

Singles also let you test a shape before committing. If you are unsure whether you prefer a domed or slanted blush brush, buy one, use it for a few weeks, then decide whether to expand.

Build your own brush set versus buying a curated one

Building your own brush set means buying singles over time until you cover your routine. It gives you control over shapes and avoids duplicates, but it takes longer and usually costs more per brush. A curated set arrives complete, but you accept the shapes chosen for you.

The practical middle path is to start with a set that covers your daily steps, then add singles only for gaps the set does not fill. That keeps the cost-per-brush advantage of a set while letting you refine the tools you use most.

Trade-offs to weigh before you buy

  • Cost per brush: Sets spread the price across several brushes, so the per-brush cost is lower. Singles cost more per brush because you pay for one tool at a time. Choose the set when you need three or more of its brushes; choose singles when you need one.
  • Coverage versus duplicates: A set covers a full routine but may repeat shapes you already own. Singles avoid duplicates but leave gaps if you stop too early. List your current brushes before buying either option.
  • Flexibility over time: Building your own brush set lets you refine shapes as your routine changes. A curated set locks in the shapes chosen for you. Start with a set, then add singles only for gaps it does not fill.

Product facts

  • Best of Blends 8-Piece Face & Eye Brush Set: Best of Blends 8-Piece Face & Eye Brush Set includes M104 Domed Foundation Brush, M133 Domed Concealer Brush, M161 Large Rounded Powder Brush, M204 Rounded Cream & Liquid Blush Brush, M303 Large Paddle Packer Eyeshadow Brush, and M332 Medium Rounded Blender Eyeshadow Brush. Covers foundation, concealer, powder, blush, and eyeshadow in one purchase, which is why it works as a first set for a full daily routine.
  • Ultimate Brush Set: Ultimate Brush Set features four pro-level brush edits: the Portrait Mode 5-Piece Face Brush Set, Conceal & Set Tool Trio, Blush Layering Tool Trio, and Eye Want It All 7-Piece Eye Brush Set. A larger collection for someone who wants face and eye tools organized by task, rather than buying each brush separately.
  • M202 Slanted Blush Brush: M202 Slanted Blush Brush applies, builds, and diffuses blush with a fluffy slanted tip for targeting product along the cheekbones. A single-brush example: buy it when blush is the only step missing from your kit instead of adding a whole set.

Which should you buy first?

Buy a set first if

  • You are starting a beginner brush kit and need base, complexion, and eye tools at once.
  • You are replacing several worn brushes and want a lower cost per brush.
  • You want the shapes for a full daily routine decided for you.

Buy individual brushes first if

  • You already own a working kit and only need one specific shape, such as a blush brush.
  • You want to test a brush shape before committing to a full set.
  • Your routine uses only one or two steps, so most set brushes would go unused.