When it comes to lipstick, I typically go for one of two looks: stained with a slightly blurred effect, which I do by dabbing a tiny amount of pigment directly on my lips with my fingertip to diffuse the color so it's not as saturated — or super-precise and opaque. For the latter move, a lip brush is always required in order to get the ultra-clean lines I'm looking for. As expected, there's an exhaustive amount of options on the market, many of which are pricey, but the one I've actually found to be the best (and within my budget) is Sonia Kashuk's Retractable 2-in-1 Lip Makeup Brush.
You can score this brush at Target or on Amazon for under $10, and yet, in my experience, it's just as effective — if not more so — than some of the other expensive ones I've tried. For starters, it comes with not one, but two different brushes: one to outline your lips, and then one to fill in the center, which you can typically be more relaxed about. The bristles are also kitten-soft, which makes it really enjoyable and all-around lovely to use.
When applying lipstick with it, I start by using the slim, slightly tapered side to line my lips with whatever shade I'm feeling that day (a brown-y nude is typically my go-to). Once I do that, I then go in with the fluffier end fill in the remainder of my lips, which takes no more than five or so seconds. Altogether, I can bang out a pretty mean, professional-looking lip look in under two minutes thanks to this little guy.
A few other notables: It's 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free, and can be cleaned after each use with soap and water. For anyone who loves lipstick, this adorable brush is definitely worth adding to your collection.
The Sonia Kashuk's Retractable 2-in-1 Lip Makeup Brush is a 2020 Allure Best of Beauty winner. See the complete list of this year's winners here.
