Elf recently updated their essentials line of brushes to synthetic hair. I would suggest using this brush for blush, as I don't think it works as well for applying bronzer. This was a welcome upgrade for me, though I enjoyed the old essentials bronzing brush for its shape and its ability to pick up less pigmented blushes, but hated how rough it was. The newer one is much better for blending and is leagues softer, but I also find it to be flimsier, meaning it can only be used with rather pigmented blushes, or very pigmented bronzers.

It took me so long to try these brushes, but I'm so thankful that I finally did. For $1 each or $12 for a set, these makeup brushes are the stars of my daily routine. I love the texture of this angled brush to use as contour, blush and highlight.