How many makeup brushes does a beginner actually need?

You can do a complete everyday look with just 5 brushes: a powder brush, foundation brush or sponge, blush brush, eyeshadow brush, and a blending brush. Most beginner sets include 10 15 brushes, which gives you more versatility, but the extra brushes are nice to haves rather than essentials. Start with the basics and add specialty brushes as your skills develop.