Sometimes it is hard to tell whether a makeup brush is worth its price tag or whether the price tag just reflects a prestigous brand name.  I wish I could just list a brand where all of the brushes are standout.

Here is what I do to try to minimize my mistakes when choosing high price and even drugstore quality brushes.  First (assuming you are at a counter), look around and try to find the brushes that are actually used by the makeup artists (not the ones that aren't used on display) and try to find the particular brush you are looking at.  It should show some wear and possibly be a little bit dry considering these brushes get washed all the time.  It should not have very many splayed bristles though.  Now go to the display brushes and give them a little tug to make sure that there is no shedding happening already.  If there is shedding, step away from the brushes immediately.  Depending on the functionality of the brush (eyeliner, brow brush, blush brush), test the texture and see if it feels too soft or too scratchy.  Also check the actual brush set you want to purchase before being rung up to make sure that bristles are cut to the same size, without longer or shorter ones.  If you are buying a "set" make sure that the quality of the brushes are the same as the regular ones.  Makeup assistants are quick to tell customer that they are "the exact same brush, just a shorter handle."  While this might be true sometimes, the majority of the time this isn't the case.  Take a look for yourself and compare the quality to the long-handle separate brushes. 

A few standout brushes that I have found include:

Tony and Tina Powder Brush, NARS smudge brush, Laura Mercier Blending Brush, Laura Mercier Tightlining brush, Stila #15, and Sonia Kashuk metal eyelash comb.

There are also some excellent brushes by essence of beauty (made by CVS), many of these are excellent quality and a very good price.  Also on the discount store front are select Sonia Kashuk brushes.

When caring for your new brushes, make sure to wash them somewhere between weekly and monthly.  Use either a brush cleanser or baby shampoo, and don't tug on the bristles.  When drying lay flat so the glue that holds the bristles in doesn't continue to stay wet as the brushes are drying and then begin to break up.

I hope this will help you on your quest for perfect brushes!