Do I need a full brush set or just a few key brushes?

Specialist-subreddit consensus on r/MakeupAddiction is that most people only regularly use 3–5 brushes: a foundation or buffing brush, a powder brush, a blush brush, and one or two eye brushes. A curated 5–6 piece kit like the Real Techniques Everyday Essentials usually delivers more usable tools than a 20-piece budget set where half the brushes go unused.