I am starting to become very fond of padding on finishes, using a handfull of cotton balls wrapped in a nylon sock. It carries a lot of finish and applies it smoothly. Thin layers, but that means they dry faster, so it works well. And almost no brushmarks or bubbles.
I've also seen the "pads" sold for paint edging used for clear finishes. Thease sre foam, but have a fuzzy fiber (microfiber?) surface. Again they hold a fair amount of finish and distribute it evenly, without brushmarks recognizable as such.
As another answer pointed out, sanding is debatable....