The Best Makeup Brush

Shopping for makeup brushes can be overwhelming. They come in a dizzying array of shapes and sizes. There are at least a dozen different brushes for eye makeup alone. If you don’t know what each brush is designed for and which ones you’ll use the most, you could waste a lot of money.
This glossary of basic pieces may clear things up:

Brushes for the Face and Lips

- Concealer brush

This brush is for covering flaws like dark circles, fine lines, blemishes, discolorations or broken capillaries. The bristles are soft and flat with a wide base and tapered tip.

Among makeup artists, there’s a raging debate over whether the concealer or the foundation makeup goes on first. We recommend trying it both ways and sticking with whatever works best for you.

- Foundation brush
A foundation brush may be tapered or flat. Tightly packed bristles distribute liquid or cream foundation evenly for a flawless finish. Many makeup artists recommend dipping this brush in warm water and squeezing it lightly before use.
- Layering brush

This is a tool for building additional layers of coverage over foundation makeup. The head is feathery and flat. With a layering brush, you can blend different products, add a special powder for shimmer or finish your look with a trace of bronze.

- Mineral powder brush

This is designed to gather and hold mineral powder for buffing into your skin. The bristles are bunched and thick. Mineral powder should be applied in small circular motions.

- Powder brush

The powder brush is typically the chubbiest one in a set. It’s extra-soft and designed for use with a pressed powder or bronzer. To avoid looking overly made up, drag the brush lightly over the product and shake off the excess powder. Don't apply powder to your entire face.

- Fan Powder Brush

The name says it all, so this brush is easy to recognize. It should be used with loose powder and swept onto the face with light upward motions. It’s also a handy tool for toning down heavy makeup. Just lightly sweep away excess powder or eye shadow for a more natural look.

- Contour Brush

This brush was designed to glide along the natural angles of your cheekbones. Use it with a makeup slightly darker than your foundation, a shading product or a bronzer. The contour brush is ideal for creating a more sculpted, dramatic look or disguising imperfections. Do you think your nose is too wide? Grab your contour brush and slim it down.

- Blush Brush

Blush brushes have rounded heads for brightening the cheekbones with color. Lightly brush upward from the apples of your cheeks and let the color gradually fade into your hairline.

- Lip brush

Its stiff bristles and finely sculpted tip give you greater control when you outline your lips.

Brushes for Eyelids and Eyebrows

- Basic eye shadow brush

It’s large and flat with thick, soft bristles and a beveled edge for sweeping color over a wide area.
- Angled brush

This brush is made for defining and enhancing the natural shape of your eyes. After you’ve applied a neutral, overall color with the basic brush, use the angled one to add a more heavily pigmented shade. Follow the contours of your eye sockets to create depth.

- Blending brush

This brush is light and soft. Use it to subtly blend colors or highlight your brow bone.
- Fine-tipped eyeliner brush

Just one stroke of this brush deposits liquid or gel in a smooth, precise line. If you're going for a softer look, use the tip to dot product between your lashes.

- Smudging Tool

This has a soft, spongy tip for softening harsh lines. It’s perfect for a smoky-eyed effect.

- Brow-defining brush

The fine, angled bristles allow you to fill in your eyebrows with liquid, cream or powered product for greater definition.

- Spiral brush

The stiff, coiled bristles comb your brows back into shape.

Deciding Which Brushes to Buy

One of the easiest ways to start a brush collection is to buy a relatively inexpensive set like the EmaxDesign product on our list. That way, you can discover which brushes you’ll use daily and which you can live without. Some brushes are multipurpose, so ignore labels and experiment. You may prefer the blush tool for applying foundation.
Look for well-constructed brushes. Wood or bamboo handles are nice, but the most important thing to look for is a sturdy ferrule. That’s the ring that stabilizes the handle and secures the bristles. It shouldn’t be loose or flimsy. The bristles shouldn’t be ragged, pointing in different directions or falling out. Most are made of synthetic, hypoallergenic materials, but some are made with the hair of sables, badgers, goats or other animals. If that’s offensive to you, shop for products clearly designated as vegan.

Single brushes needn’t be outrageously expensive. Those in the $50 to $120 range usually bear the names of hot designers or come with genuine leather carrying cases. Other brands of comparable quality cost far less. Look for sales and discounts on sets. The Pro Blending Brush Set, for example, has four tools for eyes and costs just $30. If you wear light makeup, you could probably get by with something like the #1 Pro Makeup Brush Set of five basic brushes. It’s $44.95 and comes with a carrying case.

Whatever you decide, keep your brushes clean. You can buy brush cleaner or use lukewarm water and a drop of baby shampoo. Eye tools should be washed and allowed to thoroughly dry after each use. Face brushes can be washed weekly.

In the Winner's Circle
The Malika Jafrin Professional Kabuki Makeup Set has 10 pieces and a carrying case. Priced at $79.95, it's a pretty good deal. Jafrin is a professional celebrity makeup artist, and consumers give her brand very high marks.
The Beauty Blender is a wildly popular brush accessory. The latex-free, anti-microbial foam sponge is shaped like a teardrop. You can smooth or apply foundation with the fat part and cover blemishes with the tip. It’s nice to have around for blending or to use when your regular brushes are drying.

USpicy makes a great starter kit for familiarizing yourself with different brushes and their uses. It’s rated well and costs just $17.99 for 32 diverse pieces and a smart travel pouch.

Not only that, but USpicy is an awfully cool name.

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This page about Makeup Brush was composed by V. Tobies and published by Alternative.me.
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