The cosmetic industry has become flooded with so many tutorials suggesting complicated makeup advice and making the average woman feel as though they need an arsenal of makeup brushes to achieve the perfect look. I’m here to set the record straight and debunk all of the hype and tell you about my top five favorite makeup brushes that will keep your makeup application simple, quick and fun. And it all starts with the right type of makeup brushes.
I’ve aways felt that fingers do make excellent makeup application tools. However, they’re not nearly as precise, delicate, or hygienic as makeup brushes. If you do not have the right tools of the trade, then it will be difficult to achieve that flawless photo ready look that you want. But the world of brushes can be hard to navigate. Do you really need both a powder brush and a kabuki brush? How do you use a concealer brush? I’m here to help.
Concealer brush/Foundation brush
As the name suggests, this short, flat brush is ideal for blending concealer as well as applying cream foundation. I think a lot of makeup artists will suggest that you use both a concealer brush as well as a foundation brush for each individual application. This just isn’t necessary. I’ve found that either a concealer or foundation brush can be used for both techniques and give the same exact outcome as using two separate brushes. Pro tip: If only using for concealing purposes, use it to layer powder and cream formulas when masking a particularly pesky pimple.
Try: Sephora Foundation Brush #10 or Sephora Cover FX Concealer Brush
Powder brush
I’m sure you already have one of these brushes in your makeup arsenal, but if you don’t, you should. The flat top makes it ideal for applying virtually any powder. You do not need both a powder and kabuki brush since they both serve the same purpose. Yiu may use one or the other to achieve the same look.
Kabuki brush
This short, stout mini brush is perfect for buffing setting powder or mineral foundation onto your skin. Use it in circular motions for the best results.
Try: Ulta Powder Brush or e.l.f. Studio Kabuki Face Brush
Blush brush
For powder bronzers and blushes, reach for a fluffy-bristle brush. It’s also great for sweeping product down your nose and around your hairline.
Try: Sephora Angled Blush Brush #50
Angled eye shadow brush
This angled eye shadow brush is used for precise shadow application. To get a dramatic look, simply focus on shading the creased portion of the eye lid by pressing your shadow or pigment into the crease and then blending it in to make them stand out more.
Try: M.A.C. Medium Angle Brush
Angled eyeliner brush
Gel liner can be tricky, but an angled brush is like training wheels for a cat-eye novice. It helps you control the angle and thickness of your line, so you don’t smudge it. Whether you’re using a gel pot or gel pencil liner, you want to make sure that you’re carefully sketching your eye line so that you can go in after and blend it together with your angled eyeliner brush for a perfect precision line.
Try: Urban Decay Perversion Angled Eyeliner Brush
