Makeup is a way of self - confidence that is applied directly to the face. Every woman can be an artist with the right make-up brush. What is the importance of this? Even the most proficient makeup artist in the world will struggle to apply makeup with poor quality brushes. You could be a better makeup artist than you think, however there are moments when your brushes are holding you back!
We all love a good makeup brush, but with so many options available on the market (it's a bit daunting), it's hard to know how to begin. There's little surprise that you'll understand what most brushes do, but putting them to use may be a different scenario, and choosing which ones are genuinely worth every penny can be tricky.
Don't sweat if you're newbie to makeup or can't distinguish between a powder brush and a blush brush — we've got you covered. Whether you'd like to attain a flawless base, killer cheekbones, or the desirable brow, check out our helpful guide to makeup brushes. We'll show you how to pick the right brushes for the job, as well as how to employ them.
Powder Brush:
Use: Apply loose powder products to your face with a light hand.
Guide: A powder brush is a hefty, full-fiber brush that must be synthetic or natural and can be used for a myriad of beauty tasks. This ubiquitous makeup brush (you can't buy a makeup set without it) is a must-have in any makeup collection. Dip a powder brush into the powdered product (both pressed and loose powders) and swirl in circles or sweeping strokes until uniform coverage is achieved.
Pro Tip: Starting in the center of your face and working your way out makes it easier to achieve proper application.
Powder brushes are the right type of makeup brush for applying color like blush when you want a more natural, less pigmented look. Instead of a dramatic, deep-hued look, consider a dusting of rosy cheeks.
Tapered Foundation Brush:
Use: Applying foundation, highlighter, or blush with precision. Tapered foundation brushes are typically flat, with a gentle taper.
Guide: These brushes perform nicely with liquid foundation and other liquid-based cosmetics. To use, soak your brush in warm water for a few minutes before gently squeezing out the excess. If it's hot outside and you're prone to sweating, use cool water to make the application process more refreshing.
The water serves two purposes here: first, it guarantees an even coat of foundation, and second, it inhibits the brush from absorbing any of the foundation, which saves you money because the brush won't absorb any of your makeup.
However, make sure to remove any extra moisture by gently squeezing it out into a towel; too much moisture will dilute your makeup and render it ineffective.
Use a foundation brush to apply makeup in even strokes across your face. Make sure the makeup is well blended and that no hard lines remain. Starting in the middle and working outward is frequently the most efficient method.
Stippling Brush:
Use: Making a pristine, airbrushed appearance.
Guide: The fibers of a stippled brush are of two differing lengths, providing it a unique appearance. The majority of the brush is densely packed with full fibers, with longer strands scattered. Layering several levels of makeup using stippling brushes is a splendid idea. This type of tool can be used to apply primer, foundation, and blush in a flawless manner.
Stippling brushes may be used with powders, but they're ideal for liquid cream foundations and cream blushes. Pour cream blush or foundation onto the back of your hand, gently dip your brush into the product, and stipple onto your face.
What precisely is a "stipple"? Push the brush down on your face in small circular strokes.
Consider a Pogo stick for makeup. It's time to use those longer bristles after the initial stippling. Make delicate swirling motions with the longer bristles. If you use too much pressure with the brushes, you'll end up with puddles of makeup, which isn't a trend yet, so stay away from that.
Kabuki Brush:
Use: Applying loose powder or shimmer to the body.
Guide: Kabuki brushes are some of the most stunning brushes on the market. They're typically of a larger size, with tightly packed fibers. They're best in use on the face and body with loose powders. Do you want to spruce up your décolletage with a little glitz? To create a magical, illustrious finish, swirl your illuminating product in large circles.
Kabuki brushes are also excellent for powder foundation and blush application. Swirl the brush in the concentrated product, tap off any excess, and then apply with large, circular motions.
Do you need to set your makeup with a powder? Dip your kabuki brush into the product and apply it all over your face evenly. To avoid distorting the placement of your blush, highlighter, or other cosmetics, don't push too hard.
Contour Brush:
Use: To get angular, sculpted cheekbones and a more defined face structure.
Guide: Contouring is a makeup application skill that every beauty enthusiast should be familiar with, but it takes time to master. Worst-case scenario when it comes to contouring? Streaks of dark color that aren't blended. But don't worry, we've got your back. You'll never leave the house looking like a two-toned nightmare again.
The first step is to get a nice slanted contour brush; angled brushes are preferred over flat brushes because they allow you to follow the natural curves of your face.
Choose a dark contour hue (this is the "shadow" that will contrast with the "highlight") to get a contoured effect. You don't want to go too dark, specifically if you have pale skin. Stick to a medium tone, but keep in mind that if it isn't black enough, there will be no contrast.
So now you have a darker contour color. Let's draw a picture of your face now.
If you want to slim down your brow, use an angled contour brush to outline the area around your hairline.
Make a pout with your face after that. Use the contour brush to apply the deeper tone to the hollow beneath the apples of your cheeks, just beneath your cheekbones.
Take the brush and make parentheses around your chin if you want to slim it down. Last but not least, draw some darker lines on either side of your jawbone. The darker contrast should now be used to map out your face.
The following step is to combine everything. It may appear simple, but it is the most difficult and crucial part of creating a natural-looking contour.
The final step is to use a smaller brush to apply a highlighter to your cheeks, forehead, nose, chin, and Cupid's bow.
Larger areas should be highlighted with general powder brushes. Contouring brushes allow you to control the angles at which you can achieve a next-level contour with fine precision. When you're already picture-perfect, why use Photoshop?
Silicone Blender:
Use: To apply foundation and blend products in a seamless manner.
Guide: Silicone blenders are typically oval or teardrop-shaped and flat. The great thing about using a silicone blender is that it won't absorb anything, which means you won't waste any valuable product.
To apply, dab foundation onto all parts of your face and stipple it in, making sure to blend it into your neckline. Swirling with a silicone blender can result in smeared makeup, so stick to short, staccato motions instead of swirling like you would with a traditional brush.
Beauty Blender:
Use: Applying foundation (wet and dry), blush, highlighter, and concealer.
Guide: The Beauty Blender and other comparable cosmetic sponges are popular for a reason: they're excellent at applying a wide range of products. It may be used as a priming applicator to create a smooth, firm base. It may also be used to apply sunscreen or topical lotions. Most people use it to apply foundation and mix blush, bronzer, and highlighter.
To use with liquid foundation, soak the sponge in water in the sink and press it to remove the remaining water. Water aids in minimizing the sponge from absorbing any makeup. Now, softly dab the sponge into the makeup product you're applying and test coverage on your wrist or back of your hand. After that, use soft dabbing motions to apply the product to your face. Less is more with a Beauty Blender.
Apply highlighter to your cupid's bow or glitter to your brow bones with the Beauty Blender's tip for smaller places. If you're using dry powder, just pour some onto the lid and dab the sponge right into it. In the same manner, apply liquid foundation.
Keep in mind that the sponge may need to be re-moisturized after application because it can dry out. Have you finished your makeup but it appears patchy? Here's a tip: to blend in all areas of your face, roll the side of the Beauty Blender across your entire face.
Fan Brush:
Use: Brushing away makeup mistakes and blending out dark lines while applying highlighter
Guide: The shape of a fan brush is, unsurprisingly, that of a fan. Because of their versatility, these sorts of beauty brushes are an excellent addition to your cosmetic toolkit.
They're particularly good at correcting mistakes, for example. Perhaps you were doing a smoky eye and got carried away with the eye shadow, resulting in flecks of pigment all over the place. Use the fan brush to gently brush away any remaining color flecks.
Use a fan to gently buff bronzer or highlighter onto your cheekbones with a sweeping motion. To diffuse color, you can also use fan brushes. By fanning away the intensity of a dark blush, you can soften it. Fan brushes can also be used as a lotion, sunscreen, or concealer application tool.
It's a pleasant, soft approach to apply all kinds of skincare products.
Blush Brush:
Use: To apply blush, achieve that fresh-faced, young rosiness.
Guide: A blush brush and a powdered brush are strikingly similar. Blush brushes, on the other hand, tend to be a little stubbier than powder brushes because they cover a smaller area. Try to avoid red circles on your cheeks that remind you of Raggedy-Ann.
Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and diffuse it outward to avoid the doll look. Proceed by applying light pressure to your wrist or the back of your hand to make sure for pigmentation. It's much easier to layer color than it is to remove it once it's been applied.
Eye Shadow Brush:
Use: Applying broad swaths of eye shadow to your lids.
Guide: A general eye shadow brush is a short, stubby brush used to apply eye shadow to the lid and upper eye area. This is also an excellent tool for applying eye shadow primer. Dip the brush in the shadow, blot out any excess, and apply to the lids. Dip the brush in water to achieve a more pigmented look.
Angled Eye Shadow Brush:
Use: Use it to smudge and contour your eye makeup.
Guide: For more experienced makeup artists, an angled eye shadow brush is a terrific addition. Use it to add vibrant hues to the corner of your eye, smudge with precision, and line your crease with a contrasting color.
Eye Shadow Crease Brush
Use: For adding a striking contrast to your basic lid color and creating the appearance of depth.
Guide: The majority of eye shadow crease brushes have a gentle taper, which allows for precise application when finishing your smoky eye. It's perfect for layering pigment where the eyelid folds naturally.
Eyeliner Brush
Use: To produce a thicker lash line or a cat-eye effect, use liner.
Guide: A brush for eyeliner can be used for a variety of things. Of course, your eyeliner is first and foremost. Draw a line outward from your inner eye, gradually widening it and flicking it out toward the ends.
As they say, practice makes perfect, and this is especially true when it comes to trying out new eyeliner techniques. Eyeliner requires steady hands. It's sometimes a good idea to take a selfie after applying your liner to check the similarity of your wings. If you really want to be precise, you can use a stencil or even tape to ensure that the angles of both your wings are the same.
Brow Brush:
Use: To tame and style your brows, use this product.
Guide: The majority of brow brushes have two sides: a comb side and a brush side. With a duo-brow brush, you can calm even the most unruly brows.
To begin, straighten and shape your brows with the comb. Then, whether you're using a powder or a gel, apply your brow product with the brush side. Use short staccato strokes with cream or powder, making sure to come to a defined point at the end. Rather than forcing your brows into unnatural shapes, follow their natural shape.
Take advantage of the extra tuft on your left side!
Mascara Wand
Use: Use to apply mascara to your upper and lower lash lines.
Guide: Mascara wands are a must-have item for every woman. They aid in the separation and definition of individual lashes.
For a more dramatic, full effect, use an eyelash curler before applying your mascara with your spoolie. To avoid spider lashes or an overly sticky upper and lower lash situation, sweep up your mascara wand after curling. To avoid excess mascara on your lashes, squeegee excess product from the opening of the mascara tube.
Lip Brush
Use: To apply lipstick, gloss, and other lip products with precision.
Guide: Have you ever seen a kid putting lipstick on? They're usually just attempting to get the lipstick close to their lips but failing miserably. Even as an adult, staying in line can be difficult when faced with the applicator that comes with lip products.
Cleansing :
While we're on the subject of makeup brushes, it's crucial to keep an eye on your routine to avoid infections, rashes, and other unappealing side effects from using soiled brushes. Use a gentle cleanser or a brush-specific cleanser and moisten the bristles to wash your brushes and keep bacteria at bay (avoid getting water on the handles). Repeat until the brush is clean by swirling it on a paper towel. Rinse the bristles to ensure no soap remains. To keep the shape of the brushes, allow them to air dry.
Making sense of makeup brushes and their applications can be a challenge, but it is well worth the effort. Knowing how to use the right makeup brushes and how to use them correctly can help you look better.