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Make-up brushes: types and uses
If you have a passion for make-up, you surely can’t miss out on the fundamental tools that revolve around this colourful and imaginative world!
We’re talking about brushes—true tools of the trade.
With a wide variety of designs for each make-up product, and each with their own specific purpose, things can get a bit overwhelming. But fear not! If you have no idea which brushes to use for eyeshadows, powders or blush, we’ve got you covered. We’re here to help clear things up with this short and simple guide.
Let’s start with the basics: what are make-up brushes for? Are they really that important?
When it comes to make-up, everything must be done just right, so in order to create a beautiful make-up look, you need to know a few little secrets. Here’s the real purpose of a good brush: blending, i.e. the ability to even out colour and texture transitions through careful application of make-up.
Think of your face as a canvas on which a painter will sketch lines and backgrounds, and then focus on light and shadow. To do this, a painter needs brushes that can lay down pigments properly, according to their properties, but above all to precisely blend and shade his work—perhaps the most important element.
Types of make-up brushes
Below you will find a thorough explanation of the different types of make-up brushes and their various uses. This will give you all the information you need to choose your next brush!
• Foundation brush
Each foundation needs a different type of brush for its application; this is because each product has a different texture. Natural bristle brushes are more suitable for powder products, as they better pick up the product and apply it more effectively; synthetic bristle brushes, on the other hand, are perfect for cream and liquid textures.
For those who prefer liquid or cream foundations, we recommend a flat foundation brush, which allows the product to be spread out evenly.
For those who use compact cream foundation, a brush with a round, flat-top brush is recommended, which ensures high coverage and an even application.
A mousse foundation, on the other hand, can be spread out evenly with a flat brush.
Finally, powders and compact foundations have their match in compact brushes for face powders.
• Face powder brushes
The most popular powder brush among make-up artists is the Kabuki brush.
The Kabuki brush allows you to pick up just the right amount of product and apply it evenly for long-lasting wear. Its soft bristles are like a caress on the face, making the moment of application even more enjoyable.
• Contouring brushes
Contouring and sculpting are not exactly straightforward techniques, but everyone can successfully do them. The important thing is to blend thoroughly, and this will only be possible with a good brush. Which one?
To create the right shadows on the face, we recommend using a contouring brush or a sculpting brush.
• Powder brushes
There’s a wide choice of powder brushes, and finding the right one will depend on your skills and how you prefer to apply the product.
Some designs you can try are the fan brush or the compact brush. In particular, the fan brush is great for natural, subtle applications of product on cheekbones, nose, forehead and chin, or for creating light colour gradients with blushes and bronzers.
Kabuki powder brush
14.99 €
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15.99 €
Add to cart
• Blush brush
For this product, you need a brush whose bristles are neither too dense nor too spaced out, in order to properly blend your blush. An angled brush is preferable, which allows you to follow the contour of the cheekbone. • Concealer brush
Applying this product requires care and a delicate touch. If you want to cover certain areas of discolouration or small skin imperfections, you need high-precision brushes that can be used to apply eyeshadow or concealer. • Eyebrow brushes
To create more structure to the face and increase the intensity of your look, you should brush and tame your eyebrows carefully. To do this, use an eyebrow brush, which is also handy for removing excess mascara or any clumps. • Eye brushes
An excellent brush suitable for laying down an initial layer of cream eyeshadow on the eyelid is a flat eye brush.
For more extensive shading, however, we recommend eye contour brushes, which allow you to cover larger areas and create a wide-eyed effect. These brushes have the important task of shading and blending, a key element in successful make-up application. These include different varieties suitable for compact, baked, and loose powder eyeshadows, and even a conical shape to aid blending even more. The latter brush is excellent for creating a cut crease, which accentuates the corner of the eyelid. • Eyeliner brushes
The key word for eyeliner is precision, which is why you need a very fine brush with compact bristles. Those who love gel or liquid eyeliner often use a flat horizontal brush to create and perfect the deep black line at the lash line. The angled eyeliner brush is also very popular for setting with eyeshadow or blending pencils. • Lip brush
To apply lipstick more precisely, you need a good lip brush. Both the flat lip brush and the retractable lip brush are perfect for applying the product and achieving crisp edges for perfectly contoured lips.
Pro tips to ‘brush’ up your makeup skills
Your makeup products and palettes are always only as good as your brushes! While you might see a variety of makeup brushes at a professional salon, it’s great to keep your vanity case updated and full of the right tools.
Can you tell between a kabuki or a dome brush? Did you buy the on-trend beauty blender but don’t know how to use it? Do you spoil your eye-makeup by using the wrong size and type of brush? Well, no more. Here’s your guide to makeup brushes and sponges.
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From precision bristles for on-point eye makeup to a buffing brush to blend in your blush — pick up the right ones to perfect your makeup.
FOR FACE AND CONTOUR
1. Stippling brush: The brush usually has a head with two types (and colours) of bristles with a blunt top. You can use the brush when you are using a large amount of face product including powders for a polished finish. You can even apply your foundation using the brush as it’s known for giving a high-definition coverage.
2. Lip defining brush: When it comes to defining the lips, a variety of brushes can be used to apply and blend-in the lip colour. You can go for a tapered top, or a blunt one as shown here. The bristles are soft but stick to the lip colour to help in its application, along with helping in smoothening out sharp edges of a lip pencil.
3. Fan brush: As the name suggests, the bristles of the brush fan-out to create the shape. This one’s a multi-purpose brush and can be used to contour the face (highlighting cheekbones with a dark foundation with a slanting movement) and even to buff and blend your foundation. The fan brush can also be used to create shadow under the chin and the jawline with a dark toned foundation because of the distributed bristles and the sharp shape.
4. The Toothbrush: You must have seen this one across beauty tutorials. While the bristles are synthetic, the oval-faced brush is known to be super soft on the skin if the right quality is used. As it is available in all sizes, the brush can be used on the eyes too apart from the face. Use it to apply and blend in your powdered blush or pat on eyeshadow.
5. Kabuki brush: The soft-bristled dense brush can be used for full coverage. From blending the blush onto the cheeks to finishing off with a setting powder and using it to even brush off excess makeup on the face – the kabuki helps in covering large parts of the face.
FOR YOUR EYES
1. Pencil Brush: This multi-purpose brush can be used on the eyes and the lips too. The tapered tip is not exactly pointed, but the bristles are staggered, and you can dip it in your gel liner to create a precision eyeliner. You can even use it to outline and contour your lips.
2. Dome brush: This brush is set apart because of its dome-shaped head. The brush is useful for eyeshadow application and the head can also be used to remove makeup glitches. Lace it with some moisturiser or concealer and perfect your makeup.
3. Angled brush: This one’s also a multi-purpose pick. Based on the thickness of the head and the density of the bristles, the brush can be used for the waterline or the lash line. Use it to perfect your winged eyeliner or to create an inverse smudged eyeliner.
4. Lash comb and brow groomer: The two-headed brush is perfect for those who like to keep their brows groomed. While you can use the thick bristled side to brush off excess brow liner, the comb can help you get rid of mascara clumps and also shape and polish your brow hair.
5. Spoolie: The spoolie brush is one that you’d find on a mascara wand. But, if you buy these wands off the internet or use old ones after sterilising them, these spoolies can be used like a lash comb to brush and shape the brows, and of course, to curl your lashes with soft circular movements, without the actual application of mascara.
SPONGES YOU NEED
1. Sponge brush: The good thing about this brush is that it gives you a proper hold on the blender. Use the sponge brush to do your contour, create dimension with dark face powder.A beauty hack? Dip it in makeup remover or moisturiser to remove excess makeup product.
2. The curvy blender: The curved beauty blender can be used to buff and blend in your face powder. The curves help in easy movement of the hand and the different parts and edges can be used to apply makeup to different parts of the face.
3. Teardrop blender: While it’s not too different from the curved beauty blender,many prefer the teardrop shape. The tip of the blender is sharper, and it can even be used to perfect your eyeshadow. You can also use the shape to your advantage by using the tipped peak to blend your eyeliner or create an ombre effect by fading the colour using the blender, to create a gradient palette.
4. Makeup sponges: Makeup sponges can be your go-to fix for those who don’t like to carry makeup brushes in your vanity box. Cut these sponges with the use of scissors to create any shape that you like so you can use it not only on the face, but on the eyes and lips too.
HOT TIP: Clean your brushes
1) In case of an emergency, a makeup brush cleaner emerges as a great rescue. It not only deep cleans every strand of your brush – its anti-bacterial properties make way for 100% hygiene for your brushes and skin.
2) Restrict the usage of such cleaners for the time of emergencies only, as their frequent use may hamper the shape and working your brushes – causing them to wear-off sooner.
3) For regular cleaning of your brushes, dip them in a mixture of mild-soap and water and wash them gently. Now rinse away and pat dry in circular motion using a cotton cloth.
4) Not only the brushes, make sure you regularly clean your sponges too as they tend to absord makeup on a daily basis. Always store your sponges in a bag or container to make sure it does not absorb any dust or germs.
5) Trash your old brushes! The bristles will wear out and there is no point spoiling your makeup by using worn out tools.
(Inputs by Ishika Taneja, makeup expert)
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Perfecting your skills with a fan brush
Cosmetics-obsessed vloggers, like Tanya Burr and Zoe Sugg (pictured right) have taken the world by storm with their step-by-step YouTube make-up tutorials — inspiring us all to get a bit more adventurous with our beauty routines.
But pulling off a perfectly blended smoky eye, or cheating your way to sharp cheekbones with clever contouring, requires more than just a fingertip smudge here and there.
It’s all about the brushes, but with such a mind-boggling array available, where to begin?
From bloggers to brands and everything in between, this definitive A to Z guide is here to help.
A — Angled approach. The slanted handle of the Laura Mercier Angled Eyeliner Brush, €22 ( www.brownthomas.com ), allows easy and precise eyeliner application.
B — Best for blusher. The Bobbi Brown Blush Brush, €45 (Brown Thomas) is soft, sturdy and perfectly shaped for buffing on blusher.
C — Contouring masterclass. Look for a mid-sized head with a pointed tip, like Charlotte ’s Powder & Sculpt Brush, €45 (Brown Thomas), if you’re after Kim Kardashian-style cheekbones.
D — Disguise blemishes effectively with a densely packed short-bristled brush, like the Body Shop Lipstick & Concealer Brush, €16 ( www.thebodyshop.ie ).
E — Expand eyelashes by combing through with a lash comb. Metal teeth are best — they’re less likely to break.
F — Flawless foundation can only be achieved with a flat brush like the Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush, €40 (Brown Thomas). Dampen with water first to stop the bristles absorbing the product.
G — Goss, as in professional make-up artist turned vlogger Wayne Goss, has more than two million subscribers to his channel ( www.youtube.com/gossmakeupartist ). His expert videos describe how to make the most of your face shape and features.
H — Highlight the tops of cheekbones using probably the most misunderstood of all make-up tools, the fan brush, so designed to allow a fine dusting of powder to a narrow area.
I — Incredibly expensive is one way to describe the Suqqu Face Brush, made with super-soft squirrel hair, which costs €233 ( www.selfridges.com ).
J — Japan, specifically the region of Kumano, is famed as the place where make-up brushes — including Wayne Goss’ own collection— have been handcrafted for the last 200 years.
K — Kabuki brushes also originated in Japan, where they were used to apply make-up by actors in the traditional Kabuki theatre. Try the Limited Collection Kabuki Brush, €11 ( www.marksandspencer.ie ), for perfect powder application.
L — Look for a round-tipped lip brush that comes with a cover to protect it (and the rest of your products) in your make-up bag, like the Illamasqua Lip Brush With Cover, €14.09 ( www.debenhams.ie ).
M — Mini brush sets are a great space-saver when travelling, and you can pick them up for less than a tenner. Limited Collection Mini Brush Set, €11 (Marks & Spencer).
N— Natural isn’t always best, especially if you want to avoid animal products. EcoTools brushes, available at Boots, are cruelty-free because they use synthetic hair with bamboo and recycled aluminium handles.
O — One drop at a time is all it takes with the BareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush, €28 (Debenhams), designed with an indent in the bristles. Pump foundation into the head then buff on to your face, building coverage with each drop.
P — Plastic replaces hair on the Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush, €7.49 (Boots), allowing for smooth straight lines. Get practising your cat-eye flick.
Q — Queen of YouTube, Zoe Sugg, aka superstar vlogger Zoella, is so popular she’s soon to be immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds. Nearly eight million followers tune in to watch the “self-confessed beauty junkie” in chatty tutorials, showing off the results of her regular shopping sprees ( www.zoella.co.uk ).
R — Real Techniques is the brush brand beloved of vloggers and fans alike, not least because it was created by vlogging sisters Sam and Nicola Chapman. Check out their full range — including their stunning Bold Metals collection — at Boots.
S — Stippling brushes are a must if you suffer from acne or scarring. Dip into your foundation or concealer and dot onto your skin (rather than painting in strokes), for an airbrushed finish.
T — Tightlining is a favourite YouTuber technique, where you apply eyeliner right in between the upper lashes. Grab the MAC 212 Flat Definer Brush, €25 (Brown Thomas) and watch Wayne Goss’s ‘How to: apply eyeliner like a pro’ and have a go.
U — Under-eye concealing requires a different technique to blemish disguising. Choose a small, tapered brush like the Clinique Concealer Brush, €19 (Boots) to ensure even coverage.
V — Value for money can certainly be found with the Models Own brush range. Check them out at www.modelsownit.com
W — Washing brushes regularly gets rid of product residue and bacteria which can cause spots. If you use your brushes daily, they should be rinsed weekly with cleaning solution like Clinique Make-up Brush Cleanser, €17 (Boots), and left to dry thoroughly.
X — is for Pixiwoo (OK, we cheated with the alphabet system there a little), where sisters Sam and Nicola recreate celebrity make-up looks for their nearly two million followers at www.youtube.com/pixiwoo.
Y — YouTubers’ most-used brush has got to be the MAC 266 Small Angle Brush, €21.50 (Brown Thomas), the essential utensil for dramatic eyeliner and shadow application.
