If you've ever tried to paint a room with a brush instead of a roller, you know that the right tool can make a huge difference in getting a job done quickly and easily. This same principle applies to your makeup routine—with the right brushes, sponges, and puffs, makeup can be easy to apply and flawless-looking.
Depending on where you go, you can spend anywhere from under $10 to over $50 on one brush. In general, the brushes sold by makeup artist lines are the best quality and worth the investment. If you're willing to do some legwork, you can also find good brushes for less in drugstores, beauty supply stores, and even art supply stores. There are a few things you should look for in a brush, regardless of where you shop.
Bristle test: The bristles should feel soft against your skin, not scratchy or rough. Try the brush by running it across the part of the face that it's designed for to see how it feels; this is more important than whether it's made of natural or synthetic material. Run your hand through the bristles to make sure they don't come out easily.
Handle test: Brushes sometimes come in different handle lengths, so hold the brush in your hand and make sure it feels comfortable.
If you're new to tools, these basic brushes are a good place to start:
• Concealer brush: This makes it easy to apply concealer on hard-to-reach areas like the inner corner of your eye and along the lashline. You can also use this brush to spot-apply cover-up on blemishes.
• Blush Brush: The wide, rounded shape and angled sides of this brush apply the perfect amount of powder blush on the apples of cheeks. It gives you a seamless and natural-looking flush.
• Eye Shadow Brush: The small, fluffy bristles of this brush pick up the just the right amount of eye shadow for your lower lid.
• Eye Liner Brush: This is the easiest way to draw a line that's just right – not too thick or thin. This brush can be used dry with eye shadow, or damp for more definition and long-lasting liner.
These intermediate brushes are nice additions as you get more comfortable with your routine:
• Powder brush: The tapered head of this brush covers all the contours of your face, making it easy to dust on loose powder for an even, flawless finish.
• Bronzer brush: It's quick and easy to fake a sun-kissed glow with this broad brush. Use it to apply a seamless, streak-free dusting of bronzing powder.
• Eye brow brush: Use the angled head of this brush to apply eye shadow to brows, shaping and filling them in for a natural look.
• Eye shader brush: This wide brush, which is shaped to cover the entire eye area, makes it quick and easy to apply light eye shadow base.
• Lip brush: The small, firm bristles of this tapered brush make it easier to apply darker lip colors with precision. After lining lips, use this brush to soften and blend lip pencil lines.
• Brow groomer brush: Use this toothbrush-style brush to comb brows into place for a polished look.
With proper care, a good set of brushes can last you a lifetime of use. Clean brushes regularly, at least every 3-5 months (more often depending on use). Use a gentle soap – like baby soap or baby shampoo – to remove makeup and residue. Start by dipping the tip of the brush head in lukewarm water. Squeeze a small amount of soap in your palm, then wipe the wet brush in your hand to pick up the soap. Gently massage soap through the bristles. To rinse, swirl the brush tip in water. Pat bristles dry with a towel and shape as needed. Lay brush on a counter edge to dry.
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