When choosing makeup brushes, the main consideration is the type of cosmetics you will be applying, report cosmetologists at Award Studio Media Makeup School. Budget is another concern, since makeup brushes can be expensive. A professional makeup brush can cost as much as $60. Professional makeup artists at Allure report that while blue squirrel is the best and most expensive type of bristle, pony hair and goat hair also make for quality applications.
Step 1
Use natural bristled makeup brushes to apply powder cosmetics. Look for a quality brush that is thick and has a tapered, rounded top. Natural bristle brushes should be silky to the touch. Natural brushes have a cuticle that can grab the makeup and hold it until you touch it to your face.
Step 2
Choose synthetic brushes to apply oil-based makeup. Nylon brushes also work well as eyebrow brushes because they can better separate the hairs. Use the stiff nylon brush to separate and lift brows and to blend the color from an eyebrow pencil.
Step 3
Buy two brushes to apply eye shadow. Choose a larger brush that fits the entire eyelid for the lighter color that goes from the lid to just under the eyebrow. Have a smaller, narrower brush to fill in the crease with the darker, contrasting shadow.
Step 4
Choose an eyeliner brush that is very narrow and tapered. This will help you get the most even lines. Press the brush on the eye to achieve a wider line when necessary, instead of using a bigger brush.
Step 5
Create precise lines around the mouth with a lipstick brush that is flat, with a straight end. This will help you create a smooth line that you can fill in with lipstick. Using a good lip liner brush should mean you won't need to blot.
Step 6
Remove excess makeup with a fantail brush made of white goat hair. Take off excess eyeshadow, powder and blusher by sweeping upward with the fantail brush.
Tips and Warnings
- Once a month, wash your makeup brushes with a dot of shampoo. Rinse and lay them flat to dry. With proper care, a good quality makeup brush can last for 20 years or more.
- Don't always go for the bigger brushes because they can waste makeup and miss small and hard-to-reach areas on the face, such as creases alongside the nose and the area between the eyebrows.
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