BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO MAKEUP BRUSHES

Makeup brushes are (or should be) a staple in any beauty routine; they’re the bread and butter of makeup application and can take you from a good 7 to a 10 in next to no time. We all love a makeup brush, but with so many varieties on the market (it’s all a bit overwhelming) you’re often left wondering where to start. There’s no doubt you’ll know what most brushes do, but putting them into practice can be an entirely different story, and knowing which ones are actually worth the investment can be mind-boggling.
If you’re a novice in makeup, or just can’t work out your powder brush from your blush brush, don’t panic – as always, we’ve got your back. Whether your aim is to perfect that flawless base, achieve killer cheekbones or that coveted Insta brow, check out our handy guide to makeup brushes and we’ll help you determine the type of brushes you need, and more importantly – how to use them.
THE STAPLES
Foundation Brush – Probably the most daunting of them all, but without a doubt, the most important. We’re sure you’ll agree with us when we say your foundation is the primary makeup step you most need to perfect; it’s your canvas and there’s little advantage in working that contour if you haven’t aced your base (all that she wants is another …makeup brush). Now, the million dollar question – should you go for the traditional flat tapered brush, the buffer brush, or the new guy on the block: the dense oval brush? (y’know, the one that looks like a lollipop and is taking the beauty world by storm)
The traditional foundation brush is flat with flexible bristles that are great for blending liquid or cream foundations. You should start in the middle of your face (where you need the most coverage) and blend in a downward motion. For flawless, heavier coverage, the Buffing Brush is ideal. The densely packed bristles will buff product – including liquid, cream and powder – into the skin for a more natural look, without the product appearing as if it’s just sitting on top. You also avoid brush marks – winner!
Kabuki Brush – Possibly the most underrated brush out there. This short-handled, densely packed brush with rounded bristles is ideal for absolutely everything; from powder/mineral foundations to bronzer and blush. Our personal fave way to use this is with bronzer to warm up the complexion and subtly sculpt the face.
Concealer Brush – If you’d rather use a different brush for your concealer instead of your foundation brush, we’d suggest using a small rounded brush or flat topped brush to pat concealer into the skin. This helps make blending more precise and allows you to get into the little nooks and crannies of your face (we’re talking inner eye corner, either side of your nose and over blemishes in particular btw).
Powder Brush – We like to call this the obligatory brush, simply because your makeup bag shouldn’t be without it. This brush can be used to apply any type of powder, however, it’s particularly great for pressed or loose powder to set the base you’ve worked so hard on.
Blush Brush – Blusher brushes tend to be either rounded or angled, and on the fluffier side – to pick up just the right amount of product. Swirl the bristles into powder blush and apply to the apples of the cheeks, guiding the product upwards towards your cheekbones. The blusher brush can also be used to apply bronzer if the kabuki brush isn’t working for ya.
All-over Eyeshadow Brush – Choose a brush slightly smaller than the width of your eyelid (and one that is relatively fluffy) to help blend colour across evenly. There are two techniques we’re rather fond of: the windscreen wiper sweep and the circular motions approach.
Blending Brush – If you find you’ve applied your eyeshadow a touch too harshly, or you’re using multiple shades, go in with a large and fluffy blending brush (you’ve probably heard of the cult 217 from MAC Cosmetics) to smooth lines for a more natural blend.
THE SPONGE
OK, so forgive us. The beauty sponge is not technically a brush (let’s not get pedantic) but it’s a great tool to have among your stash of brushes. Sponges are a sure-fire way of achieving a flawless base, and actually, they work well for applying any cream or liquid product. We’re assuming you’ve all heard of the beautyblender, which is the holy grail of makeup sponges for many.

TOP TIP
We like to keep our makeup brush game relatively strong with many useful duplicates (saves the weekly deep clean)