Brushes 101

Brushes are definitely underrated. Time to dedicate some space to our little helpers. When I started engaging with makeup on more serious level it became pretty clear pretty soon that it’s worth investing in good brushes and brush sets. We all know that it really makes a difference what kind of makeup we use, but it is equally important to pick the right brush to apply it. Even the best powder and the best eye shadow can end up looking lumpy and uneven when applied with the wrong brush. That’s why I actually built a veritable little collection of (real-hair) brushes over the years, which is still expanding. Unlike makeup, brushes never really go off and will do you good service for many years. Often they’re actually the most expensive components in a makeup collection. One other thing I learned: every brush can be adapted in its usage, and I use mine for all kinds of little jobs that they were not initially intended for. But what brush to start with, and which brush is best for which job?
To shed some light on these questions, I compiled this little guide for you.

My favorite brushes

Face

In summer I don’t use foundation very often, if any at all. Whenever I do, I apply it with a little makeup sponge. Generally speaking, I tend to make more use of powder brushes

1. The big brush
The big brush is usually used for bronzers, but I use it most often to apply loose powder and to finish the overall application. The tip of the brush is completely round and ideal to apply powder evenly over large areas on your face. With its relatively strong hair it is also a good one to brush off excess powder and to blend the gradient between powder and bronzer. The big bush is the central tool for my makeup, and has become indispensable. It’s a real all-rounder.

2. The powder brush
Every now and again I use bright powder tones. I have a powder brush (actually it’s a face blender) that I use exclusively for this task to avoid that the powder tones get mixed up. My powder brush is rounded, nice and fluffy, and designed for smooth and even application.

3. The bronzer brush
This one is actually a powder brush as well, but perfectly suited for bronzers too. It is slightly tapered, which is helpful for precise application (e.g. on the cheekbones). Also, it doesn’t pick up too much color.

Eyes

For my eyes I have various brushes as well, depending on the specific task.

4. The eye shadow brush
This brush is relatively broad and thick, which makes it ideal to apply eye shadow over larger areas.

5. The eye smudge
I use the eye smudge brush for the crease.

6. The eye blender
I use the eye blender brush for two tasks: firstly to blend the eye makeup, secondly to apply and blend powder precisely under the eyes. The brush ha an elongated shape, a rounded tip and is very soft. I such a way it does not pick up too much color and functions more as a blender.

Others

1. The highlighter brush
The eye sweep is actually a great eye shadow brush, but I use it as a highlighter. It has the perfect size to highlight specific areas and enables me to apply highlighter powder as precisely as eye shadow. This one’s one of my favorites, as I can use it for so many different things.

2. The eyebrow brush
I hardly use this one at the moment, because I tend to go for an eyebrow pencil. Nevertheless, the brush works really well with eyebrow cream and helps to apply color evenly despite the little hairs.

3. The travel brush
Whenever I’m on the road I try to travel lightly. Instead of bringing rouge and bronzer brushes I just pack one smaller brush for both jobs.

4. The tapered brush
I used to really like tapered bronzer brushes for my cheekbones. It helps to apply bronzer evenly, and is really easy to use, which makes it a good choice for beginners. Be careful though, these brushes tend to pick up quite a lot of color!

5. The makeup-egg
When I use foundation I either apply it with my fingers or with a special sponge that spreads the color more evenly. These little makeup sponges are also available in smaller sizes for concealers and are very practical whenever you want to avoid applying too much.

Cleaning your brushes

Cleaning your brushes carefully is essential if you want to keep them in good condition for a long time. I regularly soak mine in lukewarm water with a drop of shampoo, let them soften up, shampoo them carefully and then leave them on a towel to dry. You’ll end up with brushes (almost) like new, and will probably be able to use them for many years to come.