Any beauty professional will tell you that a flawless face depends entirely on the tools used. You might have the silkiest foundation or the perfect setting powder but without the proper makeup brush, you won’t achieve your glow goals. The following guide tells you what brushes you actually need and how to use them.
Brushing Beauty
Kabuki Brush
These short and stout puffy brushes are best for blending and buffing out foundations and powders. Bareminerals Full Coverage Kabuki Brush has a round shape, which allows for easy face and body coverage.
Blush Brush
Blush brushes are less voluminous than kabuki brushes and feature soft, domed shape bristles that allow for a buildable, concentrated application. Bobbi Brown Blush Brush has curved edges that were designed to pick up the right amount of product every time so the cheeks are left with the right amount of color.
Contour Brush
Angled and dense, contour brushes sculpt the face by applying precise amounts of bronzer without it looking streaky. The angled ridge on the Sigma 3DHD® Kabuki Brush instantly creates Kardashian-worthy contours.
Foundation Brush
Foundation brushes come in a variety of shapes (angled, flat, fluffy and domed) and can be used to apply cream and liquid formulas. Look to flat brushes for more accuracy and domed tools for a more diffused application. Artis Oval 8 foundation brush seamlessly melds to the shape of your face to deliver a perfect application.
Fan Brush
This beautifully shaped brush has two main uses, applying highlighters and cleaning up excess makeup residue. Choose fan brushes with ultra-light bristles to gently dust highlighter along your cheekbone and nose. The Tarte Fan Brush has multi-length bristles, so you can customize the density of your glow.
Concealer Brush
These small flat brushes should be used to cover more delicate areas on the face, think the side of your nose, under the eyes and any blemishes. Clinique's Concealer Brush is a go-to for acne-prone complexions as its anti-bacterial bristle formula stops further irritation and breakouts.
Smudge Brush
When creating sultry looks, it’s mandatory to have a smudge brush because these soft-bristled brushes effortlessly soften edges for the sought-after smoky look. HOURGLASS Smudge Brush expertly blends and diffuses cream and powder formulas.
Eyeliner Brush
Eyeliner brushes are finely angled to apply sleek, defined liquid lines. When you need to utilize space in your beauty bag, these brushes can double duty to fill in your brows. The best dual-purpose tool is the Burberry Cat Eye Liner and Shaping Shadow Brush, which features a thin linear brush for creating straight, bold lines and a shadow end to soften and blend your shadow.
Brow Brush
Never have unruly, sparse brows again with an angled brow and spoolie combo brush. Use the angled part to apply tints, fillers and powders then use the spoolie to comb and blend out the product until you’ve achieved your desired brows. Reach for Benefit Cosmetics Angled Brow Brush & Spoolie to give you perfectly groomed and maintained brows.
Eye Shadow Brush
This must-have brush should be soft, fluffy and medium-sized to create every day looks like a pro. Tom Ford Eye Shadow Blend Brush has natural fibers that allow it to easily pick-up colors and glide it onto the lids smoothly and precisely.
