MUST-HAVE MAKEUP BRUSHES

Selecting the right makeup brushes to have in your personal collection can be quite confusing.  Having the right brushes make all the difference.  Whether you are looking for a simple set for everyday, or a large set to accommodate your professional needs, it is essential to find what brushes will fit your specific needs.

There are a lot of natural and synthetic brushes out on the market.  Some brushes have both natural and synthetic bristles.  In fact, most manufacturers now provide brushes that contain both natural and synthetic fibers. 

WHY NATURAL BRISTLES?  Natural bristles are usually very soft and are great for blending and buffing powders onto the skin.  Plus, natural bristles tend to be great at buffing color into the skin so that it looks natural and airbrushed.  Natural brushes also absorb some of the product as the hairs are porous.  Therefore, you will not be picking up too much product!  Natural bristles are great for powdery products (shadows, powders, blushers).  Look for natural bristles that have their virgin soft ends.  Try not to buy brushes that have been shaped via cutting the tips of the natural hairs.

WHAT ABOUT SYNTHETIC BRISTLES?  Synthetic bristles are usually made of fibers to simulate hair, so they can be quite soft.  As the bristles are not porous, the brush will deliver maximum payoff.  Synthetic fibers are terrific for precision brushes (liner, brow, lip) and cream products.  They will usually lay down colors more intense than natural bristled brushes.

WHAT ABOUT BRUSHES WITH BOTH TYPES OF BRISTLES?  Brushes with a combination of synthetic and natural bristles are terrific for laying down color in specific areas and blending them out.  They offer the superb ability to provide an airbrush finish with an intense color laydown.  These brushes often can be used for both powder and cream products.

WHICH BRUSHES SHOULD I BUY?  For a simple set, you should buy the following:  Foundation brush, Powder brush, blush brush, brow brush,  lip brush, eyeliner brush, an eyeshadow crease blending brush, and an eyeshadow fluff brush.  Look for soft fibers with tapered tips.  Look for quality brushes where the ferrule (metal portion of the brush) has been crimped several times to ensure durability.  Plus, look for fibers that are soft and would not hurt your skin.  Your makeup brushes are your tools, so look for quality vs. quantity!  They are an investment!  If you take care of them, your brushes should last you for many years! 

• Foundation Brush:  Look for one that is either duo-fiber (natural/synthetic), or completely synthetic with soft, tapered fibers.  Having synthetic fibers partially or completely in your foundation brush really helps to spread the product onto your skin without absorbing it, therefore helping your foundations last longer.  These brushes can be either domed, flat, or round in size with a flat top.  Find one that matches your blending style.  If you sweep your foundation on, then a flat brush may work for you.  If you tend to spin your brush, then something with a tapered and rounded top would be functional. Finally, if you tend to buff your foundation into the skin, find one with a flat top and synthetic or natural/synthetic fibers.
• Powder Brush:  Look for a powder brush with a rounded shape.  This will ensure that you will be able to apply powder in a uniform manner, plus blend out any areas that are too heavy.  A lot of times, you can use your powder brush as a bronzer brush as well!  Powder brushes are great in natural fibers or combination of natural and synthetic fibers.
• Blush Brush:  Look for a blush brush with a tapered, rounded, and flat shape.  This shape will enable you to apply blushes on the apples of the cheek, or add a subtle contour.  These brushes work well in natural fibers so that the blush is not over-applied.
• Brow Brush:  Look for a brow brush in synthetic fibers with a flat, slanted shape.  This will enable you to precisely apply powder brow powder, or, blend out brow gels and creams.  Synthetic fibers are great for laying down color in areas that need intensity.  Often times, your brow brush can double as an eye liner brush.
• Lip Brush:  Look for one with a tapered, rounded, flat shape.  This type of shape will allow for precise application of lip color, as well as the blending of lip liner.  Lip brushes are also great as concealer brushes.  Synthetic bristles are terrific in providing precise lip applications.
• Eye Liner Brush:  For liquid liner, look for a tapered skinny brush to provide the best winged-liner.  For powder liner, choose one with a flat, tapered top, or one with a slanted, flat shape (see Brow Brush).  Again, synthetic or natural/synthetic fibers work well for eye liner brushes as they allow for maximum payoff of products with the ability to blend with ease.
• Eye Shadow Crease Blending Brush:  Look for one that has a tapered tip that is flexible.  These brushes look like tapered watercolor brushes.  They are meant to lay down color while blending them at the same time.  Natural and combination natural/synthetic work well for these brushes as they allow for a beautiful, airbrushed finish.
• Eye Shadow Fluff Brush:  These are usually square in shape with fluffy bristles.  They are great for a simple eye makeup where the shadow is sweeped across the lid in a very soft manner.  In addition, these brushes make terrific concealer brushes due to their small shape.  Fluff brushes usually are about 1/4 inch in width and 1/8 inch in thickness.  Look for one with natural fibers or natural/synthetic fibers to really provide a soft finish.

Makeup brushes are essential for creating professional, beautiful makeup looks.  Find brushes that make your daily makeup ritual easy and fun!  There are a plethora of brushes out there in the market, each with a specific purpose.  Remember:  always look for quality vs. quantity!