Have you been wondering what is the perfect brush to use for using foundation, concealer and the likes? Do you think that they are all alike? Do you think that they all perform the same? Is it really necessary to splurge on a brush? Do I get a flawless application if I use an angled brush in applying foundation? Worry no more guys, I got you covered. For this post, I will be discussing about Face Brushes. I will break down for you the correct brushes to use from foundation to highlighting-- what to use, what to buy and what I recommend. Let's start with: BEWARE: This is going to be a lengthy post, go grab a snack.
FOUNDATION
When it comes to good foundation application, makeup brushes do matter. When I say "matter", I mean it. I personally believe that a good foundation brush will help you provide a good canvass as this will help you in perfecting your make-up base. I recommend a big dense flat-top kabuki brush in applying your foundation as this will give you an airbrush finish and it does not soak up a lot of product unlike how a sponge would. Never ever use your hands as this will give you streaks and an uneven application and not to mention, you are spreading germs into your face. *eew* If you are starting out, I strongly suggest you get the Elf Powder Brush or Real Techniques Buffing Brush. The Elf Powder Brush was my first-ever brush when I was just starting out. It was a one-stop-shop since this was best for foundation, powder, concealer and blush. It was my only companion for years until I started branching out to other brushes.
CONCEALER
Like foundation, concealer is also a must. With hundreds of concealer brushes in the store, sometimes it can be overwhelming. You can apply concealer using a sponge, your hands or a brush. It really boils down to preference but what I have been using is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and Real Techniques Setting Brush. The Expert Face Brush is a dense domed brush and it helps me buff out my concealer when I apply it heavily under my eyes(especially for those zombie days). This is a perfect brush as this will double as a foundation and a concealer brush. The Setting brush on the other hand comes in handy whenever you want to set your concealer with a powder. Although, this is optional but I find that both of them works well together. If you are starting out and you want to try a setting brush, any small fluffy brush will do. Just make sure that the brush will fit your undereye area.
POWDER
Now, this I find easy because any big fluffy brush will do. I personally don't cake on powder after setting my foundation and concealer as I don't want to have cake face. I just lightly dab a small amount of powder to add coverage and with a big fluffy brush, you are assured that it does not pick up a huge amount of product. Again, it still boils down to preference. If you are oily, then you might add more powder but if you are normal skin, then the smallest amount will do. However, I don't think that this is something that you need to buy when you are starting out because you can just use your foundation brush and it will work just fine. But, if you wanted a separate brush for your loose or pressed powders, any fluffy brush will do. I use an Estee Lauder Powder Brush which was given by my aunt. A bit steep for a powder brush but there are a lot of affordable brush like the ones in Real Techniques and Nichido.
BLUSH
There are a lot of blush brushes out there and they all function the same. But the key to applying your blush correctly depends on your brush. If you have a highly pigmented blush, I suggest getting a fluffy stippling brush like the one in the middle as this will pick up the smallest amount of product. This will also help you buff out your blush and make you not look like a clown. But if your blush is sheer and requires a lot of building-up, then I suggest using any fluffy angled brush as this will give you good control in applying your blush. I recommend the Real Techniques Blush Brush(not shown, click link to see photo) or Real Techniques Stipping Brush(not shown, click link to see photo) but what I use is just a brush that I ordered from Amazon. Remember, it's not your blush, it's your BRUSH! ;)
CONTOUR
It took me a long time to settle for a particular contouring brush because I used to think that they all function the same until I realized that the size matters when contouring. If you want chiseled and structured cheekbones, either you get a dense tapered brush or a domed brush. But, if you just want to bronze your face, your powder brush will work just fine. Back then, my contour looks very muddy because I use a powder brush thinking that it will give me carved-out cheekbones, I was wrong. When I started using a domed or tapered brush, my contouring game was suddenly on point. So of course, I had to mention the Real Techniques Contour Brush as it was a game-changer for me.
HIGHLIGHT
This is totally optional but if you are starting with highlighting, the brush is very important as this could make or break your highlighting game. If you don't know me to well, I am obsessed with highlighters. Back then, I apply highlighters with just my fingers but I find that it gives me no control and it gives an uneven application making me look like a certified disco ball. So I searched all over and learned that with highlighting, you need a fluffy stippling brush(top) or a pointed tapered blush(middle & bottom) as this will deposit the right amount of shimmer to your upper cheekbones. With highlighting, you only need the smallest amount as the major point of highlighting is to give you a glow and not make you look like you showered in glitter. I highly recommend the Real Technique Duo Fiber Brush and Morphe M501 Brush. The latter is not available in the Philippines but this, I cannot live without. I ordered this online and the waiting game was not cute but it was WORTH IT.
So, if you are still confused with all these brushes. Don't worry. It actually took me a long time to get a hang with all of them. Take baby steps and never buy all of them at once. I don't believe that you need to splurge in a brush because not all expensive brushes promises to give you an airbrush finish. It still boils down to personal preference. You don't necessarily have to buy everything that I mentioned because what worked for me might not work for you. I had a few regrets as well in buying brushes but the key is to finding and looking for one that suits to your needs. These are just fairly recommendations that worked for me. Don't be afraid to ask questions from attendants or salesperson and don't be afraid to ask for testers, just make sure to keep a wet tissue handy just in case you are germophobic. Haha! But really, take time to explore and let me know what worked for you, it might just be what I am looking for. :)
*Real Techniques is readily available in SM Seaside Cebu.
XOXO,
Angeli G.
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