Make-up brushes 101 – everything there is to know about brushes

Wow! Where do I start? Make-up brushes are the most important aspect of proper make-up application. You may not be able to afford high end make-up but if you have the correct brushes, your regular make-up can look just as flawless.

Synthetic Make-up Brushes vs. Animal Hair Brushes

Synthetic make-up brushes as the name indicates are made from synthetic fiber, synthetic brushes don’t hold on to pigment as well as animal hair brushes, making them easier to wash. Synthetic brushes lack the natural pores that animal hair brushes have and thus don’t hold onto the pigments as well. They literally take the product from the container straight to your face, so basically they don’t waste your products. They are also typically hypoallergenic.

Animal Hair Make-up Brushes

One of the benefits of using animal hair for makeup brushes is the fact that animal brushes pick up more product. When these bristles are used to pick up makeup, they are able to hold it better because it is held in the pores. It also takes a lot less strokes to evenly apply makeup because of the great pigmentation. These brushes soaks up the product and therefore are harder to clean. The down side about animal hair brushes is obvious; they’re not always animal friendly. Most beauty gurus will still prefer animal hair brushes because of the luxurious quality and coverage they offer. However, I would recommend synthetic brushes to anyone who is not a make-up guru mainly because it’s cost effective, doesn’t waste your product and is animal friendly.

Face Brushes

Foundation Brush: Used to apply foundation to the face and typically made from synthetic fibers.

Powder Brush: With a large, fluffy brush heads and soft bristles, powder brushes are ideal for applying loose powder to the face.

Blush Brush: Great for applying blush or bronzer to cheeks, can also be used for contouring.

Concealer Brush: Concealer brushes look like mini foundation brushes. Being smaller than foundation brushes makes them better suited for covering blemishes or for applying liquid concealers in hard to reach places like the corners of the eyes.

Lip Brushes: Lip brushes provide more control and precise lipstick application than a tube. Like concealer brushes, lip brushes have a firm, thin tip. For on-the-go lipstick application, look for a covered lip brush, which comes with a cover to protect the brush head while you're traveling.

Eye Brushes

Eyeshadow Brush: Not as stiff as an eyebrow brush, eye-shadow brushes have square heads used to evenly apply both powder and cream shadows to eyelids.

Eyebrow Brush: Eyebrow brushes have firm, angled brush heads like the tip of a marker. Use them to apply powders, creams or waxes to brows.

Blending Brush: Like the name implies, blending brushes are used to blend different colored products and to wipe out harsh lines. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Not as firm as eye-shadow brush heads, the heads of blending brushes are usually tapered. This will be your second staple brush (behind your eye-shadow brush).

Crease Brush: Fluffy and soft, crease brush heads come in several different shapes, from thin and tapered to round and fluffy. The shape you choose will depend more on personal preference than anything else. Look for a brush head that feels soft against your eyelid and fits into the hollow of your eye.

Make-up Brush Care: Regularly cleaning makeup brushes extends their useful life. Some makeup lines sell liquid brush cleaning solutions, but baby shampoo or facial cleanser and water also work well. Antibacterial wipes provide a quick way to clean brush heads or wherever water would make a mess. After cleaning your brushes, reshape the brush heads with your fingers and line them up on the edge of a shelf or sink to dry. For cheap, easy brush storage at home, stand them up in a glass (brush heads up). When you're on the road, use a brush roll, which is a folding bag with slots for each brush. It rolls up like a sleeping bag.

When choosing brushes it’s important to do your research, there are a lot of brands, sizes and types and that can confuse you. Most brands carry make-brushes in sets that make it a little easier for you. I recently purchased my first two sets from RC Cosmetics. I got the Premium 4 Piece Synthetic Kabuki Makeup Brush Set and Professional 15 Piece Make up Synthetic Brushes Set I can’t wait to try them, will do a review as soon as I do.

Brushes out the package

Brushes after they've been washed & have been set to air dry