4 Essential Makeup Brushes, According to Makeup Artists (2024)

FAQs

Which brushes are important for makeup? ›

Your makeup turns out better when you use quality brushes: Quality brushes improve the final look of your makeup. They make application and blending easier, and you end up having a smoother, well-done, and more attractive look.

Makeup brushes are a necessary tool for every makeup lover. Whether you're a professional or a novice, there are some brushes you should have in your collection to help make cosmetics application easier.

A cosmetic brush is made up of three parts: bristles, handle and the ferrule that connects the two. Handles are most often made of wood, plastic or resin. The ferrule is almost always made of metal.

On the other hand you should also have an essential makeup brush kit containing at least six or seven brushes. This set can also double up as your “travel brush kit”. Your full makeup brush set should have the tools to create all your beauty looks.

“Use a brush that contains real hair for dry products—think powder, eyeshadow and blush, and synthetic for wet products like foundation or concealer.” Real hair is known to soak up wet formulas, which will waste the product in the end.

Not only does it help your concealer look better, but less product is wasted. A high-quality makeup brush can also make you feel more confident because you'll know your makeup is properly applied.

“Aside from helping you be more hygienic, brushes help to blend and layer your makeup seamlessly. The bristles on a brush create many smaller touchpoints to help build even layers versus a finger that would only provide one uneven layer.”

ARE MAC BRUSHES WORTH THE INVESTMENT? Yes, MAC Brushes are worth it, but not all MAC Brushes are perfect for your makeup bag. Depending on the look you want to create and how much time you have one brush will be better than the another.

Your makeup artist should not be using the same brush they just used another person to apply a product to you. That brush should be sanitized in between each use. They should be using a brush cleaner like Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner or even 70% alcohol for a fast clean to ensure that all bacterial spores are killed.

Are concealer brushes necessary? ›

Since you probably have tons of makeup brushes in your arsenal, you may be wondering if you actually need a concealer brush. The answer is a resounding yes! Simply put, a concealer brush comes in handy to highlight desired areas and help you disguise blemishes and under-eye circles for a flawless finish.

There are five main types of artist brushes: flat brushes, bright brushes, round brushes, Filbert brushes, and sable brushes.

A Kabuki brush is a natural make-up brush with many uses. You can use a Kabuki brush to apply mineral make-up powders and blushers and we think it is the best type of make-up brush to use when applying liquid foundation and tinted moisturiser.

There are two main types of bristles: natural, made from animal fur, and synthetic, including polyester brushes.

To protect your skin and kill any harmful bacteria that lingers in your makeup brushes, it's a good idea to wash your brushes every 7 to 10 days.

If you're on a budget, a cheap or mid-price makeup brush collection will serve you just fine. However, if you're willing to splurge a little bit more, it turns out that expensive makeup brushes really are worth the price.

If washed regularly, makeup brushes should last much longer than makeup sponges. We recommend replacing your makeup brushes about every 1-3 years. For upkeep, makeup brushes should be washed weekly - whether it's application brushes, blush, bronzer or eyeshadow.

For a foundation brush to deliver an airbrushed finish it needs to be fluffy, not overly dense, not too flexible, if it's very soft and too flat it will not fit that purpose.

It is not as many as you would think. You truly only need a 3-4 brushes if you are a beginner – a flat eyeshadow brush, a crease brush, eyeliner brush and a blush/powder bronzer brush.

It makes all the difference. If you're still applying your foundation with your fingers, it's time to stop. Using makeup brushes not only gives your foundation a flawless finish, it also keeps all the oils and bacteria from your fingers from clogging up your pores — provided your brushes are clean, of course.

Are natural makeup brushes better? ›

Natural brushes may not be the absolute best when it comes to liquid or cream product because they will soak up the product in their pores. At the end of the day, they do a better job at general makeup application than synthetic brushes.

Sigma Makeup brushes are definitely a more affordable alternative to MAC brushes or any other high-end brushes. They are good, but not always great and sometimes just so-so. Like all brush ranges, not all brushes are made equal. Some brushes aren't as soft, others not as useful.

Compared to the MAC 217, the Sephora brush is a tad bit bigger in length and width. But the tapered edge is rounded, which makes transferring color easier; and, the flexibility of the bristles allows for a good “windshield wiper blending” motion.

If you've got dry skin, a beauty blender is meant for you. This is because the bristles of the brush can irritate your skin and make it look flaky. The smooth, soft surface of a beauty blender is much gentler on the skin, and can help you flawlessly apply makeup without leaving you with a cake face.

Most pro artists carry a fast-drying brush cleanser on jobs so they can quickly clean brushes that need to be used again. I swirl my brushes in an agitator bottle and then wipe them off on a paper towel, repeating until they wipe clean. In addition, brushes are thoroughly shampooed and deep cleaned between jobs.

Sharing makeup, particularly mascara, eyeshadow, and eyeliner, can result in an eye infection, according to a dermatologist. Consider pink eye, styes, and other bacterial buildups. This is especially true for those who wear contact lenses since bacteria can become trapped behind the lens.

First, let's start with the basics. Our makeup that we use every single day should be sanitized every few weeks, especially if we've been traveling or sick.

In regard to application, makeup artists Allan Avendaño, Mary Phillips, and Robin Black all recommend using fingers to apply primer, as they say it's the best and easiest way to blend everything and get a seamless finish.

Remember, there's no “best way” to apply your foundation, as both application techniques have their perks and unique touch. Applying foundation with a brush achieves flawless coverage and a precise, even finish. When you apply foundation with fingers, you tend to get a more natural effect that mimics your skin.

“Application can take a bit longer with your fingers because you need to keep layering and blending to get what you want. If you're in a rush, and want your foundation application to be quick and polished, then I'd use a brush.” For the best of both worlds, you could use your fingers and a brush in tandem.

Is a flat or round foundation brush better? ›

Round brushes are better at buffing the skin to provide a smoother, more even surface. For dry or combination skin, a flat brush is better. A flat brush is more effective at distributing the product evenly throughout the skin instead of concentrating it in one area as a round brush would.

Once you've found your cleanser, you've got to know how to use it. We suggest that for foundation brushes, you should simply place a bit of your chosen cleanser in your palm. Then, wet your brush bristles and swirl the brush around on your hand to loosen up the debris.

Flat-top kabuki brushes will give you the most coverage because the flat surface lays against your skin, transferring more product. Instead of buffing in circular motions, with a thin, flat foundation brush you paint the product onto your face, starting at the center and blending outwards.

It is used for cleaning, grooming hair, make up, painting, surface finishing and for many other purposes. It is one of the most basic and versatile tools in use today, and the average household may contain several dozen varieties.

The most popular types of paintbrushes are Round, Liner, Wash, Angular Wash, and Fan. Each type of brush has different sizes to help you cover larger areas or get those fine details depending on the size and subject of your painting. The higher the number, the bigger the brush or the more bristles there are.

Hair brushes not only detangle your hair and reduce frizz but also improve hair texture and style. A vented brush is great for blowdrying your hair, while a round hair brush is great for styling and blowouts. A boar bristle brush is suitable for curly hair, and a paddle brush is great for detangling straight hair.

With a stippling brush, the top layer of bristles creates those dots for you. The result is an airbrushed appearance with full coverage, making this technique ideal for people who have blemishes and imperfections they want to hide—or anyone who wants to create a flawless-looking complexion.

Tapered foundation brushes are usually flat, less full in form, with a gentle taper. These brushes are best for liquid foundation and other liquid products.

A kabuki brush is a makeup brush with dense to fluffy bristles and a short handle, whereas a stippling brush is a two-toned brush that has a combination of longer and shorter bristles.

Basting brushes can be used for the same purpose, but they are also convenient for buttering the tops of breads and baked goods after they come out of the oven.

How many types of makeup brushes are there? ›

There are about 40 or more types of makeup brushes in the world, each with its distinct functions. A good makeup artist must be able to identify different makeup brushes and their uses. Brushes help makeup products glide smoothly and evenly on the skin, to create a flawless look.

Rigger Brushes

Riggers are usually characterized as thin rounds that have very long bristles. These brushes are capable of holding a lot of fluid paint and are ideal for creating smooth, long, continuous strokes on the canvas.

Storing makeup brushes upright – like in a cup or in an acrylic makeup organizer – is the best way to protect the brush bristles from getting bent or warped.

Round brushes are the most used face painting brush in any artists' kit. A crisp pointy round brush will ensure flowing line work, tribal swirls and teardrops of varying sizes. A #0 to #2 Round will give you the ability to paint fine details for cheek art, like that little unicorn or mermaid eye with lashes!

According to Brittany Lo, professional makeup artist and founder of Beia, “One of the biggest differences with high-quality brushes are the bristles. Cheaper brushes tend to have bristles that shed while applying makeup.”

Flat-top concealer brush: Mineral and powder concealers can be applied with a flat-top concealer brush. This tool helps to quickly dab product onto the skin for a seamless blend. It also works for setting liquid and cream concealers with powder, making it a true multi-functional pick!

Sponges work best, for instance, with lightweight liquid formulas or stick foundations. Creamy, thick foundations would be better served with a brush (so you can buff out the edges for a more natural finish).

Most pro artists carry a fast-drying brush cleanser on jobs so they can quickly clean brushes that need to be used again. I swirl my brushes in an agitator bottle and then wipe them off on a paper towel, repeating until they wipe clean. In addition, brushes are thoroughly shampooed and deep cleaned between jobs.

When it comes to storing your makeup brushes correctly, the best way to do so is to store them upright in a container or inside a drawer. Generally, it's not a good idea to store your makeup brushes loosely in a makeup bag as it can spread bacteria and germs and cause damage to them.

Using an Artis Oval 4 brush, smooth the primer over the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. Follow with a Beautyblender and your foundation to enhance skins' overall evenness."

Which makeup brush is used for lipstick? ›

Lip brushes are one of the essential makeup products when it comes to lip makeup. It helps in applying your lipstick like a pro. It also make your lips look fuller and plumper.