Makeup Brushes Make The Difference
Choosing the right makeup brushes can make the difference between okay makeup and a polished, professional look. While a lot of makeup products come with free applicators, you never see real makeup artists using the two inch brush blush that came in the package! Invest in a set of quality makeup brushes and you too can look like a movie star.
Foundation Applying Brush
The most important makeup brushes to start with are the kabuki brush, the foundation brush, the brush blush, the lip brush, the eye shadow brush and the eyeliner brush. Rather than buying a miniature kit with a small version of each of these makeup brushes in them, skip them unless you need them specifically for travel. Full size brushes are more economical because they hold up better, and they're also easier to control for precise makeup.
The kabuki brush is a large, dome-shaped brush with dense bristles that provides full coverage, used to apply loose powder of all kinds, including mineral powder foundations. The best kabuki brushes are made of beaver or goat hair and range in price from $8 for a low end version to $45 for a professional kabuki brush.
The foundation brush has a large, flat, square tip and is used for applying and blending liquid or cream foundations. It also works well with aerosol foundations (spray the foundation directly on the brush bristles). Synthetic fibers are fine for foundation brushes, so they're slightly cheaper than kabuki brushes, with the most expensive ones running around $30.
Blush Makeup Brush
The blush brush has a large, soft, and full rounded tip made of natural fibers (usually goat hair) and is used to apply powder blush. Blush brushes range in cost from $12.00 to $45.00 depending upon the quality; a good blush brush will not lose hairs when you swipe it across your palm. If you only have money to buy one brush, blush brushes are the makeup brushes that make the biggest difference!
The Lip Brush
The lip brush has a small, flat but long head with firm fibers. It's used to apply lipstick with precision. Fibers can be either natural or synthetic. Lip brushes are relatively inexpensive; they can be found in the $10-$20 price range. Unlike most other makeup brushes, lip brushes with short handles are preferable, as they fit easily in the purse for reapplication.
Eye Shadow Brush
The eye shadow brush is also smaller, with a rounded soft tip of natural fibers. Like lip brushes, they range from $10-$20. These makeup brushes are excellent for blending as well as applying eye shadow and contouring the crease.
Eye Liner Application Brush
The eyeliner brush comes in several different styles, the most useful of which is the push brush. This is a small, flat squared brush with firm bristles and is usually synthetic. It can be used with liquid or cream eyeliner, or can be wet with water or makeup sealant and applied to darker powder eye shadow to make your own eyeliner. Push brushes run around $15.00 and make it easy to create a straight, even line.
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