Getting To Know Your Brushes

Brushes are essential tools to help you apply makeup with ease.  Don't traumatize your clients by using abrasive poor quality brushes. These tools need not be expensive or branded, either. You can find good brushes if you know where and what to look for.

Makeup Brushes are either made of:

1. Natural Bristles- animal hair. Usually goat, sable or squirrel hair.  The scales in the natural fibers allow efficient transfer of powder to the skin.


2. Synthetic Bristles- these are best for liquid or cream forms of makeup, for easy gliding of cosmetics to the skin.

This post will be all about face brushes. Those that you use to apply foundation, powder, highlighting, contouring and blushing.  There are more kinds of brushes in the market but these are the ones that I personally use. You don't have to own all of them.

I. Natural Bristles


1- Large Powder Brush

• big fluffy brush used in applying loose powder for a smooth, sheer and even application


• the fuller the brush, the more powder will be spread out

2- Small Powder Brush

• a smaller version of the large powder brush. You can do away with it if you already have the large one. Sometimes I use this for applying powder to the neck area because I don't want to put back on the face what I have used on the neck or body.

3- Powder/ Blush Brush

• For contouring/sculpting your cheekbones

4- Angled Blush Brush

• A blush brush that is tapered at the sides for controlled blending application

5- Fan Brush

• For sweeping off excess powder, applying sheer coverage, highlighting cheekbones and the list goes on. The use of this brush varies.

II. Combination of Natural and Synthetic Bristles



Stippling Brush-

The latest innovation for quicker and even application of liquid foundation. Make circular motion to distribute the fluid. This can also be used for applying powder forms for an air-brushed finish.

Made of a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, hence the term dual-fiber.

III. Synthetic Bristles



1-Foundation Brush-

To apply, distribute, and blend  liquid foundation into the face. Made of synthetic fiber.

2-Concealer Brush-

A smaller version of the foundation brush used to apply concealer on problem areas.

The eyeshadow brushes will be up in the next installment of this series on makeup brushes.