Application is the whole lot on the subject of makeup. Having the appropriate tools at your disposal makes the difference between blotchy blush and perfectly rosy cheeks, glaring bronzer lines and a sun-kissed complexion, or patchy eyeshadow and a cut crease blended to perfection. Your fingers and a makeup sponge have a time and place, but in the event you’re chasing a professional-grade finish, enlisting the assistance of the very best makeup brushes is the logical solution.
“Makeup brushes provide a more precise and controlled application. They make your makeup look more natural and refined. Brushes are designed to focus on specific areas of the face, corresponding to the eyes, cheeks, or lips, with greater accuracy than sponges or fingers,” explains Benjamin Puckey, Clé De Peau Beauté’s Global Color Director. “Brushes allow for higher control over the quantity of product applied because they let you decide up the specified amount of product and evenly distribute it onto the skin.”
Curating a well-rounded lineup will be an intimidating task—I get it. That in mind, I’ve tapped the very best makeup artists within the business to interrupt down the makeup brush landscape—ranging from the fundamentals. From how you can determine what variety of brush fibers will work best so that you can knowing what density brush plays best with powder, cream, and liquid formulas, the whole lot it is advisable learn about choosing the very best makeup brush is ahead.
What to Look For in Makeup Brushes
You need to pick a brush that makes since for the realm you are working with. The 2 fundamental aspects: Size and shape. “For larger areas of the face, I prefer to use a bigger fluffier brush,” explains makeup artist Lisa Aharon. Flat or paddle-shaped brushes shall be your go-to for foundations and powders, but dome shapes are more versatile and ideal for mixing products like blush or bronzer.
Makeup brushes are going to fall into two camps: Natural and artificial. Natural brushes are known to be softer finish, nevertheless again and again they’re created from animal hair. “Synthetic brushes don’t shed hair like natural bristles are likely to do,” explains Puckey. “They offer me the identical results as natural bristles and are typically created from materials corresponding to nylon or taklon, while natural bristles are derived from animal hair, corresponding to goat, squirrel, or sable.”
The formula you are working with (cream, powder, or liquid) will determine how dense of brush you need to search for. “The more dense the makeup the firmer the comb, because it needs to select up the heavier product,” explains Aharon. That being said, a denser brush shall be ideal for pressed powders, whereas a less dense brush works well for loose powders or cream formulas.
The Best Makeup Brushes
The Best Foundation and Concealer Makeup Brushes
“For liquid or cream foundations, synthetic brushes with densely packed bristles are preferred. These brushes provide a smooth and even application, allowing you to mix the inspiration seamlessly into the skin,” explains Puckey. “For powder foundations, a big, fluffy brush is good for a light-weight and natural application.”
Clé De Peau Beauté Concealer Brush
“For concealer, I all the time use Clé De Peau Beauté’s Concealer Brush, which is a densely packed flat synthetic brush with a rounded tip,” explains Puckey. “It really works great to smooth out concealer and precisely cover blemishes and discoloration.” The domed shape is ideal for packing product over imperfections and entering into all of the little under-eye crevices.
Kevyn Aucoin The Duet Foundation Brush
In case you’re struggling to part ways together with your finger application, I challenge you to take this dual-ended Kevyn Aucoin foundation brush for a spin. The dome-shaped end is designed to mimic the form and pressure of a finger, so that you’ll easily give you the chance to realize the sink-into-the-skin effect. Then, just flip your brush around to the fluffier side and you’ll be able to mix and buff out any streaks or cakiness. It’s truly a dynamic duo that’ll work on any formula, be it cream, powder, or liquid.
The Best Powder Makeup Brushes
“For powder, I prefer a medium-sized domed brush with soft bristles that give a lightweight and even application,” says Puckey. The density will vary depending on the form of the comb and desired finish.
Hourglass Veil Powder Brush
I don’t bake my face anymore (I’ll leave that beauty trend within the early 2000s), but a superb loose powder brush remains to be an integral a part of my routine. And not using a swipe or two, or three, of translucent powder, my under eyes will crease and my complexion goes to be wayyyy too shiny. Enter: Hourglass’ powder brush, a dual-ended tool that’s designed to grip every area of the face. The smaller end is ideal for the under eyes, while the fluffier side is good for sweeping translucent powder across the complete face. The fibers are product of synthetic PETA-approve fibers as well.
Nars #15 Precision Powder Brush
“I like Nars’ #15 Precision Powder Brush, which is a smaller tapered brush created from soft synthetic hair for precision powder application,” says Puckey. “It also works great for powder highlighters.” The small, tapered design is ideal for sweeping a bit shimmer on the high points of your cheeks, across your cupid’s bow, or along the brow bone.
The Best Bronzer and Blush Makeup Brushes
“Powder bronzer is best applied with a big and soft domed brush because a much bigger brush gives a lighter and immediately blended application,” says Puckey. “Cream bronzer and blush are higher applied with a denser synthetic brush to seamlessly mix them into the skin.”
Merit Brush No. 1 Tapered Mixing Brush
Whether you’re working with a powder, cream, or liquid bronzer, this brush has you covered. The shorter handle provides intense control, while the densely-packed synthetic bristles be certain that there isn’t any stark bronzer line in sight. With firm pressure and few, circular brush strokes, it’ll be unimaginable to distinguish where your foundation ends and bronzer starts. With a view to avoiding going too heavy, I like to recommend dabbing off a little bit of product on the highest of your hand before taking the bronzer brush to the skin.
Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Dual-Ended Sculpting Brush
Layering cream and powder formulas on top of each other is a trick beloved by the professionals—it’s the important thing to creating long-lasting wear, deeper dimension, and a rather intensified finish. This brush was created for exactly that. The angled end is great for cream contours or swooping pigment along your jawline, brow, and the bridge of your nose. Buff it out before layering your powder bronzer excessive with the fluffier end of the comb. If you ought to take a page out of Ta’s notebook, flip the script and put your powder on before your cream.
Real Techniques Blush Brush
Great brushes don’t should be crazy expensive. Living proof? This Real Technique Blush Brush. It’s perfectly fluffy, which is good for applying blushes of the cream variety. Just swirl it in your pigment and calmly stipple the product onto your cheeks. In case you desire a less intense look, move your brush in light, circular motions—the more pressure you utilize, the more pigment you’ll see. In case you clean your brush, you may also use it for loose powder or bronzer.
The Best Eyeshadow Makeup Brushes
At a baseline, you would like two distinct eyeshadow brushes—a fluffy brush and a firm brush. “Firm brushes will deposit color and fluffy brushes will mix and diffuse,” explains Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Artist Talia Cich. “Great eye brushes will make your makeup application faster and easier.” In case you really prefer to play up your artistry, you might wish to scope out the scene for a defining brush that may perfect pigment on the lash line or cut crease.
Anastasia Beverly Hills A13 Pro Brush
“This is good for applying eyeshadow to the lid with maximum payoff,” says Cich. The dome shape and densely packed natural fibers make this little guy ideal for packing color directly onto the lid. It’s going to play nicely with cream and powder products, however it’s one in all my personal favorites for applying glitter pigments—I swear it minimizes fallout. Pro tip: You may as well drag the tip along your lower lash line for added dimension.
Makeup By Mario E 3 Makeup Brush
I’m not an eyeshadow pro by any means, but I’ll be damned if this particular brush doesn’t make me feel like one. It feels natural in my hand and truly does the whole lot I could ever need. If I hold it flat, it allows me to accumulate pigment, whereas if I tilt the positioning to a forty five degree angle it’s an authority blender. All it requires is feather-light pressure and my eyeshadow becomes blended to perfection, with no harsh lines or stark delineations.
Mykitco 1.17 Pro My Tiny Angle
“I can not live without Mykitco’s 1.17 Pro My Tiny Angle eyeliner brush for perfect wings and kitten flicks,” says Puckey. The comb is created from fantastic, synthetic fibers and provides optimal control for little detailing. Applying eyeliner with a brush may take a minute to get the hang of, but in the event you master the technique the world of graphic eyeliner is your oyster.
The Best Eyebrow Makeup Brushes
Tapered or angled brushes are going to be ideal for eyebrows, in response to Puckey. They’ll provide increased control and precision, so you’ll be able to deposit products exactly where you wish them. Firm, synthetic fibers are going to be your best bet, in response to Clich.
Tom Ford #16 Angled Brow Brush
Hold this eyebrow brush for a mere five seconds and also you’ll feel the luxurious. The lacquered handled, expertly weighted design, and angled, synthetic bristles come together to create an intuitive tool that’s equipped for all your eyebrow needs. It could define your arches, deposit fluffy strokes, and diffuse pigment with ease. The bristles really grip onto the product, so don’t feel like it is advisable press hard to get payoff—a lightweight touch is all you would like.
Bobbi Brown Dual Ended Brow Definer
I’ll be honest: I’m a brow gel and go variety of girl. Nevertheless, if I’m attempting to execute a brow moment, this single brush is my best friend. I grab my favorite pomade and ever-so-lightly deposit hair-like strokes into my brows, filling in any gaps and strengthening my border. Then, it’s just a bit flip of the comb and I can comb through my brows, diffuse the pigment, and create a natural-looking finish. If I’m really in a pinch, I’ll also use the angled end for eyeliner—who doesn’t love a multi-purpose product?
Meet the Experts
Benjamin Puckey is a Recent York-based makeup artist. Born in London and raised in Amsterdam, Puckey’s visionary talent grew from a lifelong love for fashion and art. Puckey’s conceptual approach to makeup has since launched his profession into high fashion titles and leading designer brands world wide. Since his breakthrough fashion spread with W Magazine in 2011, Puckey’s work has appeared across international editions of diverse publications corresponding to Vogue, Dazed, iD, W Magazine, Allure, and Harper’s Bazaar.
He has also worked with brands including Ralph Lauren, Versace, and Oscar de la Renta, in addition to jewelry houses David Yurman and Van Cleef & Arpels. Puckey’s trademark approach to enhancing natural beauty and his pursuit of uncompromising quality resonates deeply with Clé de Peau Beauté, where he now serves because the brand’s Global Color Director.
Lisa Aharon is a Recent York-based, Vancouver-born makeup artist. She makes a speciality of highlighting her clients’ natural beauty by creating flawless skin looks, working commonly with a wide range of high-profile clientele, the likes of Rachel Brosnahan, Florence Welch, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Bock, and Anna Kendrick, amongst others. Her work lives within the pages of Cosmopolitan, L’Officiel, The Recent York Times, Elle, Schön! Magazine, et al, and Aharon has worked with major brands and photographers corresponding to Ralph Lauren, David Yurman, Annie Leibowitz, and Jurgen Teller.
Talia Cich has greater than 14 years of experience within the cosmetics industry, working for top beauty brands in addition to gaining exposure on the earth of freelance. The makeup guru’s expertise includes beauty, editorial, special FX and body painting—which eventually helped her land a director position at major beauty label, Anastasia Beverly Hills. Cich’s passion for makeup is driven by the facility of transformation and empowering others to feel their best.
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