The Ultimate Guide to Makeup Brushes
Remember that pack of makeup brushes that’s been laying around for months? The one with seemingly thousands of makeup brushes? Chances are that only a few actually get used, but each one has its own unique function. Knowing how to use these brushes could not only enhance our makeup game, but actually make it easier to create new looks. In this guide, we’ll go over the most common types of makeup brushes and their uses.
Concealer Brush
This brush is meant to apply concealer. Blending concealer with something other than a brush is fine, like fingers or a beauty blender. However, a concealer brush is designed to seamlessly blend concealer without absorbing too much of the product. This brush is also great to clean up eye makeup or brows.
Foundation Brush
This brush is for applying foundation. It’s usually one of the biggest brushes in the pack, so it’s easy to identify. It’s big enough to cover a large surface area to make sure no spots get missed! This brush is also great for blending foundation down the neck.
Angled Brush
The angled brush is one of the more versatile brushes. The angle is perfect for creating natural-looking lines. It’s most commonly used for eyebrow makeup and can apply both powder or gel to the brows. It also is great for applying eyeliner — the angle can give an easy wing.
Packing Brush
The packing brush is the first tool to grab when doing eyeshadow. This brush creates the first layer of any eye look. Use this brush to pack the base color all over your lid. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect; it will get blended later!
Crease Brush
The crease brush is usually small and fluffy. This brush can be used to add a slightly darker shade into the crease of your lid. Use swiping motions back and forth to blend this color into the shade you just put on your lid.
Blending Brush
It’s easy to identify this brush because it’s usually the fluffiest of the bunch. This brush can be used to soften eyeshadow looks by blending out the edges. If you’re using multiple colors or shades in your eye look, this brush can blend together and take away any harsh lines.
Powder Brush
This brush should be the biggest out of all the fluffy brushes. It’s meant for powder, bronzer or to brush off baking powder from under the eyes.
Blush Brush
The blush brush is a slightly smaller version of the powder brush. It’s medium-sized and fluffy, so it’s perfect for applying blush.
Contour Brush
This brush looks similar to the blush brush, but it has an angle to it. You can use this brush to carve out your cheeks with a cream or powder contour.
Highlighter Brush
This brush is also called a fan brush. Dip this into any highlighter and brush it on the tops of your cheekbones to create a beautiful shimmer effect.
With so many types of makeup brushes out there, it’s easy to get confused on which is for what. However, makeup gets easier the more you practice. So, get out there and create a great look!