TL;DR: Understand the purpose of each brush, use gentle techniques, and experiment with different applications.
Understanding Brush Types
Makeup brushes come in various shapes and sizes, each designed for specific purposes. For instance, tapered brushes can be used for more controlled application, whether it's for eye shadow in the crease or applying powder in concentrated areas [1:3]. A beginner's guide often includes identifying which brushes are meant for foundation, contouring, blush, eyeshadow, and more
[5:2].
Application Techniques
The technique you use with your brushes can significantly affect the outcome. It's recommended to stipple or bounce the brush on your skin rather than dragging it to avoid streaks [3:4]. Holding the brush at the end rather than the middle can help apply makeup gently, leading to smoother results
[4]. Applying products like foundation using thin layers and blending outwards from the center of the face can also improve the finish
[3:1].
Product Compatibility
Different brushes work better with certain types of makeup products. For example, denser brushes can lead to heavier application, while softer brushes provide a lighter finish [3:2]. For those with sensitive skin, brushes made from natural hair, such as horse hair, may offer a gentler application
[3:3].
Maintaining Brushes
Proper care extends the life of your brushes. While the discussions didn't delve deeply into maintenance, it's generally advised to clean your brushes regularly to prevent product buildup and maintain hygiene. Using the right brush for the right product will also ensure they last longer [5:1].
Experimentation and Flexibility
Ultimately, while there are typical uses for each brush type, flexibility is key. Many users suggest experimenting with different brushes for various applications to see what works best for you [5:2]. The goal is to achieve a look that satisfies your personal style and comfort.
Hi! I have a question about tapered brushes. In what situations do you use them? I recently bought a brush set and I have a couple tapered ones in there. Thanks
It depends on the size of the brush! A tapered brush that’s eye-sized is generally for your eye crease, or to sweep a little shadow under your lower lashes. For a more face-sized brush, you would use it for powder, bronzer, or potentially even highlighter. The tapering gives you more controlled placement of whatever product you’re using. For example, a large fluffy powder brush will scatter powder across a bigger area. A tapered powder brush will allow you to sweep powder over a smaller, more concentrated area. Hope this makes sense :)
Thank you that is super helpful! I’m just getting into makeup and I get overwhelmed with all the brushes and their uses.
Also, I just subscribed to your channel. I like the way you explain things, so I’m excited to watch more of your videos :)
What kind of brush specifically are you using? Or what kind of product are you wanting to apply?
What kind of brush specifically are you using? Or what kind of product are you wanting to apply?
Hi, Ive always used beauty sponges for most of my makeup application. I have pretty dry skin and always feel like when I have tried to use brushes it always leaves texture, streaks/ lines. Can anyone suggest good makeup brushes and maybe any techniques for smoother application? Mainly looking for base makeup suggestions but anything is appreciated.
Products I use:
Different density brushes will have a different effect, and as someone else said, you stipple/bounce instead of 'paint' or sweep. Softer brushes will leave you with a softer finish, where denser can lead to a heavier application.
Putting the foundation/tinted moisturiser on the back of your hand also helps with application, as you're controlling the amount you put on your brush, but I always think it applies better when body temp.
I also have very sensitive skin and brushes with horse hair worked very well for me. They’re soft and blend everything evenly. Another advice is to not put too much pressure when using them.
With a brush, bounce/stipple more than you drag. That dragging will inevitably leave streaks. If you do that the type of brush shouldn't actually matter too much.
I have dry/oily skin. Honestly lately I’ve just embraced using back of the hand and applying with my fingers! I still use a brush to spot apply concealer but fingers all the way for foundation. Apply in thin layers starting from the middle of your face /where the most redness is and blending out more lightly towards the sides of your face.
If you aren’t sure where to start with brushes I would recommend a Real Techniques set or the Elf base set which comes with some great brushes (esp for liquid blush!) that are also labelled.
Spray setting spray in between each layer so you don’t disturb your base once you move on to highlighter, blush etc.
One tip I’ve been only just starting to get the hang of myself is tapping blush on, never swipe. This made a big difference for me.
For powder, less is definitely more but you can use a powder ‘puff’ or a round fluffy brush to gently press the powder in. Makeup artist katiejanehughes has some great video tutorials for base makeup. Hope some of this helps!
Inspired by a recent post on a skincare subreddit.
Mine: Use your makeup tools in a gently manner.
Pat gently the foundation/concealer into your skin and act like your skin is super sensitive and you must be careful or act like you want to paint a stunning picture and each movement is important.
What additionally helped me to achieve this: For example, for brushes I hold them at the other end instead of the middle part.
Result: Best coverage and smooth results.
What are your underrated makeup hacks?
Putting a thin layer of loose powder under foundation makes it last so much longer and gives better coverage.
I second what you said about being gentle. The artist who did my wedding makeup applied my foundation as you’re describing and it looked amazing, so I started doing it too. Beating it into the skin is counterproductive, I find. Makes my skin red which makes it seem like I need more than I actually do.
I think I’ve seen something about that…powder then setting spray and then base.
Drawing my eyeliner with eyeshadow, it looks more gentle and with the brush I use I don’t mess up like ink liner ! Been doing that for a decade and always get compliment on how it looks
Do you have a shadow and brush you recommend?
I use the #172 brush from make up forever and I use the darker shade from my palettes, a matte one ! I use the black from an old sleek palette, the plum from my Huda beauty nude palette or the dark brown from urban decay heat mini palette ! Any darker eyeshadow that does not fall off works :)
I've posted this one before, but if you're an oily girlie like I was as a teenager - adding a bit of cornstarch to your loose powder helps mattify and make it last wayyyyyyy longer. VERY important to patch test and go slow as it can be a lot more drying than one would expect, and you DO NOT want to learn that the hard way. Trust me.
Hmm I’ve never heard this. Does corn starch absorb?
I apply it to my hair roots with a powder brush as dry shampoo and on grease spots on clothes before washing.
If your makeup pills on top of sunscreen, spray your spf with setting spray and let dry. Foundation won’t pill.
Thanks for the tip. I will try this!
Genius! Definitely trying this
Setting spray between each step.
Hello beautiful people!! I came to poke your beauty skillful brains 🙏 can someone help me identify what each of these brushes are for?
I got them today, after years of having the same 3 basic (bronzer, liquid foundation and 1 for all eye makeup brush) and I’m a bit lost - I would love to use them properly and taking care of them and their life span.
Any volunteers to give me a tiny bit of guidance?
Thank you all in advance!!
Starting from the left, 1: contour 2: blush 3: setting powder 4: highlighter 5,6: foundation 7: eyeshadow base 8,9: eyeshadow blending 10: eyeshadow 11: details (aegyosal, under eye makeup) 12: eyebrows/details
Thats how I would use it if those were my brushes, but I don’t think brushes really have a set use, just use whatever you think is necessary for whatever you’re doing.. for example the 2,3 which I said is for 2:blush 3: setting powder, you can swap them out 3: blush 2: setting powder. It really doesn’t matter as long as it does its job for whatever product you’re applying
But in all honesty those brushes look like they’re from temu. They look extremely low in quality. I think if you’re serious about makeup you should get a better quality, high end brushes.. but if you’re just looking to apply makeup and get it over with, these are just fine.
1st 6 for powders, foundations and larger areas..last 6 for shadows and liners...i got that same set and thats how i use em
Some folks may disagree with me but as a pro MUA- some of these brushes are not ones I would use. Mostly because they may be too big for a controlled application.
I said ignore the first one because it’s used for powder but in reality gets powder everywhere and it’s messy. I perfect a powder puff.
The other one I said to ignore is a fan brush- it’s used for highlight usually. But it’s huge and gets messy and gets highlight all over the place. A smaller stipple brush is much more suited to apply highlighter.
Hope that helps!
Yes you absolutely can. The thing to think about here is that while you won’t want to use one as a big fluffy power brush. The synthetic brushes work great for lots of products. Foundation, cream products etc. I’ve been buying the small angled ones for 20 years for eyeliner. They last a long time and work great for cream/gel liner and if you want to use an eyeshadow as a liner. If you have a dark shadow you love use a mixing medium or visine eye drops as a medium. Works great 😃
I've found that it depends on the type of product you want to use it with. If it's a brush for a liquid or cream product, I've never had a problem. I use paintbrushes for liquid eyeliner, foundation, and concealer a lot. But, I've had a lot less luck with using them for powder products. I may not have found the right brush, but I just haven't been successful in getting the same result from a paintbrush for eyeshadow, blush, and bronzer as I would from a makeup brush.
Same experience here, like said I might not have been using a right brush but I had a paint brush for powder eye shadow and it just never transferred to the lid properly, but instead kept it all in the bristles if that makes sense?!
I don't know that there'd be any like ... terrible effects or anything like that, but they might not work very well. Paint brushes aren't usually designed to have super-soft bristles that will feel nice on your face, the shapes and types of brush you want to get a specific effect (eg a nice blend) are different, and of course the product itself is mostly a very different texture. Additionally the type of application you want is quite different, as is the application technique -- putting powder eyeshadow on is not very similar to painting with watercolour or acrylic in terms of how you get colour onto the surface. And you'd need to keep an eye on which brushes are natural vs synthetic too (which you also need to check for makeup brushes).
For eye makeup like liner YES
For anything else it will not work ( i hve tried it )
I’ve used a tiny one for eyeliner and it actually worked better
has anyone tried these morphe brushes? i haven't heard much about them and was wondering if they were good. i mainly use concealer and sometimes nose contour or lashes. any other brush recommendations or beginner tips are appreciated!
Thinking of getting these for my sister as a present - worth it?
i'm not sure if they are good bc no one has replied yet, but based off of some other things i've heard, morphe brushes shed and don't last long. some ppl have also said they're inconsistent and some of them are scratchy. a couple ppl say they're good tho
Thanks you are an angel
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I've tried Morphe brushes before, and while they’re decent for the price, I think their quality has fluctuated over the years. Some of their face brushes blend really well, but a few of the eye brushes shed more than I’d like. If you're mainly using concealer and doing nose contour, a good dense concealer brush and an angled contour brush will make a big difference.
If you're open to other options, a 24-piece set can be a great investment for variety and precision. I came across this one (link), and it covers everything from blending to detailing at a pretty reasonable price. Soft bristles and good durability are what I usually look for in a brush set.
For beginners, I’d also recommend always cleaning your brushes regularly—it helps with blending and keeps your skin happy! 😊
thank you!! i'll check it out
Some things seem clear - you don't want something scratchy or that will fall apart - but I don't see what else there is to care about.
What am I missing?
It depends on the makeup product you're using. Synthetic bristles work better for liquid/cream products, since they don't absorb as much product, but natural bristles work really well with powders. This changes if you prefer vegan brushes, of course, but not all brands can mimic the softness of natural bristles while maintaining density.
Start out with cheaper brushes, and experiment with different shaped tips especially for eye brushes. There's a huge difference when applying with a flat shader vs a fluffy crease brush. Anothet example is that I personally prefer tapered brushes for blush vs the standard dome brushes since it helps me blend it out better on my cheeks.
In terms of the way it's assembled, brush ferrules with double notches/dents generally mean that the hairs are better gripped and may last longer than straight ferrules. The weight of the handle can also affect how you hold the brush or how it can help level your grip/motion.
But I do see how makeup can perform better with the quality of the brush. It's definitely easier for me working with Zoeva eye brushes vs bh cosmetics, for example, but the brand is only important to me because I am a makeup artist and what I use affects how efficient I am with my work. :)
Really helpful, thanks! Didn't think about the ferrules. I am trying to avoid natural bristles, any recommendations for powder brushes?
If you have a bit more for your budget, start with Zoeva brushes! They have vegan options, and I can vouch for its quality. They’re very well made. :) If you want to do more exploring first, you can also start with BH Cosmetics for powder brushes, since they offer eye sets in different shapes and thickness, and for their price it’s a good set to start with to figure out what kind of brushes you want more of. Real Techniques also offers powder brushes, and you can easily build a set with their variety, with more aesthetically pleasing variants to choose from if you want!
Don’t forget to consider the type of fiber either. Natural brushes and synthetic brushes absorb product into the bristles differently, which can affect the way it distributes on your skin.
A lot of this is dependant on your preferences. For example, I like small, fluffy brushes for shadow. Small because I have tiny orbital sockets, and fluffy because most of my shadows perform better with patting on, then blending, versus swiping on. For eye liner, since I usually powder line, I like both flat and angled tip precision liner brushes with a flat, compact style. I can tight line, push line, get to my waterline, etc.
For base face brushes, I like high density fluffy ones. Pick up a lot of powder and blend it in quickly with those. For contouring, I like small, compact brushes. I can very precisely apply my darker contour shade, and then blend it out with one of those dense fluffy brushes. For blush, I want medium density (don't want to pick up as much product, or lose too much in the brush) and less fluff (still some fluff) so I have more control over how much blush, and where it goes.
If you're just starting to explore brushes, I'd advise getting various types from a cheap-but-sufficient brand like ELF. You can see what does and doesn't work before you consider spending more.
Yesssss I used elf for EVERYTHING when I was curious about a product. It's probably my favorite line.
That's all really helpful, thank you!
You're welcome! Happy to help. Should add that you can usually track down advice for a specific need or problem. Eg "I want to foil my shadows, what sort of brush would you reccomend" will get a lot of recommendations for flat sleek shadow brushes. Specific brands/types too, especially if you ask.
Spectrum brushes are amazing!
Its really up to you how you use these. Generally the big ones, 1,2,3 and 7 are face, 4,5,6 are either small details on the face or quite large eye brushes. The rest are for eyeshadow aside from 10 whoch is for brows. All that said you could use some of the small flat brushes for concealer if you wanted to, or even as a lip brush with a lipstick. I reccomend you watch some tutorials and look at the brushes they are using.
Powder (usually setting or blurring powder- face).
Contour or blush- face
Angled blush brush
Unsure, face
Flat concealer brush, face (wet)
Big eye brush or concealer setting placement
Fan brush; highlighter
8 & 9. Flat concealer or flat shadow (eye shadow) for lid
Spoolie (eyebrow- brush into place) I use mine to exfoliate my lips though
Flat eyeshadow (detail brush) glitter personally
Lower lash line brush
Angled eyeliner brush (gel or liquid or shadow as liner)
Lower waterline /lashline eyeshadow
Yess! Use this explanation as a guideline but feel free to adjust to whatever works for you.
Im looking to buy some good makeup brushes as a beginner. I want to start with foundation and concealer brushes. Please help me with some suggestions.
As a beginner, it’s important to invest in good quality brushes that will help you apply foundation and concealer flawlessly. For foundation, a dense, flat brush or a beauty sponge works great for an airbrushed finish. For concealer, look for a smaller, tapered brush that can easily reach under the eyes and around the nose.
One brand I highly recommend for high-quality makeup brushes is MyMakeupBrushSet. They have a variety of sets that are perfect for beginners, and they offer brushes that are designed to make applying foundation and concealer easy and seamless. You can check out their collection here. They offer excellent products that help you get a flawless look without breaking the bank! Happy makeup shopping! 😊
Thank you😃
Fellow beginner, I find RT brushes to be great! Got the travel size set and they're soft but also dense. I don't have a foundation brush but I plan on purchasing one next month, they're available on Tira, I did find them pricey but apparently they last very long if you take care of them and they work great so I'd say that justifies the price.
I got some wet n wild pink/white brushes before these and they're terrible, even if you don't get RT at least don't get those.
Do you have any idea on the different kinds of concealer brushes and foundation brushes and which ones to buy? when im looking for a concealer brush there are so many types of brushes from each brand. Im so lost 😞
For foundation I plan on buying either this or this set I currently use a sponge to apply skin tint and it soaks up a lot of product despite being damp and doesn't offer a good finish no matter how hard I try, I assume the set one would do a better job at blending it in.
For concealer tbh I'd say it depends, I've used the concealer one from wet n wild and I didn't like that shape, aside from the fact that it would pick up products and just..not apply them? 🙄 I thrifted a huda one and I like the shape so I'd say go for a flat top one(like the one in the set)
Pac has some really good mid range brushes. Highly recommend their concealer brush
there are so many concealer brushes in pac.
A good affordable option is the Mars brush set (both green and gold ones) - they have all necessary brushes covered. Elf also has some good brushes. I also use Real Techniques for my eyeshadow.
how to use makeup brushes
Key Considerations for Using Makeup Brushes:
Types of Brushes:
Application Techniques:
Cleaning Brushes:
Storage:
Recommendation: Start with a basic set of brushes that includes a foundation brush, blush brush, and a couple of eyeshadow brushes. As you become more comfortable, you can add specialty brushes to your collection. Remember, the right technique and practice will enhance your makeup application skills!
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