Make Up: Tools

Before purchasing brushes, you have to know what you are looking for and which brushes are worth-while investments. Assess the quality of a brush by testing the way the bristles feel agaisnt the skin and by running your fingers through the bristles to make sure that they don't shed. It's important to test how a brush feels when you hold it in your band. It needs to feel comfortable and easy to maneuver.

Brush Blush
This needs to be wide enough to cover the apple of the cheek.
The Bristles should be soft, natural hair with beveled and curved edges. 

Bronzer Brush

This is a thicker and fuller than a blush brush and has a flat profile.
It is designed for sweeping and pressing bronzer over cheeks,
forehead, nose, and chin to provide natural-looking warmth to the skin. 

Brow Brush

A brush with stiff, short bristles cut on an angle. Designed for applying shadow to the brows.  Look for a synthetic/natural blend of bristles, as the 100 percent synthetic brushes are too stiff and don't deposit color as effectively. 

Concealer Brush

This should have firm but soft bristles that aren't too hard or scratchy, since the brush will be used on the delicate skin under the eyes. Look for a brush with glossy synthetic hairs, as these slip along the skin. The ends of the bristles should be tapered to help you place concealer in hard-to-reach spots, such as the inner corners of the eyes, and apply stick foundation to cover any redness around the nose.

TIP: Brush Size - The brushes that come with most makeup compacts are too small and narrow for proper blush application. Toss them and use a brush designed specifically for that purpose instead.

Eye Blender Brush

A soft, fluffy, natural hair brush with long bristles designed to blend eye shadow and eliminate lines of demarcation on the lids after applying multiple shades. It is also great for applying powder to set corrector, concealer, or foundation around the eyes or over blemish cover. 

Eye Contour Brush

A round, flat-head, natural hair brush. Short, dense bristles
apply a greater amount of shadow in the crease to contour the eye. 

Eye Shader Brush

A wide, flat-head brush that can gently sweep
eye shadow color over the entire life, from the lash line to the brow bone. 

Eye Shadow Brush

Wide enough to cover about half the eyelid. This brush has natural, soft, rounded bristles with beveled edges that deposit a sweep of shadow across the lower lid without leaving any harsh lines. 

TIP: Natural Bristles - Such as squirrel, goat, pony or sable are very soft and offer a more blended, natural application. They're best for working with powder-based products
 - blush, powder, and eye shadow.

Eye Smudge Brush

A small-head brush with a slightly rounded point.
This brush has soft, flexible bristles that help smudge liner to create a smoky look. 

Eyelash Curler

Look for a basic metal version with rubber pads. An eyelash  curler shapes lashes into a natural-looking  curl. Replace pads regularly. To avoid breakage, always curl the lashes before applying mascara. 

Eyeliner Brush (Angled) / Eye Definer Brush

This small brush has very short, dense bristles cut on an angle.  It is designed to use with shadows to strengthen thin brows or as an alternative to an eye-liner brush. 

Eyeliner Brush (Flat)

With flat, dense, synthetic bristles that are slightly rounded at the tip,
 this brush can be used wet or dry to apply a precise line at the lash line. 

Eyeliner Brush (Ultra Fine)

The bristles on this small brush are synthetic, dense,
and curve to a point. Perfect for the precise application of liquid or gel eyeliner. 

TIP: Synthetic Bristles - The best choice for brushes that will be used with creamy products, such as concealer, gel liners, and lip colors. They are generally stiffer than natural hair, so they give you greater control and more precise application. 

Face Blender Brush

A natural or synthetic brush used to deposit shimmer, bronzer, powder, or blush

Face Brush

A natural or synthetic fluffy, curved brush that can be used to apply bronzer, blush or powder. 

Foundation Brush

Synthetic bristles in this full, flat-edged brush deposit just the right amount of foundation onto the skin. 

Lip Brush

Firm, long bristles come to a slightly pointed tip.
This brush allows for the precise placement of lip color.
Bristles can be either synthetic or natural. 

TIP: Using Your Fingers - Nothing beats the warmth of the fingers to blend makeup into the skin. 

Powder Brush

A natural-hair, large, fluffy brush with soft bristles that bevel to a slight point (for navigating around the nose and under the eyes). Designed for use with both loose and pressed powders. 

Sponges

Disposable sponges are invaluable. Wedge-shaped ones are great for applying foundation around the nose and other hard-to reach places, as well as for blending. Don't bother washing them - toss dirty ones, and take a new one. Higher-quality sponges can be washed and reused many times. 

Touch Up Brush

Short, firm, natural-bristled brush used with foundation for spot touch-ups and for hard-to-reach areas around the nose and mouth. This brush can also be used to touch up concealer and apply eye shadow. 

Tweezers

It's well worth investing in a good pair. Look at the Tweezerman or Rubis brands. Tweezers that are angled at the tip are easier to control than those that come to a sharp point. Always cover tweezers' tips with the included rubber cap when they are not in use. 

Brushes make all the difference in make up application. Everyone from the most skilled make up artist to the woman who wears only the basics can benefit from using the right tools. Consider investing in some of these brushes! Good brushes aren't really hard to find. Look at those made by make up artists' lines (like all these brushes and tools from Bobbi Brown) or the less expensive versions available at beauty and art supply stores. 

Love, 

ALPHA

Information from Bobbi Brown's Makeup Manual