Makeup brushes – types, what you need for what – expert review

Modern girls have the opportunity to use more than twenty types of makeup brushes. However, few people know which brush is intended for what, and what function it performs. But the quality of the make-up depends on the correct choice of accessories. Therefore, the journalists conducted a small investigation, found out from professional makeup artists what makeup brushes are, what types of cosmetics are used for each of them, how to choose accessories and properly care for them.

Classification of makeup brushes

Professional make-up masters distinguish the following categories of accessories, depending on the area of ​​application:

1. For eye makeup. Eyeshadow and eyeliner brushes.

2. For eyebrow makeup and care.

3. For makeup using liquid cosmetics – corrector, concealer, primer, foundation.

4. For applying dry cosmetics – bronzer, highlighter, powder, blush.

5. For lip makeup (applying lipstick or gloss).

The tools differ not only in the scope of application, but also in the shape, volume, nature of the cut (contour) of the hair bundle:

1. With a straight cut.

2. In the shape of a petal.

3. With an oblique or diagonal cut.

4. With an oval outline.

5. Pointed tip.

6. Fan brush.

7. With barrel-shaped beam.

8. Applicator Brush – has a dome-shaped nozzle made of latex, foam or felt. The attachments can usually be changed.

9. With stiff bristles for brushing eyebrows and blending pigments.

All these tools of different sizes and volumes are necessarily present in the cases of professional makeup artists and makeup masters. But at home, you can limit yourself to a more modest set of brushes. It is enough to have one item each for applying different types of cosmetics.

What are the benefits of using makeup brushes

By and large, you can even apply cosmetics with your fingertips. Only shadows are difficult to use without a brush, all other products do not require the mandatory use of accessories. But applying makeup with special brushes has many advantages:

1. The most economical distribution of cosmetics, an increase in its service life.

2. Saving time on makeup.

3. Hygienic process – you do not run the risk of bringing infectious agents onto the skin that may be present on the fingertips.

4. Ease of the process of applying cosmetics, quick mastering of different techniques and makeup techniques.

5. Uniform distribution of cosmetics on the skin, no mask effect, natural result, the ability to achieve the effect of 'makeup without makeup'.

6. Soft effect of brushes on the skin of the face.

It is not for nothing that professional makeup artists use a large number of different tools. If you want to apply makeup no worse than experienced masters, be sure to buy several accessories for eyebrow care, for applying foundation, concealer, shadows, lipstick, blush.

How to choose a makeup tool depending on the material of manufacture

As you know, natural and artificial materials can be used for the production of cosmetic accessories. But in this case, 'natural' does not mean the best. In some situations, you need to give preference to items made from synthetic fibers.

Types of brushes by type of pile and their purpose:

1. Natural soft squirrel, goat or any other wool. Such items are mainly used for applying powder, blush, dry base, as they allow you to very carefully blend cosmetics, creating a light and weightless layer of the preparation on the skin.

2. Stiff pork, badger or buffalo bristles. Items with such nap are suitable for eyebrow care and for applying cosmetics to them.

3. Synthetic (usually nylon) brushes. They are used in eye makeup, as they can collect and hold a sufficient amount of cosmetic product, as well as blend it well over the skin.

4. Items made of combined (synthetic and natural bristles). These versatile accessories are suitable for applying cosmetics of any consistency.

It is also worth paying attention to the material of the handle. If it is plastic, it can slip in the hand, which makes the use of cosmetic accessories not entirely comfortable. In addition, this material can cause allergies. A wooden handle will not cause an allergic reaction. In addition, it does not have such a slippery surface as plastic and it has increased strength.

How to determine the type of lint in a makeup brush

When buying a new brush for applying makeup, it will not be superfluous to check what material was used to make it. On quality products of well-known brands, it is necessary to indicate which nap the tips are made of. But if you want to make sure that the information on the packaging is true, do a simple experiment. To do this, carefully cut off a couple of hairs from the very center of the bundle with nail scissors. Place the lint on a fireproof surface and light it on fire. If it is a natural material, it will give off the characteristic smell of 'burnt' wool when burned. If they are synthetic fibers, they will smell like melting plastic, and instead of completely burning, they will start to melt.

Types of eyelid makeup brushes

There are several types of brushes with predominantly nylon bristle tips used in eye makeup:

1. Small flat tassel with a rounded edge, oval at the end. It applies shadows well to the mobile and static eyelid, as well as to the cavity above the mobile eyelid.

2. Thicker brush – helps to blend pigments evenly while maintaining the intensity of their shade.

3. Small flat brush with almost flat edge – suitable for accents.

4. A thin brush for applying liquid eyeliner. Depending on the degree of rigidity and thickness of the beam, such a tool can be used to perform perfectly smooth, thin, and bold arrows on the eyelids. A distinctive feature of such a brush is that it can have a curved handle, which facilitates the application of pigments to the skin of the eyelids.

5. A small, flat brush with a beveled tip is a tool that allows you to use dry eyeshadow as an eyeliner and generally draw crisp, graphic lines.

6. A separate type of brushes and brushes are eyebrow tools. Dense and stiff are designed to comb the hairs and give them the right direction within the boundaries of the shape of the arcs. Less resilient brushes, often with a beveled tip, are used to apply eyebrow shadows or fixatives such as gel or wax to the brow.

Types of brushes for face makeup with foundation

In order to apply cosmetics to the face, you can use the following types of items:

1. Keg-shaped thick-bristled contour brush. This tool allows you to create clear, wide lines that are drawn on the skin when contouring the face. Used to apply bronzer (or other darkener) and highlighter (or other brightening agent).

2. Flat, long brush with a rounded tip. Used to apply foundation. The brush has synthetic villi, so they do not absorb the cosmetic, it is consumed relatively economically.

3. A flat, narrow, short brush, which is used for local spot shading of concealing aesthetic defects – concealer and corrector.

4. Putty knife. A large, round brush designed to 'hammer' foundation into all folds and wrinkles of the skin.

5. You will also need a medium beveled brush to work on the wings of the nose and adjust the face. And to shade the boundaries of the tone, you will need an object with a trapezoidal pile, which is narrower at the base than at the end.

Types of dry blush and powder brushes

For dry cosmetics and decorative cosmetics, brushes with natural bristles, which are distinguished by increased softness, are used. Blush, powder and other preparations are applied with these types of brushes:

1. Kabuki is a voluminous, dense brush in the form of a ball, very dense, the hairs closely adjoin each other. Such a tool is used if you need to apply a compressed product to the skin.

2. Dense large oval brush. Designed to apply powder and stretch blush.

3. A large, voluminous brush with a beveled edge. It is used for applying blush, as it allows you to make diagonal strokes.

4. Fan brush – made in the form of a fan, the villi do not adhere tightly to each other. It is used at the final stage of makeup, when you need to carefully remove excess powder or apply a small amount of blush, dry bronzer.

Lipstick & Gloss Brushes

Such instruments usually have a small flat tuft of villi. The shape of the tool tip is rectangular or slightly pointed. It is convenient to draw the contour of the lips with a sharp tip. And with a flat tip, pigments are applied to the main surface of the upper and lower lips.

Tips for choosing and buying makeup brushes

To buy really high quality accessories, follow the recommendations of professional makeup artists:

1. Pay attention to the type of pile and its hardness, consider where the brush will be used on the face.

2. It is advisable to buy accessories in stationary cosmetics stores, where you can not only see them well, but also 'touch' them. Take a brush and lightly pull on the nap – you should not have any hairs in your hands. If the instrument 'fades', do not take it, as it will not last long. Pay attention to how firmly the fluff clip is attached to the handle. An important detail is how tightly the brush is packed. If you press on part of the hairs, you will not find a gap between them more than 1 millimeter, then the manufacturer did not save on the pile. Also, by twisting the brush in your hand, you can determine how comfortable it is in the palm of your hand, how convenient it will be for further use. By running the bristle over your palm, you will determine how hard it is, whether it scratches the skin.

3. If you re-purchase any cosmetic accessories and are already familiar with their characteristics, you can order them from online stores. If these are products of well-known brands, it is better to make a purchase on the manufacturer's official website.

4. It is better to buy products from well-known brands that use high-quality, safe, hypoallergenic materials in their production.

5. Some brushes have the added advantage of having a second tip on the back end of the handle — an applicator or a different brush shape. This will allow you to buy two accessories for the price of one.

6. If you purchased a cosmetic product and the kit already contains a brush to apply it, you can still buy a special accessory. Most of the tools that come with cosmetics are not convenient to use or are of insufficient quality. Such brushes, as a rule, have a shortened handle, their shape is adjusted not to the needs of the buyer and the specific function of the tool, but to the free space in the package. And you can use them to apply and correct makeup outside the home. And for home use, brushes with long ergonomic handles and appropriate sizes of hair tufts are better suited.

7. Buy brushes one at a time or as a set? Experts advise to give preference to a set, since the manufacturer usually includes everything necessary for applying various types of cosmetics. In addition, all the tools in the set are made in the same style and are often sold with a storage bag. If the set does not contain any special brush that you really need, you can always buy it. However, you can purchase brushes separately, especially if you plan to purchase expensive tools.

If you see a large set of brushes for sale from a well-known brand at a low price, then most likely you have stumbled upon a fake. This conclusion can be made based on several facts:

1. Reputable companies very rarely produce large sets, as they are aimed at a non-professional consumer who uses a maximum of 5-7 makeup brushes.

2. The many different cosmetic accessories in the set indicate that this is a product designed for professional makeup artists. And specialized tools are always expensive.

3. In any case, high-quality brushes are not cheap, since the manufacturer uses expensive materials in their manufacture.

All this suggests that a large number of brushes sold at a low price are substandard fakes.

Tips for using makeup brushes

There are several rules to help you use makeup brushes correctly:

1. If your skin is too dry, prone to irritation, flaking, rashes, use soft brushes that will not disturb the structure of the epidermis.

2. When applying cosmetics to the skin, move the brush from the center towards the hairline and outer edges of the face, and also from top to bottom. The blush is applied in a diagonal motion from the dimples of the cheeks to the temples. Base shadows are usually applied from the inner corners of the eyes to the outer ones, from the lash line to the lower border of the brow arches.

3. A separate tool is used for each cosmetic product. For example, if you are going to apply first powder and then blush, use two different brushes, and then a third, with which you can remove excess dry cosmetics from the surface of the face.

4. The smaller the treatment area, the thinner and finer the brush should be. For example, to apply a concealer, you need to use a small, firm, flat-tipped brush. A wide, voluminous, soft brush is suitable for using powder on the entire surface of the face.

5. If you are using a creamy product such as foundation or primer, do not brush directly from the tube onto the brush. First, squeeze a small amount of the preparation onto the back of your left hand (for left-handers, right). After 5-10 seconds, the cream will take on body temperature, become more plastic and pliable, it will be easier to distribute it over the skin of the face, leaving no villi stripes.

6. When applying pigments, do not press on the tip of the brush, but make light, smooth movements.

7. Remember to clean your tools after each use, especially if you have oily or combination problem skin. Thus, pathogenic microorganisms will not multiply on the pile. And the tool will always be ready for the next application. To wash the brush, you can use a make-up remover, a special cleaning solution or running water and ordinary laundry soap without dyes or fragrances.

How to clean makeup brushes, standard way:

1. Regardless of which bristle the brush is made of, use cool water to clean it. Hot liquid can cause hairs to become brittle or fall out of the base. Pour 100 milliliters of water into a glass, add a few tablespoons of make-up remover, as well as a few teaspoons of alcohol, beat the mixture until foam forms.

2. Dip the brush into the liquid so that only the tuft of villi is immersed in it, but not the base in which they are attached. Leave the instrument in the glass for 1-2 minutes.

3. Lightly mash the fleecy part of the brush with your fingers to thoroughly rinse the hairs. Then immerse the brush in the cleaning solution for another 1 minute.

4. Rinse the brush under cool running water, being careful not to spill liquid onto the base and handle of the instrument.

5. Give the villi their original shape by going over the tip of the hand with your fingers.

6. Wipe the brush handle with alcohol or other disinfectant solution, and leave the brush to dry 'upside down' on a stand. Or simply leave it on a horizontal surface – on a countertop covered with a terrycloth towel until it dries completely. Do not dry the instrument in an upright position with bristles. The water flowing down from the tuft of villi will penetrate into the base, soak the glue and ruin the brush handle, as a result of which it will quickly become unusable.

Best store-bought makeup brush care products:

1. Pro Hygiene by Makeup Revolution. This is a specialized shampoo for cleaning cosmetic brushes with an antibacterial effect. Thoroughly, effectively and safely removes all types of dirt from the lint of the accessories.

2. Brush Cleaner by Smashbox. This product is available in the form of a spray, which greatly simplifies its use. The main properties are cleansing the pile, maintaining its smoothness and elasticity, extending the service life of cosmetic accessories.

3. Botanical Brush Cleaner by Jane Iredale. The composition of this drug, which is also available in the form of a spray, includes extracts from useful plants and natural vegetable oils.

After cleaning, the brushes should be stored away from heat, drafts, moisture and bright sunlight. You should not keep cosmetic accessories in the bathroom. Also, experts do not recommend storing cosmetic accessories in a drawer or in a glass (other capacity). For this, a special case, a pencil case for makeup brushes is ideal. If the brushes are in the case, they are optimally protected from dirt and dust, their villi will not get tangled and will not roll, which means that the brush will retain its shape for a long time. However, even with careful care and careful storage, your makeup brushes will have to be replaced periodically. As a rule, a tool with synthetic hair lasts 6-8 months, and with a natural one – 3-5 months, especially in conditions of regular cleaning.

Makeup Brush Accessories

Oddly enough, but for brushes, which are cosmetic accessories, there are their own accessories that facilitate the care and storage of tools. As already mentioned, the first necessary accessory is a case or a special box for storing brushes. It has a large number of compartments for separate placement of each instrument. The case resembles the soft pencil organizer often used by professional artists.

Another accessory that will make it easier to clean the makeup tool after use is the special rubber mat. On the surface, it has numerous protruding elements, like 'pimples' of different sizes. Detergent is applied to the mat, after which you need to rub the tip of the brush on its surface, and then rinse the nap of the tool with cool running water.

Well-known companies produce another accessory for washing makeup brushes – a special cup and an electric cleaner. By inserting the tip of the brush handle into the hole of the power tool, you can spin the brush at the touch of a button. Placing it in a bowl filled with detergent will clean the lint faster and more efficiently than by hand.

Custom use of regular makeup brushes

Professional makeup artists and make-up masters shared with us interesting ways to use cosmetic accessories that allow you to achieve an unexpected effect in makeup:

1. If you want to change the shade, but not the pattern, of the lip skin, do not use a lipstick brush. Experiment with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. It will ensure that the coating is weightless. Blending a cosmetic with such a fluffy tool will also allow for a subtle effect of such trendy 'kissing lips' this season.

2. A small fluffy eye shadow brush made of natural bristles will help blend concealer or concealer under the eyes as naturally as possible. Thanks to the soft hairs of the accessory, the liquid correcting agent will lie in an extremely light layer and literally merge with the skin tone, but cover the unaesthetic dark skin tone.

3. A thin, pointed brush for eye makeup is useful if you need to camouflage minor imperfections of the skin, for example, small pimples, scars or scars. It will allow you to apply the corrective preparation pointwise, exactly where it is required, without affecting the skin in the surrounding area.

4. A barrel-shaped makeup brush lets you apply concealer to large areas of your face. The soft structure of the hairs helps to thoroughly blend the shade borders and obtain the effect of perfect skin without blemishes.

As you experiment with different brushes in your spare time, you may discover other non-standard uses of beauty accessories that will make your makeup process easier and more streamlined.

Review of the best makeup brushes for professional and home use

Professional makeup artists shared with the readers of our online publication information about which companies produce the best makeup brushes. Moreover, you can easily find on sale both single tools and sets that consist of 3-40 brushes. The sets may contain instruments with synthetic or natural bristles, combined options are very popular.

1. MAC is one of the most renowned and respected cosmetic accessories companies. In the sets of this brand you can find tools for working with all types of cosmetics. The assortment includes brushes made from synthetic and natural materials, as well as options with mixed nap. Typically, each position is assigned a number to make it easier to find information on the application of a particular brush. The set is equipped with a stylish case.

2. Zoeva is a German company for the production of cosmetic accessories with a reputation for German quality. The brushes in the set are made of natural wood and equipped with nylon, taklon and goat hair tips. A bag for storing accessories is included.

3. Real Techniques is a brand promoted by world-renowned professional makeup artists. The development of the shape of the fleecy part of the products is done manually, taking into account the needs and requirements of the make-up masters. Accessories are made of high quality synthetic materials with ideal softness and elasticity. Brushes can be purchased individually or as a set.

4. Sigma is an American brand that offers consumers a wide range of beauty accessories at an affordable price. With careful handling, the products of this company serve for a long time. The products are sold individually and in sets equipped with covers.

5. Bobbi brown is another American company whose products belong to the premium price segment. The quality and service life of the accessories correspond to the high cost. The pile used is mostly natural, the handles are made of wood. The basic set includes brushes for foundation, blush, eyeshadow, eyebrow and powder.

6. Hakuhodo Brushes – the products of this company are considered the most prestigious. Accessories are made from high quality natural fibers and assembled by hand. The purchase is recommended to be made in the official online store of the brand.

7. NYX – The firm produces tools for professional makeup artists. The products are made of synthetic pile, are of high quality, durable, and have proven themselves in work. Brushes are not sold in sets, only individually.

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