From everyday time-saving solutions to special occasion-perfection, top industry experts’ tips on the must-have makeup brushes.
From everyday time-saving solutions to special occasion-perfection, top industry experts’ tips on the must-have makeup brushes.
Being equipped with the right tools can make all the difference on how your makeup looks on you.
But with a multitude of brush options out there, to be used for everything from concealing to buffing and beyond, it can be tricky choosing exactly which to invest in (or save on). Here’s all you need to know about these essential makeup tools.
SAVE AND SPLURGE
While it’s not difficult to find brushes that cost a mere few dollars, there are also ones that easily cost more than $100. For starters, it is important to know what you’re paying for.
“I’m a firm believer of investing in a good set of makeup brushes. The construction of the brush, and the quality of the hair and fibres used, make a whole world of difference. And if you take care of them well, you’ll be able to use them for a long time,” says Celestine Sng, makeup artist at Two Left Hands.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
What products are you intending to use the brush on? Natural hair brushes, like those made of sable and goat hair, are porous, which means they have “great pick-up properties, and tend to be softer for seamless blending,” says Sng.
Furthermore, this makes them “superior for glitters or eyeshadows that are highly pigmented, especially for bristles that are not cut at the tip,” says Sophia Chia, Trainer at Shu Uemura Singapore.
Synthetic bristles, on the other hand, are not porous and they do not absorb products as much, so they “usually work well with creams, liquids and gels,” says Francis Lim, YSL Beauty Regional Makeup Artist.
PREP AND PERFECT
As the late Mr Shu Uemura once said, “Beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin,” which is why it’s essential to put in the groundwork for a flawless base. For a dewy finish, use your fingers to apply your base and foundation—your body heat will help warm up the product for super smooth adherence to the skin, says Julyen Loo, Lead Artist at NARS.
If you prefer not to use your hands, a flat brush like Clé de Peau Beauté’s Foundation Brush enables you to access hard-to-reach nooks like around the nose. “Hold the brush in a vertical position and in a left-right-up-down motion to spread foundation evenly over skin.
For areas that require more coverage, use the flat side to dab on more product before blending,” advises Terence Ng, Senior Makeup Artist at Clé de Peau Beauté. Lastly, set your makeup with a light dusting of loose powder using a large, fluffy brush like M.A.C’s 150 Brush.
BUFF AND SMOOTH
Beyond a flat foundation brush or sponges, a stippling brush is also crucial in achieving that hyper-real skin texture. A stippling brush “usually has duo fibres, or long and short hairs with less densely packed bristles,” says Michel Coulombe, Global Artist at Laura Mercier.
Used with a light, tapping motion, this allows for more product to be pressed onto skin, giving higher coverage and an airbrushed effect. The bristles on a buffing brush, on the other hand, are densely Lucio Vanotti fall/winter 2016 packed.
“It buffs foundation over skin for sheer to medium coverage and a smoother finish,” explains Toni Tan, makeup artist at My Makeup Academy.
CONTOUR AND CONQUER
Mastering how your face catches the light can be hard. But when done right, you can instantly look slimmer and younger.
For foolproof application of a contour product, try an angled cheek brush like Laura Mercier’s Angled Cheek Contour Brush before upgrading to NARS’ Ita Kabuki Brush for added definition and precision.
SLICK AND FLICK
Whether your preferred look involves just a slick of eyeliner or a full-on smoky eye look, the right tools can greatly enhance your routine.
For example, instead of applying eyeliner directly onto lash lines, “use a brush to pick up product from an eyeliner pencil before lining the eyes to achieve a softer look,” says Chew Toong Han, Assistant Makeup Training Manager and International Pro Team at Dior.
Or if you like a graphic look, an angled eyeliner brush like NARS Artistry Brush #47 Angled Eyeliner Brush will give you precision with a gel eyeliner.
SMUDGE AND SMOULDER
The tiny sponge applicators that usually come with eyeshadows have their limits. “Invest in at least two brushes,” advises Chew. “My favourites are Dior Medium Eyeshadow Brush No. 21 and Dior Smudging Brush No. 23. I use No. 21 for highlighting the brow bone and No. 23 for darker, more intense shades to achieve a smoky look.”
If you’re looking for a multi-tasker, try Shu Uemura’s Natural 10 Eyeshadow Brush. Ideal for powder, cream and liquid eyeshadows, its medium size, rounded shape and tightly packed bristles make depositing colours and blending them out a breeze.
CONCEAL AND FINISH
Brows are increasingly becoming the key feature to highlight, which is why it is crucial to add a brow brush like YSL Beauty’s Eyeliner Eyebrow Angle Brush to your rotation. Perfect for use with brow powders or brow pomades, it allows you to fill in brows where there are bald spots with precision.
It also enables you to blend evenly for full, natural-looking arches. Those with dark under eye circles will love Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage Brush. Its soft bristles mean blending is gentle, even around the delicate area.
Plus, it also doubles up as a “magic eraser around your lips for sharper definition after applying lipstick,” says Laura Mercier’s Coulombe.
