Why you need a make-up brush

There are more than 40 different types of make-up brushes in the market. It can, therefore, be overwhelming to decide which ones to buy. They come in different shapes and sizes, and some with fancy names. Using the right brushes can make the difference between a polished, professional look and an amateur look. So how many brushes do we really need?

1.Foundation

Some people prefer to use the warmth of their hands to apply and blend in foundation. However, a foundation brush cuts out the mess and creates a smooth flawless finish.

 - The beauty blender - an oval sponge with a pointed tip, used to blend in foundation and concealer. The pointed tip is excellent for hard to reach areas like the corners of the nose and the eyes. - Angled foundation brush - useful when applying liquid foundation in those hard to reach areas. - Flat foundation brush - This brush has flat bristles that create a smooth and flawless finish. With this brush you can easily apply foundation to those hard to reach areas like the corner of the nose, the hairline, and around the eyes. When using this brush, apply by dabbing or gently tapping in a downward motion. Don’t drag as this may result in streaks. Check your make-up in natural light to ensure its blended well. - Stippling brush - this brush has flat bristles and can produce an airbrushed appearance when used with powder foundation.

2. Concealer

Use this brush to cover up dark circles and blemishes. This brush is similar to the foundation brush but much smaller.

3. Eye brows

The brow brush is a firm angled brush that allows you to create precise lines while filling in your eyebrows. For a natural appearance, use light strokes in the direction of hair growth.

4. Eye shadow

There are several different types of eye-shadow brushes, however, unless you’re a make-up artist or enjoy playing around with different looks, only one is essential. With one brush you can apply colour, create depth and definition. You can produce different effects by using the brush dry, or wet. The dome shadow brush is used to apply colour to the entire lid or the brow bone while the fluffy shadow brush is used to blend out harsh lines. The mini shadow brush is used when concentrating colour on smaller areas of the eye while the angled shadow brush is used when applying and blending colour along the crease.

5. Setting

The powder brush, also known as the complexion brush is used to apply lighter products like blush, bronzer, or highlighter. The kabuki brush is a short fluffy brush used when applying mineral powder foundation or setting powder - applied by using circular motion to buff the powder into the skin. The fan brush is a thin, fan-shaped brush that is used to sweep away excess product like powder or eye-shadow fallout. It can also be used to apply blush or highlighter. The blush brush is a full, round, fluffy brush that can be used for blush, powder, highlighter, and bronzer. When using, always tap off excess powder to avoid applying too much colour.

6. Contouring

This is an angled brush that allows you to contour along the cheek bones.

7. Lips

Use a lip brush when applying lipstick or gloss.

Good quality brushes are not cheap, and will last a long time if you take care of them. Clean them at least once a week using a mild soap and store them properly to prevent the bristles from losing their shape.