Brushes

This is for those who are new to make up brushes and want to start buying some. The key to good looking make up is to use the right tools for the right job. Here I have outlined the different types of brushes and their uses. Bear in mind that there are hundreds and hundreds of types of brushes out there so I can't possibly cover every single one of them but here are the main ones you will find useful.

Basic Eye Shadow Brush

Eye shadow brushes are used to deposit colour all over the lids. They can be fluffy, dense, small or large. Depending on how you want your brush to deposit the shadow depends on which type you should buy. Usually a dense eye shadow brush is a good place to start because the denser the bristles, the more colour the brush will deposit onto the lid. If however you only want a light wash of colour you may find a fluffier brush more suitable.

Blending Brush

A blending brush is usually large and fluffy. These are used to blur out the eye shadow colour - useful for a smokey eye for example. They can also be used to deposit a light wash of colour over the entire lid or brow bone.


Crease Brush

These are specific brushes for targetting the crease area. (The crease is the line where the eye lid meets the brow bone or where the eye socket sinks in if you have mono-lids.) A crease brush adds definition. They are usually very small and very dense. Meaning the bristles are usually very short so that when you place shadow with them, the shadow appears more colourful (darker and more defined).

Liner Brush

A liner brush is usually very thin, small and compact. Its purpose is to apply eyeliner along the lash lines (although you can also use them to line your eyes with a dark eye shadow). They can be slanted or straight. Slanted brushes are often easier to work with and can produce different line weights (thick or thin lines) whereas a pointed, thin liner brush would produce a very thin line.

Smudge Brush

A smudge brush will soften eyeshadow or eyeliner. They often come on the end of eye pencils and they are useful if you like wearing a smokey eye or if you just want your liner/shadow to look smokey.


Blush Brush

These are usually fairly dense but can also be larger in size. They are used to sweep mineral blush over the cheeks or in some cases, cream blush over the cheeks.


Powder Brush

Used for mineral or cream make up such as pressed powder, loose powder, pressed foundation or loose mineral foundation.

Again, powder brushes can be fairly dense or fairly large and fluffy in size. If you want a powder brush that picks up a lot of pigment quickly and deposits a lot of colour then you should choose a dense powder brush (useful when you want to apply pressed or loose foundation and still get good coverage). If you want something to use to, for example, set your foundation, you're better off using something large and fluffy so that the powder does not cake your makeup.


Bronze Brush

Used to apply bronzer. Some are smaller to contour areas like the cheek bones but for the most part, bronze brushes are larger in size.


Kabuki Brush

Can be used to apply powder or bronzer. Often very fluffy and large in size. Some have dense bristles. It all depends on what kind of finish you desire. Larger, more fluffier kabuki brushes will obviously produce more subtle results compared to denser ones which will pack on the colour quite well.