I love it when a follower gives me a subject to write about, that way I don’t have to think of something creative since it’s already been thought up for me!! As you can tell, I always like sharing my opinions and advice on everything makeup oriented!! My most recent request was to blog about “what exact makeup brushes I use when creating my looks.” So Andrea, this blog’s for you!!
When doing eye makeup, of course it important to use a head/bristle size that is appropriate for the area you are working with. You wouldn’t use a big fluffy brush to try and create a thin line underneath the lash line now would you?? So here are some step by step photos, I’ll try to go in order, of what brush types I use for each part of my makeup repertoire.
If you are not much of a makeup girl, you’re probably going to be wowed and amazed (or appalled-ha!) by the amount of different type brushes I use to create my look- and this is just the tip of the iceberg. When I work on clients, it’s usually double this amount! I use sometimes a minimum of 10 brushes on a person. Okay, so here we go!!
1. For eyebrows I use a slanted hard bristled synthetic bristled brush (Sonia Kashuk, $6) that I apply my colored brow wax with to fill in along the natural growth of the brow hairs.
2. All over color and lash to crease color applied with a fairly large flat head brush. I have a big eye bed space, so I like a larger head on a brush to cover all this area. This one is by Face Secrets and is called an eye contour brush ($6) from Sally Beauty.
3. For my crease color, I use one of my fave brushes EVER, it’s by Kevyn Aucoin, and is described as the small eyeshadow flat tip brush ($28). This is the one I use to press my darker color into the crease of my lid above the lash to crease color. The bristles are perfectly rounded and fit right into that eye socket area.
4. The brush I use for shadow over my liner and and my lash line, has a teeny tiny head, and is by Stila brush #4, the precision eyeliner brush ($20). The word precision best describes what this brush can do for you- bc it needs to make a nice straight line!
5. For my bronzer, the brush sometimes varies in size depending on how much I want to apply. This one from MAC is #129 ($34) has a generous size head on it and is very rounded. Remember, I apply bronzer around the perimeter of the face and into the hairline more so than just in the t-zone which can look muddy.
6. For my nose contouring (yes I do this- and it is a extra step most wouldn’t do, but figured I’d throw it in there in case someone is interested;-)) I use a super fluffy brush, MAC 224, ($29) that is meant for eye shadow but I use it for applying my bronzer to the sides of my nose and also for applying translucent powder underneath my eyes on top of my concealer to set it.
7. My blush is always applied with a slanted bristled brush. I find I have more control over my cheek color when the blush brush is smaller and angled ($15) like my Bare Escentuals brush. I like it smaller so that I don’t get too much color deposited onto my face. I have found when I go through some clients blush brushes, they’re using a brush that is way too fat and wide which leads to Bozo the clown cheeks, OR, the woman is so scared she’ll look like Bozo, that she ends up not applying enough due to the scary big blush brush!! Your cheek area is very small, therefore your blush brush should mimic that small space.
Beauty tools are very very important in implementing a look, so I definitely think that they are worth sinking some money into. As you can see, my brushes are all over the place as to which brands I liked, but my top faves are by MAC and Kevyn Aucoin. For drugstore versions, Sonia Kashuk takes my top award. And of course, if I can throw my last two cents in, if you invest in nice brushes make sure to wash them correctly and often!!
What is your favorite brand of makeup brushes?? How many do you own?
