Makeup Brush Guide: The What, When & How
I’ve compiled the step-by-step makeup application guide for The Party Glam Look, which I’ll put up in the next post. It’s a great look for any special occasion or party where you want to draw attention to your eyes and glam it up a bit.
Before showing this look, I first wanted to do a basic guide on makeup brushes - the what, when and how. After all, it’s important to know how to use your makeup tools before successfully applying makeup or creating any look.
In this post, I’ll list the different types of makeup brushes and explain when and how each brush is used in makeup application.
Makeup Brushes for the Face
- Concealer/Foundation Brush
What: This brush is used mainly for applying liquid or cream-based concealers and foundations. It provides more precision, better blending and coverage than just using your hands. I, myself, don’t use this brush because I don’t wear liquid or cream foundation, and usually just apply liquid concealer with my fingers, which works quite well. I would say that this brush is useful but not necessary to have.
When: Usually the concealer/foundation brush is used first in makeup application.
How: The way to use the concealer/foundation brush is simple. Just dab a bit of concealer and put it on areas you want to cover up, such as under the eyes, chin, where you have acne scars, blemishes, etc. and blend it in. Then dab a bit of foundation and put it on your forehead, cheeks and chin and blend.
- Bronzing Brush
What: This brush allows you to apply bronzer all over the face. It helps you achieve that sun-kissed glow. I would say this brush is optional like the concealer/foundation brush - useful to have but not necessary.
When: Use it after concealer and foundation in makeup application. You can also use it alternatively for powder.
How: Dab the bronzing brush into your bronzer and sweep it gently all over your face. Repeat this process until you achieve your desired coverage.
- Powder Brush
What: This brush is used for applying loose, pressed and finishing powder. I would say this brush is a necessity. Invest in a quality powder brush - it makes difference on how the powder appears on your face. Powder brushes gently sweep smaller particles of the powder (vs. the powder sponge included in your compact) onto your face by blending and building up the coverage in thin layers. It makes the makeup application process incredibly easy and natural!
When: Use the powder brush after applying on concealer and foundation.
How: Just dab the powder brush onto your powder and gently sweep it all over your face. Repeat as many times as you need depending on your desired level of coverage.
- Highlighting and Blush Brushes
What: These brushes are generally used to add iridescence to your cheeks; however, the highlighting brush is also used for applying bronzer and powder. It gives a lighter makeup application than powder, bronzing and blush brushes.
You should get a blush brush but the highlighting brush is optional, although I highly recommend it. It gives a subtle yet beautiful and sculpted glow to your cheeks.
When: These brushes should be used after you set your face with powder.
How: For the blush brush, first find the apples of your cheeks, then dab a bit of blush onto your cheeks sweeping the brush towards your temple.
For the highlighting brush, find the apples or hallows of your cheeks and sweep either bronzer or blush towards your temple. For makeup application of powder, dab just a bit of powder and sweep the highlighting brush onto the desired area for light coverage.
Makeup Brushes for the Eyes
- Crease Brush
What: This brush is used mainly for applying eye shadows in the creases and contours of your eyes. The crease brush is a must-have tool for the makeup application of the eyes.
When: I generally use this brush before blending my eye shadows.
How: Dab a generous amount of eye shadow on the crease brush and apply it to the creases and contours of your eyes only.
- Blending Brush
What: These brushes sweep eye shadows across your eye lids, allowing you to blend them evenly. This type of brush is a must-have as well. It comes in various sizes. I recommend getting this brush in at least two sizes - medium and large.
When: Use this brush after the crease brush.
How: Use the medium blending brush to blend the eye shadows you applied with the crease brush, or to build up other eye shadows. Use the large blending brush to blend all the eye shadows together.
- Angled brush
What: This brush is used to make precise lines with eye shadows and is often used to apply cream or gel-based eyeliners.
When: You can use this before or after applying eye shadow. It also helps eye shadow application in the sense that it works the same way as lip liners would for lips. You can make a crease with your desired eye shadow over your upper lid - this trick helps lock in your eye shadow, making it non-messy and allowing you to easily blend your eye shadow as you wish later on or not blend at all!
How: Dip your angled brush in a dark eye shadow or cream or gel-based eyeliner and carefully line your eyes. Apply the brush on your hand to get the right feel of the angle first.
- Smudger Brush
What: This brush helps you smudge eye shadow - a great brush when doing smokey eyes! This brush is optional to have in your set.
When: This brush can be used in conjunction with the blending brush.
How: You can use this brush to smudge with or without eye shadow. Use it to smudge the edge of the eye shadows you have put on previously and especially on the region above the outer corner of your eyes.
Makeup Brushes for the Lips
- Lip Brush
What: This brush allows you a more refined and smoother application of lipstick. This brush is optional to get as well.
When: Use this brush to apply lipstick in any order you wish in your makeup application routine. I like to apply lipstick last after my face and eyes have been done.
How: Glide your lip brush onto your lipstick and apply even strokes onto your lips until completely covered.
And that completes my basic guide to makeup brushes. I hope it was helpful. Remember you don’t have to get all of these brushes - some are optional (useful but not necessary). In my opinion, the most essential ones to get are the powder brush, blush brush, crease brush and blending brush.
Good luck with your makeup application!
~HoneyBear
