High-quality powder brushes feel soft, fluffy and luxurious when they touch the skin, so using them can be one of the most pleasant parts of the makeup application process. The softer and more yielding the brush, the less heavy a layer of powder it will dispense, so it is perfect for setting makeup without having it look cakey or overly matte. Most powder brushes on the market these days are synthetic, though historically they used to be made of animal hair. I’m not a big believer in rules, especially considering just how much has changed in the makeup world since I went to makeup school. While some makeup brushes are better suited to some applications than others, consider this a loose guideline.

To use: Much like with an angle brush, you want to use smaller, overlapping strokes when applying eyeliner very close to the lash line. Use a smooth, single stroke when working on the wing or on the top part of the liner. An oval foundation brush is actually just a variation on the typical flat-top foundation brush, with the main difference being the size of the head and the angle of the handle. Some brands might refer to it as a buffing brush or even as a kabuki brush, although that’s not quite right.

Also, avoid drying brushes vertically with the bristles up — this can cause water to leak into the ferrule (the piece that joins the bristles to the handle), which also will loosen the glue and lead to bristle loss. What about brush-cleaning tools? To use: Angle brushes allow for a ton of control so you can use them to apply makeup in one straight line or in small strokes depending on the part of the face you’re making up and the effect you would like. You can use small strokes to mimic hairs on your brows, or use it to totally fill in the brows instead. Even if you have the trendiest makeup in your collection, they won't produce the glorious results you're expecting without proper, high-quality tools. And who best to ask about the best makeup brushes on the market than professional makeup artists who spend their entire careers working most closely with an extensive lineup of the best brushes for the face, eyes, lips, and cheekbones? Multipurpose brushes are an underrated make-up essential: they save clutter, are great for travelling and can do it all. The ultimate one-and-done tool, Saie’s brush boasts luxuriously soft and well-tapered bristles – perfect for diffusing creams and powders onto the skin for a seamless, natural finish. How do I know if my make-up brushes are good quality? It is large enough to easily apply under-eye concealer but also small enough to do more detailed work. These days, many popular concealers come with an applicator attached to the lid, but when that’s not the case a concealer brush can be extremely useful.

I do love using the Beauty Blender afterwards to sheer out and blend the product. A buffing foundation brush could certainly give you the same seamless finish, but I love that the Beauty Blender also adds hydration and luminosity to the look. Because they are firm, they also work quite well with cream products, both for applying and for blending. This can include liquid eyeshadows as well as contour creams. This kind of brush can also work for applying medium tones to the crease, especially if you have a bit more lid space, and a regular crease brush is too small. To use: For powder products, use the firm medium-sized brush the same way you would a softer one. For cream products, it is better to do the application either before or after applying foundation but definitely before setting the foundation with powder. Use a tapping or gentle brushing motion to dispense more product and follow it up with a circular motion to buff out and blend. • Angled Powder Brush Personally, I prefer a firmer contour brush, though others might prefer a firmer highlighter brush, for example. Firmer brushes also tend to work better with cream products of various types, assuming they are synthetic.Personally, I don’t find sponges great for depositing product on the skin because they don’t give a lot of control. I prefer applying foundation and concealer with a brush that has a handle or even with my fingers. You can also apply the contour with the medium brush below the jawline and along the perimeter of the forehead. To apply your cream product over larger areas, use more of a brush motion to dispense and move product, and then use the tapping motion to diffuse streaks or lines.

Gently create a lather and massage the tips of the bristles in the palm of your hand to get all the gunk out. If you have very oily skin or you love a very matte finish, you might choose to set your foundation with a sponge. You might also find that you like to set some parts of your face with the help of the sponge, and other parts with a powder brush. You’re allowed to use artist brushes as makeup brushes, as long as you wash them first! They don’t tend to look as elegant as traditional makeup brushes, but they can work beautifully. One of my favorite blending brushes was a super soft and very yielding squirrel hair brush that I bought at an art store, for example! Tip: Dampen your eyeshadow brush with water or a setting spray before using it to apply loose eyeshadow pigments. This will prevent fall-out under the eye and will also help intensify the color. • Eye Highlighter Brush Tip: For some, an eyeliner brush with a ferrule that is slightly bent is ideal since it allows for a better angle, especially if you’re applying your eyeliner in front of a large hanging mirror. • Spoolie

How we tested

Lastly, I would say balance is also important. The handle should be well-balanced so it feels comfortable in your hand. If the head is heavy, that can prevent you from feeling in control of the brush. There is a lot to think about when choosing the right brush, but that’s why there is so much variety on offer.” Are expensive make-up brushes worth it? To use: It’s important that your foundation is already set before you start, or you risk having the brush drag on your foundation and cause streaking. Swirl the brush into your product of choice and brush it on. Go over the area with your larger powder brush in a circular motion to blend. To use: Tap or pat the side of the brush into your eyeshadow of choice. Apply the eyeshadow to your lid by pressing or tapping the brush against it. Use the top of the brush to blend out the edges or to apply the shadow under the lower lash line.

Reload the brush with powder if necessary. If you’ve overapplied powder, wipe the brush clean with a dry towel and then move it over your face in a circular buffing motion to remove the extra powder. When it comes to powders, even firmer brushes will deposit less product on the skin than a damp sponge will. Since I prefer a more luminous finish I definitely prefer applying setting powders with a soft brush, though on rainy days and when I’m feeling a little oily I will use a firm brush instead. Tip: You can squeeze the bristles of the brush to get a narrower shape that will fit more easily along the sides of your nose. In a pinch, this can also allow you to apply blush or contour powder with the large brush. • Kabuki Brush Your highlighter should go on the top of the apples of the cheeks and dragged up towards the temple (you can also lightly diffuse it over the center of the forehead and above the lip), blush should go slightly below the highlight on the apple of the cheeks and towards the temples, and a contour should be applied below the cheekbone from the center of the ear to just below the apple of the cheek. The motions you use when applying makeup matter just as much as the makeup brush. Remember that tapping will deposit product, while brushing will move it around. Circular brushing will help blend and sheer out makeup.

What are the most important brushes to have?

The bristles themselves tend to be straighter and firmer than the bristles of a powder brush. This kind of brush applies cream and liquid foundations beautifully, with a seamless finish and without any lines or streaks. The thin eyeliner brush is ideal very precise applications of gel or powder eyeliner, since its fine tip allows for a very thin line and a sharper wing – even thinner than what you can achieve with an angle brush. I highly recommend that you play around and try both makeup brushes and sponges for various applications, so you can find out what works best for you. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{