Everything you should know about what type of makeup brushes you need

You can have the best makeup products available, but if you don’t have the best makeup brushes, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Makeup brushes aren’t just luxury items when it comes to applying makeup— they are a necessity. While your finger, q-tips, and sponges might get you by when it comes to applying foundations, eyeshadows, and blushes, the fact of the matter is that if you invest in makeup brushes, you’ll have a lot more of a seamless application process and professional results.

So what types of makeup brushes do you need to excel at makeup application and become a cosmetics connoisseur? Here are the six best types of makeup brushes you need to have in your makeup bag.

1. Foundation Brush

Foundation brushes are essential, regardless of whether you’re using a liquid foundation or a powder foundation. Unlike makeup sponges, foundation brushes won’t absorb product, saving you money and helping you to apply even coats of your makeup base as you begin your morning routine.

As far as styles, there are quite a few types of foundation brushes available on the market. Kabuki brushes are a popular option for those who are looking for full coverage, while lightweight stippling brushes provide a lighter finish.

2. Concealer Brush

Concealer brushes are to be used to help cover blemishes and other imperfections on your skin that you need a little extra help hiding. These brushes are smaller in size, and you’ll want to apply only light pressure when using them to avoid smudging your foundation.

As an added bonus, concealer brushes can also double up on their duties. Use a concealer brush to clean up messy eye makeup or to create a sharper contrast between your lipstick and surrounding facial area.

3. Powder Brush

Powder brushes are used to apply blushes and bronzers. They are soft brushes with a round shape to them that helps makeup wearers apply natural looking highlights. Powder brushes can also be used with setting powders, helping to keep your foundation in place.

Powders should be added to the T-zone, as well to the inner cheeks, to create a natural look that blends well and provides just the right amount of highlights.

4. Brow Brush

Brow brushes are essential when it comes to applying makeup, and they often come designed with a stiff, angled brush on one end and a spoolie on the other. While the angled brush helps you apply brow powder to your eyebrows in natural strokes, the spoolie can be used to help define your eyelashes.

The spoolie can also be used to brush out your eyebrows or apply liquid color to them if you’re going for a darker, more dramatic brow.

5. Medium and Angled Eyeshadow Brushes

When applying eyeshadow to your lids, you’ll want to have at least two brushes on hand to help get the job done: a medium eyeshadow brush and an angled eyeshadow brush. The medium eyeshadow brush should be used to apply eyeshadow over the lid and can be used with both powder and cream shadows. One of the major benefits of using a medium eyeshadow brush instead of the applicator that comes in many drugstore brand eyeshadow palettes is that you can more easily blend eyeshadow colors together to get the perfect shade that you’re looking for.

The angled eyeshadow brush is meant to be used in the eye’s crease. By applying darker eyeshadow in the lid’s crease, you create definition, helping you to bring attention to the eyes. Angled eyeshadow brushes can also be used to create a more contoured look when applying eyeshadow. Because they allow you to get precise lines, angled eyeshadow brushes are a must in any makeup professional’s makeup bag.

6. Lip Brush

Lip brushes are exactly what they sound like— brushes that help apply pigment to the lips. Just like how one uses eyeshadow brushes to get precise, defined results on the eyes, a lip brush does the same thing for your mouth.

Even if you’re using a lipstick, you can still use a lip brush to take some of the pigment off the stick and apply it directly to your lips. Additionally, other types of lip products can be used with lip brushes, including glosses and lip creams.

Now that you know what types of makeup brushes you need, you'll be able to make up your face like a pro!

Resources— Refinery 29, Cosmopolitan, Colorescience

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