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Brush Basics
Published:
Sunday, February 5, 2012
As a makeup artist I usually show up to jobs with my makeup case filled with the all the palettes, colors, formulations and bits and bobs that would make any makeup junkie swoon. Included in that is my brush collection with about 35-40 brushes (really, I’ve lost count). I usually feel like a celebrity, especially when I arrive to do Halloween makeup on some of my smallest clients (ages 7 and 4 respectively). When I open my makeup brush roll they always gasp and ask (pointing) “Aunty… what is this one for? And this one? And this one?” I think they just articulate what my adult clients want to know but are just too afraid (or ashamed) to ask. I always encourage women who want to start wearing makeup to start to with a good set of brushes. The brush is a major tool in helping you create a more professional looking makeup application for yourself. And as a beginner, you don’t necessarily have to go out and buy the most expensive brushes on the market. They key to a good brush is not its price but its bristles and functionality. You want a well-made brush that will stand up to usage and will not shed or fall apart. So when building your kit I suggest you start with the following 6 basic brushes.
Powder:
This will be a large fluffy brush that allows the products to be spread over a larger areas.
Blush:
This often looks a like a smaller version of the powder blush but it is used to apply blush (more precisely than a powder brush).
Eye Shadow (large):
This will be larger and bristles will be compact. This is great for applying shadow all over the whole eye or applying to the lid
Eye Shadow (small):
This brush can be used to blend or apply shadow to the crease or the brow bone.
Angled brush (small):
This brush will be a small and very compact brush. You can use this to smudge your eyeliner (smudging your eyeliner give you a softer more natural look) as well as to apply eye shadow or fill in eyebrows.
Lip brush: This brush can be used to apply your lipsticks and glosses a bit more precisely to the lip.
When you get adept at handling your brushes you will want to add more to your kit such as a foundation brush, a stippling brush, etc. Note that if you put your makeup on at home you may want store your brushes upright (bristles facing up) in a glass or cup. If you travel with your brushes, get a brush case or roll so that your brushes are not skating around in your bag. Remember, also that brushes and all makeup tools can harbor bacteria, so remember to clean your brushes weekly with brush cleaner and shampoo them at least once a month.
An Important Note: The cost of a brush is often determined by the kind of bristle. Natural bristles cost more and are often made of animal hairs such as beaver, goat, pony, or even squirrel!). To lower costs, many companies are now investing in brushes made of different kind of synthetic fibers, which mimic natural hair. So, when buying a brush you will see either ‘synthetic’ or ‘natural’ written on the packaging.
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