What's That Makeup Brush For?

By Olivia Kaiser on October 17, 2014

As I walked into Sephora for the first time, I could feel my heart race and my pupils dilate. It was a whole new world with the racks of eye-shadow, blush, concealer, lipstick, mascara, eyeliner, lipliner - I’m running out of breath just thinking about it. 

I looked around in awe with no clue of where to start, so many different products were catching my eye. A salesperson took pity on me and approached me saying, “Welcome to Sephora, are you looking for anything special today?”

I stared at her blankly, “Umm…well…a makeup brush?” A makeup brush, out of everything I said a brush. She smiled politely and asked me what type I was looking for. “Uh, just the normal one will be fine.” Again, she gave her polite know-it-all smile and walked me over to Sephora’s own collection of brushes.

My jaw dropped. There were so many different brushes – small ones, big ones, skinny, fat, fanned-out, and stick-like. Who knew there were so many. I looked at her and gave an embarrassed smile. “I’ll just look around for a bit, thank you,” I said, not wanting to embarrass myself further. She nodded, muttered her name and walked away.

Turning back to the plethora of brushes I sighed and began closely examining them all. What the hell is a buffering brush? A Yachiyo…is that even a real word? I was doomed. I had no idea what any of these brushes were for and my pride was to big to ask for help. I settled on buying one of the fatter brushes entitled “bronzer” and left.

The truth is, I was intimidated. I was intimidated by the amount of products and tools, by the salesperson who knew more than I did, and by all the other shoppers who clearly knew what they were doing. I should have simply asked for help; however, like most people, I let my pride get in the way.

The right set of bristles makes all the difference when it comes to applying and blending makeup; but, what are all of those brushes for? After finally talking to wonderful makeup professionals, friends, and yes – salespeople- here is a quick guide to help you get started.

Photo Courtesy of itcosmetics.com

The Cheek Popper: It Cosmetics French Boutique blush brush. Best for: Applying blush or bronzer to warm up your complexion. This brush has fluffy and tapered bristles that will hug your cheekbones allowing just one swipe to do the trick. You can find it at itcosmetics.com for $35.

Photo Courtesy of Sephora.com

The Bronze Booster: Make Up For Ever 130 Large Powder Brush. Best for: Applying light powder, such as a bronzer, to larger areas. This brush won’t allow your bronzer or powder makeup to clump or be applied too heavily to your face and body. You can find it at Sephora for $55.

Photo Courtesy of Real Techniques – lid liner

The Lid Liner: Real Techniques silicone liner brush. Best for: Creating bold looks like the cat-eye with perfect wings. Its silicone tip will help you create smooth lines with liquid or cream-based liners. You can find this brush at realtechniques.com for only $6!

The Complexion Perfecter: Tarte Double-Ended Camouflage Tool. Best for: Masking uneven skin tones, discoloration, or pesky imperfections. With a removable sponge tip, you can easily apply the right amount of product to your skin. The buffing brush helps to smooth and blend, giving you a flawless finish. You can find this brush at Sephora for $36.

Photo Courtesy of Sephora

The Face Finisher: Becca The One perfecting brush. Best for: Quick makeup application, replacing the need for multiple brushes. It can be used with liquids, creams, powders, and all the other products you can think of!

The non-porous, high-quality natural hair allows products to sit on top of the bristles rather than absorbing to the bottom of the brush. It  can be utilized as a foundation brush, powder brush, contour brush, bronzer brush, stipple brush, blush brush, fan brush, concealer brush…the list goes on! You can find this brush at Sephora for $49.

The Arch Shaper:  Anastasia Beverly Hills Brush #20. Best for: Perfectly defining your eyebrows. This double-ended brow brush is perfect for outlining, defining, and creating precise brows. The flat edge allows you to create straight, smooth lines for outlining, while the round end is perfect for grooming and applying brow color. You can find this at Sephora for $18.

Photo Courtesy of Ulta – concealer brush

The Undereye Corrector: Tweezerman Contour concealer brush. Best for: Banishing those pesky dark circles and puffiness in one smooth swipe. The curved brush fits right under you eyes, allowing you to apply makeup without pulling or tugging on that delicate skin. You can find this at Ulta for $18.

The Pucker Upper: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics #009 angled liner brush. Best for: Applying lip tar. With the slanted tip of the bristles, this brush is perfect when it come to applying lip color. You can find this brush at Sephora for $18.

Photo Courtesy of Sephora

The Glow Getter: Sephora Collection Pro Visionary Highlighting Fan Brush #122. Best for: Highlighting your cheekbones, brow bones, and the bridge of your nose. This brush will help lightly dust the high points of your face, leaving a subtle radiance. You can find this at Sephora for $38.

 

 

No matter what sort of brush you are looking for it is important to go into it with an open mind. Read about all the various types of brushes you can use and, most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

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