Doing your make-up on your own could be considered an extreme sport. The amount of focus, practice, precision, and, not to mention, the skill it takes to pull off a proper face beat would surely warrant something worthy of a medal.
Even though our IG’s are saturated with picture-perfect faces and precise lines and contours, the truth is, most of us don’t know where to begin or how to achieve it. YouTube tutorials and make-up for beginners’ blogs will tell you that it’s a simple task, but we all know that half of a recipe’s success relies on the tools used to execute it.
In order to achieve the perfect face beat, you’ll need the right tools. For those of you, who can’t tell a beauty blender from a contour brush, listen up! We’re going to show you which make-up brushes to use.
Brushes for foundation
Traditional MUA’s will point you toward using a flat half-moon shaped brush to apply your foundation. These closely resemble actual paintbrushes and come in different sizes for better application on the different planes of your face.
If you’re looking for something simpler to use, we suggest you try a beauty blender or a silicone applicator.
Brushes for contouring
The next step after applying your foundation is to contour your face. If you’re using a liquid/mousse contour palette, we suggest you use a brush that has dense, blunt bristles and a sharp edge for a sharper contour. For a subtle contour, use one with a softer slanted shape.
Brushes for powder
Blush brushes (also known as powder brushes) are usually bigger in size and feature long, fluffy bristles. These can be used for numerous purposes like setting cream foundations or to buff and blend out powder foundations.
Brushes for Highlighter
Highlight brush choices may vary in terms of the finish you desire. If glazed doughnut is the goal, then you’ll need a brush with dense bristles to achieve it. For a natural shimmer and glow, a brush with very long bristles, like a fan brush or a long, tapered brush is ideal.
Brushes for eyeshadow
This one requires multiple brushes to use: #1 to pack on the colour and #2 to blend and spread the colour evenly across your lids. For #1, you’ll need a flat, rounded and dense-bristled brush ─ this is best used to pick up a bunch of powder or cream for a concentrated colour finish. For #2, you’ll need a tapered shaped brush with soft, fluffy bristles to assist you to blend for longer without causing any irritation on your lids.
Brushes for eyebrows
Brow brushes are non-negotiable and a must-have in every beauty guru’s cosmetic bag. First, you’ll need a flat, blunt, and angled brush to help you trace the desired brow shape and then use a spoolie or comb to tame stray hairs and soften the look if you’ve filled them in with too much product.
Shop make-up brushes and applicators here.
