Let’s Get Blending
Rachel Spillane shares hero favourite makeup brushes too achieve a flawless base
Whether you’re a makeup artist to the stars or a complete beauty novice, choosing the right brushes for your makeup kit can be daunting. There are brushes for buffing, blending, stippling, blurring - the list goes on and on. But which ones do we actually need?
Foundation
Aside from good skin prep, using the right foundation brush is crucial. It sets the tone for how the rest of your makeup will sit on your face - if your foundation looks patchy, chances are, the following products probably will too. To determine what type of brush you may need, take a look at your foundation’s formula. Cream foundations apply well when used with a dense buffing brush while liquid foundations work best when applied with a beauty sponge or stippling brush. And if you’re using a powder foundation, a big fluffy kabuki brush will work great. Here are some of my favourites…
1 BeautyBlender Original €19.45, visit lookfantastic.ie
2 Zoeva 104 Buffer Brush €22.50, visit zoevacosmetics.eu
Cream Blush and Bronzer
There is a general rule that you apply all creams and liquid products first before setting your face with powder, otherwise, your base may separate and look streaky. I usually apply cream blush on the apples of my cheeks with my fingers - it warms up the product nicely and gives that au natural flush. But for bronzer, I like using a light stippling brush - one that isn’t dense as this can move the foundation/concealer underneath. A light brush will blend the product softly into your skin without disturbing your base and the end result will be a gorgeous bronzed glow.
3 MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush €35, visit brownthomas.com
Concealer
The concealer brush is small but mighty (and usually forgotten). A flat dense brush is great for blending out under-eye concealer as they mostly come in cream or liquid formulas. Take care not to move any product underneath where you applied your concealer and lightly tap your brush on top of the product to blend evenly. Flat brushes don’t absorb much product meaning you will get a fuller coverage result, perfect for anyone with dark circles (or if you had an extra glass of fizz!) and you’ll find your concealer lasting much longer. Flat brushes are also great for carving out your eyebrows and highlighting your brow bone to look more lifted.
4 Real Techniques Brightning Concealer Brush €10.50, visit boots.ie
5 Revolution PRO 100 Small Pointed Flat Brush €6.99, visit revolutionbeauty.com
Powder
The brush you use for setting powder really depends on what look you're hoping to achieve. If you get oily throughout the day and prefer to have a matte base, a big fluffy brush will get the job done. It will cover more surface area and the bristles will collect more product so you’ll minimise a huge amount of shine. On the other hand, if you like a glowy, satin finish, a small tapered powder brush will be great for precision. Only powder the areas where you may get oily, as well as under your eyes to prevent your concealer from creasing, and you’re good to go.
For powder blush, I always use an angled synthetic brush as the shape compliments the contours of your cheekbones and applies the product higher up on the face, giving much more definition.
Just like blush, bronzer requires the same precision. You’re trying to warm up the face without softening the contours of your face. I think small powder brushes work best for this as they fit easily into the hollow under your cheekbone to create the illusion of a sharper angle. And plus, smaller brushes are easier to control.
6 Ecotools Full Powder Brush €10.50, visit iherb.com
7 Nars Precision Powder Brush €39, visit cultbeauty.com
8 Morphe Angled Blush Brush €15, visit morphe.com
9 Fenty Beauty Sculpting Bronzer Brush 195 €33, visit harveynichols.com
Eyeshadow
There are quite literally hundreds of different eyeshadow brushes on the market but I truly believe you only need three to create a simple daytime look or sultry eyes for nights out on the town. First up is a fluffy blending brush for your crease. Focus on applying neutral transition shades with this brush and if you’re looking for more dimension, apply light eyeshadows first before working your way to darker colours, placing each eyeshadow a touch below the first. The second brush you need is a flat eyeshadow brush. This is great for packing shadows onto your lids and works great with both matte and shimmer pigments. Finally, a smudger brush is a girl's best friend. Not only will it fit into the small contours of your eye like the inner and outer corners, but it will also blend liner and eyeshadows out along your lower lash line for a smokey finish.
10 SoSu by SJ Crease Blender Brush €4.95, visit sosubysj.com
11 Beauty Bay Rose Gold Shading Brush €3.50, visit beautybay.com
12 Charlotte Tilbury Eye Smudger Brush €32, visit charlotteltilbury.com
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