Guide to Makeup Brushes
During my makeup workshops and 1:1 makeup lessons, I am often asked for my recommended makeup brushes or which are the best makeup brushes for beginners to use at home. The truth is you can make any brush work for you if you understand what you are using it for and how to look after it.
So, which makeup Brushes do you really need?
Let’s say you are starting from scratch. You can easily get away with 3 – 5 quality makeup brushes if you know how to use each one to its strengths. Let me start with the basics.
Synthetic vs. Natural Makeup Brushes
There are 2 types of Makeup Brushes – Synthetic makeup brushes and Natural makeup brushes. One is not really better than the other, however there are some factors in helping you decide which to buy.
Synthetic makeup brushes are made with man made fibres such as nylon or polyester. They are usually cheaper than their natural counterparts and are terrific for liquid products. The bristles tend to hold together naturally which allows for beautiful streak free application and as the fibres are not porous they don’t soak up too much product which means less wastage!
Natural fibre makeup brushes are made with real animal hair, sable and goat for example. As a rule, this tends to make them more expensive than synthetic brushes. They are very soft to the touch and the natural cuticle of the hair shaft means they are perfect for picking up powdered products and blending softly and smoothly. For eg. Bronzers, highlighters and eyeshadows.
Fluffy vs. Dense
There are obviously a diverse range of brushes, they come in all shapes, sizes and densities. To make it easy I have segmented them into 2 categories, Fluffy vs. Dense.
A fluffy brush is usually defined by its long loosely bound hairs which mould and sweep easily over the contours of the face. They will give you a diffused coverage with powders and are excellent for blending or seamlessly applying product to the face.
A compact or dense bristled brush is firm to the touch. The hairs are typically shorter and tightly bound and these brushes will provide you with a terrific colour payoff for shadows or a full coverage with liquid products. A compact brush is great for applying the deep dark colour of your smokey eye without fall out of eyeshadow. You would then use your fluffy brush to buff out the edges.
Which makeup brushes do you need?
In my client kit I would have around 60 different varieties of brushes. In my personal makeup stash… I probably use 4! So which makeup brushes do you really need? If you have a good foundation brush, a large fluffy brush for bronzing or powder/blush, a good quality fluffy brush or blending brush and a firm eyeshadow or oval shading brush, you will pretty much be able to create any makeup look you want to try. If you keep them clean, you can definitely get away with not having many at all. You don’t want to buff your concealer out with your dark brown eyeshadow!
How to clean makeup brushes at home
No matter which makeup brushes you choose to purchase, you will need to regularly clean them. Dirty brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria which causes skin irritation and pimples. If you are using your brushes everyday then I would recommend washing them weekly but you can also invest in a couple of products which can be used in between cleans to sanitise and disinfect them easily.
How to keep your makeup brushes clean
There are a tonne of makeup brush cleansers out there but you can also use a clarifying shampoo or simple baby shampoo to do this.
· Start by wetting your brush bristles with warm water, take care not to wet the entire brush or the Ferule (the silver or metal part of the brush holding the bristles in place) as the brush will rot and start to fall apart or lose hairs.
· Next lather the brush with your cleanser of choice and use circular motions in your hand to remove all the product.
· Rinse and repeat until the lather is free of any product colour.
· Squeeze the excess water from your brush fibres, reshape and leave to dry flat over the end of a bench or table. DO NOT dry them with a hair dryer, leave them to dry naturally.
If you don’t use your brushes every day OR you would just like an easy way to refresh them and keep them bacteria free you can purchase a brush refresh spray. I like Mecca Max Power Tool Brush refresh mist. You simply spray the brush after use and then wipe the spray and excess product off on a tissue or paper towel. This cleans the brush sufficiently so as not to transfer different products or shadow colours and sanitises it for next time. I would still recommend washing your brushes at least monthly however.
I hope that helps you “brush up” on your knowledge or helps you decide which brushes to add to your makeup cupboard. Remember, you don’t need to spend a lot of money if you invest in the right type of brush and you look after it. If you would like to learn more of my makeup tips and secrets you can submit a makeup lesson request form HERE. And if you’d like to be the first to receive my blogs, special offers or product recommendations you can sign up to my mailing list HERE.
I hope to see you in the studio soon beauty lovers x