Applicator Brushes

 Foundation Applicators

Ok so we all know that there are lots of different utensils we can get in order to apply our makeup, but some of us don't know what all of them are used for.  Let me tell you.


So first off we will start with the applicators for your foundation.  For your foundation we can use;

•  your fingertips
•  a makeup sponge
•  a foundation brush 
•  a blender brush

If you are using your fingertips then wash your hands before applying as you don't want any dirt or grease transferring onto your face and causing breakouts. 


Using a makeup sponge or wedge is an easy way for beginners to apply liquid foundation,  you can use it 3 or 4 times before you need to bin it.  The first time you go to use it run it under the tap and soak it, ring it out thoroughly until quite dry, this will help your foundation sheer out onto your face much easier.  Using a sponge is good as it can get into the corners of your eyes and the lines under your eyes too.  They are very versatile and come in all different shapes and sizes to suit your needs.

An alternative to the wedge sponge is the Blend Perfection Sponge, it is a great utensil for your makeup bag, they are cheap to buy and blend your makeup fabulously.  Again these come in all shapes and sizes, the pointed end would be used for your conealer and applying foundation to your nose and any harder to reach areas and ofcourse the large round bottom will be used for the rest of your face and neck. 

Face blender perfection sponge

Moving on from sponges i will tell you about the foundation brush.  There are many different shapes and size of foundation brushes out there.  They range from round brushes to flat headed brush to fat brushes and thin brushes.  They all have there own pros ands cons.  A good foundation brush will have soft brissels on it and will not shed.

You will get good even coverage with a flat foundation brush that has a rounded tip to it, do not put too much on the brush as you will look caked and you will see brush strokes. Basically it's like painting as you are using the brush on your face and applying light gentle strokes, the only difference is it's your face your painting and not a wall! Flat foundation brushes tend to work better with a lighter and thinner foundation rather than a thick one.  I like this Benefit foundation brush, it is so soft and silky that your foundation just glides on.  You can pick this up for around £6.90 which is a great buy as it will last you a very long time. 

Flat liquid foundation applicator brush

As i am doing a high street brand budget makeup blog i will tell you the best products to buy on my product of the week page.

Depending upon what foundation i'm wearing i will alternate between different applicators.  Today i used a thicker foundation so i used a flat top kabuki buffing brush.  These brushes are great as you only need a little product on the brush.  The foundation soaks right into the brush so it really does go a long way.  These brushes are great for buffing your foundation right into your face to allow the foundation to set in and give you that flawless even coverage that every girl desires.  This brush is a much cheaper alternative than the Mac 130 short fibre brush which comes in at £28.00 whereas you can pick this coastal scents one up for around £14-£16.

Flat head kabuki buffing foundation applicator

For my concealer i just use my finger as i tend not to use much concealer.  If you find you are using a good bit of concealer then it may be best to buy a concealer brush.  I recommend this Calvin Klein one.  I don't own it, but i have heard it does teh trick.

           

                                                               

Please be sure to cleanse your brushes at least once a week.  This is really important in order to maintain the hygiene level.  Dabbing your brush in foundation and then putting it all over your face and then sticking it in your makeup bag isn't very hygienic, all the residue from your foundation will be stuck to it along with any bacteria on the moist brush.  I clean my brushes once a week using ID bare escentuals quick change brush cleanse.  It is relatively cheap and does the trick.

brush cleanse id

Once you have applied your foundation with one of the above applicators then you want to get a powder and a powder brush and give yourself an even smoother complexion.  Not only does it make your makeup look flawless, but it also helps your makeup stay put all day long.  I have even fell asleep after a night of partying hard and woke up the next morning with my makeup the way it was before i left the house.  

I use Max Factors creme puff powder in shade 13 noveau beige.  A little of this really does go a long way.  In the compact you will get a little applicator sponge, i don't advise that you use this as i think it makes your makeup look very caked on and it does use up more powder than you need at one time.  

 To apply the powder you will need a good sized powder brush.  I use one that is like the mac 187 Duo Fibre brush.  If you buy this brush form Mac it will cost you £32.50, but i use one by coastal scents, it's called the duo fibre stippling HD brush which i think is amazing.  You only need a little swirl in your powder and it will give you almost full coverage with that one dip.

After your powder you would move onto your bronzer or blusher.  For my bronzer i tend to use a better quality brush than i would with my blusher as when i wear bronzer i put it all over my face for a sunkissed glow, whereas my blusher is only going to be on my cheeks.  For my bronzer i like Fake bronzing brush, the bristles are really soft and fluffy and it gives you a good even coverage.  It is reasonably priced for being a well known bronzing make.

For my blusher i normally use i.d bare escentuals powder brush.  Again this brush is really soft and fluffy and gives you good control over your blusher. 

Ok so what if you have a lot of loose powder over your face or you want a light coverage of bronzer?  You would use a fan brush of course.  A lot of people never know what these are used for.  Primarily they were use for pigmented blusher due to the fact it is very striking.  You can also use them for translucent powders and for highlighting.

I use this W7 fan makeup brush.  You don't need an expensive fan brush as you probably wont use it as much as you use the likes of your foundation or bronzer brush.  

Now i will move onto eyeshadow brushes.  There are so many different eyeshadow brushes and uses for them. You also have a wide range of liner brushes too.  

If you are looking for a shadow brush to put on a lot of eyeshadow or for a very intense colour build up the i would recommend a good thick eye shader brush or a fluff brush.  I really love this Royal & Langnickel Silk Pro All Over Eye Shadow shader brush.  It is very dense with a slightly rounded tip.  It makes your eyeshadow really intense and gives a great finish.  I use the fluff brush when i am creating a smokey eye effect. Below is the Langnickel shader brush.