Makeup Brushes
Makeup brushes are available in a wide range of shapes, each of which has a particular purpose. Quality and price also varies from brand to brand. Read on for information on how to choose quality brushes and learn about which brush type will work better in certain makeup applications than the others. Remember that there are many styles of makeup brushes, but they can be broken down by the part of the body they're intended to be used on. Keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules about brushes, even though they are typically made for one thing over the next. If you find an eye brush that works great on your lips, use it! - Handles
- The brush handle can be made of just about anything, including wood, plastic and metal
- What matters most is how the brush feels to you.
- Do you prefer a solid, heavy brush or one that is light and slim? A short handle or a long one?
- Consider whether you want to travel frequently with your brushes. Shorter handles are good for taking on the go, while long ones are good to keep in your home makeup kit.
- Bristles
- There are two main kinds of bristles: natural and synthetic.
- Natural bristles are made from animal hair.
- Goat, pony, mink, badger and blue squirrel are popular choices.
- Natural brushes are said to be a good choice with loose powders, as they will hold powder better than a synthetic brush.
- Synthetic bristles are made from non-animal fibers.
- Although usually less expensive than natural fibers, synthetic fibers can be equally good brushes.
- Especially recommended for creamy makeup like lipstick and cream eyeshadow because they won't absorb the makeup.
Facial Brushes
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Powder Brush 
- A large, loose brush used for sweeping powder over the entire face.
- Can also be used with bronzers, shimmers and powders.
- Some use this brush dry after using a powder puff to knock off any excess powder.
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Blush Brush - Similar to a powder brush, with a large head.
- Many blushers are tapered or angled to allow the user to sweep blush onto the cheekbone area.
- Also used dry for blending if too much blush is applied.
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Fan Brush - A lighter brush, also used for blush.
- Sweep across cheekbones for a light touch of color.
- Won't pick up as much color as a heavy blush brush, so can be used for much lighter washes of color.
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Eye Makeup Brushes
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Eye Shadow Brush - Usually a soft, rounded brush, resembling a miniature version of a blush brush.
- Used for applying a light coating of eye shadow to the lid.
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Crease Brush - Finer tip than the average eye shadow brush.
- Used for applying darker colors to the crease of the eye and for blending.
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Liner Brush - Very fine-tipped brush.
- Used to apply liquid liner or shadow mixed with water to the lash line.
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Smudge Brush - A brush with very short, stubby bristles.
- The name says it all -- it is used to smudge liner and shadow to give a smoky look.
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Brow Brush - An angled, slightly stiff brush intended for applying makeup to the eyebrows.
- Many people find this brush a versatile tool for other jobs, such as applying lipstick.
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Lip Brushes
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Lip Brush - Your basic lip brush is a bit on the stiff side for applying creamy lipsticks.
- Most lip brushes are small and have a rounded end.
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Travel Lip Brush - Many lip brushes come with their own cases or are retractable for touch-ups on the go.
- The no mess cover helps keep the brush more sanitary as well.
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Square Lip Brush - People with fuller lips may prefer a slightly larger, square brush for applying lipstick.
- Brow brushes may work well for this too!
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Final Notes on Brushes
Keep in mind that these are only guides -- you can really use a brush for whatever you want, if it works for you. Also remember that eye makeup brushes are especially diverse. There are a lot more than the five pictured here. But unless you are a professional makeup artist, you probably only need a couple basic brushes. Likewise, unless you know that you need all of them, brush kits may be a waste of money. If you plan to buy a kit, make sure it has everything you need and nothing you don't. Finally, a good brush can be expensive, but you should probably buy the best brush you can afford -- that way you won't have to replace it as often.
External Links
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