Makeup Brushes – Choosing Tha Right One

Makeup brushes can be the difference between a bad makeup application and a good one. Have you ever been walking down the street and seen a woman with an orange or pink face and a different colored neck? Poor foundation and powder application result in the dreaded makeup line that can make an otherwise decent makeup application look terrible. Blending is the key to any beautifully made up face, and a great set of brushes can be a fantastic insurance policy to protect you against bad lines.

The best brush for applying your mineral foundation is a kabuki brush, these brushes are made from sable hair, squirrel hair, goat hair etc. The dome shaped hairs in the brushes hold the minerals better for a more even application. The animals are groomed to get the hairs, this way there is usually no cruelty to the animal. Not all kabuki brushes are made from animal hair though; some are made from taklon and a few other synthetic materials, it is important to know the material from which your kabuki brush is made as this will help to determine the method to use when washing.

In addition to its antibacterial properties, Taklon is superior to animal hair makeup brushes because of its versatility. Again, the cuticles in animal hair cause streaking when makeup brushes are used for creams or liquids. In contrast, Taklon can be created in textures ranging from extremely soft to very coarse, making it perfect for the application of powders, creams, and liquids.

One brush (or carpet sample) may feel nicer to the touch, but does that mean it will hold up over time? Does it mean it's of higher quality? Doing some simple searches across the internet did not yield any articles explaining the different types of brushes hairs, and which type ranks higher over which, so I've put together my own primer for those of us who are trying to get the best bang for our buck.

After your brushes have a good bath, brush them off a little on a clean paper towel and lay them to dry on their side on a paper towel or a regular towel. It is also a good idea to reshape the brush at this point in time to prevent splaying. If you have a steady enough hand, eyeliner brushes are great for softening pencil lines. The brush is a wide; flat shaped that can be used wet or dry.

If you're going for a more sheer look, try applying foundation with a basic foundation brush. These brushes feature a longer handle than the kabuki and have rounded bristles. They are great for applying powder foundation as well as finishing powders. If you're looking to do some contouring, try using an angled foundation brush. These brushes can help define cheek bones, mask under eye circles and accentuate the jaw line.

Once you have identified the brushes you need you will want to check out the quality of the brushes. Consider the composition of the brush handle - some come in metal and some are wood. You an usually choose the color of wood that you like, some prefer a lighter birch color while others like to stick to the classic black. If you are on a budget consider a brush with a plastic handle, but keep in mind that over time these will not hold up as well as makeup brushes with wood handles.