Welcome to Makeup Brushes 101! Learn everything you need to know about your brushes. If you have a ton of makeup brushes, we’re not surprised you’re overwhelmed. It’s important to know the purpose of each makeup brush and which ones you must have in your kit. We discuss all this and more in this post– a must-read for newbies and experts alike!
Makeup Brushes 101: How to Use Your Makeup Brush Sets
The Fan Brush
This is a thin, flexible fan-shaped brush. This multi-purpose brush comes in many different sizes.
Uses:
- Apply highlighter or blush
- Create gentle contouring
- Sweep away excess powder or eyeshadow fallout
The Flat Foundation Brush
This is a thin, flat brush with a square end. Use the same way as a traditional foundation brush, with short back-and-forth brush strokes. The flat end creates perfect lines for touchups around the eyes, brows, and lips.
Uses:
- Apply liquid foundation
- Apply and blend concealer
- Create perfect lines around eyeshadow, brows, and lipstick
- Ideal for theatrical or performance makeup
Foundation Brush
Ths brush has a flat, dense, soft, rounded end. Use it like a paintbrush–small back-and-forth brush strokes to apply and to blend. It creates a natural finish with light to medium coverage.
Uses:
- Apply liquid foundation
- Apply concealer
- Blend cream products
Flat Top Brush
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This is a dense brush, large and round, with a small cut flat top. It can be used for pretty much anything, from blending to applying makeup at a variety of thicknesses. It comes in different sizes.
Uses:
- Apply and blend liquid or cream foundation
- Full coverage powder application
- Apply and blend cheek color
- Remove excess powder and fallout
Angled Foundation Brush
Which #Nanshy brushes you loved the most?
Brushes in the photo: Angled Brush, Flawless Foundation and Blush Brush ❤ pic.twitter.com/EFex5bEUFq— Nanshy – Makeup Brushes & Beauty Tools (@NanshyOfficial) August 9, 2016
This is a dense, flat brush with an angled end. It is thicker than a traditional foundation brush. Use short back-and-forth strokes to create light to medium coverage.
Uses:
- Apply liquid foundation
- Apply cream foundation
- Blend concealer
- Blend cream blush or bronzer
Powder Brush
This is a makeup brush that is large and fluffy, generally quite soft, yet dense. It is used to sweep or press powder onto the face. It can also be used for blending because of its rounded shape.
Uses:
- Apply powder foundation or setting powder
- Apply powder blush, bronzer or highlighter
- Blend check color together
- Apply products to body
Round Buffing Brush
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This is a round brush with very dense, stiff, yet soft bristles. Use it for buffing makeup onto the skin in small circular motions. It creates a flawless, perfectly-blended finish. It is definitely versatile.
Uses:
- Apply and blend foundation
- Apply and blend concealer
- Contour
- Apply and blend cheek color
- Apply powder foundation or setting powder
Stippling Brush
This is a long, flexible duo fiber bristles, normally quite dense and soft. Use it with a buffing motion, creating small circles with each stroke to blend product. It is a multi-use product and can come in large or small sizes.
Uses:
- Apply liquid or cream foundation
- Apply blush or highlighter
- Blend concealer and foundation
- Blend cheek colors together for a flawless look
Angled Blush Brush
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This is a medium-sized brush that is dense and rounded, with a tapered, angled end. It has the perfect shape to define cheekbones. Use as you would a normal blush or brush or use it to shape out the hollows of your cheeks.
Uses:
- Apply blush, bronzer or highlight
- Contour cheekbones and other features
- Blend cheek color
Blush Brush
This is a medium-sized rounded brush with soft bristles. Its small size allows for precise application. Its shape also allows for easier blending.
Uses:
- Apply and blend out a blush
- Apply and blend out bronzer
- Contour
- Apply and blend out a highlighter
- Apply powder to set concealer
Here’s the infographic guide to your makeup brush 101. Save it, pin it or print it out!
Makeup junkie or not, we all get a little excited when we get a new set of makeup brushes. It inspires us to do more and challenges us to create new, stunning makeup looks. For me, when I get a new set of makeup brushes, I automatically feel like a professional makeup artist that can create masterpieces.
Owning a new set of makeup brushes might present some new challenges, but knowing each one’s use will help achieve the makeup look we always wanted! We hope this guide to your makeup brushes 101 helped you figure out how to use yours!
How is this guide to your makeup brushes 101 helping you? We’d love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments section below!
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on March 12, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
