Monday, January 18, 2010

Fast Facts: Foundation Brushes

The biggest issue women have with makeup once that have purchased the right products is knowing how to apply it. There is a HUGE difference between an "okay" makeup application and a flawless finish. The key to a perfect application is the tools that you use. There are many different types of brushes on the market that all do different things. What is important is knowing how and when to use them. Below are our essential brushes that no makeup wearing women should live without.

Kabuki Brush - The ideal brush for applying powder mineral make up. The short, dense fibers hold onto the powder and only releases it when the brush is buffed against the skin. No product goes to waste!

Liquid Foundation Brush - A good foundation brush is flat with dense, smooth fibers. It helps to distribute the product evenly and smoothly. Apply foundation from the center of the face and work outwards. This keeps foundation from collecting in the hair line. Don't forget to bring liquid foundation down the neck. Nothing ruins a look like a line of makeup at the jaw!

Blush Brush - There are tons of different blush brushes but the most standard, easy to use is the fluffy domed brush. The difficult part is getting the right size: too small and your blush will appear streaky and uneven... But too big and you lose any contouring and definition. The perfect size is when the head of the brush is slightly smaller than the width of your cheek bone.

Powder Brush - The powder brush looks similar to the blush brush, and it is! The difference is that a good powder brush is much larger with soft, more open bristles. It should lightly dust translucent or setting powder over the face without caking it on. Sweep a little extra over the forehead, nose and chin where your face is more likely to get oily throughout the day.

Angled Brush - This brush is optional. If you apply bronzers or cheek contouring powders however, it is essential. Load your brush up with bronzer, tap the excess powder off, then run the brush on a diagonal beneath your cheek bone. For a golden glow, sweep bronzer up along the temples, down the nose, across the chin and under the jawline. Use a light hand when doing this, especially if you have fair skin. The key is to blend, blend, blend!

There are also smaller brushes that can be used for applying concealers, dusting on highlights to cheek and brow bones, and applying lipsticks. While these brushes can help to achieve an airbrushed, polished finish it is important to master overall face techniques first. We hope this quick run down was useful in helping you find the tools you need to creating the best you possible!
Sincerely,
Skindulgence
written by Paige Forgie