Tools of the Trade

A makeup artist relies on three things: creativity, talent, and the proper tools. Makeup brushes can make all the difference in achieving your desired look. Aside from my favorite tools, my hands, good brushes are key to creating a natural or a more dramatic look. I know a lot of you may be overwhelmed by all the makeup brushes that are available and you’re not sure what brush is to be used where. I’m here to break that down for you. There are some factors to consider when purchasing makeup brushes, as they are an important investment. Determine what your needs are and start from there. High quality brushes can be expensive, especially if they are handmade {can you imagine the craftsmanship that entails?} so I recommend starting out with a few basics and “chipmunking” other brushes in the future.  If you are in need of a foundation brush to best apply your liquid or cream foundation, look for a synthetic (smooth, shiny) bristle brush. These bristles are designed to pick up aqueous products and ensure a smooth application. If you are looking for a makeup brush to give you smoky, sexy eyes look for a natural bristled (soft, light) fluffy tapered brush to really blend and smoke out your shadow. Here are some of my recommendations for brushes that will work for all your basic makeup needs:

Chanel #16 Foundation brush- Achieve flawless foundation application with this brush. The synthetic bristles pick up aqueous based products and apply it to the skin seamlessly. You can also use your foundation brush to apply your moisturizer, primer, and cream or gel blushes. Clients always tell me how good this brush feels, and a little Chanel luxury couldn’t hurt.

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Concealer brush- Shaped to reach the tiniest corners and apply the necessary amount of concealer under the eyes. The pointed tip also allows precision in applying opaque concealer to blemishes. This synthetic bristle brush comes with a protective cap to help keep it sanitary in your makeup bag.

M.A.C. 129 Powder/Blush brush- This brush is soft and fluffy, everything you need in a powder or blush brush. The full, rounded size is perfect for applying blush and bronzer as it will never make you look stripy or contoured.

Sephora Collection Double-Ended Everyday Eye brush- Like the name suggests, this brush is perfect for applying your eye shadow to your lid up into your crease. Use the smaller brush on the other end to apply shadow to your lower lash line for a perfectly smudged and smoky look.

Stila Double Ended Shadow brush #30- This multi-purpose brush is key for achieving natural and smoky eye looks. The smaller, dome shaped brush is tightly packed allowing you to apply color precisely where you want it-in the crease. You can also use the dome shaped end to apply color to the upper or lower lash lines. The tapered longer brush end is the key to accomplishing a perfectly blended look. Use it in a windshield wiper motion until you achieve the desired effect.

M.A.C. 266 Small Angle brush- Another brush that does double duty {see a trend here?} Use this brush and any powder eye shadow to create an eye liner. You can dampen the brush with water prior to use to really increase your eyeliners longevity. Simply make an X in your eye shadow, tap off the excess, and use it to define the lash line. You can also use this synthetic bristle brush to fill in your sparse eye brows with a soft colored eye shadow. Remember, you’re looking to create depth and the illusion that there is more hair. You’re not drawing them on as this looks harsh and obvious.

NARS Retractable Lip brush- I love retractable brushes and I’ll tell you why. You can load this lip brush up with your favorite lipstick or gloss, pop into your purse, and you can use it for touch ups later in the day. No muss no fuss.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you how to best care for your makeup brushes…

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