The Best Makeup Brushes : The Short List

So what qualities do the best makeup brushes have?

There are some fundamental qualities that apply to most brushes, but there are some specific qualities that will depend on the type of makeup task.

If you are here, reading this page, you have likely discovered there is a huge selection of brushes available, with many sizes, handle lengths, head shapes, bristle cuts and origin AND attached to them, a crazy range in prices. Don't worry, we'll sort all of this into an order that makes sense and allows you to make the best makeup brush choices, for your needs.

There are two lists that we will work with. The first gives you the 'big picture' of the WHOLE RANGE of brushes available and the zones they work in, makeup techniques they perform, and the qualities you should look for.

The second list is a SHORT LIST of 'essential brushes and tools' and it is a list of the most practical and versatile brushes that will suit the majority of us.

Best Makeup Brushes Guide

As your sift through this information, make note of the ideal characteristics your makeup brushes and tools should have....i.e.. shape of and type of bristles AND buying considerations such as natural bristle is often (but not always) a better choice and is more expensive. Noting further fine details like are the bristle hairs blunt from being unnaturally cut or is each bristle naturally tapering as a natural hair would will improve your purchase satisfaction as the quality and performance increase.

Here are some general descriptive words used to describe brush characteristics:

brush head shape; square, dome, tapered, angled, slant etc
brush head size; fine (extra small), small, medium, large, extra large
bristles; natural hair -sable, squirrel, goat vs. synthetic- nylon, taklon
bristles; texture-fine, soft, coarse
bristles; firm, stiff, dense etc.
handle length; long, short, 'travel size'

best makeup brushes

Keeping track of these points will help you reinforce the logic behind choosing a brush and increase your chance of making GREAT CHOICES.

Best Makeup Brushes & Tools:

The WHOLE List	TOOLS	The ESSENTIAL List
FACE Large Powder Brush Kabuki Brush Foundation Brush Concealer Brush Blush Brushes; flat, angled, dome, blunt Bronzer Brush Contour Brush More about face brushes...	Natural Sponge (sea) Latex Wedge/ Foam powder puff Qtips	FACE Large Powder Brush Foundation Brush Concealer Brush Blush Brushes; dome
EYES eye shadow brush; small, medium, large cream eye shadow brush crease brush; rounded, contour eye shader brush eye smudge brush eye blender eye liner brushes; blunt, angled, ultra fine More about eye makeup brushes...	Liner Sharpener Qtips	EYES eye shadow brush; medium cream eye shadow brush angled eye liner brush
EYE LASHES mascara brush/ comb clean mascara wand/ spool clean toothbrush More about eyelash brushes...	Eye Lash Curler Qtips	EYE LASHES clean mascara wand/ spool
EYE BROWS eye brow brush angled clean mascara wand/ spool clean toothbrush	Tweezers	EYE BROWS clean mascara wand/ spool
LIPS lip brushes; retractable or with cap	Qtips	LIPS lip brushes ; retractable or with cap
	Must Have Tools...	The ESSENTIALS List below...

The 'ESSENTIALS' List
Of The Best Makeup Brushes:

This handy short list of the best makeup brushes meet the daily makeup application needs that most of us have.

Here's the lineup:

best-makeup-brushes

Quick Overview:
(More on this list of brushes, their ideal qualities and the tasks they perform etc.)

1. Concealer Brush: Look for square head with tapered corners to tapered, ideal for blending (under eye -square; blemishes-tapered). Long handle, good weight, great for application precision.

2. Foundation Brush: Look for fairly large wide, tapered flat head, ideal for liquid or cream foundations (synthetic bristles okay)

3. Large Powder Brush: Look for large, full, rounded brush (dome shape), ideal for loose powder, can also be used for compacts with pressed powder, and loose beads. It can also be use to brush off excess powder.

4. Blusher Brush: Look for full, large head with slight tapering (not as large as powder brush) designed for even distribution and natural looking definition across the cheeks and cheekbone.

5. Eyeshadow Brush: Look for square head, medium to large sized (just under 1/2 an inch width), with slight taper at corners, flat, a bristle head that is firm but soft for the delicate eye area. This brush is designed for sweeping color across eye lids and blending. By using its edge, it can be used for defining eyelid crease.

6. Slanted Brush: Look for a small, narrow, angled, flat brush head with soft but firm bristles. This brush is designed for application of fine lines such as close to your lash line, blending and softening color edges. It also is used for applying powder to brows.

7. Lip Brush: Look for a small, narrow, flat tapered edge brush. Designed for blending lip liner and lipstick applications. Great for blending lipstick colors too ( I always seem to wear two shades to get the color I want.).

8. Eyebrow/ Eyelash Brush: The easiest least expensive of the brushes...

Clean an old, soft bristle tooth brush or mascara wand well, with warm soapy water. This brow brush is perfect for shaping the brows, separating eyelashes and removing and mascara clumps or debris. You can also set your eyebrows with hair spray or gel by applying the substance to the wand/ brush and combing through and shaping eyebrows (clean bristles immediately afterwards).

(More on this list...)

Best Makeup Brushes TIPs:
Generally, clean makeup brushes and tools regularly...save your brushes, your makeup, and your skin from destructive bacteria.
More about makeup brushes...
Brush Sets. Do you really need one? Brush sets are a convenient way to go if you are starting from scratch, able to find a set with 'the essentials' best makeup brushes, or you see the need for a more extensive range in brushes ....Why? It saves you the leg work in tracking down brush styles, and you will generally benefit from a price break when you buy in multiples.

BizRate

Professional Makeup Brushes. What are professional makeup brushes and how different are they from the ones available to us. Are professional ones available to the regular consumer?

Store you brushes in clean, dry, damage proof container that is user friendly.

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The Best Makeup BrushesYour Guide To The Short List

The Best Makeup Brushes
Your Guide To The Short List