The Essential Tools For Everyday Makeup Application
Everyday makeup application can be quick and fabulous if you know which essential tools you need to get the job done.
Perfect makeup application is only a few tools away.
Powder brush: A good powder brush is will have a full head of bristles shaped into a round dome. A powder brush has no tapering to its head.
Blush brush: A blush brush is a large round makeup brush with soft and fluffy bristles that are slightly tapered. Its size and soft bristles make for an even application of any facial powder. A cheaper blush brush with hard bristles is not a good makeup tool. The hard bristles won’t bend and spread out as much when they make contact with the face, so you’ll be left with a powder splotch. Soft bristles on the other hand, spread out over the skin to deliver powder of a wider area, leaving behind no splotches or streaks. The size and softness also make application quick; a couple of gentles sweeps of the brush over your face and you are done.
Eye shadow brush: An eye shadow brush should not be larger than about ½ inch in width. It needs to be large enough to sweep shadow over the eyelid in one sweep, but not so big that it applies shadow past the crease in the eyelid. Both ends of the brush head should be tapered. The tapered end is useful for blending and applying shadow in the creases of the eyelid.
Small angled brush: This type of brush is almost as necessary for the application of eye shadow as the eye shadow brush is. The angled brush you choose should have a tiny head with bristles set at an angle. The brush paired is useful for applying shadow in straight, fine lines. You would need a an angled brush to apply shadow near the upper and lower lash lines and possibly in the eyelid crease if your eye shadow brush is too large to use for that purpose.
Foundation sponge: A large round foundation sponge is too wide to use all over your face so make sure to use a small triangular sponge to apply liquid foundation. Its narrow, flat end is perfect for applying foundation under the eyes, in the corners of the nose on the chin, and near the ears. The wider end is great for applying foundation to larger surface areas like the cheeks and forehead. The sponge absorbs some of the liquid foundation to help prevent excessive streaking.
The essential makeup brushes will last for years before needing to be replaced. Over the course of those years, brushes rolling the bottom of purses and makeup bags collect dirt and germs. Even brushes that sit out on a counter will collect dust so proper storage is a must. Even with proper storage, brushes get dirty because they pick up dirt and oils from the skin and powders which can then lead to nasty skin breakouts. To avoid breakouts, clean the brushes with special cleansing solution made specifically for makeup brushes. The sponge on the other hand should be replaced one time per week to avoid accumulation of dirt and oil in the pores of the sponge.
Written by Angela McKendree – 2002 Pagewise
