Makeup Brushes 101

 

Hello, beautiful people!

I don’t have a creative intro for this blog, but I do have a funny story that relates to today’s blog topic.

I bought my first ten-piece makeup brush set from TJ Maxx a couple years ago, and I remember feeling so excited because I felt like an actual makeup artist. So when I was at the check-out counter and in the process of buying them, the super hot cashier asked me if I used the brushes for painting.

At first, I didn’t know what he said, so naturally I agreed with him because that’s just something I do.

I understood what his question was the moment he asked me if I painted dolphins with brushes like the ones I was buying. I was so close to exploding with laughter. I just told him yes and walked away quietly after he was done with the check out process.

While my story may only serve as a funny intro, I still use those makeup brushes that were mistaken by the hot TJ Maxx cashier as painting tools.

While some may only assume high-quality makeup brushes to be from high-end brands like MAC, I’m here to say it’s simply not the case. You just need to know where to look and what to look for.

Today, I’m going to be discussing the makeup brush essentials everyone should have in their beauty arsenal while giving you advice as to where you can find afforable, high-quality makeup brushes.

 

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Makeup Brush Essentials and Their Purposes

• Powder Brush
  • A powder brush is a thick, fluffy tool that’s used to apply powder to your face. Powder brushes come in many sizes, but it’s important to note that these brushes are typically larger than most since its bristles are meant to reach every inch of your face to ensure an even coverage.

• Contour Brush
  • The bristles of a contour brush are typically more condensed than powder brush hairs. This is because contour brushes are meant to apply a slightly darker pigment to a particular area of the face, that being the contours of the cheeks and the temples of the forehead.

• Blush Brush
  • The name says it all; this particular brush is meant for blush application. Most blush brushes are angular, meaning their bristles are slanted short to tall. The blush brush is designed like this to help apply an even amount of blush on the apples of the cheeks.

• Fantail Brush
  • The fantail brush is definitely the most unique in terms of its design. This particular brush looks like one of those fans you’d make by creasing paper when you were a kid. Although it’s got an odd design, the fantail brush works wonders when it comes to applying highlight to the cheekbones.

• Simple Eye Shadow Brush
  • This is one of the most versatile brushes you can have in your makeup arsenal. This simple, yet incredibly effective tool is perfect for patting any eye shadow onto the eyelids or highlighting the brow bone and inner corner of the eye. No matter what level of experience you hold when it comes to makeup, you need to have this brush in your makeup stash.

• Blending Brush
  • If I had to pick one brush to use for the rest of my life, I’d totally pick the blending brush. I’m obsessed with applying eye shadow to my crease, and I’m able to create smoked out eye looks with this wonderful brush. The blending brush is like a miniature powder brush for your eyes. Its bristles are meant to blend eye shadow into the crease through gentle and swift motions.

• Eyebrow Brush
  • Eyebrow powder is a freakin’ miracle, so if you’re a believer in the product, look no further than the eyebrow brush. This slanted brush is specifically designed for filling in your brows with eyebrow powder. That’s it. There’s really not a whole lot to this simple, yet incredibly helpful tool.

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Where You Can Find Quality Brushes

It may seem like a challenge to find quality brushes, but I promise you it’s not. You just need to know where to look.

It may sound tempting to order a huge set of makeup brushes you see advertised online for $1, but I encourage you to look other places.

While there are some online stores that sell high-quality brushes for low prices, I swear by TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. Those two stores are hot spots for affordable and high-quality makeup brushes that really do work. For example, I reach for my eye shadow brush that I bought at TJ Maxx more than I reach for my MAC eye shadow brush. You just need to be open to brands you may not know in order to buy some affordable makeup brushes that really do work.

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Thank you for reading!

Xx

Kara