Must have makeup tools

Nov 3, 2011

Tonya S.

Hi,
As you can see from my pic, I do not wear a lot of make. I love the art of it though.. I want to change my look, so I'm starting to buy makeup and makeup tool. What tools(brushes) are a must have? And what are they used for? I would love to hear from anyone with some help..

Nov 3, 2011

Shelly T.

I'll start with eye brushes. For that, these are the ones I use the most...

1) Flat shader brush. This is used to pack colour on to the eyelids.

Examples: MAC 239 (personal recommendation), Cozzette D225 (vegan option)

2) Stiff blending brush. You can use this to apply colour to your crease, or in the outer corner, or even if you just want a softer wash of colour on your eyelid.

Examples: MAC 217 (personal recommendation), Sigma E25

3) Angle brush. You can use this to add powder to your brows; you can use it to apply gel eyeliner; you can use to apply eyeshadow to your lash line. It's a very versatile brush, IMO.

Examples: MAC 263 (vegan option) or 266, Sigma E65, EcoTools angle brush (personal recommendation, another vegan option)

4) Pencil brush. I don't think it's a necessity, but it's a nice brush to have. You can use it to apply eyeshadow to your lower lash line (personally, I prefer an angle brush for this), or even to your outer corner if you want it to have stronger definition.

Examples: MAC 219, Sigma E30

Optional ones...
5) Tapered blending brush. It comes to a point like a pencil brush, but it's a bit fluffier. It's used for very precise blending.

Examples: MAC 226 (limited edition brush), Sigma E45 (personal recommendation), Louise Young LY38 (there are also smaller versions), Cozzette S165/175/185, among others.

6) Fluffy blending brush. It's used for if you want to blend out harsh lines, but don't need or want to use a stiff blending brush for that. Some gurus have used this to apply concealer under the eye as well. You can also use it to contour the bridge of your nose.

Examples: MAC 222 or 224 (one has white hairs, the other black ones), Sigma E35 or E40

7) Eyeliner brush. Used to apply gel/cream eyeliner.

Examples: Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner (great one for newbies, I think), and there are many a company that make straight eyeliner brushes. You could also use artist brushes for this, as an inexpensive option.

* * *

Face brushes...

This is a bit more individual, I think, because you'll have different wants. However, there are a few commonalities.

1) Foundation brush. There are a few versions of this...
A) Standard paddle brush. With this, you just, quite literally, paint the foundation on your face. (examples: MAC 190, Sigma F60, Studio Tools Foundation Brush, Louise Young LY01 or LY02) Some of them are angled. (examples: MAC 193, Real Techniques Foundation Brush)

B) Stippling brush. You either stipple (dot) or buff your foundation into your skin. (examples: Sigma F80 (personal recommendation), Real Techniques Stippling Brush, MAC 187, Sigma F50)

C) Pointed dome brush. Another one you can use for buffing. The pointed tip would help you get into some of the tougher spots on your face. (examples: Louise Young LY34, Sigma F86, and Sonia Kashuk has one that's much smaller than either of those)

2) Blush brush. A few ways you can go about this, too.
A) Fluffy, dome-shaped. (examples: MAC 116 or 129, EcoTools blush brush, Sigma F10 or F15 or F20)

B) Angled, to give you a more precise line from the apples of your cheeks. (examples: MAC 168, Sigma F40, Roque Cozzette S100)

C) Duo fiber ones others use for foundation. I prefer these for blush because it gives a more diffused look, especially for the very fair. I tend to think WOCs want it to be more visible, though, but I may be wrong about that. ;) (examples: MAC 187, Sigma F50)

Another brush I like for blush is e.l.f.'s Powder Brush from their Studio collection. It's a flat-top brush, but it is extremely versatile. (And only $3! And it has synthetic fibres, so vegan-friendly!)

3) Contour brush. If I were doing your makeup, this is something I would do for you to give your face a bit more structure, to make it look more angular. Anyway, some of these are just small, round, dome-shaped brushes (examples: MAC 109 and Sigma F05); others are angled (see angled blush brush recommendations).

4) Kabuki/buffing brush. I use this to blend out any makeup I've already applied a bit more, if I need to, and to apply setting powder. (Various YT gurus and MUAs recommend powder puffs for that, but I personally don't like them because they tend to absorb product when I want to apply it.)

Examples: e.l.f. Kabuki Face Brush (Studio collection), MAC 182, Sigma F45

* * *

Hope that all helps at least somewhat. :)

Nov 3, 2011

Tonya S.

Hi Shelly,
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer this for me. I will start with your recommendations one-at-a-time :) You gave me so much information about the different brushes <3

Nov 4, 2011

Cecilia M.

shelly, ur great! learned a lot from ur answer to tonya. tonya, sephora have a nice set of eye shadow brushes that comes with a mascara and eyebrow comb/brush too. so fun to use with urban decay eye shadows :)

Nov 4, 2011

Tonya S.

Thank you Cecilia! I completely agree with you, Shelly help me out tremendously with all of the info she gave me :)