If you’ve ever had your face painted by a professional makeup artist, you know the stunning, flawless results achieved. The reason is not skill alone: Professionals use the right tools for the job.
“Having the right brushes can make all of the difference,” said makeup artist Bobbi Brown.
But figuring out the size and type of brush to buy can be confusing. There are loads: Angled or straight? Flat or rounded? Kabuki or Kasmuki? Brown suggests starting with four or five.
“I recommend buying high-quality blush, eye shadow, eyebrow and eyeliner brushes,” Brown said in an e-mail interview. “The brushes that come with cosmetics may not always be of the best quality, or they can be too small and narrow to properly apply makeup.”
Also consider a foundation brush, a powder brush and an eye-crease brush for blending, said Sephora Pro Beauty Team expert Christine Egashira.
Deciding between natural or synthetic bristles depends on the look you’re going for, Egashira said. “I personally love natural hair brushes because they give more of that natural classic look — softer and more blended,” she said. “However, synthetic brushes are great for really packing on vibrant color for more of a dramatic look.” Expect to pay $20 to $30 for a good blush brush and $10 to $30 for eye brushes.
After you invest, Brown said, it’s important to care for them properly.
“I recommend cleaning brushes every month or two with a brush cleaner, baby shampoo or very gentle soap,” she said.
Here’s how: With a bit of soap in your palm, wet the bristles and gently swirl them around until they’re covered in soap. Rinse thoroughly and squeeze out excess water with a clean towel.
Reshape the brush head and let it dry with its bristles hanging off the edge of a counter. This allows the brush heads to keep their shape and dry evenly, Brown said.
The goods
• Sephora’s Double-Ended Color-Dipped Brushes are two-in-one tools in delicious hues. We loved the purple Smokey Eye Brush ($18). One end is a slanted eyeliner brush and the other is a smudge dome to give fall’s most sought-after look. Then get a flawless face with the pretty, pink Perfect Complexion Brush, a two-in-one foundation and powder brush ($18). Available: Double-Ended Brushes are $18 to $35 at Sephora stores or .
• Sonia Kashuk Brush Up on Pink Purse Brush Set is a pink metallic-handled six-piece set in a flowered clutch. Kashuk, who is a breast cancer survivor, created five different limited-edition collections of tools and will donate 15 percent of the price to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Available: $12.99 through Nov. 4 at Target and .
• Earth-friendly Ecotools Brushes get the job done with lots of change to spare. The recycled aluminum, retractable kabuki brush is a steal at $7.99, as is the six-piece brush set at $12.99. Ditto the nifty bamboo-handled five-piece travel brush set for $9.99. The brushes are soft and don’t shed like other cheap brushes.
Available: Walgreens, K-Mart and Target; Eco-Tools.com.
• Bobbi Brown’s Basic Brush Collection is packed in a handy portable black case. The professional-quality kit contains concealer, foundation, face blender, eye shadow, eye liner and eyebrow brushes. Brown sells a wide variety of individual brushes for eyes, cheeks and face along with tips on how to use them.
Available: $175 at Bobbi Brown counters and at .
