It's been a busy few weeks at work and I haven't had much, if any, time to post about makeup (but I have found the time to go shopping for it). This is the second installment regarding the purchase and use of different brushes for your face. This time we are talking about your eyes.
Your eyelids take up minimal space on your face, but have the largest array of brushes to utilize. This can lead to a lot of confusion and stress over what to buy and how to use it.
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| Thin liner brush |
This is one of the few brushes that has a limited purpose, but is entirely necessary. You should use this brush when applying gel or liquid liners. It has an ultra fine tip that applies creamy formulas with precision. One important detail is that this brush requires frequent cleaning (after every use) and can easily become ruined if not cleaned gently and correctly.
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| Tapered shadow brush |
This is probably my single most frequently used brush. This eye brush has a massive amount of versatility and I actually like to have multiple on hand at any given time. This brush is for straight-up eye shadow application. It works with powders and creams and applies directly to the lid. A good tapered shadow brush distributes shadow smoothly and evenly. It also is ideal for layering shadows when you are going for an ombre or blended effect, or just want a more intense color distribution.
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| Flat liner brush |
The flat liner brush is a good choice for general eye liner application (preferably powder and not a liquid or gel). This brush is wonderful for those who don't have the most steady hand when applying makeup. With this brush you can "dot" or "dash" your liner across your lids and then fill in the gaps, rather than trying to produce an even and straight line from the start.
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| Smudge brush |
I happened across a smudge brush entirely by coincidence. I wasn't looking for one and I had never previously used one. This brush is truly a transformative makeup tool. A smudge brush is firm and has short bristles and can feel a bit rough. I use this tool last, or close to the end of my routine. Run this brush lightly around the exterior edges of your eyeshadow in order to soften them up. It eliminates hard edges and makes your makeup look natural. You can use this brush with or without shadow (powder only). Without powder, you blend edges seamlessly and take away some severity. With shadow, you blend colors smoothly.
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| Crease brush |
A crease brush is for, just that, the crease of your eye. Dab this brush in a lighter shadow and run it back and forth along the natural shape of your crease. This brush helps with blending but is also intentionally shaped for the crease of your eye, so it is necessary to have in your collection. Once again, this brush works best with powder shadows only.
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| Standard shadow brush |
Maybe I should have listed this brush first, as it is essentially the foundation for your makeup application. This general powder brush is for all styles of applications (stick with powder, once again). It applies lightly and is great for more subtle or natural makeup looks. Just sweep a powder of your choice over the entirety of your lid for a quick makeup look.
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| Angled liner brush |
Finally, there is the angled liner brush. Unlike the flat liner brush, this brush provides precision in liner application and can be used with any formula of liner (gel, liquid, or powder). This brush is a better choice for those with a steady hand when applying makeup, as it applies more precision control. This brush allows for sharp edges and is perfect for winged liners or any dramatic style liner styles.
And there you have it, your perfect eye brush collection. Most of these brushes work best with powders (my preference in almost all cases). I you choose to use gels, liquids, or creams, make sure you clean your brushes immediately after. If you don't, you can render them useless and run the risk of unintentionally blending colors or formulas.
I personally think that
Sephora is the perfect place to look for brushes, especially when you have quite a few to buy.
