Face and Body

The best make-up brushes to perfect your look

3 January, 2024 . 0

Need to brush up on your beauty routine? Here is the ultimate guide to the best make-up brushes to use for every part of your routine. You’ll never look back!

Walk into any beauty store or chemist, and chances are you’ll see packs of make-up brushes: short ones, thin ones, flat ones, round and puffy.

Some are angled, others contain soft bristles on both ends.

Unless you’re a bona fide make-up artist or at least a super enthusiast, it can be hard to figure out what brushes to use and how to use them.

So we’ve done the hard work for you and spoken to our expert make-up artists to demystify brushes and all of their uses.

Here’s what they had to say.

What are the different types of make-up brushes?

Broadly speaking, make-up brushes fall into two categories: complexion brushes and eye and brow brushes.

(There is also the lip brush for those of us looking for a precise, clean application, but usually just the lipstick will do).

Complexion brushes

Celebrity make-up artist Hannah Martin, whose clients include supermodels such as Miranda Kerr and even British royals, says that complexion brushes can be broken down into the following:

Base (foundation) brush

To be used with liquid and powder.

This can be used by swiping, swirling and stippling foundation.

Flat base brush

A classic foundation brush but super soft, and great for a more sheer base application.

Hannah likes to “use little strokes starting around the nose and then blending out towards the hairline.”

It can also be used for liquid and cream bronzers and blushers.

Blush brush

Can be used with powder and cream.

Hannah’s top tip: Use a little product to start with, because you can always add more colour if you want.

“I like to start at the top of the apple of the cheek and blend out,” she adds.

Bronzer brush

A powder bronzer’s best friend, this brush comes with a flat cut for the most even, natural blend.

“I love to sweep over the top of the forehead, top of the cheeks, jawline and neck,” Hannah says. Top tip: Pat pigment from the tip of the brush into the palm of your hand to ensure evenly distributed pigment.

Use continuous strokes for an even colour pay-off.

Powder detail

A great little brush with multiple uses.

Ideal for stippling powder, blending out highlight and blush, plus powder and cream contour. “When contouring with blush or bronzer, I use circular motion on application so that the colour goes evenly over the skin,” Melbourne-based make-up artist Merton Muaremi says.

Eye and brow brushes

Smudger

“My go-to for softening gel eye liner or smudging dark powder shadow over the top of liner for a more diffused finish,” Hannah says.

Blender

Best used with powder and perfect for blending shadow through the crease of the eye.

Top tip: For the ultimate blend, keep the brush in contact with the lid and blend back and forth in small sweeping motions.

Small blender

Goes best with powder, and it is great if you want to intensify your crease colour.

“I also love it for the lower lash liner,” Hannah says.

Eye liner

Perfect for creating winged liner, this brush can be used with powder, wet powder and liquid/gel. Place the tip of the angled brush into the outer corner of the eye and pull out following the trajectory of the lower lash line.

How far out you take it is up to you, Hannah suggests.

Eye contour

Can be used with cream and powder, and is not as tightly bound as the face contour brush (and no risk of transferring shimmery shadow).

It’s great for intensifying eyeshadow colour, Merton adds.

Which make-up brushes are essential for a basic routine?

A foundation brush is a must, Merton says, as it can be used to apply moisturisers, primers and foundations.

Multi-use brushes are handy, too.

“You also need a medium powder brush, which can be used to apply blush, bronzer or setting powder,” Merton says.

“I would also choose brushes on the smaller/ medium size as they enable you to do more detailed work.”

Eye make-up brushes, such as a flat brush for the application of eyeshadow and a blending brush to diffuse that colour out are also a must for anyone who is wanting a quick and effective eye design.

Do I buy a brush set or individual brushes?

If you’re wanting the basics without having to think about all individual brushes, Merton suggests splurging on a set, which will usually include brushes for each area of the face.

For Hannah, it’s all about individual preference.

“Sets often come with a variety of brushes, covering different shapes and sizes, which can be convenient for various tasks,” she says.

“With individual brushes, you can choose specific brushes based on your needs and preferences, ensuring you get high-quality tools for the tasks you plan to tackle.

“For beginners, the base brush, blender brush and small blender brush are must-haves!”

What is the difference between synthetic and natural bristle brushes?

Natural hair fibre brushes, which are made from real animal hair, are better for powdered products such as setting powder, eyeshadow, blushes and bronzers because they contain cuticles that hold powder, Merton says.

Synthetic brushes, on the other hand, are best used to apply liquids, as they result in a smoother finish.

As for which is better? Well, it depends on what types of products you use and how you like your make-up to look.

“I prefer synthetic brushes, which use unique technology to mimic the wavelength of real goat hair,” Hannah says.

“The hair is so soft that it moves more freely, making blending super easy in just a swipe.”

How often should I clean make-up brushes?

“If you’re a professional, it has to be after each use,” Merton says.

For home use, the rules are a little more relaxed, depending on what products you’re using the brushes for.

“Brushes that you use with any liquid should be washed straight after with a brush cleaner,” he says.

Real hair fibre brushes, usually used to apply powdered products, can be washed once a week with regular hair shampoo and conditioner.

Allow to air dry overnight.

“Basically, treat your brushes as you would your hair,” Merton adds.

More on beauty and make-up tips:

Written by Caroline Zielinski.