Makeup Brushes

These brushes are the perfect size for applying powdered bronzer. For a natural sun-kissed look, swirl your brush in your desired shade and apply it to your face in the formation of a three--over the forehead, cheeks, and jawline.

Quo Bronzing Brush, $22.

Smudging brushes are perfect for creating a modern and messy smoky eye. With a tapered end, this brush can be used on pencils, creams, and eyeshadows to literally smoke the colour outward instead of having an evident and harsh line of where the shadow ends. For a daytime look, trace a kohl pencil across your lash line and use your smudge brush to soften the line while intensifying your look.

NYX Smudging Brush, US $4.

Blending brushes are used for just that --blending. These brushes are perfect for any shade of eyeshadow and are used to soften harsh lines and edges where the colours begin and end. To blend, simply take a clean blending brush and make small circles over the dramatic lines that you want to diminish. Why clean, you ask? Blending is used to move around shadow that is already on the eye, not to add more. 

MAC Tapered Blending Brush, $39.

Kabuki brushes are foundation brushes that are used to buff complexion powders into the skin. They can also be used as blending brushes for your cheeks and neck --if you find that you’ve added too much blush or bronzer, rub the kabuki over your cheeks and for a flawless airbrush finish with no foundation lines in sight. 

Airbuki Bamboo Powder Foundation Brush, $31.

Concealer brushes are an absolute must, especially if what you’re concealing are breakouts. Using your finger almost always gets the job done, but can worsen your skin because of the bacteria that is carried on our hands and under our nails. Dip the brush into your favourite concealer, and paint directly over the blemish by dabbing, pressing, and brushing until that annoying little thing is hidden.

Cover FX Concealer Brush, $20.

Large powder brushes are used to evenly apply finishing and complexion powders. Because of their size, with a few easy brush strokes you can cover your entire face with translucent powder for setting or coloured pressed powder to conceal any imperfections. While large powder brushes are able to do double duty, we suggest having a designated brush for different coloured powders to ensure the best results.

Elizabeth Arden Face Powder Brush with Folding Mini Face Brush, US $28.

Blush is meant to be applied to the places on your face that would get rosy if the sun were to hit it. A small rounded brush is perfect because it allows you to cover the right amount of space without overdoing it. Swirl your brush in your desired blush shade, tap off the excess, and apply to the apples of the cheeks by gently sweeping back towards your hairline.  

Lancome Cheek Brush, $56.

Drawing in your eyebrows perfectly can be tricky --too much and they look clownish, too little and they look sparse. This brow brush has firm bristles and an angled tip to allow for perfect precision. Dip your brush into your desired shadow shade, and use small flicking strokes to create hair-like lines. For each section of your eyebrow, be sure to flick in the same direction that your hair is growing for an au natural look. 

NARS Brow Defining Brush, US $26.

These brushes are used to achieve a flawless complexion with liquid foundation. For an even application, pump a dime size amount of foundation on the back of your hand, dip your foundation brush into it, and then gently brush it into your skin making sure to blend at the neck.  

Makeup Forever Large Foundation Brush, US $36.

For the perfect eye liner every time, try using a liner brush with a gel formula. Because of their size and angled bristles, these liner brushes are able to give you ultimate precision to let you decide how demure or dramatic you want your eyeliner to be. 

Urban Decay Perversion Angled Brush, $19.

With so many brushes and differing advice, learning how to wear eyeshadow properly can be a serious undertaking. Thankfully, an all over lid brush is used exactly how it sounds--all over your lid. What isn’t in the name is that if held at an angle, it is also great at applying shadows to your natural crease.

Lise Watier Eyeshadow Brush, $20.