How to Pick the Right Foundation Brush
Having a good foundation brush is at least as important as the right foundation itself. Here you will find everything important about the beauty tool and learn what differences there are in the brushes.
Foundation brushes are available in abundance and it is difficult to tell which brushes are suitable for which application. But when it comes to foundation and makeup, many are not even quite clear what exactly is meant by this or where the difference lies.
Foundation vs. makeup: What’s the difference?
The term makeup is often used synonymously with foundation, but this is basically wrong. Make-up is actually the generic term for decorative cosmetics in general. This includes lipstick, concealer, eye shadow, but also foundation. This belongs to the covering cosmetics. It is available in liquid or creamy texture or also in powder form (solid and loose). Foundation can be applied with a foundation brush, but also with a sponge or the fingers and makes the complexion appear more even. It conceals skin blemishes or redness. And this is also possible in different intensities.
Why do I need a foundation brush?
As the name already suggests, the foundation brush is is used to apply foundation to the face. This also works with the fingers, but with the brush a thorough, covering and even application usually works better. Blending is also easier with a good brush and you avoid unsightly makeup edges.
In addition, working with a brush is somewhat cleaner. Because after applying with the fingers, the foundation sticks to the hands and is sometimes not so easy to wipe off. In the end, it can be found in the towels or on the packaging of other makeup products.
These are the usual foundation brushes
The classic foundation brush
If you particularly like to use liquid foundation, you almost can’t get around this brush. The classic is flat and relatively wide and usually also very dense. Thanks to its shape, it can quickly cover larger areas of the face, such as the cheeks, but at the same time it is also well-suited for reaching difficult areas, such as around the nose. The latter works especially well if you have a foundation brush with a slightly angled tip.
For those who have fine hairs on their face or suffer from dry skin, this brush has even more advantages. The fact that the foundation is applied with the brush in firm stroking movements means that both hairs and any flakes of skin that may be present are pressed on. This makes the make-up look more even.
The Kabuki brush
For many, the Kabuki brush is the brush par excellence. No wonder, because it is extremely dense and tight, you can work quickly and effectively with it. Another advantage of the Kabuki is its ability to apply foundation in many layers. So you can approach the intensity of your make-up step by step – from a restrained, natural day look to a striking, very intense evening make-up.
The Kabuki is suitable for all forms of foundation, whether liquid foundation, powder (solid or loose) or cream foundation. Applied here, however, is somewhat different than with the classic foundation brush. With the Kabuki, you work your way forward in circular motions.
You can also use the Kabuki brush for almost any skin type. However, you should be careful with hairs on the face or extremely dry skin. The circular movements can cause the foundation to get under hairs and skin flakes and lift them. The end result could be a slightly troubled complexion.
The flat-top brush
Flat means that the brush has a flat edge and not a point at the top. This enables an even more controlled application, but sometimes you don’t get into difficult corners with this brush. It is purely a matter of taste which brush you prefer to work with here.
You can find a flat top on many brushes, for example the Kabuki or the classic foundation brush. So this is more or less an additional specific brush feature.
The stippling brush
This brush is visually different from all other brushes. HE has two-tone brush hair, mostly black with white tips. These are the so-called duo-fiber hairs, which are particularly soft at the top. This makes it possible to achieve a finer finish.
Whether creamy, liquid or powdery foundation – everything works great with this foundation brush.
The powder brush
As the name suggests, this foundation brush is best used for powder make-up. Usually it is extremely fluffy and voluminous. If you like to use loose powder, it is best to use a powder brush version with longer hair on the outside. This is because these prevent powder from being lost during application.
The toothbrush
This brush actually looks a bit like an oversized toothbrush. The bristles of this foundation brush are usually extremely soft, but bound very tightly and firmly. The shaft of the brush is usually slightly curved and gives way a little when pressure is applied to the skin. This enables an even application without exerting too much pressure on the skin.
With the toothbrush brush, particularly liquid make-up can be applied excellently. Smaller versions of the brush – it is available in all sizes – are also great for highlighter or blush.
Human hair or synthetic brushes?
If you want to get a foundation brush, you should definitely pay attention to the quality of the beauty tool. Cheap brushes often have the disadvantage that they lose hair quickly, which makes applying foundation a pain in the ass. But you should also consider carefully whether you want a brush made from real hair or synthetic fibers.
Brushes made from real hair have the advantage that they take up make-up products particularly well and can then blend them perfectly. However, these brushes are made from animal hair and are therefore not of vegan origin. If you have a vegan lifestyle, you should therefore use synthetic brushes.
Foundation brushes made of synthetic fibers are usually not as absorbent as animal hair brushes with powdery foundation, but they make it easier to spread liquid make-up with them. Another advantage of synthetic brushes: high-quality brushes are soft and supple right from the start, which often takes a while with animal hair brushes.