The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Makeup Brushes

Welcome to your ultimate guide on makeup brushes! Whether you’re a beginner just starting to build your makeup kit, or looking to perfect your makeup look, understanding the different types of brushes and their uses can make things a whole lot easier.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basic brushes, their purposes, and tips for achieving a flawless finish. By the end, you’ll know exactly which makeup brushes to use for different makeup applications, helping you elevate your beauty game to the next level. There really is an abaundance of makeup brushes available, but we will focus on the basics to get you started on the road to artistry.

Rule Of Thumb

When you go into a shop the selection of brushes can be overwhelming. The retail assistants appear to be wearing almost a full skirt made of brushes, what on earth can they all be used for? As a former retail assistant I am without a clear explanation, apart from, just like fashion preference, we each have our makeup brush own preferences. 

When you are ready to purchase a brush, it is a good idea to think about what kind of finish you would like. The most basic rule of thumb is:

“The more densely packed the bristles, the more product it will apply, and vice versa”.

 The softer and more sparse the brush hairs, the thinner the application. This goes for both liquids and powders.

The Basics: Different Types Of Makeup Brushes

Liquid Foundation/Concealer Brushes

Easy

Traditional Dense and Flat Brush

• Description: These typically provide good, even coverage for liquid base product application.
• Use: Easy to use, fast, and comes in various sizes. Really good for beginners.

Medium

Buffing Foundation/Concealer Brush

• Description: Provides a more seamless, airbrushed finish.
• Use: Ideal for blending foundation into the skin for a natural look. Really good if the foundation is very thick. Small versions are perfect to tap concealer onto the under-eye area.

Pro

Stippling Foundation Brush

• Description: Combines two types of fibers, usually with longer, less dense fibers on top and shorter, denser fibers at the base for a light application.
• Use: Best for achieving a flawless, dewy finish. Once you get the hang of it ‘no makeup makeup’ is the norm, even with a full face!

Powder Brush

Easy

Basic Fluffy Powder Brush

• Description: Typically large and fluffy with fluffy bristles. Soft on the skin.
• Use: Best for applying loose or compact powder products to set your foundation. The fluffiness leaves a thin dusting of powder to set foundation. 

Medium

Tapered Powder Brush

• Description: Tapered for more precise application.
• Use: Helps in setting specific areas without disturbing the makeup.

Pro

Kabuki Powder Brush

• Description: Dense and dome-shaped for heavy-duty powder application.
• Use: Ideal for buffing powder into the skin for a flawless finish. Definitely takes some practice to not get cakey, but can really give the flawless filter finish. 

Blush Brush:

Easy

Basic Rounded Blush Brush

• Description: Soft and fluffy with a rounded shape. Easy to apply in small amounts.
• Use: Perfect for applying blush to the apples of your cheeks.

Medium

Angled Blush Brush

• Description: Angled shape for better cheekbone definition.
• Use: Helps in applying blush with more precision and control.

Pro

Dual-fiber Blush Brush

• Description: Dual-fiber brush for a light, buildable application in super thin layers.
• Use: Ideal for a buildable and natural-looking blush application. Great for mixing and blending different color blushes for a 3D effect.

Bronze/Contour And Highlight Brushes:

Contour Brush:

Easy

Basic Angled Contour Brush

• Description: Angled for defining cheekbones. Soft and fluffy.
• Use: Helps in contouring and shaping definition to the face. As a bronzing brush helps add warmth and dimension to the face. 

Medium

Flat Contour Brush

• Description: Flat top for precise contouring.
• Use: Provides a chiseled look with more definition.

Pro

Precision Contouring Brush (e.g. nose)

• Description: Dense and compact for blending contour seamlessly.
• Use: Ideal for professional-level contouring of small areas with a natural finish.

Highlighter Brush:

Easy

Basic Fan Brush

• Description: Thin and fan-shaped.
• Use: Great for applying powder highlighter in thin layers for subtle radiance.

Tapered highlighter Brush

• Description: Tapered and fluffy.
• Use: Applies highlighter to the high points of your face for a glowing look. Typically will add a lot more product than the fan brush. 

Pro

Precision Highlighter Brush (basically; a small tapered brush)

• Description: Small and precise for targeted application.
• Use: A little highlight goes a long way. Getting used to balancing the amount is what can be tricky. But, this is perfect for applying highlighter to smaller areas like the tip of the nose, brow bone or cupids bow of the lips, for a detailed look.

Eye Brushes:

Easy

Basic Blending Brush

• Description: Fluffy with longer bristles.
• Use: Blends eyeshadow seamlessly in the crease and outer corners of the eyes. Perfect for discreet natural pop of eyeshadow.

Tapered Blending Brush

• Description: Tapered for more precision.
• Use: Perfect for detailed blending work in the crease.

Pro

Dome Blending Brush

• Description: Dome-shaped for ultimate control.
• Use: Kind of like using a small pencil, Ideal for professional-level blending and diffusing of eyeshadow and smokey eye looks.

Other honorable mentions:

Flat Eyeshadow Brush

• Description: Small, quite compact
• Use: Easy to pat eyeshadow on the lid or pack on a lot of color.

Basic Fan Brush

• Description: Thin and fan-shaped.
• Use: Great removing excess product, eg after baking. 

Lip Brush:

• Description: Small and precise.
• Use: Ideal for applying lipstick or gloss for a defined look. Applies in a nice even layer, easy to build up to give your lip color more staying power. Your lipsticks will last way longer because you won’t use as much product.

Natural vs Synthetic

There are some good arguments for the natural vs synthetic brushes. It is most certainly a personal choice, but the way brushes are made today I think they both perform amazing. Synthetics tend to be more affordable, but some of the old, old natural brushes I have have lasted over a decade. Do your research and ask the assistants. They use their brushes 100s of times a day so it’s the best wear test you can probably get 😀 

Essential Brushes For Beginners? 

There are no hard rules, it is very much dependent on what you use and the effects you want. I wouldn’t have nearly as many brushes if I hadn’t worked for years in makeup with discounts and gifts. 

When I started out I only had 1 blush brush and 1 powder brush. I used the little sponge thingy that came with the single eyeshadow and I used my fingers and hands for concealer and foundation. I only started using a foundation brush because I would often mess up my clothes rushing to get ready. Start small, you can always add to the collection later. Its better than ending up with randoms you never use just because its the ‘must have’

Final Tips:

Take care of your brushes to ensure they last longer and perform better. Wash them regularly to remove any build up and avoid breakouts. Remember, the right makeup brushes can elevate your beauty game and help you create flawless makeup looks.

Ready to build your perfect makeup brush collection? Check out my everyday brushes for inspo and and start creating stunning looks today! For more beauty tips and tutorials, connect with us on TikTok.