Everyone’s bought (or been given) a splashy set of tools. Billed as *The Best* makeup brushes for your face, it includes 37 brushes and baubles, they all match, and they come in a super chic (or cute or maybe even just sparkly) container that screams to be bought. And what’s the first thing you do with them?
TBH, the truth is not much. You get home, you use few go-to tools and the rest slowly creep into the back of your vanity, never to be seen or heard from again. Why? Because no one needs 37 brushes! Unless you’re a professional makeup artist or you’re on RuPaul’s Drag Race, you simply do not need to be that beat on a regular basis!
The best makeup brushes for your face are the ones you can use day in and day out. But what exactly are those? Let’s break them down.
The Best Makeup Brushes for Your Face: A Breakdown
Foundation
Back in the day, foundation was all thick, greasy and created for stage performers. (Can you imagine how bad that must’ve been for your skin? *Shudder*) But it was the only product out there, so we made it werk. Not today, Satan!
Today you’ve got powder, liquid, cream-to-powder, airbrush, stick — any application you want is out there (and some you don’t). That can make choosing a foundation and the best makeup brush to apply it complicated. Our solution: don’t use a brush at all.
Some people swear by foundation brushes, but that’s not really our thing. There are some great liquid foundations ~ cough ~ BOUNCE Liquid Whip Foundation ~ cough ~ but brushing them on often leads to streaks or trapped liquid (Remember that v. serious chat we had about dirty makeup brushes?). That’s why our founder, Rea Ann Silva, started airbrushing Hollywood stars on set, and then she simplified that down even further to create a foundation-applying product you may know: Beautyblender.
All that to say: you’ve already got one of the best makeup brushes for your face, and it’s not a brush at all :) If you’ve ever used a kabuki or stippling brush, use this BB in its place.
Powder
When you’re looking for the best makeup brushes for full-face coverage, target adjectives should include “big”, “soft” and “fluffy”. (They’re the same ones you want in a comfy sweater or a super smooshy dog.) The more diffused you need your coverage to be, the bigger and softer your brush should be. Enter the BIG BOSS Powder Brush.
The BIG BOSS Powder Brush
The domed brush is super soft, made with cruelty-free synthetic bristles that mimic real hair. Soft bristles are the key to ensuring your product will glide smoothly over the skin, and these are the ideal density to deliver a soft, diffused application that never looks heavy or cakey. Bonus: It’s one of Rea Ann’s faves, so you know it will keep your powder on point. Extra bonus: The flipside of the BIG BOSS is a cooling rollerball tip, which you can use at any time to sculpt, cool and depuff skin.
Concealer
When it comes to the best makeup brushes for face concealers, again, it’s not a brush at all. Yes, concealer brushes exist, but a true no-touch look is going to be achieved best by — you guessed it — not touching.
Here’s how we do it:
Blush & Bronzer
For blush and bronzer, the best makeup brushes for your face will depend on whether you’re using powder or cream. For powder applications, look for all the good stuff you love about The BIG BOSS — soft, fluffy, cruelty-free bristles — but in a smaller, more compact package. (If you’ve ever accidentally grabbed blush instead of powder, you know why this matters — no clown cheeks here, thx!). If you’re working with cream products, there’s a blender for that:
Beauty Blusher
When you need to apply color precisely or to create sweeping cheek contours, grab the Beauty Blusher. The mid-sized applicator is perfect for seamlessly blending the perfect amount of blush or bronzer onto your cheeks. The exclusive aqua-activated™ material provides an airbrushed application and absorbs minimal product, so your favorite formula lands on your complexion, not your sponge. If you’ve ever used an angled contour brush, use this BB in its place.
Video Apr 02, 3 02 03 PM.mp4 from beautyblender on Vimeo.
Finishing
Once all that’s done, make your finishing touches with our Power Pocket Puff. The teardrop shape helps you precisely chisel cheekbones, bake concealer, set makeup and so much more. Then set it all with Re-Dew Set & Refresh Spray.
Eyes
Everybody knows eyes are a *whole* ‘nother thing when it comes to the best makeup brushes for faces, and that’s exactly why we broke down the 4 best for you here.
