Every girl loves makeup advice. Like the tip my Catholic mother gave back in the day, telling me to squeeze the eyelash curler for as long as it took to recite one “Hail Mary”. But the best tip I’ve received involves makeup brushes. A makeup counter saleswoman snuck me a brush, advising me to use it rather than using a makeup sponge to apply foundation. Use a brush, and you’ll use less foundation and save money, she said. Indeed, makeup brushes not only allow you to blend more and waste less but can lead the way to flawless beauty.
Bobbi Brown Brush Collection
Makeup maven Bobbi Brown’s brushes provide precise blending, shading, sculpting and lining without fail, says New Beauty magazine, which rates these brushes tops in its 2014 winter/spring beauty awards. The bristles never fall out, fray or break down, reports New Beauty. Brushes start at $26.
Giorgio Armani Blender Brush
Both Elle.com and Allure says it’s no wonder this foundation brush has reached cult status in the makeup world, calling it the only brush that blends foundation into your skin rather than leaving streak marks across your face. $49.
Mac Eye Shadow Brush
Get a little or a lot of eye coverage with the flat shape and densely packed fibers in Mac’s popular 239 Eye Shader brush. Elle.com ranks it among its top 12 brushes. $25.
Sigma F-80 Foundation Brush
Recommended for foundation application, Sigma Beauty’s F-80 Flat Kabuki is an Amazon.com best seller, garnering 4.5 out of five stars from shoppers for its smooth application of liquid or cream products to the cheeks and forehead. $22.
Sonia Kashuk No. 123 Blush Brush
This brush does the job well and is inexpensive, making it one of Allure.com’s best makeup tools of 2013. The small, fluffy brush, good for applying both blush and powder, sells for $8.99 at Target.
Nars Flat Concealer Brush
This $25 brush with small, hard, synthetic bristles gets a shout out from Woman’s Day for its effectiveness, letting you dab makeup over tiny blemishes.
Eco Tools Bamboo Angled Eyeliner Brush
Totalbeauty.com ranks this brush among its seven favorites because of its versatility. It can be used along the lash line as a liner and to fill in brows. $4.99
Clinique Foundation Brush
I love this flat, tapered brush because it seamlessly blends foundation into the skin for a natural finish, and is easy to use all over the face, including around the nose and eyes. $33.
Clinique Blush Brush
Clinique’s $29 blush brush is just the right size to deposit the perfect amount of blush on cheeks. It’s soft and gentle on the skin, too.
Mary Kay Retractable Lip Brush
Take the time to use a lip brush and it will make all the difference for a finished, polished lip look. Totalbeauty.com likes this $4 brush.
