Do you use brushes to apply your makeup, blush, eyeshadow, etc?

[Gracie]

I just treated myself to a very complete set of makeup brushes - everything from foundation to blush to tiny ones for eyeshadow and eyeliners.

When I've had my makeup done like at the Macy's counters they've always used brushes. I know they're pros and that's why it always comes out looking so great but I thought maybe using brushes would help me do a better job, too.

Do you use brushes? Do you find them to work better? How do you keep them clean so the colors (especially eyeshadows) stay true?

Loren

[Loremma]

I use a brush to apply my mineral foundation. No eyes shadow or blush. The foundation comes with a brush so I just use a new one then. I never clean it or anything. Probably not a good thing, but it's what I do!

[CompassRose]

Well, when I do apply makeup of any kind... yes. The only makeup I regularly wear is concealer, mind you (on that one nasty patch of acne scarring on my cheek). However, even with that, a brush helps to avoid that teenaged Concealed Spot! look. Brushes apply a lot less product at a time, and give a far subtler edge, even if you blend with your finger after.

They also help to keep your products cleaner and unspoiled for longer (remember to wash your brushes in mild soap or brush cleanser often). You do have to clean shadow brushes and such to keep colour true, yes -- or if you have a number of different colours you use regularly, have several brushes.

The thing I really found was great, with a brush, was applying liquid foundation. I hate foundation, and don't wear it regularly, but I had to use it for a couple of photoshoots, and sometimes wear it onstage. With a brush, the effect is almost acceptable. I've never been able to get it that nearly natural looking with a sponge.

For more regular days, when I don't wear foundation but want to look a little bit more groomed than normal, I really like translucent pressed powder applied with one of those big dense kabuki brushes. Gives a nice smooth finish, without the (IMHO) slightly creepy mask effect of full paint.

If you really want the full excitement, try out one of those silicone makeup bases underneath. The Smashbox Photo Finish is incredible stuff. I don't know that I'd wear it every day (who knows what it would do?), but the smooth poreless finish it gives is pretty impressive.

[misskitty100]

I have always used a brush for eye shadow. My brush stays pretty clean but I also tend to use neutral colors (no blues or greens). I have tried the little sponge applicator thing and it doesn't work for me.

[Gracie]

The thing I really found was great, with a brush, was applying liquid foundation. I hate foundation, and don't wear it regularly, but I had to use it for a couple of photoshoots, and sometimes wear it onstage. With a brush, the effect is almost acceptable. I've never been able to get it that nearly natural looking with a sponge..

This is exactly what got me to want brushes in the first place. I don't normally wear foundation (I hate it too) but it looks so nice when they apply it for me. When I do wear it, I apply moisterizer first so that the liquid foundation will spread well (rather than just over plain skin) but I thought that a brush would be better.

This is going to sound silly but how do you get the foundation on the brush? Do you pour it out onto something then dab the brush? Do you get enough foundation on the brush if you just dab the top of the bottle? I can't for the life of me remember how they did it in Macy's.

Loren

[CompassRose]

Put a blob of foundation on the back of your hand, and then dab it with the brush. I like to put it in the "cup" at the base of my thumb.

[Beth]

I never used a brush with liquid foundation, but it makes sense that you can control more. I quit wearing liquid foundation though -- it slides off in the humidity here.

I use brushes with all my mineral foundation, face, eye and even some lip colors. I sometimes use a fingertip to get a little more under my eye, but other than that dab (follwed by some brush finishing), it's all brushes or a lip balm stick. Quicker, easier, and looks better.

[mom2garret]

I switched to Bare Minerals about a year ago, so I do use brushes. Before that, I never did. I used to use liquid foundation.

Beth, this is a really dumb question but, what do you mean you use a brush to apply lipstick? Isn't it in a twist up tube or something? Do you mean you twist the tube up and use a small brush instead of directly making contact with your lips?

Jodi

[Gracie]

Do you mean you twist the tube up and use a small brush instead of directly making contact with your lips?

I'm not going to speak for Beth but that's how I was shown at the makeup counter.

I guess the idea was that you got a more precise application than just putting the tube directly to your lips.

Loren

[avariell]

I definitely use brushes all the time - your eye makeup looks significantly more polished and put together with brushes. I also love the crisp, beautiful line I get with gel eyeliner with a brush. Loren - if you bought decent brushes at a Macy's counter, ask them to teach you how to use them.

I think technically you should wash your brushes about once every week or two weeks. I probably end up getting to them more like once a month. I use shampoo and they come out great everytime!

Congrats on doing something nice for yourself Loren

[mom2garret]

Thanks Gracie. That is what I figured but for a split second I wondered if she found a powder like substance for lips (snort)
Jodi

[Kate B]

I use brushes for everything and am a Bare Escentuals addict... their kabuki (spelling) brushes for eyes and face are awesome!

Kate

[cherylopal]

I prefer to apply my foundation with my fingers. I've been reading about the mineral foundations here but haven't tried any yet.

I love love brushes for eyeshadow, blush, powder, and with my undereye concealer. They really make a difference. When I had a makeover done at Prescriptives, she used a foundation brush to apply the undereye concealer- she said then you don't need two brushes. I tried the brush with my foundation but didn't think it did better than my fingers plus I had the waste on the brush. I do love it for applying the concealer however I think because the concealer is thicker. The brush makes it easier to apply and blend.

I used to have a lipstick brush, but it wore out. I have been thinking about getting a new one when my current tube gets down to a nubbin.

I have a brush from presciptives for the undereye concealer, another from faye mendelsohn for applying powder over the eye concealer, and one from origins to apply the darker color of eye shadow- its a great triangle shape. The rest are sonia kashuk from target- her line of individual brushes are great. I bought a set of pink brushes in oct to support breast cancer research but those brushes weren't as good. I tend to love the more expensive brushes but but I do love the brushes made by sonia kashuk.

[Gracie]

Cheryl - thanks for the tip about good but reasonable brushes. At first I was going to buy them from Sephora but at $25 for one brush there was no way I could get everything I wanted.

I ended up buying 2 different sets at TJMaxx and combining them so I got all the types I needed. They're not expensive either but they have a nice feel. And if I decide I only need one or two more (especially for eyeshadows and liners) it's nice to know I can get individual nice ones at Target.

Loren

Editing to add - isn't the foundation brush a bit large to use on undereye concealer? I should use that too (I have some and it makes a huge difference) but it seems like such a small area for such a large brush.

[Beth]

I have the BE brushes that came with my Bare Minerals, and they convinced me to throw out my old ones. However, I have also bought some inexpensive ones at Target and like them a lot. I have one eyeshadow brush I prefer over one of the BE ones.

[avariell]

I have the BE brushes that came with my Bare Minerals, and they convinced me to throw out my old ones. However, I have also bought some inexpensive ones at Target and like them a lot. I have one eyeshadow brush I prefer over one of the BE ones.

i hate my BE brushes! i think they shed a ton :mad: I love my bobbi brown brushes and some of my target ones

[tea4one]

I use a brush but I never used to before I started using mineral makeup. I have BE brushes and really don't like them either nut I can't go buy good ones right now so I just deal with them shedding when I use them. I have a lot of the brushes too, they came with the makeup when I bought it.

[mbrogier]

BE must have changed brushes at some point, because mine are really good quality. I don't use BE anymore because of the bisthmus in it--I'm allergic. (my eyes itch and swell shut) I have some mineral makeup by Lauren Hutton right now, and it came with a brush. The brush doesn't shed, but the quality isn't as good.

The people at the BE boutique recommended shampoo for brush cleaner. I get spray bottles for $1 at Target. I used one for a shampoo/water solution for brush cleaner. It's easy to clean my brushes, and I stand them up to dry overnight in my toothbrush rack.

I use brushes for eye shadows and eye liner. You can wet the brush and rub it in the eye shadow pan for a nice line.

I will never go back to liquid foundation. I love the feel of powders because you don't feel like you're wearing anything yet you cover uneven skintones. Some days I only need a little swipe of powder, and others I need more, and I can apply as littler or as much as I need.

[cherylopal]

Cheryl - thanks for the tip about good but reasonable brushes. At first I was going to buy them from Sephora but at $25 for one brush there was no way I could get everything I wante

Editing to add - isn't the foundation brush a bit large to use on undereye concealer? I should use that too (I have some and it makes a huge difference) but it seems like such a small area for such a large brush.

I have also heard that artists brushes work too but I'm not sure of the prices. The foundation brush is large but it works. I tried the smaller concealer brush that came in that poor quality set that I bought back in oct but found that I'm used to the larger and well, like it! i'll try to post a picture later.

[cherylopal]

Here's the foundation brush that I use for the concealor. The make up artist at Prescriptives rec it- said that I didn't need two brushes for foundation and then concealer. However, I don't like brushes for foundation but do like it for the concealer.

I looked up the concealor brush and it looks very nice. But I'm happy with what I have. I'm thinking though that the concealer brush would work better when traveling since its smaller. hmmmmm.

[Gracie]

Well I finally applied my makeup with all my brushes! I really liked the foundation brush. I felt like I was able to get coverage without smearing and I also liked the fact that my hands weren't stretching my skin.

I liked the precise-ness of using brushes for eyeshadows. You can see better during application than you can with the little sponge applicators they give you and then you also don't have to use your fingers to smudge.

I rinsed out the foundation brush after use (I didn't use concealer too so I haven't tried that) and I was a bit apprehensive how it would dry but it seems to have held its shape.

I like how some sets write the use/name of the brush right on the handle but I think I'll remember! I got confused between the lip brush and the eyeshadow smudger - they look very similar.

Loren

[cherylopal]

Well I finally applied my makeup with all my brushes! I really liked the foundation brush. I felt like I was able to get coverage without smearing and I also liked the fact that my hands weren't stretching my skin.

I'll give it another try today. It was really the sponges I didn't like and didn't see/feel much of a difference when the make up artist was using the brush on my face.

The Faye Mendelsohn make up artist rec using baby shampoo to clean brushes- I had a bottle of Sauve clarifying shampoo that I had bought for DH on sale that I'm using now- just a tiny drop is enough. I do clean the concealer brush after every use. Just didn't seem right to leave the "wet" cakey makeup on the brush esp since it comes so close to my eyes.

[Gracie]

I do clean the concealer brush after every use. Just didn't seem right to leave the "wet" cakey makeup on the brush esp since it comes so close to my eyes.

Yes that's why I rinsed it - I didn't clean it but I probably should. I've only used it twice. I don't own baby shampoo but maybe I'll get a trial size to keep just for washing brushes.

Loren