[Tips] Type of Makeup Brushes

Most makeup brands sell a range of makeup brushes to compliment their makeup. Good quality makeup brushes made from high quality fibres or hair can be pricey. You can either purchase all your brushes from your favourite brand or mix and match those you prefer or to get better value. So if you don’t know your contour blender from your smudge stick, brush up your tool knowledge with my tip top guide and brush recommendations to transform you from clueless to confident...

FOUNDATION BRUSH

Designed to achieve a smooth and flawless finish, the bristles are tightly packed with a tapered tip for fluid application. Dampen the brush first in warm water and firmly squeeze the excess into a towel or tissue, this will help achieve a more even distribution. You can also blend any brush strokes as you go with a damp natural or wedge sponge. Pictured: Clinique Foundation Brush

CONCEALER/CAMOUFLAGE BRUSH

A soft bristled, flat brush with a wider base and a pointed tip. Use to apply concealer under the eyes, to spots and to camouflage problem areas such as broken capillaries and areas of discolouration. Pictured: Clinique Concealer Brush

DUO FIBRE BRUSH

Made from a blend of goat and synthetic fibres this brush is ideal for buffing and blending colour. The flat, circular, feathery head provides lightweight and buildable coverage of liquid, cream or powder. Use to blend cream blush onto the apples of your cheeks or for a light dusting of shimmer powder to your cheek and brow bones. Pictured: MAC Due Fiber Face Brush

BRONZER/POWDER BRUSH

Soft, full and rounded, this brush can be used for both compact powder and bronzer. The bristles pick up the perfect amount of colour and distribute flawlessly onto the skin. Load your brush with the powder and shake away any excess before sweeping onto the skin. Pictured: Laura Mercier Bronzer Brush

MINERAL POWDER BRUSH

A thick bundled brush that can sometimes be used both wet and dry. It is expertly designed to buff mineral powder onto your skin for pure perfection. Apply in small circular motions for a faultless finish. Pictured: Elizabeth Arden Mineral Makeup Brush

FAN POWDER BRUSH

Created for use with loose powder, the fine fan sweeps a light dusting of powder onto the skin for a soft, velvety effect. This application technique avoids heavy coverage which can highlight fine lines and imperfections. These brushes are also used to remove excess powder on the face, particularly after eyeshadow application. Pictured: Benefit Fantail Brush

BLUSHER BRUSH

Made with fine, gentle fibres the blusher brush has a rounded head which is perfect for giving a pop of colour to the apples of your cheeks. Sweep and blend along your cheekbone drawing the brush up into your hairline. Pictured: MAC Blush Brush

FACE CONTOUR BRUSH

Slanted and rounded in shape, the contour brush mimics the angles of your cheekbones. This is ideal for highlighting and shading with bronzer or illuminating powder. Use with cream, gel or powder to contour a sculpted finish for a defined and dramatic makeup. Pictured: MAC Face Contour Brush

EYE SHADOW BRUSH

Large, flat, short and brimming with bristles for excellent coverage. The soft bristles have a bevelled edge for a smooth application without ‘dragging’ the eyelid. Use to apply all over colour. Pictured: Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow Brush

ANGLE EYE SHADOW BRUSH

A long, round and tapered brush perfect for shading the eye socket. Just gently follow the natural crease of the socket blending back and forth to build up depth of colour. Pictured: Laura Mercier Angled Eye Colour Brush

BLENDING EYE SHADOW BRUSH

Use this light brush to blend eye colours and to highlight the brow bone. Pictured: Estee Lauder Blending Shadow Brush

FINE POINT EYELINER BRUSH

The extra fine tip of this brush delivers precise liquid and gel eyeliner application. A perfect line can be achieved in one stroke, or use the point to dot in between lashes for a more subtle effect. Pictured: Laura Mercier Fine Point Eyeliner Brush

FLAT EYELINER BRUSH

Allows eyeliner to be applied deep into the lash line for a richer and more distinct eye. Gently brush upwards to soften and blend the line for a smokey eye. Pictured: Benefit Hard Angle Brush

SMUDGER BRUSH

You’re most likely to find these doubled ended with an eye pencil. The foam tip is used to soften the harsh line of the pencil giving a smouldering finish. Larger ones can also be used for applying eyeshadow such as The Body Shop's Smudger Brush.

SLANTED EYEBROW DEFINER BRUSH

Used to define and fill brows for a beautifully symmetrical appearance. The bristles are stiff and angled for precise control. Apply powder, liquid or cream in short strokes mimicking the hairs, fill sparse areas, shape and elongate for a perfect brow. Pictured: Bobbi Brown Eyebrow Brush

SPIRAL EYEBROW BRUSH

Ideal for taming unruly hairs, the stiff bristles smooth and comb eyebrows into form. When shaping, use to brush hairs upwards and trim the excess for neatly groomed brows. Pictured: Tweezerman for Benefit Brow Shaping Brush

LIP BRUSH

The sculpted tip of a lip brush is perfect for achieving a flawless line. The bristles are short and firm for controlled application. Pictured: Laura Mercier Lip Colour Brush

credit : http://www.justmakeupartists.com/articles/types-of-makeup-brushes-their-uses

[Tips] How to Take Care of Your Makeup Brushes

How-to Clean your Makeup Brushes & Take Care of Your Brushes

How-to Clean your Makeup Brushes

Start by choosing either a mild shampoo or brush cleanser. There is a slew of brush cleansers designed with makeup in mind from just about every brand that also has brushes (and some that don’t!). You can also use a mild shampoo that’s designed for human hair as well.  Either method works just as well–it depends on what you like.

Shampooing requires at least an eight hour window for drying (a little less for eye brushes, a little longer for denser, larger brushes); brush cleansers are often alcohol-based and can be used as a spot cleaner between applications or dry within minutes as opposed to hours.

If you use brush cleanser, read the instructions. I know, that sounds way too basic, and almost like a cop out, but brush cleansers vary in technique. Some brush cleansers require water, others don’t. For instance, Sephora’s Brush Shampoo works much like a shampoo and requires the same process, while on the other hand, shu uemura’s Brush Cleanser has you pour the brush cleanser into a small glass, swirl the brush in it, and then press the brushes against a towel to reshape. Often, an alcohol-based cleanser is a process that doesn’t need water and will also dry faster than cleansers that need water.  Lay flat on a towel to dry.  Always lay your brushes flat (or clothes-pin them so they hang with brushes pointed downward) to avoid water getting into the handle and ferrule (which can cause rust or deterioration of the brush).

If you use shampoo, begin by wetting the brush you want to clean with lukewarm water (never hot) and then dip in shampoo/cleanser. Brush the brush back and forth to absorb the shampoo and start to work up a lather/foam. With larger brushes (like for powder or blush), I also like to squirt a little shampoo into the center of the brush and really work up the lather. After you’ve worked the shampoo into the brush, gently run it under water and repeat the back and forth brushing motion until the water runs clean (and there are no signs of suds, either). Gently squeeze out any excess water and lay flat on a towel to dry.  Always lay your brushes flat (or clothes-pin them so they hang with brushes pointed downward) to avoid water getting into the handle and ferrule (which can cause rust or deterioration of the brush).

If your brushes are incredibly dirty or stained, try using an oil-based product, either jojoba oil or a marketed “cleansing oil” (Bobbi Brown, MAC, and shu uemura all make one). Apply a little bit to the brush, swirl and work it in, and then add a bit of lukewarm water. Swirl some more, get a little lather going, and then rinse until the water runs clean.

Once you’ve made the investment in brushes, take care of that investment by regularly washing and cleaning your brushes. Regular maintenance of your brushes will provide you with years of use, but it will also keep your makeup, brushes, and routine more sanitary. It is particularly important to regularly wash face brushes if you are acne-prone — it is best to do so after every use, especially with brushes that have been used in cream or liquids.

How-to Take Care of Your Makeup Brushes

Clean your brushes frequently to avoid bacteria or product build-up. Regular cleanings keep your brushes in better working order. Brushes used with creams or liquids (anything emollient) should be washed shortly after use, particularly if using a brush with lipstick or gloss. The stickiness of gloss can often gunk up a brush and make a real pain to get it out if you don’t clean it quickly!

Stand brushes upright or laying flat. (When they are dry!  Lay them flat when wet to dry.)  Doing this will help them retain their shape and keep bristles from splaying every which way. Keep brushes out of direct sunlight to help maintain their quality and keep them from fading.

Avoid staining your brushes by washing them immediately after using white or light colored brushes. Even though sometimes you can manage to find a way to remove or significant remove a stain later on, I’ve found the easiest way to combat staining is simply to nip it in the bud!

Always re-shape your brushes after you’ve washed them. Your brushes will dry in the shape they are left wet, so you’ll want to shape them into the shape you expect while they’re wet or damp so they’re the right shape when you go to use them the next time.

Never blow-dry or use direct sunlight to dry your brushes, as it can cause permanent damage to your brushes. If you are pressed for time, opt for an alcohol-based cleanser and spray or dampen a paper towel and then sweep the brush against the paper towel until it’s clean. Alcohol-based cleansers have a much faster drying time compared to brush cleansers or cleansing methods that require shampoos and/or water.

credit : http://www.temptalia.com/how-to-clean-your-makeup-brushes-take-care-of-your-brushes