Makeup Brushes For Beginners

Make up brushes….to a person who has never purchased them, trying to figure out what to buy can seem daunting. I mean, how do you know what brush is good to use for what? How many brushes do I really need? Do I really need use more than one brush to put on my eyeshadow? All of these are really good questions. The truth is that you don’t HAVE to have a ton of brushes, but most of the time, the tools you use to apply your makeup can make all the difference. Now, I’m not saying that you have to spend a ton of money on makeup brushes. There are a lot of really affordable ones out there. You just have to know where to begin. I have created a little guide on what a good beginner set of brushes would consist of and also my own personal favorite brushes as well as a more affordable alternatives.

Liquid Foundation

There are multiple ways that you can apply foundation. They key is finding a method that helps you achieve a flawless application and gives you the results that you are looking for. The most common ways to apply foundation is either with a beauty sponge or a foundation brush. When it comes to brushes there are lots to choose from, but I personally prefer a large dense brush with a rounded top for a quick and flawless application. You are able to stipple the product onto your face and then buff it into the skin to prevent streaks.

In my collection, I have the Morphe M439. I love the how large the brush is because it is good for quick application. I also can get a much more full coverage finish with this brush. So, when I need more coverage, this is what I grab. It retails for $16 on the Morphe website or you can find it in Ulta and Morphe stores.

The expert face brush from Real Techniques is a smaller brush, but still offers a nice flawless finish when buffing in the product and will hug small corners very well for a precise application. This brush retails for $9.99 at Ulta.

If you are looking for something a little more affordable, e.l.f. cosmetics has their buffing foundation brush for $6. You can find it at Target or on the e.l.f. cosmetics website.

Powder

Applying powder products usually requires a fluffier brush to help to lightly and evenly distribute the powder on your face to keep it from looking cakey. I love to use a large fluffy brush to apply setting powder and bronzing powder.

My go to powder brush is the Morphe M527. It retails for $18 and is the perfect brush for applying bronzer with its tapered bristles to lightly diffuse the color but, you can also use this brush to lightly dust setting powder onto the face.

Real Techniques also offers a great quality powder brush for $9.99 at Ulta. It feels soft and lush on the face and gives a great finish.

e.l.f. offers their pointed powder brush for $6 online and in stores. The more pointed taper of this brush makes it great for multiple types of powder applications.

Blush

The type of blush that you are using and the type of finish that you are looking for can alter the type of blush brush that you choose. Cream blushes require a more dense brush to blend out the color. For a flush of color, a fluffier brush would probably better. For a more precise application of blush on the cheeks, you would use a smaller more tapered brush. It all depends on the product that you are using and the finish that you want.

For a more precise application of blush, I use the Morphe M403. This brush retails for $12.

For a more blown out and diffused wash of color, I like to use the Real Techniques blush brush retailing for $9.99.

A more affordable option would be e.l.f.’s blush brush for $4 and for cream products or more precise applications they have their angled blush brush for $5.

Flat Shader

Shader brushes are usually flat, compact and dense and are used to apply an even layer of color to your eyelid. You use this brush to brush the color onto your lid and then press the color in for an opaque finish.

The brush that I currently use is the Morphe M167 that retails for $7 on the Morphe website and at Ulta. It has synthetic bristles and has a smooth application.

A more affordable option would be the e.l.f. eyeshadow “C” brush. It retails for $4 and is a great option for beginner and is actually is a great quality brush.

Crease/Blending

A fluffier tapered brush is needed when blending out shadows to leave a more diffused finish. They are used to apply transition shades in the crease or to blend out shadows that are layered on top of one another. It is an essential brush for a flawless and professional eyeshadow look.

I have several blending brushes but my personal favorites are the Morphe M504 which is a large fluffy natural bristle blending brush that retails for $9. Also, the Morphe M441 is a smaller and more rounded natural hair brush that retails for $8.

e.l.f. also has their own blending brush options for a more affordable price. Their fluffy eye blender and their tapered blending brushes both retail for $4.

Beauty Sponges

Beauty sponges are also a great quick way to blend out your foundation for a more natural finish. The sponge can be an alternative to the foundation brush or can be used in conjunction with the foundation brush. This is, personally, my preferred way of applying my foundation. The best way to use these sponges are damp for a more sheer application.

It is so quick and easy and really sheers out your foundation so that it looks more airbrushed and natural.

My favorite sponge is the Sonia Kashuk beauty sponge that can be found at Target. It retails for $5 for one or you can get two for $7. What a steal!!! When this sponge is dampened, it swells up large and fluffy which I personally think is great for a better more natural application.

Another great option is the Real Techniques beauty sponge that retails for $4.89 at target and $5.99 at Target. It is very affordable but it is a really great option.

e.l.f has recently released a new beauty sponge retailing at $5 but I have never personally tried it so, I can’t give a personal testimony to its quality.

So, now you have all of my personal suggestions for a beginners starter brush set. As you can see, there are so many options that you can choose from and, my suggestions are only suggestions. However, I hope that you have a good starting point on where to begin. As you become more familiar with brushes and makeup, you will have more of an idea of what you are looking for to suit your own personal preferences. This is all meant to be fun. So, experiment and have fun. That is what makeup is supposed to be. Happy shopping!!!

*** If you are interested, Morphe has a few brush set bundles on sale for 50% off. So, you can get a set of brushes for a fraction of the price. https://www.morphe.com/collections/sale