5 Things to Know Before Buying or Using a Makeup Brush Ever Again

While I was working as a professional makeup artist, learning these five things about makeup brushes changed the game for me. Using the right brush and brush technique can make all the difference in getting professional looking results from your makeup.

Here are the five tips for using and buying makeup brushes have helped me tremendously and I hope they do the same for you!

Five Things To Know Before Buying New Makeup Brushes

1 | The Three Parts to Every Makeup Brush

Bristles: This is the part of the brush that picks up product and deposits it and blends on your skin.

Ferrule: The metal section that holds the bristles in place and connects them to the handle. The side of the ferrule holding the bristles will be clamped down and the side attaching to the brush is usually glued in place.

Handle: The longest portion of the brush, that you use to hold and maneuver the brush.

Tip | The handle and bristles need to be well attached to the ferrule to reduce shedding and get years of use out of a brush. Foundation brushes especially need to be made well, as they get a lot of rotation on the bristles as you blend.

2 | Bristle Length, Shape, and Density Affect Coverage

Shorter and more compact bristles will pick up and apply more coverage/color.

Longer and looser bristles will apply products with more sheer coverage.

Think about what you want type of coverage from a brush and work out from there. You can see in the photo below how the same eyeshadow color gets darker and more intense, only from changing brushes.

Generally speaking, I prefer these brush densities for the following:

Fluffier/looser: eyeshadow crease and transition shades, powder bronzers, loose setting powder

Medium density: powder blush, eyelid shadow shades

Density packed bristles: eyeliner eyeshadows, eyebrows, cream blushes, for more full coverage from my foundation

3 | Consider Bristle Material

Synthetic fiber bristles can be used with creams, liquids, or powders. They are super versatile.

Synthetic fibers will kick up product on powders though. Also, some (not all) synthetic fibers pick up less product vs natural fibers.

Natural fibers are made from animal hairs. They are best used with powder formulas.

Higher end natural bristles will grip and deposit powder formulas more smoothly and evenly. Natural bristles tend to cause less “kick up” on powder formulas.

Tip | Whichever bristle material you choose, make sure there is no scratching feeling on your skin after applying and blending. The right brushes will feel gentle and blend product easily, without tugging on the skin.

Related Post | My Favorite Makeup Brushes + How To Use Them

4 | Where to Hold Your Brush

Holding your brush by the end of the handle will give you more control.

If you find yourself gripping down on the brush and holding it closer to the bristles, it becomes harder to get an even blend and even placement, as the bristles will splay out of shape. This pushes the product out farther than intended.

I prefer using brushes with longer handles, even while traveling, as I can get more control and precise blending with the longer handle.

5 | Make Your Brushes Last

Nice quality brushes can last you years and years if taken care of properly. I try to wash my brushes at least every third use.

Remember, you don’t have to wash all your brushes at once! Just grab one or two a day and get them clean.

Washing:

To get makeup, especially liquids, out from the deepest base of the bristles, open the brush like you are flipping through a stack of playing cards. Drop cleansing oil (for natural bristles) or brush cleaner (for synthetic bristles) right in between all those bristles.

Getting the cleanser in between the bristles is key, it helps loosen up the product stuck there, so that your brush gets truly clean.

Make sure to let the oil or cleanser sit for at least thirty seconds, but longer if possible before you rinse. When rinsing, be careful to keep the water away from the ferrule.

Also, using a silicone brush cleaning pad or glove really does help, they aren’t a gimmick. The bumps on the pad not only push the cleanser deeper into the base of the bristles, but they also help get all the soap and makeup residue out while rinsing clean.

I really hope this tips help you find the perfect brushes for your makeup needs, as well as help you get the most longevity out of your brushes. I am always available on Instagram @girlgetglamorous if you have any questions or want to say hi!