Excuse us while we geek out for a moment, but nothing excites us quite like the thrill of brand new makeup brushes. Pristinely clean and those soft bristles…swoon. You may or may not share our same enthusiasm for beauty tools, but if you’re in the market for makeup brushes it’s important to know what you need. The options are plentiful, but there’s something out there crafted for exactly what you want to do. Let us help you find that.

Tapered Foundation Brush: Flexible bristles and gently tapered edges make this brush perfect for applying and blending liquid and cream foundations. Start in the areas of the face need the most coverage and use downward strokes for the smoothest, most natural application.

Rounded Foundation Brush: The densely packed bristles pick up and distribute product evenly. The round, domed shape allow the bristles to blend as they brush. The result is a streak-free, flawless finish for any liquid, cream or powder foundation.

Flat Concealer Brush: The flat rounded tip makes blending around the contours of the face a breeze. Use one side to apply concealer to under-eye circles, then flip it over and use the clean side to blend.

Precision Concealer Brush: This concealer brush is smaller and comes to a point allowing for more precise application. Use it to conceal blemishes and littler imperfections and to clean up the lines after applying a bold lip color.

Powder Brush: Loosely packed bristles make for one big, fluffy brush with a rounded shape. Use it with loose or pressed powders, just tap off the excess before using sweeping motions to brush it across the face.

Blush Brush: A more compact powder brush that can be used to apply cheek color. Smile to locate the apples of the cheek, and use short strokes to dust powder out toward the hairline.

Angled Brush: The angled shape allows for more precise shading. Softer, fluffy angled brushes are great for applying blush, bronzer and highlighter. Angled brushes with stiffer, more densely packed bristles can be used for more controlled contouring.

Stippling Brush: This brush provides the lightest application of pigment for a sheer finish. Use it to dust on finishing powder or powder blush. Or use a stippling motion to evenly press cream brush onto the cheeks. It can also be used to achieve a soft, airbrushed effect when used as a foundation brush.

Fan Brush: The soft bristles and flat, fan shape of this brush make it the ideal tool for gently sweeping on highlighting or bronzing powder for that soft-focus effect. Or use it clean to sweep away excess product or redistribute powders without disrupting the rest of your makeup.

 

What are your makeup brush essentials? Let us know what you keep in your makeup bag with a comment below.