The five essential brushes you need in your makeup kit.
Overwhelmed by the brush selection at your favourite makeup counter? Charlotte Willer, Maybelline New York's Global Makeup Artist, gives us the low-down on what to stock in your cosmetics case to get your makeup done right. "These five brushes are all you need--anything after this is luxury," she says.
A powder brush: A soft, fluffy brush so you can efficiently apply a light dusting of powder all over your face is the first must-have, says Charlotte.
A blush brush: A medium-sized brush with bristles that are fairly concentrated. "You want the product to apply evenly," she says. "If the bristles splay apart too much, you'll waste product and when you apply your blush it can start to look spotty in places."
A flat-edged brush: Bristles should be quite firm with a bit of sharp edge to the tip of the brush. "Use this to dab on colours," says Charlotte.
A softer-tipped brush: Similar to the flat-edged brush, this one has a softer, rounded tip. You need this type of brush for blending colours.
A lip brush: Charlotte prefers a slanted lip brush but notes that you can use whatever style of lip brush you feel most comfortable with. A lip brush allows for more precise application and effectively deposits more lip colour onto your pout.
Tip: "Invest in the best brushes you can afford," says Charlotte. "If you buy a inexpensive set, they'll only last you a short while," she says, noting that inferior quality brushes will make a makeup job difficult when it doesn't have to be. "But if you spend more on great brushes, they'll last you 20 years," she says. She favours brushes from Shu Uemura and Japonesque. Look for brushes with bristles that are well-tied to the handle with bristles that are soft but when applied with some pressure create a nice edge.
Read on for more bonus brushes to stash in your beauty bag ...
