If you’ve ever had your make-up professionally applied for a wedding, matric dance or another big occasion, you’ll know that make-up artists don’t only use good-quality cosmetics, they carry a whole toolkit of brushes, sponges, combs and other implements to apply everything from foundation to finishing touches. The difference is amazing! Here’s what you need in your make-up bag to create the same effect.
The lip brush
Any make-up artist will tell you that applying your lipstick or gloss with a lip brush, instead of directly from the tube, will reduce the amount of lippie you use so your favourite colour will last longer.
Top tip: if you wear lip liner, Alison Campbell, a freelance make-up artist based in Cape Town, suggests you use your lip brush to blend it into your lipstick to create a fuller, more natural-looking mouth. "The benefit of using a lip brush is that it’s precise, so you can control exactly where your lipstick goes, making it much less likely to bleed into those fine lines around your mouth," she says.
The powder brush
Want to set your foundation with loose, translucent powder? A powder brush, usually bigger than a foundation brush, is the answer. However in the hands of an untrained expert it could end up spreading the powder around unevenly. To prevent this, give the handle a gentle tap to shake off excess powder before putting it anywhere near your face.
The eyebrow brush and eyelash comb
An eyebrow brush is essential for anyone who likes keeping their brows in perfect shape, plus to comb any stray hairs into position before plucking. The lash comb is an ideal tool to remove unwanted clumps of mascara that may have ended up on your lashes after an overzealous or hurried application.
Foundation and concealer brushes
Not everyone applies foundation with a sponge. In fact, some make-up artists swear by a foundation brush, saying it doesn’t absorb any product, so it wastes less foundation. A concealer brush (which is really just smaller version of a foundation brush) allows you to dab on just the right amount. You’ll also find it easy to build up to your desired level of coverage and blend your concealer on tricky areas such as the side of your nose.
Top tip: Campbell says the best way to apply concealer is to put a little concealer on the tips of the concealer-brush bristles. Dot it lightly under your eyes and blend it in using sweeping, outward strokes. “When it comes to concealer, the rule of less is more certainly applies,” she says.
The eye-shadow brush
Have you ever seen a make-up artist apply eye shadow using one of those little sponge-tipped applicators that come free with the eye shadow? Thought not. There’s nothing wrong with those applicators, but they’re just not able to blend very well – something that is key to creating a professional look. Next time you pop into Clicks, treat yourself to an eye-shadow brush and use it to blend the shadow you wear on your lid with the deeper colour you wear in the crease of your eye and you’ll immediately see the difference a brush makes.
The blusher brush
If you’ve bought a blusher that comes with a narrow brush applicator, toss it out. Short, narrow bristles will only create a thin streak of colour across your cheek. To ensure your blusher is evenly distributed, invest in a good-quality blusher brush that’s no bigger than the size of the apple of your cheek.
Make-up tool tips ’n tricks
Don’t make your brushes work double duty. Campbell says you should always have a separate brush for powder and blusher. "The difference in powder colours alone calls for different brushes, but the brush shapes should be different too," she says. “Your powder brush should have a large, wide head with soft bristles, while your blusher brush’s bristles should be shorter and rounded.”
When sharing isn’t caring
Make-up brushes can harbour bacteria, so don’t lend or borrow brushes. Brushes used on or near the eye area should be cleaned daily.
Keep it clean!
Immerse make-up brushes in a basin of water with two capfuls of frothed-up shampoo. “Once the soak has loosened the make-up, gently squeeze the bristles repeatedly under a running tap until the water runs clear,” Campbell says.
Other essentials
Aside from top-quality brushes, every professional make-up bag should contain an eye and lip pencil sharpener, tweezers, eyelash curlers and a foundation sponge. Regarding sponges Campbell has a quick word of advice: “Wash them regularly and replace them at least once every two months.”