If you've tested all the hacks and are still struggling to get your makeup application right, it's time to take a step back to look at the real reason your techniques aren't working: You're probably using the wrong brushes.
Any makeup artist will tell you that the applicator is just as important as the application itself, meaning your makeup brushes could be well overdue for an upgrade.
Influencer Florence Oginni knows the impact a good brush can have on a finished look and shared her ultimate makeup brush guide for a flawless base in a TikTok, which has amassed 181,000 views since being posted on January 24.
Her "brush starter pack" consists of 10 brushes she says are "the basics that you need for a flawless face." The Canadian gave some insight into how she uses each of the brushes within her base routine.
Speaking to Newsweek, she said, "The right brushes are so crucial; they can make or break your makeup. Using the right brushes and application techniques can cut down your application time by so much and overall improve the final look."
Irish pro makeup artist Evelyn Byrne, who has worked at London Fashion Week and on the set of short films, agrees that quality should be a priority when it comes to investing in makeup brushes, sharing that "High quality makeup brushes tend to have densely packed bristles, depending on the type of brush, that pick up the right amount of product and deposit it evenly onto the skin.
"The correct brushes will also blend your makeup seamlessly, giving a more airbrushed and flawless finish.
"I always recommend investing in a good quality brush set before investing in high-end products, as your application is what will determine how a product looks on the skin."
10 Makeup Brushes You Need in Your Kit
Rounded Foundation Brush
A rounded foundation brush is a great addition to your kit and allows easy application over the entire face.
Oginni explains, "If I ever feel like using foundation, I always like to use a brush like this because the denseness makes it apply so smoothly."
Concealer Brush
When choosing a concealer brush, you want bristles that will softly blend the product.
"There's honestly nothing like a good concealer brush. You get the most precise, flawless finish every time and you're not losing half the product like you would with a sponge," shares Oginni.
"I found the sponge wetness would not mix well with my makeup and would cause it to separate, so this is honestly the best switch I ever made."
Small Stippling Brush
Stippling brushes can be spotted by the synthetic fibers at the top and dense fibers at the base, used to push product into the skin. Oginni uses this style to apply her contour, explaining that, "A brush is the superior way to apply your contour. You can apply it and blend it simultaneously, while avoiding patchiness and muddiness we get from applying it (the contour product) directly."
"I always go over my contour and my bronzer with a foundation brush just to buff the edges out—we don't want any harsh lines over here!"
Rounded Fluffy Kabuki Brush
"The brush is dense yet fluffy, so it disperses the product nice and even—that way, we've not got a patch of blush on our cheek," explains Oginni.
The rounded shape makes this brush perfect for applying and distributing product onto the cheeks.
Powder Puff
Powder application can be tricky to get right, as you don't want to apply too much product, or risk having flashback in cameras, which is why Oginni choses to use a powder puff.
"These are great because you can really press the powder into your face, so it doesn't feel like it's just laying out top," she explains.
"I always like to press it into the cap (of the product) so the product is evenly dispersed onto my puff ... This puff has honestly been such a game-changer."
Large Rounded Fluffy Brush
For those who want to mattify the skin, this brush is great for light-pressed powder application in oily areas.
"This is the best kind of brush to apply your pressed powder with," says Oginni, adding that "it's super fluffy, so it's not going to pick up too much product."
Medium Rounded Fluffy Brush
Oginni said she "loves" using these brushes for her powder bronzer, as the size and shape are ideal for applying product to places where your face would naturally catch the sun.
Tapered Fluffy Brush
For those who find a rounded fluffy brush too big for precise application, try a tapered fluffy brush instead, which has a thinner shape at the top.
"I always say blush placement is so key," shares Oginni.
"The taper of this brush allows you to be precise, but it's also fluffy, so allows you to disperse the product easily."
Small Tapered Fluffy Brush
The smaller version of the tapered brush, Oginni uses this side of her double-ended brush for precision application of highlighter on the cheekbones, sharing that: "I love the tapered side for my highlight because I can be specific with the areas I apply it to, and not get highlight everywhere."
Angled Eyeliner Brush
Rounding off her "brush starter pack," Oginni includes her first brush not for the face, sharing that: "This brush and some dark brown eyeshadow will make your eyeliner process so simple and easy."
What Do the Comments Say?
TikTok users were grateful for Oginni's easy guide to makeup brushes, with one user posting: "I'm so happy I came across your content I've learned so much."
Another added, "Thank you! I have brushes but don't know how to use them all."
One user was happy to come across the clip, saying, "This was the video I didn't know I needed!"
A fourth is ready to ditch her beauty blenders all together, commenting: "Switching from sponges to brushes."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Lollie is Newsweek's Beauty and Self Care Reporter based in London, U.K. In her role, she covers a range of ... Read more
