For blush makeup in particular and makeup in general, there is no amount of hesitation and uncertainty in the fact that makeup brushes are the most important tools.
If you are not choosy, picky and extremely selective about (to a peak of being obsessively finicky!) your makeup brushes. Then perhaps you have yet not come across or felt their ‘miraculous’ power.
Makeup brushes can work wonders for you or ruin your makeup especially when it comes to something as delicate as blush makeup that has to be subtle and understated.
Still not satisfied? Then you must ask any professional makeup artist. Makeup artists are very much emotionally involved with their brushes and care for them carefully to ensure they can achieve ‘miracle’ forever and ever, without fail. Their dexterity and abilities are improved with the right and high quality brushes. Even great makeup artists like the late Kevin Aucoin and William Tuttle could not think beyond their favorite brushes!
If you want to choose a high quality makeup brush then you must first understand what makes up a Makeup Brush and brushes in common. Because, comprehending this will enable you choose or buy quality makeup brush which with the right care can last for a very long time.
So to understand makeup brushes better you can say that a brush can be divided into three parts: Hair, Ferrule and Handle. The most vital part about selecting your cosmetic brushes, of course, is selecting the right Hair Type to do the job you want. Once, you know what hair type you are looking at, you can then look at the made up or construction of the brush on a whole like the construction of the ferrule and the handle. So, basically, you want to check for the following:
1. Hair (The Most essential concern):
Check the hair type, density, cut and shape as they affect hair quality.
The hair type: Makeup Brush Hair Type is the most crucial aspect especially for choosing your makeup brush. The best and the choice of professional makeup artists is natural hair type. The hair quality affects the prices of makeup brushes and ranges from the finest and most expensive Kolinsky sable to the most common natural bristle. Kolinsky sable, squirrel, mink and weasel are used in top quality brushes. Other decent quality choices include Goat, Pony and hair blends. Synthetics such as Nylon and Taklon are best left for use on eyebrows and for applying foundations, respectively.
CUT: This refers to the method by which the hair is harvested. It makes an enormous difference because virgin, first-cut fur makes the softest makeup brush and can make not-so-high ‘grade’ hair types cosmetic brushes feel as soft as possible for that particular hair type. First-cut (Top grade) hair is also cruelty-free, as they are trimmed off from the tips of the fur. That is why they feel the softest on your skin. The best way to understand I presume, is to imagine how the tips of our own hair would feel after a hair cut. Blunt-cut hair refers to the ‘lower’ cut of the fur. They are much coarser and can feel prickly against your skin. Try to think of brushing cropped prickly hair against your face…OUCH that will hurt!
Blunt-cuts are widely used in lower quality cosmetic brushes because they are much cheaper than the first cut. Of course, this information is rarely provided but a good way to test is to look at the tips of the hair of the makeup brush. The finely pointed (natural-looking) ones are most likely the first-cut.
The shape and density determine whether they will perform the job intended, effectively and efficiently. You want the makeup brushes to do magic and do it fast!
Normally in the market, you will find three kinds of makeup brush shape – square cut, chisel cut, and round cut. No, we’re not discussing about diamonds here! When we talk about makeup brush shape we’re referring to the shape of the tips of the cosmetic brushes.
High quality brushes are hand made, not machine made, as hand shaped makeup brushes have their precious tips (first-cut) still in one piece. The machine cannot match up to the proficient hands of the ‘masters’. You may ask why so? Well, that’s because machines can’t ‘shape’ the makeup brushes without letting go of (trimming) the soft tips of the makeup brushes.
2. Ferrule (Metal part)
Check that it is seamless. That means, exactly that – no seams around it! Most makeup brushes are seamless. Metal types used include Aluminum (usually Aluminum Alloy as Aluminum by itself is impossibly soft), Copper and Brass (strongest). Whatever the metal type, ensure they are double crimped (2 circles around them) to avoid wobbly handles.
3. Handle
Check that it is made from hard wood and that the length or overall weight feels good in your hand. The length of the handle is a matter of personal choice but usually most prefer around 7” or thereabouts.
Before you select a buy and decide to buy it, do compare the different products and prices that are available in the market. You will come across a wide variety in terms of qualities and prices and you can take your pick from the ones that you feel are soft and made with natural hair. The sales person can assist you to choose as they deal with brushes and thus have a fair knowledge and idea about them.
HIGH ON BLUSH!!
Blusher is one of the most difficult of makeup to apply. It must be mixed together perfectly with the natural skin tone so that there is no callous and rough edges standing out and your best features must be subtly enhanced.
Choosing the correct color for your skin tone is very crucial. The accurate color that will go with your natural skin tone will give you a healthy glow and a natural looking color!
The wrong color will make you look either pale or tired or like an overdone Christmas tree. Words of advice here, that is identify and understand your best features and then call attention to and accentuate your beautiful cheekbones or a high forehead or a perfect chin by using blusher to subtly draw attention to them.
See at the whole picture: that is always balance or match blusher to your lipstick color as well as your clothes.
Cheek color should be put on after foundation or on a clean and bare skin, if your skin looks good without foundation. Make sure to put on a fine layer of pressed or loose power on naked skin first, and then apply blusher. Applying a light coat of powder is necessary to keep oily areas from causing blush to get blotchy or streak. And this is what makeup professional Peter Lamas advices (By Peter Lamas, BeautyWalk Founder). There are many things you have to choose from when it comes to blush makeup application. These things are:
• Formulas - pick and choose the one right for you.
• Color Selection - Match with your skin tone and wardrobe. Your blusher should complement your clothes and your skin tone.
• Application Tips – application methods are very important. So here are some Mistake-proof techniques that are sure to work wonders for you!
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