Brushes » Brushes by Use » Cosmetic Brushes » Makeup Brushes

Make-up brushes are manufactured to last for years and not only make applying make-up easier, but also get a much better look. There are different manufacturers, sizes, functions and materials used to make these brushes. The bristles of makeup brushes can be natural as well as synthetic. Sometimes synthetic bristles are more durable for the job they do, like working with cream consistencies. As an entire group, the best makeup brushes include everything from a commonly shared application brush, like a large powder brush, to specialty needs brushes like a mascara fan. Few important makeup brushes are:

Concealer Brush: Ideal for blending under eye, concealer brush generally have square head to tapered corners. Made from fine quality natural as well as synthetic hairs, these have long handle, good weight and are great for application precision.

Foundation Brush: Ideal for liquid or cream foundations, these brushes are fairly large, with wide, tapered flat head.

Large Powder Brush: Ideal for loose powder, these brushes can also be used for compacts with pressed powder and loose beads. These are large, full, rounded brush (dome shape), and can also be use to brush off excess powder.

Blusher Brush: These have full, large head with slight tapering (not as large as powder brush) designed for even distribution and natural looking definition across the cheeks and cheekbone.

Eyeshadow Brush: These brushes are designed for sweeping color across eye lids and blending. Usually possessing square head, medium to large, with slight taper at corners, flat, a bristle head that is firm but soft for the delicate eye area. By using its edge, it can be used for defining eyelid crease.

Slanted Brush: These brushes are designed for application of fine lines such as close to the lash line, blending and softening color edges and have a small, narrow, angled, flat brush head with soft but firm bristles.

Lip Brush: Designed for blending lip liner and lipstick applications, these brushes are great for blending lipstick colors too. These are small, narrow, flat tapered edge brushes.

Eyebrow/ Eyelash Brush: This brow brush is perfect for shaping the brows, separating eyelashes and removing and mascara clumps or debris.

Brushes used for acrylics have long handles that allow the artist to work at a distance from the canvas. Acrylic paints are more caustic than oils, so acrylic brushes are designed with synthetics and bristle. Acrylic brushes are usable in other mediums, particularly oils, while brushes designed specifically for oil painting and watercolors are unsuitable for acrylics. Artists can very effectively use glazing and layering techniques when using acrylic brushes.

Both natural and synthetic bristles can be used with acrylics, depending on the artist's preference. But, acrylics, being alkaline in nature, can be hard on natural hair brushes. Those made with high quality synthetics have excellent durability and offers excellent stiffness, snap and hair shape retention for maximum control. The brushes must be kept clean. If acrylic paint dries in a brush it is very hard to get out without using strong solvents that might damage the brush. Brushes are cleaned promptly by washing them with warm water and mild soap when finished painting.