Which Professional Makeup Brushes Do Makeup Artists Use?
A good collection of professional makeup brushes is a must-have for every makeup lover. Using a brush to apply your makeup not only can make applying your makeup quick and easy, but also how you use them can determine the outcome of your look.
Find out in this blog which brushes we recommend and read on as we share our top tips and tricks to achieving a flawless makeup look.
How do I choose the best professional makeup brushes?
There are a wide range of professional makeup brushes online and in stores, which can make it tricky to choose the right brush for yourself, especially if you are just starting out in makeup and are not sure what you should be looking for. To make an informed decision, start by identifying the essential brushes you need based on your makeup style and understand the different types of brushes, such as foundation, powder, blush, eyeshadow, and concealer brushes. Balance your budget by considering value sets that offer better deals. If possible, test the brushes in-store to feel their texture and density.
Key features of a professional makeup brush
A professional makeup brush should feature certain qualities that set them apart from the rest. These features include:
- High-quality materials: Brushes made from high-quality materials and synthetic bristles with sturdy handles not only look better, but they last a lot longer. Saving you more money in the long run.
- Variety of brushes: A professional makeup brush collection will have a range of brushes in different sizes and shapes to cater to various makeup needs. There will be a variety of face and eye brushes, which is a good sign that the company has thought out the collection and ensured there is something for everyone.
- Super soft bristles: High-quality brushes will have super soft bristles. The trick is to swirl the brush across your hand and get a feel of the bristles. If any fall out, that’s a red flag and you should put the brush back on the shelf.
- Vegan & Cruelty-free: You’ll find a lot of high-quality and professional makeup brushes are now vegan and cruelty-free. This reflects the brand’s ethos and quality, ensuring you can create a variety of makeup looks with a clear conscience.
How much should I spend on professional makeup brushes?
For a makeup artist seeking top quality brushes, you could be looking at spending an extortionate amount of money. High-end professional makeup brushes can cost anywhere from £20 to over £100, which is a big price to pay for a singular makeup brush. However, you don’t need to break the bank to build a collection of high-quality brushes, as there are many cheaper alternatives on the market that offer excellent performance. Instead of looking at the price and expecting it to indicate quality, it’s important to focus on factors like brush material, craftsmanship, and user reviews to find the best tools within your budget.
Makeup brush maintenance: cleaning and care tips
Keeping your professional makeup brushes clean is super important for their longevity and performance. We recommend cleaning your brushes at least once a week to avoid spreading bacteria and germs onto your face, which could contribute to skin problems like irritation, clogged pores and acne. Ultimately, the more you care for your brushes the longer they will last, enabling your brushes to perform well.
Cleaning your makeup brushes is super easy too. Simply run the bristles under lukewarm water and massage some mild soap through the bristles, rinse and repeat the process until your brushes are looking good as new. We love using a cleansing mat to clean our brushes with as they have a textured surface for you to swirl your brushes against, cleaning them faster and saves you using your hands!
Expert tips for using makeup brushes like a pro
How you use your professional makeup brush can have a different effect on how your makeup turns out. Makeup brushes are specifically made to target certain areas, so if you choose one that is the wrong shape or brush for what you are trying to achieve then you may have a bad outcome. That being said, a brush is only ever as good as the artist, so we are here to tell you our top tips and tricks:
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- Prep your skin: Makeup should always be applied to clean and moisturised skin. If your skin isn’t properly prepped, your makeup might not last as long as you want it to, or worse, your skin could be affected and can cause you lots of issues like irritation, or eventually acne.
- Don’t skip on primer: Primer smooths your skin, creating a perfect canvas to apply your makeup over the top. There are so many types of primers on the market, each designed to cater for different skin types, so you don’t have to worry about not finding a primer that works for you.
- Use the correct brush: Using the correct makeup brush for each part of your makeup routine will not only ensure your makeup is applied to its best ability but it will also take you less time. There’s no point trying to use a concealer brush to apply your whole face as it will just take you so much longer.
- Blend, and keep blending: When applying foundation, start in the centre of your face and work outwards and don’t forget to blend into your hairline and down your neck. Buff out any harsh lines and bare patches. Top tip, walk into a place with lots of natural light and have a look to see if everything is nice and blended. Natural light provides the most accurate representation of how your makeup looks, allowing you to spot any unevenness or harsh lines that might be less visible in artificial lighting.
- Pat to set: Once your base makeup is applied, you must set your face with powder to help lock in the product, control shine and provide a smooth finish. Make sure to pat the powder into the skin rather than sweeping and buffing motions, which could disturb your makeup.
Affordable professional makeup brush sets
Gifting a makeup brush set is one of the best gifts you can give a beauty lover. At Soinvogue we have a variety of brush sets perfect for gifting such as birthdays, christmas presents or just a gift to say why not!
From contour and highlight sets to eye blending sets, there is something for everyone and is sure going to make someone’s day. Shop our entire range of professional makeup brushes today!