WORKING WITH MAKE UP TOOLS

Makeup Tools

It is difficult to apply makeup properly without the right tools. By using the right tools properly, you can achieve the look you are aiming for. A good brush for the application of blush, powder, lipstick and eyeshadow is made of real hair. Brushes made of synthetic materials work well for the lips, foundations and concealers, however, the bristles of synthetic brushes do not hold makeup in powder form well.It is difficult to contour, blend, or smudge with synthetic brushes. The tips of real hair brushes are uncut and that makes them hold powder better. A foundation brush is used mostly for dry foundation, but if you twirl it in your fingers, it can buff out areas of cream and liquid foundations that are streaky. A Kabuki brush is great for applying powders and bronzers softly and evenly spreading it over the face. Twirl the brush in your hand and it can buff out the harsh lines. A Powder brush will diffuse loose powders, to give colour that is less concentrated and it won’t smudge the foundation. It is also effective for applying blush. Grab a Blending brush's handle tip and twirl it around in a circular motion, to give the crease of the eyes a blended, soft look. It can also be used to blend a highlighter on the cheek- or brow bones.

Using a kohl liner to line the lashes and then sweeping a Smudge brush lightly from side to side, will give you a sultry, smokey look. A Brow/Lash brush or comb is used to separate lashes that are clumpy, remove excess mascara and smooth brows that are messy. Use the brush to tame thick, messy brows, by brushing up and out. It is important to wash all of your brushes with soap and water. This will remove the oil, makeup and waxes from the brushes. There are professional cleaners for brushes. You can spray them before each use, to disinfect, sanitize, deodorize and condition them. If you care for your brushes, and especially if you purchase ones with real hair, you should be able to keep the same brushes for decades.Q-tips or cotton buds, are a must have makeup tool, that can be used to create a "Smokey eye" or to smudge eyeliner. They are also great for cleaning up mistakes.Blotting paper is used to reduce shine and can be applied to eyelids, lips, or skin. It will absorb the wax and oil and reduce shine. For a sheer and even cover, dampen and dab on foundation using a Beauty Blender sponge. The broad side of the sponge can be used to smooth product on the face. The tip of the sponge can reach into creases around the client’s nose, or pinpoint smaller areas.Beauty Blender sponges can apply cream blush, remove extra product and blend makeup lines that are harsh. Cotton Powder Puffs are great for applying loose powder to cover large areas of the skin. They are cheap and easy to get and should always be used on sensitive skin. Contouring Sponges are great for highlighting and contouring areas that are hard to reach. They can be used with bronzers and highlighters and both cream and liquid products. Cosmetic Sponges come in rectangular or circular shapes. They work well with powders and liquid foundations. The excess liquid is soaked up by the sponge and provides maximum coverage. It works to keep foundation from looking "caked on". The corner eyelash curler, allows you to curl smaller sections of the eyelash for precision. Tongue suppressors are used to remove product from the bottom of a jar. You can also use a spatula, which is great for mixing as well. You will need some kind of bag or portable container to keep all your tools together. This will make it easier to transport them at short notice.

Working with Brushes

There are a lot of makeup brushes out there and they are all designed for a specific technique or application. The better quality brushes have better quality bristles and as a professional makeup artist, you should have a few expensive brushes in your collection. Natural brushes work best with dry products and synthetic brushes work best for cream and liquid products. You will notice the difference between cheap and quality brushes, when you are applying makeup. Brush quality also effects how much product you waste, in terms of its holding and application power. You don't want half the product stuck to the bristles or floating away into the air.During your training or apprenticeship, it's a good idea to keep a notebook that records information about different types of brushes, in terms of their quality and what they are good for.Makeup brushes come in standard sizes and are usually numbered. The brand of brush can also make a difference. Some brushes are made using better materials. There are times when you will need a synthetic brush and times when you will need a natural brush. The shape of a brush has a huge bearing on what it can be used for. A smaller rounded brush can get into little crevices. A flat brush is good for applying foundations. An angled brush is effective for creating a clean look.

The length and denseness of the bristles is important. A fluffy brush is not good for applying foundation, but is perfect for polishing the look afterwards. A small dense brush is perfect for eyeshadow and concealer. It can be tricky to apply foundation correctly. You will need to blend it into dry spots, slide it over oily sections and cover every crease and crevice. A kabuki brush - sometimes called a mushroom brush - has dense bristles and a short stem. It is used to apply loose powder makeup, especially to larger areas. Some Powder brushes have a dual purpose, as a blush brush and as a powder brush. They can be used for bronzers, powders and blush. The Angled Blush brush is perfect for contouring and sculpting with precision. The concealer brush is useful for applying concealer. Dot the concealer with the brush. Pull it into the nose and then back out again. Dot it, until it blends in. Then swipe it under the dark circles under the eyes. Angled eyeshadow brushes are great for taking care of spotty and sparse eyebrows. Swipe the brush across the eyeshadow and dot it along the brow. Brush in the direction of the brow. Extend to the edge of the eye, then brush on the eyeshadow. Use a tissue to pat the eyebrow, to remove any excess eyeshadow.Blending your makeup gives you a flawless and natural-looking finish. Blending brushes have soft, synthetic bristles that are packed densely. The top is rounded, so that it can blend gently. They come in various sizes for different parts of the face.The large blending brush works towards softening the makeup and the blush, along the jaw and hair lines. Twirl a large, clean blending brush along the cheeks, nose, hair line and jaw line. This will help to soften sharp edges. The Smudge brush works well for smudging dense colour bursts and can blend the kohl liner or an extremely pigmented shadow. Make sure that you have a foundation or powder brush, a flat concealer brush, a blush brush with loose bristles, a flat highlighter brush, an angled brow brush and an eyebrow brush. From there, you can keep adding to your collection.