Beauty Blog: Beauty and the Brushes

One of my biggest pet peeves of the beauty world is that magazines, blogs and other review sites often focus strictly on finding the best of each product: the most natural blush, the warmest bronzer, the most versatile eye shadow, and so on.  In my opinion, you can have all the highest rated blush, bronzer, and eye shadow in the world, but their results are nothing without the right brushes you use to apply them.  The result of these products is highly dependent on the quality of brushes, and because they are usually difficult to try out in the store, I found I was constantly disappointed when I used these expensive brushes at home.  They shed, frayed, or did not provide enough coverage, and I realized their descriptions in the store were deceiving. 
 
Recently, I found a line of awesome brushes that take the cake.  I was skeptical when purchasing my first brush from the SEPHORA COLLECTION Pro Brush line, but I’ve never looked back.  These brushes are made of synthetic Taklon hairs, which are ridiculously soft and shed-proof.  The white bristles allow you to see how much product is on the brush so you don’t over-apply.  They are all specifically designed for unique applications to ensure a natural, smooth look for any product you use.  Not to mention the Sephora website does a great job of accurately describing each brush and their intended function, and they’re reasonably priced for what they’re worth.

 
The Pro Natural Rounded Powder Brush #41 is awesome for an airbrushed application of bronzer or overall powder finish.  Because it’s a very large brush, makeup is distributed evenly but it provides full-coverage at the same time.  It also works great for applying bronzer or body shimmer to your neck or chest.  My makeup routine ends with a sweep of matte powder using this big guy.
 
Although the Pro Bronzer Brush #48 is intended for bronzer, I use it to apply mineral powder.  It’s basically a larger kabuki brush and the tightly packed bristles blend powders beautifully and offer maximum coverage.
 
Lastly, the Pro Powder Brush #50 is my absolute favorite blush brush.  It is so soft and its size is a perfect in-between.  Its dome shape makes pronouncing your cheeks super easy, but because it is so smooth, it blends in blush for the most natural-looking results.
 
Don’t forget to wash your makeup brushes every couple of months to avoid bacteria and makeup build-up.  A simple rinse with Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo does just the trick.  To dry brushes, leave them upside down with the bristles pointed to reduce excess water and so the brush can take it’s natural dome shape.