Makeup Brush 101 With Makeup Expert Dani Wagener

A makeup maven is only as good as her tools and the proper makeup brushes can make a world of difference in the application process. But with so many tools out there, how do you choose the best one for your needs? And once you’ve got the brushes, how do you take care of them? You get the opinion of an expert, that’s what!
 
To help simplify your makeup brush education, Chrissy’s Beauty School chatted with nationally acclaimed makeup artist Dani Wagener. Wagener shared her thoughts on the importance of investing in a good set of brushes, offered some advice on how to take care of them, and revealed her top makeup brush picks. Here’s what she had to say!
 
Go for quality, not quantity
 

 Think you can get away with applying all your makeup by hand or with your little sister’s arts and crafts paintbrushes? Think again! The proper brushes make all the difference, according to Wagener.
 
“Good brushes make a huge difference in the application of makeup. The better tool you use, the better result you get,” she says. “For example, if you use foundation with your fingertips, you may end up with a very light application, uneven in coverage, and it may disappear throughout the day. With a brush, you get a smoother, more polished application, resulting in a longer lasting even look. This is the same for any product you apply!”
 
You have to start somewhere
 
Are you a brush novice and just looking to get started? Wagener recommends buying a holiday set. Can’t afford to buy a whole set of brushes? Decide what your essentials will be, Wagener says, because you don’t necessarily need a brush for each type of product you’re going to apply. Make the best of what you have and use one brush for multiple purposes. For instance, a blush brush can double as a bronzer and powder brush.
 
The key brushes, according to Wagener, are “an allover bronzer brush that can be used for powder, blush and bronzer; a good shadow brush, maybe two (one for applying, one for blending); and a good liner brush.” 
 
Keep it clean!
 
To help keep your makeup brushes looking and working great, Wagener recommends cleaning them monthly for personal use. Her favorite brand of cleaner? She has two: Japonesque or M·A·C brush cleaner. Both, Wagener says, “clean very well and don’t have any gross scent!”  
 
Synthetic vs. animal hair makeup brushes. What’s the difference? 
 
As any fashionista will tell you, in the world of fashion, there’s a clear-cut difference between a bona fide original and a knockoff. But when it comes to makeup brushes, is there really a difference between the performance of an animal hair and a synthetic makeup brush? According to Wagener, synthetic brushes are great for use with any cream, liquid, or gel product, whereas natural brushes work better when blending any powder, bronzer, or shadow.
 
Wagener’s Top Makeup Brush Picks
 

 Asking a makeup artist to pick her favorite makeup brushes could turn out to be as problematic as asking a chef to pick their favorite ingredient, but Wagener was up to the challenge. She came up with a list of some of the best brushes for your every need.
 
The brushes on her list range in price and brand name, but if Wagener had to pick one brand’s brushes as a whole, she’d go with shu uemura. “[They] have the best brushes in the industry hands down,” she says.
 
 
Foundation
 

 
1.     Splurge: Giorgio Armani Blender brush, $48, giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com
2.     MAC 190 Foundation brush, $32, maccosmetics.com
3.     Japonesque Pro Angled Foundation Brush, $24, japonesque.com
 
Concealer
 
1.     Splurge: shu uemura synthetic brush 10 and 12, $35 & $40 respectively, shuuemura-usa.com  
2.     Japonesque pro concealer brush, $13.40, japonesque.com
 
Bronzer
 
1.     Splurge: Becca Cosmetics Half Moon 62, $45, beccacosmetics.com 
2.     MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush, $42, maccosmetics.com
 
 Blush
 

 
1.     Splurge: Becca Polishing Brush #57, $50, beccacosmetics.com
2.     MAC 131 Duo Fibre Powder/Blush, $40, maccosmetics.com
3.     Kashuk Tools Blusher brush, $17.99, target.com
 
Liner
 
1.     Splurge: shu uemura Natural 6OB, $29, shuuemura-usa.com
2.     NARS Push Eyeliner $26, narscosmetics.com
3.     MAC 212 Flat Definer brush, $22, maccosmetics.com
 
Crease or all over shadow on lid
 

 
1.     Splurge: Giorgio Armani Eye Shader Brush, $38
2.     Becca Eye Colour Blender Blush #35, $31, beccacosmetics.com
3.     Kashuk Tools Large Eyeshadow brush, $12.99, target.com
 
 
Do you have a favorite makeup brush? Have you tried any of the ones on this list? Leave a comment!