Makeup brushes: Foundation

I think it's really important to own good quality makeup brushes, as I find it makes a difference to how well my makeup applies and lasts. The other day I showed you my powder brushes and today I am going to show you my foundation brushes.

Foundation brushes are my favourite to buy and I love trying different types!

Starting with flat foundation brushes, I have these five to tell you about.

The two on the left are basically the same! The Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush and Benefit Foundation Brush are what I would call 'traditional' foundation brushes. They apply foundation in a sweeping motion, which isn't my favourite, however with certain foundation types they work best.

The NO7 Foundation Brush is a lot thicker than the other two. It's quite fat which I really like, as it allows me to buff the foundation in better. It also gets foundation on a little quicker because it's that slight bit bigger.

My Crown Deluxe Foundation Brush is the newest edition to my foundation brushes! It's duo ended as the other end is a concealer brush. Tomorrow I am writing a full post on my Crown brushes, so pop back tomorrow if you would like to know more about this brush!

The final brush in the photo is my Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush from their Core Collection. I personally find this too small for foundation, so instead I sometimes use it to pat concealer around my nose. I don't feel the need to use a brush for concealer very often, so this one doesn't get used a lot.

My MAC 187 is a brush I used to love for foundation, however I don't tend to use it as much lately. I used to use it regularly with my MAC studio sculpt foundation as I found they worked very well together. I don't use that foundation anymore though, and haven't found another foundation this works as well with.

 

A while ago I posted about my Zoeva brushes. The buffer brush is one I don't use very often now. I used it more when I first bought it, however I have discovered that I prefer a rounder top rather than a flat top! I also have a petite Zoeva brush. If I use this, I don't tend to use it for foundation. I do find it buffs it in nicely though and because it's small, it applies foundation nicely around the nose.

 

One of my most regularly used brushes is my foundation brush from the Crown HD Set. This is small, so takes a little longer for application but I find it leaves a very nice, flawless finish. I tend to use this with my Laura Mercier Silk Crème foundation, as I find the consistency works nicely with this brush. 

 

Other brushes I use very frequently are definitely the Real Technique Buffing Brush and the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (not photographed). I find these work great with lots of different foundation textures and I have used the buffing brush for liquid and compact foundations.

I also have the Real Techniques Stippling Brush (not photographed) which I like for thinner, liquid foundations. I rarely use this for foundation though, as I find it works nicely with cream blushes. The design of the brush means it distributes the blusher a perfect amount and in the place you want it!

 

I would love to know your favourite foundation brushes.

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Makeup brushes: Powder

This post is going to show you the brushes I use for various powder products, including powder, bronzer, blushes and highlighters. I am planning to write a foundation brushes and eye brushes post to follow this one, so please let me know if that would interest you!

The Zoeva Powder Brush is what I would call a traditional shaped powder brush. It's big, fluffy and round. I find this buffs powder in nicely but sometimes I think it's too dense and can move product underneath.

My Bobbi Brown Powder Brush is definitely my favourite for applying powder. The shape is tapered which I love as I find it dusts powder on my face without leaving it looking heavy or cakey. The only negative about this brush is that it sheds a little bit when I use it.

Finally is my little Bobbi Brown Setting Brush. I use this daily for applying powder under my eyes and a little bit around my nose. The shape is perfect for underneath my eyes and it's so soft and delicate.

Moving onto blusher brushes!

The Crown Blush Brush is my favourite for applying blushers, especially cream ones. I find it doesn't soak up any product, so gets it all onto my cheeks and then blends it nicely. It's incredibly soft and one of my favourite brushes to use.

One of my other favourites is the Mac 168, which is an angled blusher brush. I like that this is cream as I find it easier to judge how much blusher I have put on the brush! This is a lovely shape for sweeping the blush from the apples on my cheeks, up towards my temples slightly.

My other favourite brush is the No7 Blush Brush. This is the perfect shape and size for applying blush onto the apples of my cheeks. It isn't as dense or soft as the others, but it blends the product very well and leaves it looking quite subtle. I don't find it ideal if you want to pack a lot of colour on, however for a natural dusting of powder, it does the job nicely.

My favourite brush for applying bronzer is the Real Techniques Blush Brush. I personally find this too big for blush, as I only apply a small amount of blush onto the apples of my cheeks. This is brilliant for bronzer though. I sweep this along my cheeks, onto my forehead and dust it across my nose. This is tapered, so I find it blends the product as I am applying it.

My final brush is the Real Techniques Contour Brush. I like using this to apply highlight onto my cheekbones. I would say this is the same shape and softness as the blush brush, just a mini one! I find this applies highlighter nicely as it blends the product as I apply it.

I am easily convinced into trying new brushes, so let me know if you have any that you would recommend!

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Real Techniques Core Collection Brushes

I discovered Real Techniques brushes by watching Pixiwoo use them in their makeup tutorials on youtube. They looked really nice so I was excited to try them. 


I decided to purchase the Core Collection as it contains four brushes which I thought I would use a lot. These are a buffing brush, a contour brush, a foundation brush and a detailer brush. 

L-R: Buffing brush, Contour brush, Foundation brush, Detailer brush

This stand/case also comes with the brushes which is nice. It has about seven slots for brushes and you can have it as a stand, or you can fold it the other way and it becomes a brush case. I rarely use this to stand my brushes in, but when I am travelling I really like using it as a case to keep some brushes in.


The buffing brush is my favourite from this collection. It quickly became my everyday foundation brush as it gives a really flawless finish and it is so soft for buffing around the face.
I am considering doing a blog post on my foundation brushes and my favourite ones to use for different foundations, so please let me know if you would be interested in that!


The contour brush is the perfect shape to contour and highlight. The shape of this brush makes it easy to apply the product and then blend it flawlessly. As with the others, it is so soft and fluffy.


The foundation brush is pointed and quite small so I prefer to use it for applying my under eye concealer. It is a great shape for under the eyes as it is pointed so you can get the concealer right into the corners. This also makes it good to use around the nose. I have used this brush everyday since I got it.


Finally, the detailer brush is the only brush that I don't use on a regular basis. I use it to apply my lipstick as I found it is the perfect shape and size. Usually when I wear lipstick I just apply it directly to my lips, but when I want a more precise finish, this brush is really good.


Real Techniques brushes are available in Boots stores. Click here to see where else these are available.