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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Zoeva Makeup Brushes

I first heard about Zoeva brushes after reading Lydia's blog post on them! Before that I had never heard of the brand, but I am so glad I finally found them.

Zoeva are a German company and they sell very affordable makeup brushes (as well as makeup itself, but I haven't tried any!)

L - R: Buffer 104, Powder 106, Petit Stippling 122, Crease 228

I ordered four brushes which are the buffer brush, powder brush, petite stippling brush and crease brush.

I use the buffer brush for my foundation. I used to use my Real Techniques buffing brush which I still absolutely love and now use for tinted moisturiser, however the Zoeva Buffer brush has definitely taken over for applying foundation.

The bristles of the buffer brush are dense and compact whilst still being extremely soft on the face. The top of this brush is quite flat and it buffs my foundation onto my skin flawlessly and so easily.

The powder brush is probably my favourite brush ever! It is so incredibly soft and the perfect shape. With my powder I like to push it onto my face, sweep it over my face and buff it in with circular motions. I have found brushes that are amazing at buffing, sweeping or pushing but never all three! This feels very light on the face as it's not too dense or compact. I have used powder brushes before which have been too dense and when I use them they disturb and move my concealer, whereas this one doesn't at all! It feels so light and soft.
I am very tempted to buy a second one of these brushes for bronzer as I think it is the perfect shape and size to just sweep bronzer over the face!

I bought the petit stippling brush for applying cream blush and highlighter. I have used it for powder blush a couple of times and it's nice, but it doesn't replace my current blush brush! I haven't yet used it for cream blush but it seems as if it would work well, I just don't wear cream blush that often. I have used it to apply cream highlighter and it's pretty good! 

I dab this in the product and stipple it onto my cheekbones and then blend it in. It stipples the product really well onto my cheekbones, however I don't find it amazing at blending the highlighter in. I do tend to use my finger at the end to just make sure the highlighter isn't just a line and make it more subtle. I am using this brush every time I wear highlighter so I do really like it! It is just not amazing at blending. 

Lastly is the crease brush and this is lovely! I use this to apply powder under my eyes, around my nose and anywhere I have popped concealer on. This brush is very soft and such a perfect shape. It's tapered and small. I used to use a different version of this type of brush which I have been using and loving for a while now, however it didn't keep it's shape very well. Obviously I haven't been using this for as long but it feels very structured (if that makes sense!) and the shape and size is just perfect. 

I am considering whether to get another one of these for eye shadow blending!

I hope you have enjoyed this review! Have you ever heard of Zoeva brushes? What are your favourite makeup brushes?

Zoeva are available here. These brushes took 6 days to arrive which I was very impressed with.