Extended Makeup Brush Guide

These are the brushes in my opinion that aren't essential but for someone who loves their makeup and wears it everyday will benefit from these. I also think these would be used more by someone who has a larger variety of makeup.

I suggest to always see the brush in person otherwise you will become disappointed. Feel it, play with it on your face. Test to see how it would work for what your after. Remember the denser a brush is the more it's going to pick up. The fine the tip the more precise application of colour. I think the quality and seamless of your makeup is a lot to do with the quality of your brushes. Cheap, average brushes won't provide you with the same application as mid range priced brushes. Basically you get what you pay for. A Chanel brush is the top end of the spectrum and may often then not be over priced and very similar to mid range priced brushes.

I also want to mention that what specific brushes work for me may not for you. There are different lengths of the hairs, angles and fluffiness per brand so do take the time to find the size that will suit your face and not engulf your whole cheek. This is why I suggest to physically see the brush and play around with it.

Eye

I think there is five extra eye brushes: brow and eye.

The brow brushes are a angled brush and a spoolie. The angled brush ideally has short hairs, a little flexible but thin in width and doesn't have too sharp of a steep in the angle. This is great for filling in the brows giving a natural soft finish and can also work to add gel eyeliner onto the lash line. The spool brush has a mascara wand type of fibre head that makes a difference in diffusing brow products and putting the brows in the same direction. My pick is MAC's 263 Small Angle Brush (Sigma E65) and 204 Lash Brush (or a drug store eye product).

A gel eyeliner brush deposits colour specifically onto the lash line. Ideally it should be thin, finely tapered, shortish hairs with the only flexibility at the tip. Like I said previously this would suit those who use gel eyeliners on a regular basis enough to warrant purchase a specific brush. My pick is MAC's 209 Eye Liner Brush (Sigma E05).

A large shader brush deposits colour either cream or powder form over a larger area of the eye but is greg for the cream products. This would be perfect for those who have larger eyelids and find the generic brushes too small and time consuming. The only difference is this apples a lighter colour applications due to it's shape. Ideally it should be thin, slightly domed, flexible with longer synthetic hairs. My pick is MAC's 252 Large Shader Brush (Sigma E60).

Finally a outer 'v'/ crease brush. This adds precision colour to the crease area to add depth here. It can also act to smudge colour out on the lash lines, it's versatilely will add something extra to your eye makeup. Ideally it should be dense and softly domed. My pick is MAC's 219 Pencil Brush (Sigma E30).

Cheek

The two extra cheek brushes an angled and contour brush.

A angled brush is for specific application of highlighter to the cheekbones or more sheer blush to the cheeks. The soft dome top helps to buff the powder. The dense hard pick up more product making it perfect for sheer blushes but do take care to not go overboard. There are different lengths of the hairs and fluffiness per brand so do take the time to find the size that will suit your face and not engulf your whole cheek. Ideally it should be large, dense with a fluffy dome top and soft angle. My pick is MAC's 168 Large Contour Angled Brush (Sigma F40).

The contour brush specifically deposits colour into the contours of the cheeks. Ideally it should be small, rounded dome with a little flare. Too much flare and it defeats the purpose of the contour. You can squeeze the hairs more flat and do the inside of your nose too. My pick is MAC's 109 Small Contour Brush (Sigma F05).

Face

The extra two face brushes is a stippling and flat kabuki brush.

A duo fibre stippling brush can be used on the face and cheek so I was unsure which section to add it under. It works great with very pigmented blush give a more natural finish and ensure you don't apply too heavy handed. The duo fibres means it can also work with liquids such as foundation, highlighter and blush. Keep in mind that due to the thinness of the hairs for its size, foundation application will be lighter and may take extra time to blend in. Ideally it should be large, flat flexible top, significant flare and rounded in width. My pick is MAC's 187 Duo Fibre Brush (Sigma F50).

The flat top kabuki brush is very unique. It is suited for both powder and liquid products anywhere on the face and the application and blending is seamless. What makes it different to the stippling brush is the density of the airs pick up more product but also make the brush stiffer meaning it's easier to buff the product into the skin. Ideally it should be dense, smaller duo fibre hairs, flat top, slight flare and rounded in width. My pick is Sigma's F80 Brush - MAC don't make anything similar!!

That's it for my suggestions! Everyones lifestyle, budget and makeup collection depends on what brushes you start with but these are the ones I feel would complete any woman. Any more brushes would be for a more precise purpose such as concealer, tightliner etc.