Quality

· Quality brushes are an essential part of creating quality makeup. For personal use, you’re better off with five good quality brushes that can multi-purpose than having a mass of cheap and nasty ones. Similarly, professionals need quality. Brushes that fall apart or leave streaks make the job harder.

· Quality doesn’t necessarily mean expensive.  While price can sometimes be an indicator of quality, it is not exclusive. Premium makeup brands sometimes charge a premium price for their brushes. However, it doesn’t mean the brushes are the best quality – you could simply be paying for the name. Sure, if you like to own brand names and are happy to pay for it, that’s your choice. Just make sure it isn’t style over substance.

· Check the build of the brush. First of all, gently feel the bristles. They shouldn’t be frayed or feel ragged. Secondly, they shouldn’t lose a mass of hair or break as you touch them. The bristles should be firmly held in place by a seamless ferrule base that doesn’t wobble or detach. The bristles should also have good shape. Ultimately, badly made brushes will shed hair and fall apart after a few washes. This means they won’t do a good job in the short or long term.

· For dirty makeup chores like using latex or glue, we use old brushes or brushes from inexpensive multi-packs from the supermarket. In short, we do not use our nice brushes. This is because they will never be the same after doing a round with some glue.

· The little brushes that come with makeup are usually not that great. They are OK as a quick top-up when out and about. However, they are not for the main makeup application or professional use.

Size, Shape & Weight

· Brushes come in a variety of shapes, sizes and weights. Even brushes designed for the same purpose will be made differently. For example, foundation brushes come in a wide variety of sizes and materials. This will affect how they feel in your hand – and, of course, some will feel nicer to you than others.

· Good brushes will feel balanced in your hand.

Purpose & Use

· What do you want to achieve with the brush? For example, do you want to blend blusher or create a precise line? This is because each needs a differently shaped brush. Therefore, think about picking a design that suits what you want to do with it.

· Brushes can be multi-purpose. Some brushes are designed to be multi-purpose, but most are made to do a specific job. However, this doesn’t mean it can’t be used for other suitable makeup applications. For example, a lip brush can be used as an eyeliner or concealer brush.