When it comes to foundation brushes, there are PLENTY! Which is why it’s vital to stay clued up on their differences and unique uses. Because, to be quite honest, in today’s financial climate, good-quality make-up brushes don’t come cheap. So once you do splurge on a few pieces or a set, you’ll want to ensure you get the best bang for your buck! But how is this guaranteed? Well, it all comes down to your foundation type and desired coverage.
Read on as we round up the best foundation brushes for every finish and budget.
For the lightweights
DIOR Backstage Light Coverage Fluid Foundation Brush N11
Foundation type: Liquid
Coverage: Light
Budget: Luxe
Inspired by the backstage rush at Dior fashion shows, this brush was designed for beauty lovers on the go. It’s best suited for liquid and cream formulations and creates a beautiful second-skin finish in seconds. Use it to apply your chosen foundation along the T-zone, and then blend and diffuse the colour outwards for a gorgeous, no-make-up make-up base.
SISLEY PARIS Fluid Foundation Brush
Foundation type: Liquid
Coverage: Light
Budget: Luxe
This brush combines flat and tapered bristles to evenly diffuse and smoothen out your layer/s of foundation. Use it for full-face or targeted applications. Add a 2cm blob of foundation to the back of your hand, and then apply to the centre of the face, extending the colour outwards in delicate streaks. And to conceal blemishes, add a tiny amount of foundation directly over any imperfections and gently tap the brush to smoothen and diffuse.
For the in-betweeners (between 'barely there' and 'full coverage')
I AM Tapered Foundation Brush
Foundation type: Cream/mousse
Coverage: Medium
Budget: Bargain Buy
This is a great entry-level foundation brush for those who prefer a little more weight in their coverage. It’s a dense tapered brush that delivers a flawless and filtered finish that’s still natural-looking. Use this to apply cream or mousse-textured bases (and it works pretty well with powder foundations, too!)
ELIZABETH ARDEN Dual End Contoured Foundation Brush
Foundation type: Cream/mousse
Coverage: Medium
Budget: Luxe
For those looking for a brush that will achieve a little more than a simple application, this double-duty gem is perfect for seamless layering, blending and face-snatching. It features a larger heart-shaped brush on the one end with tightly packed bristles to absorb and grip pigment for denser coverage. Also, I must add that it blends like a dream! Simply sweep its curved and contour-hugging bristles outwards for an even and streak-free finish.
A tip? Use the baby tapered brush on the opposite side for random touch-ups or to conceal pesky spots.
LOTTIE LONDON LF020 Dense Buffer Brush
Foundation type: Cream/mousse
Coverage: Medium
Budget: Bargain Buy
Besides its highly Instagrammable packaging and design, quality-wise, Lottie London’s brushes are worth stocking up on! This one, in particular, creates thee smoothest finish on skin. However, be gentle with it and apply your cream or mousse foundation in soft and circular motions to minimise streakiness and build more even layers. P.S. To all you mums and dads, this is a great beginner-friendly brand for your make-up-obsessed teen!
For the glamazons
BOBBI BROWN Full Coverage Face Brush
Foundation type: Stick and powder foundations
Coverage: Full
Budget: Luxe
This particular brush continues to garner rave reviews online, and it’s due to its ability to build thick coverage with little to no effort. It’s a tapered brush with short and compacted bristles to ‘buff and blend’ colour seamlessly. Even though it’s marketed as a full-coverage brush, it’s pretty versatile and can also be utilised to achieve a second-skin tint. Apply your foundation in a stippling motion all over the face or in those small, hard-to-reach areas for a flawless-skin effect. We also love how effective it is in applying other cream-based and powder products like bronzer and blush.
BEAUTYBLENDER Original Makeup Sponge
Foundation type: ALL of them!
Coverage: Up to you
Budget: Luxe
The OG beauty sponge with unmatched blending powers! A tip for BEAUTYBLENDER newbies: remember to wet your sponge with water first (and squeeze out any excess) before applying your foundation in bouncy, dabbing motions. This way you’ll achieve streak-free and buttery-smooth coverage EVERY time. Slip this baby in your tote or Jacquemus to swiftly blend out all kinds of face beats with ease.
Shop more foundation brushes and tools in-store or online at Edgars.co.za.
