Traditional foundation brush - I don't reach for this brush to apply foundation hardly ever. I feel like I am painting my face. But I know whenever I go to a makeup counter and they apply foundation on me, it is always with this type of brush. I find it can get streaky this way.
Flat top foundation brush - This is my favourite type of brush to use, I love the ELF Powder brush because it's quite wide so you can cover a large area of your face and pack this on quickly. Also for me I don't tend to blend with this type of brush but more just pat it on and I am done. I get great coverage and it applies evenly. The Sigma F80 can function the same way. Another brush is the MAC 109, it's sorta flat but also rounded, I use this method sometimes as well, for the same purpose, tapping or pouncing the foundation on.
Stippling brush - This method can give the most "flawless" application because you are basically stippling foundation on, and then blending if needed. It is time consuming however. I have been using this method more and more lately, but I only stipple no blending anymore, however I prefer the flat top method over this.
Blending sponge - This year especially many companies have put out beauty blender type sponges for applying foundation. The sponge is soaked in water and it expands to twice the size and can give very precise application of liquid foundation. The sponge is washed and used again and again. I have the Sonia Kashuk verison here. I very very rarely use this method because I am not very good at it and prefer using my brushes.
Cosmetic wedge - Some products include their own sponges inside, most of the time these are useless because they can only be used a limited number of times. However it can give a nice looking finish as well. Wedges can also be purchased at dollar stores or drugstores (I have packs of them).
Recently, I watched a youtube video from the fabulous "gossmakeupartist" where he goes over how we need to wet our sponges when applying makeup. How it will sheer out your foundation, and not give you that cakey look that everyone hates. It makes your foundation a lot easier to work with and you can layer it much easier. Wetting your sponge does not allow the foundation to settle into the sponge either, so you aren't wasting product.
What interested me most was how he said that those with dry (me) or combination skin have areas of the face where the skin feels textured and rough, if we use a stippling brush and blend we are basically "micro-exfoliating" our faces! That made total sense to me, after watching that, I no longer blend my foundation in anymore, if I need to I do so with my hands. Similarly, when you powder your face afterwards to set your face, you are "micro-exfoliating" again and disturbing your face, instead we should be using a powder puff and pressing the powder into our skin instead.
I think his advice is genius if you have this type of skin and have issues. I know I definitely do and this has helped me so much. Makeup brushes are fun to collect and make you feel all professional when using them, but sometimes they may not be the best option for you, and a simple thing like a sponge can make a lot more sense. For me, the stippling method works the best, no more blending!
What is your favorite way to apply liquid foundation?
I actually like applying it with my E.L.F. flat top brush as well, or a stippling brush! :) I find it gives the best blendability and doesn't show any foundation lines because I hate that (thats why I don't use the traditional foundation brush!) Thanks for this great post! Very informative, love it!
ReplyDeleteI recently bought the MAC 187 stippling brush and I love it but I find it only works with certain foundations! Today I just tried using a wedge sponge and was a little underwhelmed but i'm totally going to try wetting it before I use it next time!
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I think that you can't beat your fingers for precise, smooth application!
xx
definetly and always with a wet sponge!! i actually got that tip from goss makeup artsit :) he's amaaaazing!!!
ReplyDeleteUseful post! I like to use sponge wedges to apply my liquid foundation and they seem to work for me. I haven't tried using them wet so will give it a try now.
ReplyDeleteGreat collection of foundation tools! I don't use foundation but I have a MAC 187, EM Flat top kabuki, and a beauty blender/SK Sponge. I heard great things about the ELF powder brush! Glad you like it. Sooo I have no idea why I have so many brushes if I don't' use foundation LOL
ReplyDeleteAlways,always a wet sponge! Nothing gives me a better finish and I have super dry skin :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Justine! I dabble in applying my foundation with all of the tools you've listed above but my favorite is probably just using my fingers. I feel like the warmth of my fingers helps the foundation melt into my skin and I never get any streaks!
ReplyDeleteI love to use a sponge, I've tried brushes many times..including the MAC 187 and it takes too long and my 187 sheds like crazy
ReplyDelete@Shaylee Anne - I swear that ELF brush is the best thing ever. can you believe I saw it for $7.99 at Winners today? Makes more sense to buy it online!
ReplyDelete@Lauren - I am often scared to use my 187 because I don't want to discolour the hairs on it since it's so expensive.
@Donna Baby - He is pretty awesome eh? One of those gurus that you can really trust and learn a lot from.
@Harshleen - Definitely try it out, it makes the sponge bigger, just make sure you just dampen it, squeeze all the water out before applying foundation.
@Kalmo - You don't use foundation? What??
@Appu - I keep hearing it's really great especially for dry skin. Thanks for the comment!
@ WillWorkFormakeup - Definitely saves a lot of money on getting brushes!
@spifftiff88 - My 187 sheds sometimes too, it can be very annoying!
I love sponges, they are the best for me! I also have grown into the typical paintbrush looking foundation brushes like MAC's 190. I used to hate them but now I find them very effective!
ReplyDeleteQuackspassionpit.blogspot.com
Fingers. I go through phases of using a stippling brush or a flat foundation brush but I always come back to fingers. It's quick and easy and I'm always running late for work in the mornings!
ReplyDeleteI used a flat wide MAC brush (like the one at the top of the picture of brushes) for years, then move to a beauty blender sponge and then recently onto stippling with a stippling brush. In the last few weeks through watching tutorials on Youtube I've moved to using my flat top ELF powder brush...but I think I may go back to my Sephora stippling brush.
ReplyDeleteI love Wayne Goss. He's so good at delivering useful advice and not talking in a "cutesy" way which I find super annoying cough *Michelle Pham* cough.
ReplyDeleteI use the ELF studio brush for liquids, the SK sponge for creams, the Posh Kabuki for minerals, and my fingers for tinted moisturizers and BB creams.
Wet flat top brush all the way, either the Elf one or the Sigma one! ;) I have to try the wet sponge method with Revlon Colorstay though, I've already watched the video and Wayne is amazing! :)
ReplyDeletexxx
My favourite is the Elf powder brush as I don't own a stippling brush. But if the foundation is too thick, I'll use a wet sponge instead. It just makes my foundation so smooth
ReplyDeleteI will either use my fingers or my MAC 187.
ReplyDeletehow do you like that sigma brush for foundation?
ReplyDeleteI use a flat top brush to apply my foundation, I really like Sonia Kashuk, i think its called Synthetic flat blusher brush, someone said that they changed the name
@Beauty Ambition - The sigma flat top is my favourite for applying liquid foundation hands down. I alternate between that and the ELF flat top when the Sigma is dirty. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've just fell in love with the stipple brush - for the flawless finish it gives. I never liked the ordinary foundation brush and preferred my fingers.
ReplyDeleteWow. Wonderful video. The video is short but has amazing information from the makeup artist.
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