Bigger the Brush, Better the Blend

I realize that today is not #TipTuesday, but lately I have been getting a lot of similar questions from clients regarding tools and techniques. I love sharing the beauty tips that I've learned over the years with as many people as possible.  Makeup should be fun, so I aim to take the guess work out of makeup shopping and application. 

Today, let's revisit my favorite subject, brushes. One of the reasons some people struggle with getting their eyeshadow to look the way they want it to is because the wrong brush is being used for the wrong job. I do not mean that they bought the wrong brand, or can't tell a flat shader brush from a blending brush (it's OK if you can't). However, I do often see people attempt a super soft blown out eye look using a tiny tapered brush.  While it can be done, there is an easier way. 

One tip that I always tell my clients to remember is, "the Bigger the brush, the better the blend." What does that mean? Eyeshadow brushes come in a variety of sizes. I've included three basic sizes of blending brushes in the photo above. The largest of the brushes pictured above (Zoeva 227, Furless Bronze Blending Brush, Real Perfection Marble)  is what you want for a nicely diffused, properly blended eye look. 

As we move to a smaller, denser brush head, the eyeshadow blending becomes more precise, dispersing less pigment across a more compact area. 

If you look at the small group of brushes pictured (Bdellium Tools 781, Ecotools double-sided brush, Makeup Geek Deluxe Crease,  Sigma E39), you will see the bristles are shorter, and more compact. This style of brush is a perfect choice for buffing color from the outter corner of the eye inward, or applying eyeshadow to the crease of the eye.

For example, I might take a dark brown eyeshadow and apply it to the crease of my eye with one of the smaller brushes. I would then take one of the brushes from the medium sized group (Bdellium Tools 776, Real Techniques 305) without any product on it, and use that brush to blend the color up and out toward the brow bone. After applying and blending a few more layers, I may decide that I want to use a lighter brown in between my crease and brow for a gradient effect. For a truly hazy, smoked out look, I would then reach for the large brush using back and forth motions to get that uber-blended look we all strive for.

In short, the color will be most concentrated when small brushes are used, and have the most diffused, blended look when a larger, fluffier brush is used. 

This is not only the case for eyeshadow,  but all makeup in general. I could use these same brushes for concealer.  I might use the smaller brush for a more pinpoint concealing job, such as buffing over a blemish, and the large brush for blending concealer under the eyes. 

So remember, when creating your next smokey eye, cut crease or everyday eye look; the bigger the brush, the better the blend.

Keeping this catchy little phrase in mind will help ensure you reach for the right tool, whatever look you are trying to achieve.  

💜💄💋~Makeup Matters