Brushes! So many to choose from, but how many do you really need?

Yes, this is a very common and confusing topic for Makeup lovers. Right know there are a bunch of brands out there offering a whole range of makeup brushes, some expensive, and some very cheap; but do we really need one brush for every little step of a makeup application? The honest answer is NO!

Here, I want to share with you my must have brushes for you to have that will help you build your personal set; or if you are a Makeup Artist, then I recommend you to add these brushes to your kit. I will give you brand and prices for each brush.

FACE:

1. KEVYN AUCOIN THE ANGLED FOUNDATION BRUSH ($68): I know this is an expensive brush, but the way this brush blends and buffs the foundation, and how it feels to the skin is INSANE! The bristles are very soft, and dense for a flawless finish.

2. REAL TECHNIQUES COUNTOUR BRUSH ($9): This very affordable brush is heaven when you want to apply bronzer, blush or highlight since it really blends the product to the skin very seamlessly, making it look very natural.

3. BDELLIUM TOOLS MAESTRO TAPERED BRUSH ($17): I use this one to apply powders to the under eye area, or center of the face because of its pointed shape. It will reach every little corner of the face.

4. BEAUTY BLENDER: I'm not a fan of sponges for liquid foundations, even if the sponge is wet. I feel like it applies very hard and too much, but I do use sponges for powders or cream products. It helps pushing the product to the skin when you gently press the sponge and make the application look more blended.

5. SIGMA F5 LARGE CONCEALER BRUSH ($18): I love this brush to apply creams and liquid foundations or concealers, and also when I want to cover spots around the face to correct the skin.

EYES:

1. SMITH COSMETICS 247 FLAT ROUND CREASE BRUSH ($27): Amazing brush to define the crease and hit the corners of your eyes.

2. SMITH CONMETICS 235 FLAT QUILL CREASE BRUSH ($27): this is a bigger version of the 247 brush, I use this one to blend the harsh lines of the crease and pack color.

3. SMITH COSMETICS 220 EYESHADOW FINISHING BRUSH ($24): LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this brush to do a very defined eyeshadow look, and to pack color to the bottom lash line.

4. SEPHORA PRO ALL OVER SHADOW #12 ($20): Great to pack color and blend shadows. It also works great wet, for shimmery or strong eyeshadow finish.

5. SMITH COSMETICS 203 MICRO ANGLED LINER BRUSH: I use this one for eyeliner, to define lips and for brows too. Its shape helps you get the definition you want on whatever you are doing, is the perfect detail brush.

LIPS:

1. SIGMA E05 EYELINER BRUSH ($9): LOL I know this is an eyeliner brush, but there's no rules for makeup. I use this one to help me outline the lips when I am not using a lip pencil. This brush has the perfect firmness, size and shape to do this job.

2. KEVYN AUCOIN THE SMALL EYESHADOW SOFT ROUND TIP BRUSH ($32): Yes, I know, another eyeshadow brush; but hey, I love how soft and precise this brush is when applying lipstick or liquid lip products, and I think this brush is too small and too soft to use for eyeshadow application.

3. SIGMA L05 LIP BRUSH ($15): Love this one because is flat and firm so it packs color very easily, love it for all type of lip products.

Well, these are all my must have brushes I recommend to you in case you wish to add, replace, or build a new brush set.

Hygiene, be clean and organized!

Being organized and clean when you are a MUA can be a little challenging, specially when you are working almost everyday and with multiple clients, but it is very important to be organized and to master hygiene if you want to be successful and an artist your clients can trust.

Some tips I can give you to have in consideration in order to be organized and clean are:

• Try to have a least 2 or 3 sets of brushes OR doubles of your favorite brushes to apply makeup. The reason why is, just in case you don't have the time to clean up your brushes for your next job or client, you already have clean one to use.

• Be disciplined on maintaining your brushes clean and disinfected. EVERY TIME I finish a job I sit down and clean all my brushes. That's something I pushed myself to do because it's very time consuming, piling them up and then cleaning them all at once. Also, I wash all my brushes every week with shampoo to maintaining them looking like new and fresh.

• If you are working with different people at once, make sure you separate the brushes of each person and have your brush cleaner ready to clean brushes if you have to re-use them.

• Have disposables, like mascara wands, beauty sponges, lip applicators, etc.; that helps a lot when working with more than 2 people at a time because those you can just throw away and be done!

• Clean all your makeup pots, like foundation bottles, powder pots, eyeshadow palettes, etc.; take a makeup wipe and wipe them all, you don't want your client to see your kit all messy, that talks about you and your work ethics.

• Lastly, have alcohol or Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer always in your kit. It's important to clean your station before and after you work; also, use hand sanitizer to clean your hands before starting with a new client.

These are my most important tips I've followed to make sure I have a good hygiene and organization in my makeup practice, hope this can also help you to be a better artist.

Bye Bye!