Let's talk about cosmetic brushes!

This is the first in a series of hints and tips to enable you to choose and use make-up confidently.

To start with in this post we look at brushes and applicators and why and how you should use brushes to apply your make up.

In following blogs we will focus on how to choose and apply foundation and powder for a flawless finish, offer a little concealer help or inspire you to be confident using blusher.

Eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara tips will follow on from there, as well as how to apply your lipstick and get it to stay in place!

And finally there will be tips for beautiful nails and hands.

Why do you need brushes and applicators?

Many women think they don't need make-up brushes and applicators, perhaps they believe their fingers are better... mmm ... well fingers, for a start, are not as precise as a brush or an applicator can be no matter how adept you are with your pinkies! Also there are germs that live, quite naturally, on fingertips that will transfer to your make up each time you apply it, making your cosmetics increasingly contaminated.

Not convinced? Ok ... if you use your fingers to apply your make up you wash your hands (before as well as after hopefully!) so think about all the make up you are actually just washing straight down the plughole. Yes, brushes do need washing once in a while, but not each time you use them and so by using brushes you are washing away less of your cosmetics and this means there is more there for you to use on your face.

So brushes give greater precision, cleanliness and, in the long run, they save you money!

Which brushes and applicators to use and for what?

You can choose to buy a set or individual brushes depending on your own needs;

Sponges - these are great for applying foundations, use moist to help with blending for a flawless complexion.

Powder/blusher brushes - luxurious, big, soft and bushy, these brushes hold a good amount of powder to dust lightly across your face giving you a natural rather than overloaded look.

Eye brushes - much smaller than powder and blusher brushes, these allow for precise application of eyeshadow, used chiselled brushes for even greater control for applying shadow to your eyelids, and rounded brushes for highlighers under the brow bone.

Sponge applicators - facilitate blending of eyeshadows

Eye liner brushes - these are very fine for the greatest control, just what you need for such delicate lines. These can be used wet with your favourite eyeshadow to use the shadow as eye liner.

Eyebrow brushes - to keep your eyebrows combed and under control.

Eyelash brushes - these brushes are useful to separate lashes after applying mascara.

Lip brushes - use these to apply your lipstick carefully, precisely and to shape your lips how you want them to appear. Using lip brushes will make your lipstick stay for longer and look better.

Look after them! (Brush care)...

Right, so you've finally decided to invest in your own set of brushes, now you need to take a few simple steps to look after them so they last and do the job they need to do for you for years to come:-

Store brushes where air can circulate around them

Don't blow on them if you have too much product on them just tap the handle or shake the brush.

You should clean your brushes around once a month, run warm water over the bristles until it runs clear, gently squeeze the bristles to push out the remaining water, reshape and allow to air dry for 24 hours, oh and DO NOT be tempted to use a hairdryer to dry them or you'll melt the bristles!!