BEAUTY BUZZ: SPOTTING GOOD BRUSHES AND TAKING CARE OF IT

WELCOME TO THIS EDITION OF THE BEAUTY BUZZ.

Finding the right make- up is a must but finding the right tools to use is another thing. We use and buy good quality make- up to create a fabulous look and to save our skin but we should also bear in mind that good brushes also play a big part in creating a good and flawless make- up.

I will provide you with some of the skills I've learned from people in searching for the right and good brushes. 

"GOOD" brushes doesn't necessarily mean expensive brushes. There are a lot of companies that have produced good quality brushes at rock- bottom prices. But I do believe that there are still things left undiscovered so just in case you might be in for a new discovery in your quest, bear these things in mind for you to be able to find the GOOD BRUSH.

PRICE

It's a lot easier if you have tons of money because you're sure to purchase branded brushes and surely, these have great quality. But we could only wish for that to happen. So take into consideration the price of the brushes. If you can afford a MAC, buy one. But if you'd rather save, then you're on for a search.

Remember, it's much better to invest on a good set rather than buying cheap brushes that don't have good quality. Imagine the money you'll waste because you're gonna buy one over and over again.

CHECK THE HANDLES

The handles are important so as to provide a comfortable make- up application session. This also helps you in precisely applying your make- up. Too thin handles have the tendency to slip off your hands and you might feel uncomfortable holding it so make sure when you hold the brushes (pen- style of holding), it's kinda' thick enough for you to get a good grasp of it. Wooden handles are much better because they don't have the tendency to break unlike plastic handles. This saves you time and most importantly, moolah. 

CHECK THE FERRULE

The ferrule is the metal part of the brush handle that holds the hair together. It's usually colored with silver and black but you could find other ferrule colors too. It is important that the ferrules are metal. Check also if the ferrule is nicely positioned. Try twisting the ferrule. If you feel that it's kinda' lose, don't think of purchasing. The damage might further as you use it. Ferrules are usually glued on the wooden handle so make sure it is tightly secured on the handle. Damaged ferrules can lead to brush hair fall, and much worse, it could lead to a murdered brush. :)

THE HAIR TEST

Good brushes are made of sable, pony, goat and squirrel hair. The softest and toughest hair is that of the Italian Badger, that's why Badger- haired brushes are quite expensive. Second is squirrel hair. Goat, sable and pony hair are the cheapest varieties. But be careful because there are cheap manufactured goat, sable and pony- haired brushes, which means they are not washed nor altered well to become a good brush hair.

Run your fingers through the hair. It is important that the brush is fluffy so as to get more powder and for it to blend make- up evenly and well. If it's coarse, thick, and physically, the shape of the brush is plump, it's good. There's enough hair for good application. But if it's sparse and physically, it looks small, it means there's not much hair so try looking for other brushes. This might not get powders well so you'll end up wasting make- up.

Try running the brush hair at the back of your palm. If it's scratchy, Don't buy it. It will end up more scratchy with continued use. If the hair feels soft and fluffy, it's a good buy. A simple trick, it should feel as if it's real hair. If it is, chances are, these are made from quality and real animal hair.

Synthetic brushes are okay but make sure you find good ones. I don't suggest buying synthetic animal haired brushes because these will become scratchy if you try to wash it. If you're going synthetic, then purchase pure synthetic brushes (usually made of nylon and plastic). Make sure you do the running of the finger and of the brush on your hand test before purchasing it.

THE SHAPE TEST

Brush shape is important because brushes with good shape compliment your face's contours. Weird angled brushes have the tendency to create a fake contour, making you look wrong in all places (unless you're an expert).

Domed shaped brushes (powders) are good because they get more powder and they help create a flawless blending.

In finding good eyeshadow brushes, make sure your eyeshadow brushes have an arch- shaped tip. The reason behind this is, it follows the natural arch of your crease so you'll be able to create a natural- looking crease if yours is not that visible, and to enhance, not exaggerate a deep set eyes.

SPEND: MAC, LAURA MERCIER, NARS

SAVE: SUESH, CHARM, LIFE AND COMPANION, BARE ESSENTUALS, ELLANA, MINERAL MAKE- UP BRANDS

SAVE THE EARTH: ECOTOOLS

GOOD BRUSH CLEANSERS

It's important for you to clean your brushes because bacteria live somewhere in the bristles of your brushes. These bacteria can cause cystic pimples and can aggravate acne of all sorts. So it's advisable to wash your brushes after every use. In my case, I wash my brushes weekly so it's fresh for the next show weeks. It saves my face from harm and it feels so good knowing that you're using clean stuff on your face.

Brush cleansers are good for those people on the go because you just dip your brushes then they dry up easily and they're good for use again. 

Personally, I'm not a fan of this. Apart from it being expensive, I still believe a good rinsing will really get rid of bacteria. And when I say rinsing, I mean soap and water.

DO YOU KNOW MY SECRET IN WASHING MY BRUSHES?

Yep you saw it right. I learned this from Jigs Mayuga, head make- up artist for L'oreal Philippines. I learned that Dishwashing soaps remove oil from your brushes, making the hair feel and look fresh again (just like our own hair). It is not advisable to use shampoos and body washes for rinsing because shampoos can make the hair of the brushes become too soft, making it lose it's shape and effectiveness.

I suggest you  guys buy Joy Antibac Dishwashing liquid. It's cheap and it really did my brushes justice. I've been using this for years. And yeah, it has anti- bacterial properties so you don't have to worry about bacteria left after rinsing.

I HOPE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THIS EDITION OF THE BEAUTY BUZZ. I'LL ALSO UPLOAD THE NEXT ISSUE, HOW TO FIND GOOD MAKE- UP SO YOU'LL KNOW THE TIPS AND TRICKS IN FINDING GOOD MAKE- UP AT ITS MOST EXPENSIVE AND CHEAPEST PRICES. :)