The importance of having the right tools

You can have the best make-up in the world but without the right applicator, the finish won’t be perfect. Nicola Corless talks to make-up artist Orla Corry about choosing and maintaining make-up brushes

Using the wrong make-up brush is like trying to paint a ceiling with a crayon. It doesn’t give a very professional finish and is much harder work than it should be.
According to Orla Corry, make-up artist in McLoughlin’s Pharmacy in Ennis Shopping Centre, make-up brushes are an investment.
“There are cheaper make-up brushes available but I find that if I use them the hairs come away very easily and end up on your face. If you spend money on a good brush you get longer out of it. You get what you pay for after all,” she comments.
“With the more expensive brushes, you get a more flawless finish on foundation. The more expensive brushes feel different.
“It is most noticeable on the eye-shadow brushes, the foundation brushes and the face and body brushes, they don’t feel as severe as perhaps the cheaper ones do,” Orla, who works at the Smashbox counter in McLoughlin’s, continues.
“In the case of a foundation brush, it is much more efficient to use than a sponge and more hygienic than using your hands. On your hand there are oils and bacteria, which you end up rubbing onto your face if you are using your fingers to apply foundation.
“A make-up sponge soaks up make-up and so with the better brushes, there is less waste and your make up lasts longer,” she explains.
Almost all women boast at least one powder brush (No. 1) in their collection. Designed to dust powder over any shiny areas, on many dressing tables it doubles as a blush brush.
Ideally, people should have one of each because the last thing most people want when they are getting ready is an accidental stripe of pink blush across a shiny T zone. A further bonus to having separate powder and blush brushes is that they are therefore being used less and last longer.
A blush brush (No. 16), though full like the powder brush, is a slightly different shape to its bigger sibling and should be baby soft. It is used to highlight cheekbones and T zones with blush or bronzer.
Many of us are inclined to be a little lazy when choosing how to apply our eye make-up, leaning towards the sponge applicator that perhaps came with shadow. Although there is nothing wrong with this, Orla believes using a brush is better.
“With eye-shadow brushes there are different types: an angle brush; a blender brush; a crease brush (No. 10). Each is a different shape. From my point of view, as someone who applies make-up to other people, I prefer using make-up brushes than sponge applicators. They can be used to get the V at the side of the eye and generally give a more professional finish,” she outlines.
The largest selection of brushes on the market are aimed for use on the eye area. Crease brushes blend colours lightly at the crease of the eyelid. They are used to apply a colour until the desired crease definition is achieved.
Brow brushes are stiff-bristled brushes aimed at creating shape and definition, while eyeliner brushes with their short hairs are used to create a smooth professional finish when lash lining.
Another perhaps overlooked brush is the lip brush. As well as the traditional brush used for applying pigment more precisely than a lipstick, a retractable lip brush is available from Smashbox cosmetics, which allows the user to load the brush up with colour and replace the cap. This allows them to top up on their colour without bringing their lipstick out with them, a welcome aid for the already brimming clutch.
Quality brushes may seem expensive but they can last a very long time with the right care and attention.
“It’s vital to wash the brushes regularly to combat bacteria for a start but washing them also removes excess make-up and keeps them fresh for longer. You can wash your brushes in warm water every two or three weeks.
“If you feel it’s necessary, you can use a tiny bit of washing-up liquid or shampoo. You can also get brush cleaner with Smashbox brushes, which you can use every time after you use them. This is especially useful for the eye-shadow brushes when you are changing colour with each use,” says Orla.
“Storing brushes correctly can help prolong their life too. I keep mine all together in a glass. You can use a toolbelt either and a lot of people keep them in make-up bags but I prefer to let them out in the air.
“I find I am always putting my hands in and out of my make-up bag, so they are being touched all the time,” Orla concludes.