The 6 Best Makeup Brushes (and How to Use Them)

Anyone can be a makeup artist with the right tools in their kit. To apply your products like a pro, without caking, creasing or streaking, it’s a good idea to invest in makeup brushes. Different types of makeup brushes will help you to apply your products evenly and you will walk out the door looking sleek and polished.

Our experts are excited to introduce you to our NEW range of vegan makeup brushes, and explain how to use 6 of the key brushes in the range.

The INIKA difference

At INIKA, we’re committed to reducing our footprint on the planet and creating (high performance) feel-good makeup. Our vegan brushes are no exception, and they stand out for a few reasons. They’re professional-grade and designed to work with a range of textures for the most precise finish, from powders to creams and liquids.

The bristles are made with high-quality vegan fibres, which are soft, thick and long-lasting. They’re also gentler, unlike other brushes which can scratch, irritate and dry out the skin. The handles are made from biodegradable PLA material, sourced from raw corn and cassava through a natural fermentation process. The material is eco-friendly, and decomposes without a trace.

Finally, each brush comes with a pouch that’s crafted from sustainable paper. Most plastics don’t break down, which is why we’re dedicated to using sustainable beauty packaging for all of our products.

Meet 6 of our new makeup brushes

For liquid foundations: A Foundation Brush

While you can use your fingers or a sponge to apply foundation, you’ll get the most flawless finish with a brush. The Foundation Brush features soft, flat bristles that can easily pick up liquid foundation and buff it onto the skin. It’s slightly tapered on the sides to get to those hard-to-reach areas of your face, like around the nose. To build up your coverage, try applying your foundation in layers until you’re happy with the result.

How to use a Foundation Brush:

1. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of liquid foundation onto the back of your hand, then press the Foundation Brush into the product until it’s coated.
2. Starting with your cheeks and T-zone, apply the foundation using circular motions, blending out as you go. This will keep your foundation smooth and even, and prevent makeup lines along your jaw and hairline.
3. Buff the foundation evenly over your face, using wide, circular motions and blending as you go. The key with this brush is not to press down on your skin too hard — a light touch will do the trick!

For powder foundation: A Kabuki Brush

Thanks to their short, dense and firm bristles, kabuki brushes are perfect for applying powder foundation with light-to-full coverage. Since these brushes are so dense, they’re suitable for superfine powders as well as mineral foundations. We have two brushes to choose from. The Kabuki Brush is the traditional shape, with tapered bristles, while the Flat Top Kabuki Brush features flat bristles — which is great for heavier foundation formulas.

How to use a Kabuki Brush:

1. Tap a small amount of powder foundation into the lid.
2. Swirl your brush in the product, making sure the powder is distributed evenly.
3. Work the foundation into your face using circular motions, applying more as needed. Try to avoid dabbing or buffing the brush, as that may leave you with streaks.

For baked powders: A Sculptor Brush

If you use baked bronzers, blushes and highlighters, the Sculptor Brush is a great one to add to your collection. The best contour brush, it has a curved head and dense bristles, making it ideal for defining the cheekbones, under the chin and around the forehead. If you’re new to contouring, the slanted bristles will help you to apply your powders clearly and precisely, without streaks or harsh makeup lines.

How to use a Sculptor brush:

1. Gently press the longest part of the brush into your product, and tap it on your hand to get rid of excess powder.
2. Start with the cheekbones. Position your brush at the top of your ear so that it’s hugging your skin. Tap it downwards until you reach the bottom of your cheeks, and continue gliding back and forth until the powder has been blended into your skin. This movement will emphasise your natural contours and add the definition we all know and love.
3. Grab more product, then tap the brush across your hairline and under your jawline for a chiseled finish.

For loose powders: A Powder Brush

Prefer loose bronzers, blushes and highlighters? Reach for the Powder Brush, a dome-shaped brush with large, fluffy bristles that’s best for dusting on loose powders. The curved bristles make it easy to buff and blend powder formulas without caking or creasing. Plus, the long handle is perfect for distributing product adding definitions.

How to use a Powder Brush:

1. Dip the brush into your powder product.
2. Tap the bottom of the brush on a hard service so the powder coats the entire brush.
3. Using sweeping motions, apply your product from the cheek upwards until the colour is blended.

For loose mineral eyeshadows: A Shadow Brush

To make the most of your richly pigmented eyeshadow, use the Shadow Brush. It features fine, dense and slightly rounded bristles to pick up loose eyeshadow and evenly apply it to the lids. You can use the best eyeshadow blending brush with cream and powder formulas, too!

How to use an Eyeshadow Brush:

1. If you’re using a metallic shadow, dampen your brush first. If not, move to step 2.
2. Press the flat side of the brush into the eyeshadow pan.
3. Lightly swipe the shadow across your eyelids, working from the inner to the outer corners.
4. Blend the shadow and even out creases.

For concealers: A Blending Brush

Concealer is a must-have in any makeup kit — and so is the Blending Brush. This brush has a tapered head and soft, fine and dense bristles. Thanks to its design, it’s great for getting into all the nooks and crannies of your face and disguising dark circles, blemishes and redness. You could even use it to apply loose eyeshadow and highlighter under the brow bone.

How to use a Blending Brush:

1. Dip the brush into your concealer.
2. Dab the brush on your desired area, and then pat in the product. By patting rather than swiping, the concealer will melt into your skin and won’t cake or settle into fine lines later on.

Browse the best vegan makeup brushes

With so many brushes on the market, it can be confusing to know which ones to add to your makeup bag. Hopefully, this guide helped you to learn the difference between makeup brush types, and how to use them.

Now that you have the know-how, it's time to experiment with brushes on your own. Shop our range of cruelty-free makeup brushes.