beauty addict

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Top hairstylists, makeup artists, and beauty gurus answer your questions.

Q: How do I use a foundation brush, and what are the advantages to using one, as opposed to my fingers or a sponge?

Foundation brushes are great for blending liquid foundation and tinted moisturizers evenly into the skin. Unlike fingers, which can tend to lay the foundation on the skin’s surface, or sponges, which often absorb the formula, brushes help the product adhere to the skin without absorption (especially where you’re dry or flaky). They also offer more precision and, ultimately, can produce a more flawless-looking finish.

After applying your moisturizer, dip the brush into a small amount of foundation or tinted moisturizer, then sweep the coated brush along the face, releasing the product and blending the formula evenly into the skin. Use long, rhythmic strokes with light pressure on the larger areas (the sides of the face, cheeks, bridge of the nose, and forehead) and shorter, quicker stokes for smaller and harder-to-reach areas (the nasal area, around the mouth and chin). Don’t forget to blend the product out toward the edges of your face until it disappears. And to avoid excessive blending at the hairline and jawline, be sure to use a foundation that matches your skin tone exactly.

Quality brushes are just as important as quality formulas—together, they’ll help you to achieve the best result. I really like synthetic brushes because they pick up fluid formulas exceptionally well, glide easily over the skin, and are easy to keep clean. I’ve found some of my best brushes at local art-supply stores, but department stores and online retailers also offer good selections. For peak performance, be sure to wash your brush (or give it a great rinse) after each use.

After a five-year tenure as product developer, makeup artist, and spokesperson for Bobbi Brown’s global markets, Jessica Liebeskind founded her own beauty consultancy in 2005. Her clients have since included More, Redbook, Self, Shop Etc., Real Simple, and O!, and she currently serves as beauty correspondent for Fox News’s iMag, an Internet lifestyle magazine.

Photo credit: Kateryna Govorushchenko

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