Choose Your Tools

Synthetic vs. natural—which is better when it comes to brushes?

Bob Ross knows the importance of brushes, and you should, too. Just as the famous PBS painter used his to paint happy little trees, you can use makeup brushes to achieve a happy little flawless complexion.

As with most things makeup, you have a lot of options. Do you go with synthetic or natural hair, for starters? Both, says Kayleigh Wallace, international press officer for Japonesque. "Brushes can be for all skin types. It only matters what products you are applying that makes the difference."

Best for Liquids
A synthetic brush is your optimal choice for applying liquid, cream or gel products, such as a liquid foundation. If you're all about precision, try the Japonesque Professional Angled Foundation Brush. This small, flat brush has an angled tip that's especially helpful with those tricky areas near your eyes and around your nose. For those who like more of a full-coverage look, a brush like the Real Techniques Stippling Brush is perfect. It has a fuller, straight-across head that promises an airbrushed look when applying liquids.

Going Natural
Natural-hair brushes, says Wallace, "will apply your powders flawlessly. Natural hair traps the product on the natural splits better, allowing users to diffuse and pack on more product."

This is where the fun word kabuki comes in. By definition, this is a type of classical Japanese theater involving characters with elaborate makeup, but the word has since been adopted to describe thick, fluffy makeup brushes. The Tarte Glam-to-Go Kabuki Brush is made from natural goat hair (thanks, goats!) to help flawlessly apply powders and mineral makeups. Wallace also recommends the Japonesque Travel Luxury Kabuki Brush, also made of goat hair. It's short and wide, perfect for brushing on powders, bronzers and blushes for an even, all-over glow.

Keep It Clean
When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? Have you ever cleaned them? It's important to give them a gentle scrubbing every three to four weeks, says Wallace, unless you're a professional makeup artist, in which case they should be cleaned before every use. You can simply run them under cold water and use a few drops of shampoo to remove buildup, or employ the help of a product like ULTA Professional Brush & Sponge Cleaner, which helps dissolve makeup and disinfect the bristles. Then, simply lay the brushes flat to dry.