BRUSH BASICS

The only four you need: 

  1. Concealer brush A good one has firm, tapered bristles, making it easy to apply concealer in hard-to-reach areas such as the inner corner of your eye and along the lash line. Use this brush to spot-apply cover-up on blemishes and scars. 2. Blush brush If your blush compact comes with a brush, toss it in the garbage. It’s too short and narrow and will give you only streaky blotches of color. The wide, rounded shape and angled sides of a good brush apply the perfect amount of powder blush on the apples of cheeks, giving you a seamless and natural-looking flush.
  2. Eye shadow brush The small, fluffy bristles of this brush pick up just the right amount of eye shadow for your lid. 4. Eyeliner brush Look for a thin, flat brush with straight or slightly rounded bristles. This is the easiest way to draw a line that’s just right—not too thick or thin. Use it dry with eye shadow, or damp for a longer-lasting, more-defined line. More from Prevention: Your Spring Hair Revival[pagebreak] BRUSH UPKEEPWith proper care, a set of great brushes can last a lifetime:

Clean brushes regularly, at least every 3 to 5 months (depending on use). Use a gentle soap or baby shampoo to remove makeup residue. Dip the tip of the brush head in lukewarm water. Squeeze a small amount of cleanser onto your palm, then wipe the wet brush over your hand to pick it up. Gently massage soap through the bristles. To rinse, swirl the brush tip in water. Pat the bristles dry with a towel, and shape as needed. Lay the brush over a counter edge to finish drying (check out this demo of how to clean makeup brushes.)

 

FINGERS, SPONGES, PUFFS

Which to use when:  Fingers Before applying concealer, rub some around in the palm of your hand. This will warm it and make it go on smoothly and easily. You can also use your fingers to blend and work foundation into skin or to mix lip shades. Sponges Wedge sponges make it easy to apply foundation and blend cream makeup formulas such as concealer and blush. Powder puffs Use a puff to press loose powder onto your face; it’s the best way to make foundation and concealer last.   More from Prevention: Look Younger Instantly With This Trick