Why Professionals Brush Cosmetics But Maybe You Shouldn't

Taking a quick look at the biggest cosmetics stores, it's easy to find brushes made of synthetic hair or silicone... Are they good for applying makeup? Are they a new, more sustainable creation? Will they replace the facial roller? None of that, they are brushes specially developed to apply cosmetics, from the serum to the mask.

Beauty professionals are used to applying cosmetics with the help of a brush for hygienic reasons, however, the arrival of the coronavirus has caused this type of tool to jump from beauty salons to the backstage of fashion.

Although our hands have become that tool that we have to wash thoroughly, the hygiene measures of the covid era have led to something as common in a fashion week as spreading a moisturizing cream on the face of a model needs an intermediary. This is how the brushes, usually reserved for beauty salons, have slipped into the make-up artist's briefcase.

Each model, a brush. MAC Cosmetics senior national makeup artist, Fatima Thomas, told Allure that using brushes has become a necessity for makeup artists. The brush touches the product and then the model's face, there is no chance of contagion. An extra care associated with this new practice is that the hygiene of the brushes must be constant in the event that you get used to spreading serum, contour or cream with a brush.

Theory dictates that you should clean your brushes after each use, however, meeting those expectations is somewhat unusual when the brushes are only used by you and each morning you apply the same shadow to your eyelids. In the case of professional makeup artists, brush hygiene is unquestionable, whether it is about applying makeup or applying the primer with a silicone brush.

First there were the brushes to apply the masks. Some thicker or stickier formulas clumped on your fingers or were difficult to apply, not to mention spreading the mask across your forehead, ridding your hairline of goo. Silicone brushes began to become popular because, on the one hand, they prevented our fingers from touching the cosmetic, spoiling the formula, and on the other, they allowed the mask to be applied with the exact amount and reaching all areas. Among its benefits was also the savings because no product was left on the fingers, but everything you took from the bottle came directly to your skin.

Why professionals apply cosmetics with brush but maybe you shouldn't

In addition to silicone brushes, mascaras can also be applied with flat brushes, similar to those used to apply fluid foundations, but slightly shorter.

However, not only masks allow this application with a brush, serum, lip contour or even lip treatments have their specific brush. In addition to the word 'coronavirus', 2020 left us with a lot of free time at home to experiment with new treatments and turn our bathroom into a real spa, and what better idea than to apply all the cosmetics with care and patience with their respective brush. TikTok or Instagram are just a showcase for trendy beauty tools.

Brush or hand

Is it recommended? That would be the question to consider. Although applying some products with your hands can be a nuisance, professionals warn that after each use, each brush must be thoroughly washed and that it is likely -and more comfortable- to have correct hand hygiene than a complete set of brushes. . "If brushes are regularly cleaned with a true antiseptic, they may be cleaner than your hands," dermatologist Melanie Palm also explained to Allure.

By avoiding direct skin contact with the product, it is true that cosmetic brushes prevent the formula from spoiling, but there are other options to avoid this contamination. Many cosmetics include the pump format, with which, through pressure, a dose of product is released, without the need to touch its interior. An example of this type of format is the Cuape Brasil Essential Cream (€57.80), whose light formula pours the necessary amount of product and allows it to be mixed with other cosmetics on its surface, without contaminating the cream.

Product savings will also depend on the type of brush, but one advantage of working with your hands is that, when in contact with your fingers, the cosmetic formulas heat up slightly, which improves their adherence to the skin. It is also true that with your fingers you can see in which areas there is more product or in which you need to make a greater impact. For makeup artists or beauty professionals, brushes are a resource with which to reduce contact with the client, a mandatory measure in times of covid, however, everyone finds it more comfortable and sensory to do it directly with their hands, always make it an option.

Although on a day-to-day basis using a string of brushes can take up a lot of time, an interesting option is to reserve the home mini-spa for those two days a week when you have a mask or intensive care. The Real Techniques Prep + Prime Brush Set (€22.99), with a preparation brush to apply the moisturizer, serum or mask, a facial brush, an eye reviver with an aluminum sphere to apply the eye contour and the exfoliating brush lipstick is the perfect kit for that spa day.

The best brush to start this journey through the world of cosmetic tools is undoubtedly the silicone brush. The It's Magical double brush from You Are The Princess (€3.99) with a silicone spatula on one side and synthetic fibers is perfect for applying and spreading, and it's also that pretty.