Makeup Brush vs. Beauty Blender: Here's What to Use When Applying Foundation

Foundation application can go one of two ways: when done fairly well, expect flawlessly airbrushed, spotless skin. Else, brace yourself; patchiness and cakiness ahead. When applied poorly, foundation has the potential to accentuate your blemishes—yes, the ones you were trying to conceal in the very first place—landing you right in the middle of a catch-22 sorta situation.

The age-old debate lives on: should one use a beauty blender or a makeup brush to apply foundation? While the decision lies with you, making the correct choice is harder than you can anticipate. In other words, your selection must be taken bearing in mind your skin type and texture, as well as the type of formula you're using; powder, liquid, or cream-based. 

Beauty Blender: Pros and Cons

"If you're using a liquid foundation and are looking for light coverage, a beauty blender might be better for quick application and seamless blending. They're ideal for oily and combination skin types and can absorb excess moisture during the blending process. For those of you who possess dry skin, use a damp beauty blender to retain your skin's moisture," suggests Neha Singh, Beauty Expert, Etude House. 

On the flip side, beauty blenders absorb way too much product. "Some products may fail to work coherently with blenders. Plus, they require the right amount of dampening—in case too dense, they can leave marks on your skin. The probability of blenders harbouring bacteria? HIGH. So, it has its fair share of cons as well," explains Sneha Singh, Head of Product Development, Faces Canada. 

Makeup Brush: Pros and Cons 

According to Neha, a makeup brush should come into play when you're dealing with a high coverage foundation that needs to glide on the skin. "Since a makeup brush does not absorb too much product, it works best to achieve high coverage finish. The key is to blend it well so that we don’t see any brush strokes. Brushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes; a flat foundation brush deposits the product well and helps with coverage in specific areas. A fluffy brush—such as a duo fibre brush or round tapered brush—helps spread and blend the foundation evenly across your skin," she adds. 

Sneha puts forth, "Through the concentrated application of foundation via a brush, you can avoid streaks or patches of product on the skin. In addition, makeup brushes work with a diverse range of formulas, including liquid, powder and cream-based foundations. For instance, stippling brushes can be used with all three formulas." That said, brushes, too, require to be cleaned at least twice a week to avoid visibility of streaks on the face.

In conclusion, make an informed decision based on the type of formula you're using, as well as the kind of coverage you're seeking.