Welcome to the second part of this Brushes vs Sponges Smackdown!
Haha, ok let's be more serious here.
To actually go into detail with all the different types of brushes would make for a VERY long note.
So I'll be sharing my views and opinions of the many many brushes categorized into smaller segments.
Of course, a comparison to the sponge equivalents will be added.
This one is dedicated to FACE brushes and sponges.
This might get a lil messy, but I'll try my best to make it flow.
For reference sake, I will be writing each section according to the BRUSHES, which are numbered, and also list the Sponge equivalents for that brush, which will be lettered.
Confused yet?
Haha, each type of brush or sponge will get a brief description of the tool in question, just so we all can follow what the hell I'm talking about.
Let's get started, first I'm going to list the types of brushes and sponges we will go through in this note.
Just so I don't forget anything later on... I'm really scatterbrained you see...
Brushes:
- Foundation Brush
- Stippling Brush
- Kabuki Brush
- Powder Brush
- Angled Blush Brush
- Blush Brush
** There are many many more, but these are what I'll be focusing on right now.
IF you need help with other kinds of brushes, feel free to drop me a message!
Sponges:
- Disposable Wedges
- Foundation Pad Sponges
- Velour Puffs
** I have no experience with the Beauty Blender, so I'm not going through it.
Please note that these sponges are largely used for Foundation, Powder and perhaps Concealing.
They are not suitable for blush or contour.
1. Foundation Brush
A foundation brush refers to the brush that has a flat ferule, kinda shaped like a huge flat shader eyeshadow brush.
It is usually fairly densely packed with synthetic bristles, making it good for use with creams and liquid products as it absorbs lesser product.
Pros:
- Good for liquid or cream products
- Large brush head makes application time shorter
- Especially ideal for use with face paints and clown white if you need to cover large areas.
- Fairly easy to use, just like a paintbrush
Cons:
- Not for powder products
- High likely to leave streaks in your foundation, especially if your product is not very pigmented
- Difficult to blend things with
Method of Application:
1. Either pick up product directly onto the brush OR dot product onto face with fingers
2. Start brushing the product on face from the center outwards (i.e: center of forehead to the hairline; nose to the cheeks...etc)
3. Repeat until you like the result.
Sponge Equivalents (See Below)
(a) Disposable Wedges
2. Stippling Brush
A stippling brush typically has 2 layers of bristles, usually shorter black and longer white ones.
Densely packed shorter natural hair bristles, with longer more sparsely distributed synthetic bristles.
Pros:
- Good for liquids and cream products
- Gives an airbrushed look if applied correctly
- Builds up coverage easily
Cons:
- Too sparsely packed for powder products
- Technique is more time consuming
Method of Application:
1. Spot product onto your face OR lightly dip the SYNTHETIC bristles into product
2. DAB the brush lightly all over the face (hence the name, Stippling brush)
3. If there's any area which doesn't seem to blend well enough, lightly swirl the brush over it, but stippling should be the main mode of action
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
(a) Disposable Wedges
3. Kabuki Brush
A Kabuki brush is generally an extremely short handled brush, densely packed with short to medium length natural bristles, forming a flat top or domed brush shape.
Pros:
- Ideal for powder products
- Easy to use
- Fairly quick application
- IF used with a good coverage powder fondation (e.g.: MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation) can give a flawless matte finish
Cons:
- Can look cakey if too much foundation is applied (minimize by using a makeup setting spray!)
- Build up of product may emphasize dry spots and eczema
- Bit difficult to get used to the short handle
Method of Application:
1. Hold the stubby handle of thebrush with ALL 5 fingers
2. Swirl the brush into your powder compact
3. Tap off the excess (if your powder compact gives a lot of fallout, if not... skip)
4. Place the brush on face and swirl the brush over your face to buff the foundation onto your face
5. Repeat to cover all your face.
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
(a) Disposable Wedges
(b) Foundation Pads
4. Powder Brush
A powder brush looks like the older brother of a blush brush, usually with a round ferule.
It can be medium to densely packed with medium to long natural bristles.
The powder brush in the image provided looks pretty small compared to the kabuki brush, but compare it to the blush brush!
Pros:
- Good for lightweight powders (e.g.: Loose powders)
Cons:
- Not for liquid or cream products
- Not ideal to apply powder foundation
Method of Application:
1. Tap out loose powder into the cap of the bottle
2. Dip the brush into the cap
3. Lightly press the product onto your face OR brush lightly onto the face (pressing is better though!)
4. Repeat as necessary.
5. Use the brush to brush off the excess powder off your face
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
(c) Velour Puffs
5. Angled Blush Brush
An angled blush brush is basically a blush brush where the bristles are arranged into a sloped shape
Pros:
- Good for powder blush, bronzer or contour
- Synthetic bristle brushes can be used with liquid or cream products
- Easy to 'carve' out the contours with the angled brush
Cons:
- None especially?
** The method of application depends on what you are going to use it for...
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
-Nil-
6. Blush Brush
An blush brush is a small brush which can have a flat or round ferule, usually not densely packed.
Pros:
- Can apply powder blush, bronzer or contour
- Synthetic bristle brushes can be used with liquid or cream products
Cons:
- Not as easy to use as an angled brush
** The method of application depends on what you are going to use it for...
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
-Nil-
(a) Disposable Wedges
Triangular latex sponges.
Pros:
- Most versatile tool, can be used for powder, liquid and cream products
- Soft texture makes it comfortable and easy to blend products
Cons:
- Absorb a lot of product
- Can get costly if you use many pieces, since it is disposable
Tips for application:
1. Moisten the sponge and squeeze out the excess water for ease of blending
Brushes it can replace: (See Above)
1. Foundation Brushes
2. Stippling Brush
3. Kabuki Brush
(b) Foundation Pads
Usually circular or rectangular latex sponges that come with compacts
Pros:
- Good for powder foundation
- Do not need to replace very often (every 3-4 months)
Cons:
- Absorb a lot of product
- Flat shape makes it more difficult to hold than disposable wedge
- Need to wash the sponge at least every 2-3 weeks
Brushes it can replace: (See Above)
3. Kabuki Brush
(c) Velour Puffs
Usually circular sponges, lined with cloth like material, which is fluffy!
Pros:
- Good for lightweight powders
Cons:
- Absorb a lot of product
- Should be washed every 2-3 weeks
- Need gentle care
Brushes it can replace: (See Above)
4. Powder Brush
Velour puffs maybe included in SOME blush products, but they do not really have the ability to help in application
DISCLAIMER:
Brush and sponge equivalents listed here are not perfect equivalents. Specific brushes have their benefits over the sponge equivalent, but you can replace them.
Haha, ok let's be more serious here.
To actually go into detail with all the different types of brushes would make for a VERY long note.
So I'll be sharing my views and opinions of the many many brushes categorized into smaller segments.
Of course, a comparison to the sponge equivalents will be added.
This one is dedicated to FACE brushes and sponges.
This might get a lil messy, but I'll try my best to make it flow.
For reference sake, I will be writing each section according to the BRUSHES, which are numbered, and also list the Sponge equivalents for that brush, which will be lettered.
Confused yet?
Haha, each type of brush or sponge will get a brief description of the tool in question, just so we all can follow what the hell I'm talking about.
Let's get started, first I'm going to list the types of brushes and sponges we will go through in this note.
Just so I don't forget anything later on... I'm really scatterbrained you see...
Brushes:
- Foundation Brush
- Stippling Brush
- Kabuki Brush
- Powder Brush
- Angled Blush Brush
- Blush Brush
** There are many many more, but these are what I'll be focusing on right now.
IF you need help with other kinds of brushes, feel free to drop me a message!
Sponges:
- Disposable Wedges
- Foundation Pad Sponges
- Velour Puffs
** I have no experience with the Beauty Blender, so I'm not going through it.
Please note that these sponges are largely used for Foundation, Powder and perhaps Concealing.
They are not suitable for blush or contour.
1. Foundation Brush
A foundation brush refers to the brush that has a flat ferule, kinda shaped like a huge flat shader eyeshadow brush.
It is usually fairly densely packed with synthetic bristles, making it good for use with creams and liquid products as it absorbs lesser product.
Pros:
- Good for liquid or cream products
- Large brush head makes application time shorter
- Especially ideal for use with face paints and clown white if you need to cover large areas.
- Fairly easy to use, just like a paintbrush
Cons:
- Not for powder products
- High likely to leave streaks in your foundation, especially if your product is not very pigmented
- Difficult to blend things with
Method of Application:
1. Either pick up product directly onto the brush OR dot product onto face with fingers
2. Start brushing the product on face from the center outwards (i.e: center of forehead to the hairline; nose to the cheeks...etc)
3. Repeat until you like the result.
Sponge Equivalents (See Below)
(a) Disposable Wedges
2. Stippling Brush
A stippling brush typically has 2 layers of bristles, usually shorter black and longer white ones.
Densely packed shorter natural hair bristles, with longer more sparsely distributed synthetic bristles.
Pros:
- Good for liquids and cream products
- Gives an airbrushed look if applied correctly
- Builds up coverage easily
Cons:
- Too sparsely packed for powder products
- Technique is more time consuming
Method of Application:
1. Spot product onto your face OR lightly dip the SYNTHETIC bristles into product
2. DAB the brush lightly all over the face (hence the name, Stippling brush)
3. If there's any area which doesn't seem to blend well enough, lightly swirl the brush over it, but stippling should be the main mode of action
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
(a) Disposable Wedges
3. Kabuki Brush
A Kabuki brush is generally an extremely short handled brush, densely packed with short to medium length natural bristles, forming a flat top or domed brush shape.
Pros:
- Ideal for powder products
- Easy to use
- Fairly quick application
- IF used with a good coverage powder fondation (e.g.: MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation) can give a flawless matte finish
Cons:
- Can look cakey if too much foundation is applied (minimize by using a makeup setting spray!)
- Build up of product may emphasize dry spots and eczema
- Bit difficult to get used to the short handle
Method of Application:
1. Hold the stubby handle of thebrush with ALL 5 fingers
2. Swirl the brush into your powder compact
3. Tap off the excess (if your powder compact gives a lot of fallout, if not... skip)
4. Place the brush on face and swirl the brush over your face to buff the foundation onto your face
5. Repeat to cover all your face.
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
(a) Disposable Wedges
(b) Foundation Pads
4. Powder Brush
A powder brush looks like the older brother of a blush brush, usually with a round ferule.
It can be medium to densely packed with medium to long natural bristles.
The powder brush in the image provided looks pretty small compared to the kabuki brush, but compare it to the blush brush!
Pros:
- Good for lightweight powders (e.g.: Loose powders)
Cons:
- Not for liquid or cream products
- Not ideal to apply powder foundation
Method of Application:
1. Tap out loose powder into the cap of the bottle
2. Dip the brush into the cap
3. Lightly press the product onto your face OR brush lightly onto the face (pressing is better though!)
4. Repeat as necessary.
5. Use the brush to brush off the excess powder off your face
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
(c) Velour Puffs
5. Angled Blush Brush
An angled blush brush is basically a blush brush where the bristles are arranged into a sloped shape
Pros:
- Good for powder blush, bronzer or contour
- Synthetic bristle brushes can be used with liquid or cream products
- Easy to 'carve' out the contours with the angled brush
Cons:
- None especially?
** The method of application depends on what you are going to use it for...
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
-Nil-
6. Blush Brush
An blush brush is a small brush which can have a flat or round ferule, usually not densely packed.
Pros:
- Can apply powder blush, bronzer or contour
- Synthetic bristle brushes can be used with liquid or cream products
Cons:
- Not as easy to use as an angled brush
** The method of application depends on what you are going to use it for...
Sponge Equivalents: (See Below)
-Nil-
(a) Disposable Wedges
Triangular latex sponges.
Pros:
- Most versatile tool, can be used for powder, liquid and cream products
- Soft texture makes it comfortable and easy to blend products
Cons:
- Absorb a lot of product
- Can get costly if you use many pieces, since it is disposable
Tips for application:
1. Moisten the sponge and squeeze out the excess water for ease of blending
Brushes it can replace: (See Above)
1. Foundation Brushes
2. Stippling Brush
3. Kabuki Brush
(b) Foundation Pads
Usually circular or rectangular latex sponges that come with compacts
Pros:
- Good for powder foundation
- Do not need to replace very often (every 3-4 months)
Cons:
- Absorb a lot of product
- Flat shape makes it more difficult to hold than disposable wedge
- Need to wash the sponge at least every 2-3 weeks
Brushes it can replace: (See Above)
3. Kabuki Brush
(c) Velour Puffs
Usually circular sponges, lined with cloth like material, which is fluffy!
Pros:
- Good for lightweight powders
Cons:
- Absorb a lot of product
- Should be washed every 2-3 weeks
- Need gentle care
Brushes it can replace: (See Above)
4. Powder Brush
Velour puffs maybe included in SOME blush products, but they do not really have the ability to help in application
DISCLAIMER:
Brush and sponge equivalents listed here are not perfect equivalents. Specific brushes have their benefits over the sponge equivalent, but you can replace them.
