What’s your go-to tool for applying your foundation? What makes it so amazing?
109 (I use liquid foundation), because it gives me a beautiful finish without streaks!
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I have always used liquid foundation and recently I have been using a stippling brush from MAC to apply it. I would love to try a cream foundation (CoverFX) but for now im sticking with liquid.
Cinema Secrets makes a great cream foundation. Holly Madison uses it!
I normally just use my essence of beauty flat foundation brush (I use liquid too) and then the Sigma duo fiber brush to buff them and remove streaks. 😀
I love the beauty blender!!! 🙂
Oh yeah… The egg shaped sponge. Why havent I tried that?
Another BeautyBlender fan here! Anything else and I get streaks :(.
I totally agree with you, I’ve used my fingers, brushes, etc. but that works the best on my skin.
I’m a beauty blender fan myself, keeps streaks and blotches away.
#187. My favorite brush ever. Sometimes #188 for the areas near the hairline and nose. It’s just easier.
I use my fingers all the time. Definitely my go to
Me too 🙂
MAC’s 187 brush for sure. I just learned the stippling technique and I love it.
Ooh must try this
I currently use a pink handled foundation brush from coastal scents but I think it’s time to splurge for the MAC one. I usually apply with the coastal scents brush and then blend it in with a non latex makeup sponge. Or buff it in using a flat top buffer brush from coastal scents.
it really depends on what i’m using that day. if i’m rushing and only using mac msfn, then i’ll spritz my mac kabuki brush with fix+ and use that. if i’m wearing tinted moisturizer, i’ll use my mac 131. if i’m going to wear a liquid foundation, then i use my sephora platinum #55 brush.
On myself it’s ALWAYS my hands 🙂 On other people I’d probably poke them in the eyes with my fingers and really, would YOU someone wiping their hands on your face? MAC 109 brush – Or the 130 🙂
hands. I’m uberpicky and fingertips I can get coverage so precisely and apply in little circles so it looks like flawless skin. it also warms the foundation to spread easier.
My 109 sheds like crazy 🙁
Right now I am using a stippler and elf powder brush
Planning to purchase Sigma’s flat top kabuki
It really depends on the foundation’s consistency and how much time I have. I always notice that with brushes you get a thicker application and coverage (takes more time too).
With NARS sheer glow – I use a sponge.
With MUFE HD & Shiseido Lifting Foundation, I’ll use a stippling brush and then smooth over with my clean fingers to warm it into my skin.
I use my fingers (and sheerer coverage) for quick application for the Shiseido Lifting foundation (it’s too thick consistency for sponge).
Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Brush!!! it’s my HG foundation brush. I tried mac’s 109 and it sheds HORRIBLY. And I also tried their 187, and it shed a little and it wasn’t that great coverage when i used it.
I love this one because it’s only 14.99, and it buffs in full coverage, liquid foundation so nicely ! I heard Jessica Harlow rave about it on a tutorial and after I tried it, i see why she loves it.
i use sonia kashuk flat top blusher brush too! best ever. i use it with revlon colorstay foundation. stipple and swirl. i just ordered the sigma f80 and f82 brush and can’t wait to try them!
Clean Fingers, Always! I use Nars Sheer Glow and MUFE Matte Velvet +
Hakuhodo powder brush M for my powder foundation, and beauty blender for my liquid foundation.
The Smashbox No. 19 Face and Body brush – it buffs in my mineral foundation to a lovely, flawless and effortless finish.
I like 187 for applying LF.
Fingertips! I think you use less because it blends better and looks more natural. Brushes are great if you want a lot of coverage though!
I tend to switch brushes or techniques but find myself going back to the 187 time and again. I forgot to pack it to Vegas just this week though and used my kabuki (don’t recall the MAC number) and liked it too.
I use the ELF Powder Brush for my liquid foundation, (it has synthetic bristles). I love it about a billion times more than my MAC 187, oh yeah, and it’s $3.
i use my handy dandy fingers 🙂 i feel like brushes leave streaks. blending with your fingers helps with adjusting coverage better and the foundation just melts with the skin.
I use latex wedge sponges. I dispose of them after each use so it helps with breakouts! I find that using these makes it easier to build coverage of liquid foundations than a brush. Stippling / skunk brushes never impressed me… didn’t help to cover any acne scars or redness…
I use my MAC 130 brush with my Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation. It gives me a great finish and amazing coverage, so I really like it. Otherwise I also use my fingers if I just want some sheer coverage.
The Beautyblender is my HG for foundation!
I use a regular liquid foundation brush from ecotools.. Doesn’t streak unless i wet the brush before use.
Then i just use a beauty sponge so it gets rid of the streaks.
I’ve tried a duo fibre/ stippling brush but I have dry skin, and even when I moisturize, it picks up on my dry patches and looks extremely cakey.
I had the same problem with the duo fibre brush, but then I started using this technique and it works great!
http://www.youtube.com/user/gossmakeupartist#p/u/6/63NCmTbHj9g
I use the 188 and Fix + 🙂 Good luck!
I use the Sephora professional platinum foundation brush #47 in circular motions and find it works great even with my fast drying MAC Longwear concealer. I definitely recommend it.
MAC 182 I use a powder foundation. It’s soooooo soft I love it 🙂
Fingers! :DDD
my fingers, I have tried most brushes, sponges (great to sheer out cream foundations) but nothing gives my dry skin a so perfect look like when I use my fingers to apply foundation. no flakiness no, caking just great skin!
Lately I’ve been using my fingers, but for some foundations I use disposable sponge wedges.
I usually use liquid foundation and I either apply it directly with my hands (when I’m doing my own makeup, never apply foundation with hands on clients!!) or with either 187 MAC brush or a 190 MAC brush depending on the coverage i’m going for, after that I just just my hands to work it in the skin.
MAC 187… but I’d love to try the 109!
Hands down, the 109. It’s so fast! I don’t have to worry about smoothing out streaks or stippling, and I can put my whole face on in 5 minutes when I use it.
I use e.l.f. Studio Powder Brush. I’ve used my fingers and I’ve used sponges in the past with my liquid foundation. The elf brush gives me light and complete coverage to hide the discoloration I have on both sides of my nose. I love it.
It’s all about the Mac 187 for me! Gives a beautiful airbrushed streakless finish! xx
Mac 187. I find stippling gives the airbrushed effect 🙂
Fingertips or a damp sponge works for me.
I first use mz hands to spread the foundation out, and then I buff it with either a MAC 182 or my Hakuhodo G527.
I love the Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush for applying Liquid foundation. It is so soft but dense enough where I don’t have to apply much pressure to make sure it’s all blended in. For Christmas I got the Professional and the Complete kit by Sigma so I have been playing around with the different brushes so I may have a new favorite soon!
im going to order that brush from coastal scents soon as ive heard so many good things about that brush. i cant wait!
Sigma round top kabuki for my powder foundation.
My fingers. I’m not skilled in the art of brush application.
airbrush- expensive as hell but i was a very lucky girl on my birthday this year. ill never go back to liquid, its just not the same
What brush would you recommend for powder foundation?
I hate sponges! I’m used to using liquid foundation with my foundation brush and sponges but now I’m a powder girl and I need a recommendation!
The 189 for medium coverage, 134 for just dusting it out.
Beauty blender sponge. Gives me an airbrushed looked and it works with most foundations.
I love duo-fiber brushes 🙂 I’ve tried the F80 from sigma & find it a hassle to use because it is just SO dense! I have a duo-fiber brush from bed bath & beyond that I love!
The elf flat top brush is a really affordable option but I just got the 188 . I can’t wait to try it out!
I use my Cover FX Foundation brush to stipple and buff my liquid foundation, then I spray my Sephora Platinum #55 with either Dew Me or MAC + and buff off any excess. I have a tendency to over apply right between my eyebrows and it looks just disgusting. I have always been heavy handed, and my make up can sometimes look drag queenesque. I would get yelled at by my kindergarten teacher for smashing the markers with my heavy hands….. That was 25 yrs ago. =)
I love my not-so-pricey Ecotools foundation brush!
sephora flathead professionals contour brush….i use it to buff on foundation, love it!
It’s got to be the Beautyblender, for liquid and mineral foundation.
Natural 18 Goat brush by Shu Uemura. My foundation doesn’t streak and it’s very easy to control how much coverage I need, and it has the final airbrushed effect if I use it in a stippling motion.
I use the 187 and stipple my studio sculpt all over and then blend out using circular movements until it is all blended and flawless. Unfortunately it doesn’t work well around my nose due to it’s size so I have to use my fingers there – just drag the damp foundation from where it is to blend it in and cover pores. I like this brush because it gives a lightweight finish and no streaks as long as I blend it in properly. I’d like to try the 190 for more accuracy to cover more problem areas and the 188 to fit around my nose.
My fav is the Sigma 187 or the Sephora dupe. I want to try the Sigma F80. I received some beauty blenders for Christmas but haven’t tried them. I use MUFE Mat Velvet +…tried using my fingers recently in a hurry, very disappointed w/the results.
My fingers! 🙂
I use the stiplingbrush from MAC 187 or a flatbrush from sigma. If i didn;t clean my stipling brush I use the flatfoundationbrush. haha LOL
Sephora #55 is my go to.
187! duo fiber brushes are the best
The woman at the YSL counter recommended using a sponge and I will never use anything else. Not only is it fool proof, but it gives me the perfect sheer veil of coverage that looks like my skin, just better.
Such a beautiful collection and especially designed for people of my skintone. I am so excited. There are so many looks I could do with this collection. The first one I will do is use the gulabi lipstick and the beautiful quad to create a wonderful golden brown eye. Oh so exciting!!
I saw you use your MAC 109 and I bought it and I loved the finish! So that is my go-to foundation brush.
I’ve always used a sponge; I almost always use liquid foundations. I prefer natural sponges, but it’s been years since I’ve been able to find a natural sponge for applying makeup with (as opposed to those big, coarse sponges used for bathing).
Question: Christine, can you or someone on your team tell me where I can buy a small, natural sponge suitable for applying foundation makeup (not a coarse sponge)? You’d make my day.
Try the beautyblender or Sonia Kashuk’s beauty sponge (which is a dupe for the beautyblender)!