The Mineral Foundation Brush You Need

To be successful, you need the right tools for the job. When it comes to makeup, it’s no different. Having well-made cosmetic brushes in your toolkit can make the difference between looking flawless and wishing you’d just stayed home.

 

Why We Love the Kabuki Brush

 

Our number one choice for applying mineral foundation is the kabuki brush. This brush features a short handle that’s easy to hold and a dense set of ultra-soft bristles. In most cases, kabuki brushes are slightly rounded, earning them the nickname “mushroom brush.” They can also be flat, however.

 

Kabuki brushes originated in Japanese theater; people used them to apply fine rice powder over an actor’s entire face. The design helped them achieve even, dense foundation coverage that made for a bold appearance on stage. Traditionally, kabuki brushes were made of goat or horse hair. In fact, today most commercial brushes continue to be made from animal hair. Now, only the most innovative and cruelty-free cosmetic companies offer vegan cosmetic brushes.

 

The Cruelty-Free Difference

 

Today’s brushes aren’t limited to natural (animal) hair – and that’s definitely a good thing. These makeup brushes are 100% vegan and some brands offer brushes made from super soft synthetic bristles called Taklon. This durable synthetic compound means no animals were harmed or used during the manufacturing process.

 

The benefits of synthetic bristle cosmetic brushes go beyond than that, however. Natural hairs soak up mineral foundation quickly and don’t release it as evenly as their synthetic vegan mineral foundation brush counterparts.

 

Natural hair cosmetic brushes also harbor bacteria more easily, which can be harmful to the health and stability of your skin. The best remedy is washing them frequently, but natural brushes are also less durable, meaning every wash shortens the lifespan of your brush. Synthetic bristles should withstand years of use and washing, so your brush investment will go much further.

 

Using Your Kabuki Brush

 

For mineral foundation, it’s easy to use a kabuki brush. Start by pouring some of your powder into the lid of the container. We suggest you start with a thumnail size amount of mineral foundation in the lid. Press the brush bristles into the mineral foundation powder gently and evenly. Swirl the kabuki brush in the lid until you have picked up all the mineral foundation powder into the kabuki brush bristles. Tap away the excess.

 

After that, it’s as simple as gently swirling the brush across your face in a buffing motion. We recommend starting at your jawline and working inwards in a circular, buffing motion. Begin building up layers of mineral foundation until you reach the desired amount of coverage, finish with a mineral setting powder, and you’re good to go.

 

Going Beyond Mineral Foundation

 

No brush comes close to the kabuki when it comes to mineral foundation application. It gives you the maximum control for building layers of gorgeous, luminous coverage. This brush isn’t just a one-trick pony, though. The kabuki brush goes beyond powder mineral foundation and proves itself again and again as a makeup bag necessity.

 

•    Smoothing fly-aways. Take a clean kabuki and spray it lightly with your favorite natural hairspray. The dense bristles will catch the liquid without soaking it in. Brush it softly over any area with loose hairs and they’ll be swept into submission in no time.

 

•    Lightning-fast application of liquid foundation. Need to get ready in a hurry? Your kabuki can come in handy with liquid makeup, too. Simply grasp the brush by the base of the bristles and squeeze to spread it out to maximum size. Add a little bit of your favorite liquid makeup and you can have your whole face covered in just a couple of passes.

 

•    Easy contouring. Thanks to the rounded shape and wide set of bristles, kabuki brushes are fantastic for contouring. You can easily apply your powder and blend it out in one simple step.