What Makeup Brushes Do You Actually Need? A Makeup Artist's Honest Guide to Simplifying Your Makeup Bag
"Makeup changes. Skin changes. Trends change. What stays consistent is you."
Let's be honest...Walking into a beauty shop or scrolling online for makeup brushes can feel completely overwhelming. There are foundation brushes, stippling brushes, kabuki brushes, contour brushes, powder brushes, blending brushes, shader brushes... and somehow they all promise to completely transform your makeup.
It's enough to make anyone wonder...
"Do I really need all of these?"
The short answer? No.
As a professional makeup artist and educator, one of the biggest misconceptions I see is that better makeup comes from owning more brushes.
It doesn't. Beautiful makeup comes from understanding what each brush does and finding the tools that work for you. Whether you're just starting to wear makeup, refreshing your routine after becoming a mum, or simply looking to make your makeup bag a little less chaotic, my goal is always the same: To help you feel confident in your own skin. Not overwhelmed.
Can We All Agree Makeup Has Become a Little Complicated?
I absolutely love the beauty industry. It's creative, exciting and constantly evolving.
But if I'm being honest... I think we've reached a point where women are almost being made to feel like they need a new brush for every single product.
One for cream bronzer.
One for powder bronzer.
One for cream blush.
One for powder blush.
One for under-eye powder.
One for finishing powder...
You get the idea.
As makeup artists, we absolutely love having every shape and size of brush imaginable.
When you're working on different clients all day, using multiple colours and working to a time schedule, having lots of brushes makes perfect sense.
But for your own makeup bag?
I honestly think keeping things simple is one of the best things you can do.
The fewer brushes you own, the quicker you'll learn exactly what each one does.
And when makeup feels simpler...It becomes much more enjoyable.
Let's Bust a Myth
One of the biggest beauty myths I'd love to challenge is this:
"The more brushes you own, the better your makeup will look."
I couldn't disagree more.
Confidence doesn't come from owning thirty brushes.
It comes from knowing how to use eight really well.
That's one of the biggest reasons I started teaching makeup masterclasses. I wasn't interested in teaching women how to buy more. I wanted to help them understand what they already had, simplify their routine and leave feeling excited to do their own makeup again because makeup should never feel intimidating...It should feel empowering.
If I Were Building a Makeup Kit from Scratch...
If someone came to me tomorrow with no brushes and asked where to start, this is exactly what I'd recommend you needed in your makeup bag.
Face Brushes
A Stippling Foundation Brush
If I could only choose one foundation brush, this would probably be it.
I love using a stippling brush because it blends foundation beautifully into the skin without leaving harsh lines. Rather than dragging product around the face, use soft circular motions or gentle stippling movements to create a natural, skin-like finish.
A Flat Foundation Brush
This one often surprises people but I don't actually use this for blending. I use it for applying product. If you don't enjoy using your fingers to apply foundation, a flat foundation brush gives you much more control before you go in with your stippling brush to blend everything seamlessly.
Think of one brush for application & one brush for perfecting/blendidng
A Double-Ended Concealer Brush
I absolutely love a double-ended concealer brush. One end is usually flatter and denser, making it perfect for placing concealer exactly where you want it, with the softer, fluffier end then blends everything beautifully into the skin.
Again...One tool...Two jobs. I'm always looking for ways to simplify a makeup routine.
A Contour Brush
Whether you're contouring, bronzing or adding a little warmth back into your face, a soft angled contour brush gives you much more control than using a huge fluffy brush.
The key is subtlety (remember less is ALWAYS more!). My philosophy has always been to enhance your natural beauty, never cover it up.
A Large Fluffy Brush
This is probably the hardest working brush in my makeup bag.
You can use it for powder.Bronzer.Blush. Even a little finishing powder if needed.
One versatile brush is far more useful than three separate ones if you're doing your own makeup - sometimes when I'm really in a rush I can do my whole face with just this brush.
Don't Forget a Beauty Sponge
A beauty sponge is brilliant for pressing foundation or concealer into the skin and creating that fresh, natural finish as well as getting rid of those peskie creases we all roll our eyes at...One little tip...
Always dampen your sponge before using it.
A dry sponge absorbs far more of your product. A damp sponge keeps your makeup sitting on your skin instead of disappearing into the sponge.
It sounds like such a small thing, but it makes a huge difference.
Jess' Pro Tip
A damp beauty sponge should feel damp...not wet.
After running it under the tap, squeeze out as much water as you can (I usually wrap mine in a towel and give it one final squeeze). If it's dripping, it's too wet and will dilute your foundation.
My Essential Eye Brushes
When it comes to eye makeup, you really don't need a huge collection either.
These are the brushes I reach for time and time again, that I would suggest you need to feel confident with your makeup.
A Double-Ended Brow Brush and Spoolie
This is one of those brushes that quietly does lots of jobs. The spoolie keeps brows soft and tidy. The angled brush is perfect for filling brows but also works beautifully for eyeliner. Again...One brush...Multiple uses.
A Large Fluffy Blending Brush
If you're going to invest in one eye brush, make it this one.Blending is what creates soft, effortless eye makeup. It's far more important than owning ten different eyeshadow colours, this is the brush you'll go back to time and time again.
A Smaller Fluffy Brush
Perfect for adding a little more definition through the crease without losing that beautifully blended finish.
A Small Dense Shader Brush
This is the brush that packs eyeshadow exactly where you want it. Ideal for the lid, the lash line or adding depth to the outer corner of the eye and creating a slightly smokey eye look. Between these three eye brushes, you can create everything from a quick everyday look to full evening makeup.
There Is No Right Way
One of my favourite things about teaching makeup is seeing how differently everyone applies it I use my fingers for skincare and primer. Then I'll usually switch to brushes for the rest of my makeup.
My mum? She uses her fingers for almost everything except her eye makeup.
Some women absolutely love beauty sponges. Others never use one.
Some people apply foundation with their hands Others wouldn't dream of it.
None of those approaches are wrong. Makeup should fit around your life, your routine and what feels comfortable for you. This blog isn't here to tell you you're doing it wrong.
It's here to help you understand what each tool does so you can decide what works best for you. Because at the end of the day... the best makeup routine is the one you'll actually enjoy doing.
Looking After Your Brushes
Can we also talk about something that often gets forgotten? Cleaning them.
Our skin is constantly renewing itself. Roughly every month, the outer layer of skin naturally replaces itself. Every time we use dirty brushes, we're potentially reintroducing old makeup, oil, bacteria and dead skin cells back onto freshly cleansed skin. Not ideal.
For everyday use, I recommend spraying your brushes with a quick-drying brush cleaner such as Isoclean around once a week.
It's brilliant if you're changing colours too. Need to switch from bronzer to blush? A few sprays and you're good to go.
Then, around once a month as a minimum, give your brushes a proper wash using warm water and a gentle brush cleanser or soap (a gentle baby shampoo is perfect)
Your brushes will last longer. Your makeup will apply better & your skin will thank you for it.
Makeup Should Never Change Who You Are
One thing I say in almost every makeup lesson is this:
"I'm not here to change you. I'm here to help you see what's already there."
Makeup trends will continue to come and go.
Products will launch.
Brushes will get rebranded.
Social media will tell you there's another must-have item.
But what never changes... Is you.
Your confidence.
Your smile.
Your personality.
My job has never been to hide those things.
It's to enhance them.
That's why I love teaching makeup.
Watching someone leave a lesson saying,
"I finally get it."
or
"I actually enjoyed doing my makeup today."
That means so much more to me than selling another product.
If You're Local...
If you're based in Bordon, Farnham, Alton, Haslemere, Petersfield or anywhere across Surrey and Hampshire, I'd love to welcome you to one of my makeup masterclasses.
They're relaxed, friendly and designed for real women with real lives.
No pressure. No judgement. Just a whole lot of fun
Just practical techniques & conversations that help you feel confident with the makeup you already own.
And if you've got a question after reading this blog, my inbox is always open.
You can email me at hello@jessicajaneco.com, send me a message on Instagram @jessmanning94, or drop me a WhatsApp.
There is no such thing as a silly makeup question.
P.S. A Little Something to Think About
When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes?
No judgement, we've all been there!
1) Pop your favourite playlist or podcast on this week, give them a little TLC and, while you're at it, have a look through your makeup bag.
2) Ask yourself:
Do I really use this, or am I keeping it because someone once told me I should?
Sometimes confidence doesn't come from buying something new...sometimes it comes from realising you already have everything you need.
With love,
Jess xoxo
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