The one beauty product every woman should use

If you have ever wanted to know the secret to perfect make-up, it pays to listen to the experts.

Make-up artist Rae Morris believes make-up is a precise art, so why not use artists’ tools. That is why Rae not only recommends using make-up brushes, she invented her own. Twice. 

Rae said there were a number of reasons why make-up brushes work better. It helps product set better on your skin, prevents the product being absorbed into your hands and it is better for your skin, especially as some foundations take a bit of work to apply, which can make your face redden. The best part is you can apply anything with a brush. “There is not a make-up artist alive that uses their fingers. Make-up needs precision and fingers just don’t cut it,” Rae Morris said.

Her biggest piece of advice is to spend less on make-up and more on make-up brushes. “Make-up application is easier with the right make-up brush.”

Benefits

For older skin Rae said brushes are perfect as they prevent skin drag. Foundation brushes in particular offer a flawless effect as you get older, enabling the product to get into the lines and wrinkles.

Lip brushes, she said, also help with a lip line that has lost its sharpness. This will give you a precise line and prevent lip bleed.

For all applications she advises to get close to the mirror to see exactly what you are doing.

Types of brushes

Synthetic brushes are great for any product you want to pick and put all on the face. These are best for most products, like concealer, eyeliner, lipstick and crème eyeshadow as they won’t get absorbed on the brush.

Goat / squirrel hair brushes are fluffy but absorb product, and give the slowest release, so are best for products like blusher, that you don’t to apply with a thick coat. You can then brush on until you have the desired effect.

Black goat hair brushes pick up less of the product when you using them, but are good for distribution. This means they are perfect for eyeshadows, so you don’t overload both your brush and your face.

Cleaning tips

To keep your brushes in tip top shape Rae suggests using a brush cleanser or sterilising solution and spraying it on your brushes daily.

For a thorough clean once a week wash them thoroughly. You can use an alcohol based cleanser or you can even use shampoo and conditioner, but beware of getting water on wooden handled brushes, as they can swell. You need to wait until they dry properly before re-using them.

On a side note, Rae said if you use your brushes on shimmery items, clean them more often. You know what glitter is like!

For hygiene purposes it is best if your brushes don’t touch each other in storage. It is one of the reasons Rae invented her magnetic brushes range.

To follow her first range, which went global, Rae has now created a new line of brushes, called Jishaku. There are 36 brushes in the new range, both left and right handed, and they are made of the softest hair in the world. Not only that they are the only ones in the world made by a brush-making master from Japan. This new range has taken three years to manufacture and perfect.

What make-up product do you find hardest to apply?