Makeup brushes. How pretty they are, standing in a glass cup on the bathroom counter or slid neatly into the specified loops of a travel case.  Actual usage however may not be so pretty…. Many find that they just sort of take a brush and use it for whatever purpose they seem fit. Which is totally fine, as long as you’re getting the look you want. They are designed, however, for some specific moves.

Blush Brush: This can be flat or round with tapered bristles or flat bristles. These options are choice, and nothing else. Go to a store that has a lot (like a department store or Sephora) to see which you think works best with your face and how you apply it. Bigger and fancier is not always better.  This one is by Laura Mercier.

Kabuki or Bronzer Brush: This is more stiff and plush than a blush or powder brush. It’s use is for a more specific and intense version of whatever you’d like to apply in that width. Personally, I find the distribution to often be more even than with the blush or powder brush. This one is by Smashbox. Many have stubbier handles.

Concealer Brush. These are synthetic bristled brushes that come in a variety of sizes depending on the use. For under-eye circles you may want a medium one and for pimple a very small one. A lip bush will also work like a small concealer brush if you want to save a few bucks. The small one is by Laura Mercier and the medium one by Benefit.

The Fan Brush: This brush is definitely the most intriguing looking. It’s uses can vary, but primarily it’s used for cleaning up eyeshadow powder fall-out. Some like the shape to add highlighter to the top edges of the cheekbones too. It’s probably one of the least necessary brushes for everyday at-home makeup. This one is by Sephora Collection.

Paddle Eyeshadow Brush: This flat and rounded brush is great for applying eyeshadow all over the lid. Use it as you would like painting a picture; a flat brush to fill in space. It’s also great for brushing highlight color downward from the brow bone. This one is by NARS.

Hard Angle Brush: Short and stiff, this brush is wonderful for filling in eyebrows as well as blending powder or pencil eyeliner. I use this brush tons! This one is by Makeup Forever.

Eyeliner Brush: Angled, pointed, or flat this brush is softer than the hard angle brush and used for cream or liquid eyeliner. What version you like depends on what’s easiest for you to use. The pointed one is by Shu Umemura, the angled one by The Balm, and the flat one by Bare Escentuals.

Blender or Crease Brush: True to it’s name, this brush is for blending and creasing. The point is great to draw the crease line while the feathered sides blend it in. Or you can draw a more precision line with another brush and use this one to blend it. Same is true for blending along the lash line, etc. This one is by Stila.

Those are what I find to be the basics, excluding the fan which I threw in just to demystify it. By the way, there is no shame in checking out the craft store for great paint brushes that come in exactly the same shapes and sizes as the brushes above and not even close to the same price tag- especially the eyeliner brushes.