Month: May 2025

When it comes to achieving a seamless makeup look, having the right tools is just as important as having the right makeup products themselves. The best makeup brushes can help you blend, sculpt, and define with precision, making your beauty routine easier and more effective. 

A high-quality brush ensures that your foundation goes on smoothly, your blush is blended to perfection, and your eyeshadow has a flawless finish. Understanding which brushes to use and how to care for them will make a world of difference in your routine.

Top picks for makeup brushes:

1. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush – This brush features ultra-soft synthetic bristles that help evenly distribute foundation without absorbing too much product.
2. EcoTools Full Powder Brush – This eco-friendly brush is made with synthetic bristles that feel luxurious on the skin and apply powder evenly for a flawless finish. 
3. Sigma F10 Blush Brush – This high-quality brush is designed to deposit just the right amount of blush onto the apples of your cheeks, blending it out for a natural glow. 
4. Morphe M433 Pro Firm Blending Brush – A favorite among makeup artists, this brush has the perfect balance of firmness and fluffiness for blending shadows effortlessly.

Continue reading to discover more makeup brushes.

Read more: How to Choose the Best Makeup Products for Your Skin

What Are the Different Types of Makeup Brushes, and How Do You Use Them?

Makeup brushes come in various shapes and sizes, each designed for a specific purpose. The right brush will help you achieve a polished, professional look with minimal effort. Here are some essential brushes and tips on how to use them.

Foundation Brush

A dense, flat or rounded brush designed for applying liquid or cream foundation evenly. A high-quality foundation brush ensures smooth, streak-free coverage. Flat foundation brushes work best for precise application, while buffing brushes help blend the foundation seamlessly into the skin for a more natural finish.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush – This brush features ultra-soft synthetic bristles that help evenly distribute foundation without absorbing too much product. Its slightly domed shape allows for precise buffing and blending.

iT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Brush #6 – This densely packed brush is perfect for blending liquid and powder foundations effortlessly. It provides an airbrushed finish with minimal effort.

Powder Brush

A large, fluffy brush used for setting makeup with loose or pressed powder. The soft bristles evenly distribute powder across the skin without disturbing the foundation underneath. A high-quality powder brush helps prevent cakiness and ensures your makeup stays in place throughout the day.

EcoTools Full Powder Brush – This eco-friendly brush is made with synthetic bristles that feel luxurious on the skin and apply powder evenly for a flawless finish. 

Bobbi Brown Powder Brush – This ultra-soft, dome-shaped brush applies powder smoothly without disturbing foundation.

Blush Brush

A medium-sized brush with soft, tapered bristles that blend powder blush seamlessly. The slightly rounded shape helps diffuse the pigment evenly across the cheeks, preventing harsh lines and over-application.

Sigma F10 Blush Brush – This high-quality brush is designed to deposit just the right amount of blush onto the apples of your cheeks, blending it out for a natural glow. 

e.l.f. Blush Brush – An affordable, high-performing brush with soft bristles that pick up just the right amount of product for a fresh, radiant look.

Eyeshadow Blending Brush

A fluffy brush perfect for blending eyeshadow in the crease for a smooth transition between colors. A good blending brush allows for a seamless gradient, preventing harsh lines and creating a professional-looking eye makeup look.

Morphe M433 Pro Firm Blending Brush – A favorite among makeup artists, this brush has the perfect balance of firmness and fluffiness for blending shadows effortlessly.

MAC 217 Blending Brush – This iconic blending brush is a must-have for flawless eyeshadow application. Its tapered bristles create a seamless look.

Angled Brow Brush

A firm, angled brush that helps define eyebrows with powders, pomades, or gels. A high-quality brow brush provides precision and control, making it easy to create natural-looking, well-defined brows.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brush 12 – This dual-ended brush features an angled side for applying brow products and a spoolie for blending and shaping. 

Benefit Cosmetics Angled Brow Brush & Spoolie – A great tool for applying brow products with precision while keeping hairs in place.

How Do You Choose the Best Makeup Brushes?

Choosing the best makeup brushes depends on a few key factors. The right brush can make a significant difference in how your makeup applies and wears throughout the day.

• Bristle Type: Synthetic brushes are best for liquid and cream products as they don’t absorb too much product and allow for an even application. Natural bristles, on the other hand, are preferred for powder products as they pick up and distribute pigment more effectively.
• Brush Shape: Different brush shapes serve different purposes. A rounded brush is great for blending, an angled brush helps with precise application, and a flat brush is perfect for packing on pigment.
• Handle Length: Longer handles provide better control and are easier to use for detailed work, while shorter handles are compact and great for travel.
• Brand Reputation: Opt for reputable brands known for durability and high-quality craftsmanship. Brushes that maintain their shape and bristle integrity over time will save you money in the long run.
• Budget: While high-end brushes often offer superior performance, there are plenty of affordable options that provide excellent results. Investing in a good set of brushes can enhance your makeup application and ensure a polished finish.

How Do You Care for Your Makeup Brushes?

Proper care extends the lifespan of your brushes and keeps them free from bacteria, which can cause skin irritation and even infections. Regular cleaning also ensures that your makeup applies smoothly without streaks or unwanted color mixing.

• Clean Regularly – Brushes used with liquid or cream products should be cleaned at least once a week, while powder brushes can be cleaned every two weeks.
• Use Lukewarm Water – Avoid hot water, as it can weaken the glue holding the bristles in place and cause shedding.
• Avoid Soaking the Handles – Keep water away from the ferrule (the metal part holding the bristles) to prevent loosening.
• Use a Gentle Cleanser – A mild shampoo, brush cleanser, or gentle soap will effectively remove product buildup and bacteria without damaging the bristles.
• Dry Flat – After washing, reshape the bristles and lay the brushes flat on a clean towel to dry. Avoid drying them upright, as water can seep into the handle and cause damage.
• Store Properly – Keep your brushes in a dry place, preferably in a brush holder or case, to protect them from dust and bacteria.

A highly recommended brush cleaner is Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner – This fast-drying, antimicrobial formula effectively removes product buildup while conditioning the bristles.

By choosing the right brushes and taking proper care of them, you’ll enhance your makeup application and enjoy long-lasting, beautifully applied makeup.

Read more: Transform Your Makeup Game with This 1 Crucial Hack for Mature Skin.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you own makeup brushes? What makeup brush brand is your go-to? How do you care for your makeup brushes? Do you have any recommendations to add to our list of makeup brushes? Tell us about it in the comments below. 

Hint: Now’s the time to get luxe bedding up to 25% off.

Susan called my office in tears. She was overwhelmed because her friend, Mary, named her as her Power of Attorney and needed her to step into this role right away. Although Mary had a brother, he lived half way across the country and had his own health problems. He could not get involved.

Susan had no idea she was even named as Mary’s Power of Attorney. Mary never checked with her or asked her if she would be willing to do this. They had met many years earlier when they worked together, but they weren’t that close.

It was a terrible time for Susan to help Mary. Susan’s husband was very sick, and she had too much on her plate already. Susan was torn, as she knew Mary needed help, but felt burdened and overwhelmed at the thought of taking on this huge job.

Mary couldn’t go home and her house, which was over-run with mice, needed attention, maintenance, snow shoveling and someone checking on it. The bills were piling up. And the financial institutions? They wouldn’t even speak with Mary until she provided all the right documentation, navigated their internal protocols, and filled out more paperwork than she expected.

Susan asked me, “How am I supposed to take care of all this, someone else’s house, someone else’s finances, while still juggling my own life and caring for my sick husband?”

Since I am an Elder Law Attorney, she asked if I could take over for her. Unfortunately, this wasn’t possible because the document did not give Susan the authority to choose someone else if she could not act. The only option was to go to court to ask that a Conservator be appointed for Mary.

Being appointed as Power of Attorney can feel like a burden. Acting as Power of Attorney is a significant responsibility and can be a part-time job. Well-meaning friends may think they can handle it, but in reality, it is a legal and financial role that can last months or even years. It is not always appropriate to expect a friend to take on this job.

The Hard Questions (That Most People Avoid Asking)

If you are a solo senior, it may be difficult to identify someone who could step in to help if you become ill or incapacitated. Without a spouse or adult child, many people look to close friends.

But before naming someone as your Power of Attorney, ask:

• Is this something they’re truly willing and able to do?
• Do they understand what it means to manage someone else’s finances, possibly for a long time?
• Would you want to take on this role for a friend?

It is not about whether they care. It is more about whether they are really the right person for the job and able to handle it, given their own life circumstances and schedules. Acting as someone’s Power of Attorney isn’t just signing a form, it involves:

• Setting up access with banks and investment firms (which can take weeks).
• Paying bills, filing taxes, managing property.
• Acting in your best interest and possibly defending your wishes to others.

Also read, What Now? When You Never Expected to Be Living Alone.

The Power of Substitution (And Giving Your Friend an Out)

If you still want to name a friend, and many people do, consider giving them a lifeline.

One option is to include a Power of Substitution in your document. This allows your friend, if they’re unable or unwilling to serve, to appoint a qualified professional to act on your behalf.

That way, they’re not stuck in a role they can’t handle, and you still have someone in place to help you.

Just as important: ask them first. Don’t assume. Give them time to consider, and if they agree, set them up for success:

• Keep a clearly labeled file with your legal and financial information.
• Give them copies of your documents.
• Keep your accounts and assets organized.

You can download free checklists and planning worksheets at Solo Allies to help.

Need More Help Navigating This?

I wrote The Solo Senior’s Guide to Thrive for people who want to plan and make sure they are prepared, by making good choices now so others don’t have to pick up the pieces later. The book includes a companion workbook to walk you through decisions like this, from choosing fiduciaries to organizing your documents and protecting your future.

You don’t have to do this alone, and you shouldn’t leave your friends to figure it out alone either.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Who have you appointed as your Power of Attorney? Did you ask them first? Did you give them a way out if they are unable to take on this role? Are you the Power of Attorney to somebody else?

A lot of people ask, “What does it mean to get in your own way?”

I glare at them like they’re from another planet.

How can you not know? It’s like slamming a door and then trying to walk through it.

As I’ve gotten older, I know better. I’ve learned not to act impulsively. I “play it through to the credits.” I’ve got experience, wisdom, the receipts – and a long memory.

And most days? I do better.

Then Came the 40-Pound Bag of Dog Food

Let me break this down: a 40-pound bag of kibble equals about 160 cups. That’s 4 cups per pound. Each cup? Roughly 208 pieces of kibble. I Googled the first part. The 208? I used AI – Audacious Ilene – to count them one by one.

That’s 33,280 pieces of kibble.

How did this become how I spent my leisurely morning?

It started, of course, with avoiding the things I didn’t want to do – taxes, phone calls, real responsibilities. And that giant bag of dog food had been sitting by the door for a week, waiting to be carried to the basement.

I decided to play “airport.” You know, like a baggage handler. I clipped the top shut with a giant binder clip, angled the bag down the stairs, gave it a push… and watched it fly.

Almost Made It. Almost.

Four steps from the bottom, the bag snagged. In slow motion, the clip popped off. A kibble waterfall began.

Down the steps.

Through the gaps.

Into the pile of luggage, CDs, canvas bags, and boxes under the stairs I haven’t unpacked in eight years.

First, I was frozen, just watching the kibble drip, drip, drip. Then I sprang into action – a generous description, as I couldn’t move faster than quarter-speed. I descended, trying to lift the bag and stop the downpour like I was catching a boiling pot with bare hands.

The damage? Half the bag.

That’s 16,640 pieces of kibble.

Yes, I did the math. Then, I considered whether the dog could eat it off the floor. (He drinks mud and eats leaves, after all.) And yes, I decided it was fine.

Still, there I was – two hours later, still cleaning up and muttering: “Why did I do that?”

Being in My Own Way

That question is a constant refrain of mine. I want to leave it behind. I do. But it seems wired into my DNA. It’s not just a quirk. It’s a pattern.

Tiny ways I say no to myself when I mean yes. That’s what getting in your own way really looks like. It’s not sabotage with fireworks. It’s a slow, rolling kibble spill under the stairs.

So, I started thinking: What would it take to rewire myself? How do I stop setting traps for “Future Me” to deal with? Because it’s always me doing the trapping to me.

Here’s a list of the traps I fall into again and again:

1. Over-Shopping Produce

I always buy too many fruits and vegetables. Always.

It starts with good intentions: I’m going to juice. I need cucumbers, apples, celery. I see string beans and think, I’ll roast those with garlic and lemon! I grab bananas and two pints of strawberries because this week – this week – I’ll make smoothies. And those tiny bags of avocadoes, they are so cute, I cannot resist.

Fast-forward five days:

• The bananas are mushy and brown.
• The apples are bruised and wrinkled.
• The green beans are dissolving and getting moldy.
• The avocadoes are dimpling.

I never resist the fantasy that I’m the kind of person who juliennes carrots and keeps cilantro alive. Spoiler: I’m not.

I’ve gotten better. I toss what’s rotten (without crying), gift cute mini avocados to my neighbor, and when I’m really on top of it, I cook and freeze. Still, a work in progress.

2. Avoiding Exercise

Every Sunday, I make a reasonable plan.

Monday: Dog Walk.

Tuesday: Cardio.

Wednesday: …bargaining begins. By then, I’m telling myself, I already did Monday and Tuesday. Maybe today I’ll just stretch while watching TV? Which becomes me lying on the floor, scrolling my phone, with a resistance band around one ankle like a tragic yoga hostage.

I have the sneakers. The mat. The subscription.

What I don’t have is the will to overcome inertia.

And somehow, sitting still while feeling guilty about not moving is the most exhausting workout of all.

The antidote? Get it on the outside. I’ve learned that if I don’t get in the car, go to the gym, or do Zumba with a friend, it won’t happen. Once I get there, I’m always glad I showed up.

(Especially for post-class coffee.)

3. Procrastinating Difficult Calls

There’s a voicemail that’s been mocking me for 11 days.

I know exactly what it’s about.

But instead of returning the call, I’ve deep-cleaned the junk drawer, reorganized the bookshelf, and deep-conditioned my hair. Twice.

I keep thinking, I’ll be in the mood to deal with that tomorrow.

But tomorrow turns into next week. And suddenly, I’m dodging someone who wasn’t mad until I started avoiding them. Then I call and say, “Just saw your message!” and pray they don’t hear the panic in my voice.

I’m learning to triage:

Am I avoiding this because I feel guilty? Ashamed?

Is it fear or just discomfort?

Awareness helps.

Not always. But it helps.

4. Defrosting Meat I’ll Never Cook

This one’s personal.

I start with a vision: Tonight, I’ll cook something real.

I pull out a beautiful cut of meat. Picture the sides, the candles, the mood.

Then life happens. I work late. I get tired. I eat cereal.

Meanwhile, the meat – now fully thawed and judging me from the fridge – edges from “meal prep” into “biohazard.”

I shove it to the back. I pretend I’ll cook it tomorrow.

Three days later: shame toss into the trash.

The cycle repeats.

Because the vision of what could be always beats the reality of what actually is.

What’s Next?

The goal isn’t to be perfect. The goal is to catch myself before I pull the same old stunt. Because there’s a difference between learning and rewiring.

I know better. I’m just trying to do better.

One kibble at a time.

Also read, Do You Get in Your Own Way? I Sure Do!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What is one thing you catch yourself doing over and over, even though you know it’s not good for you?

It’s perfect for solo and partnered play 😉