You can have the best makeup in the world, but if you are using the wrong tools to apply it then you’re not going to be getting the best result your cosmetics can offer.

The key to perfect make-up is using the right tools for contouring and shaping. That’s why there are specific brushes for each part of your face, including the eyes, brows, lips, cheeks, and face.

In this short series we’ll be looking at make-up brushes, from the different types available to how to look after them. Read on for our first installment…

Today’s we’re talking about powder brushes. When buying a powder brush, the most important thing is to find a soft, full head that feels fluffy but not too dense. The goal is providing an all-over dusting of loose or pressed powder, and if the brush is too hard, you’ll risk looking splotchy and too heavy in places – this tends to be as the brush picks up too much powder which can’t be spread evenly.

Flat brushes with tapered edges can be used for delicate and light application, whereas big round brushes are great for denser coverage and buffing mineral foundations into the skin.

One of the best types of brushes is the Kabuki brush – perfect for those of you that like heavy powder coverage. It’s a short, extremely fluffy brush that is great for travel and for multiple uses. You can use this brush to bring powder into your cleavage and clavicle areas too.

Powder brushes aren’t just for foundation either, they can also double up as great bronzer and blusher brushes.