Wearing makeup can enhance beautiful features that one may have. Makeup application requires tools for blending and making the entire look. Most makeup looks require makeup brushes to blend out the entire look to get that magazine airbrushed look. The truth is we don’t need makeup brushes to blend out make up, today there are so many other items we can use to do an entire makeup look without using makeup brushes. Over the years I have experimented with different products to apply my makeup with.
So, what can I use instead of makeup brushes? There are many different other ways to apply your makeup without using makeup brushes. You can certainly start with just your fingers they are quite effective in getting blending capabilities. Another way is using beauty blenders, these are great tools and are better then using a makeup brush and the blending is a lot more smoother. There is one thing that you will need to take into consideration and that is the formulation of the makeup product that you will use which will have an effect when your not using any makeup brushes.
How To Apply Makeup With Your Fingers
There are several ways of applying makeup without using makeup brushes, depending on the formulation of certain makeup products. Alot of products can simply be applied with out using your fingers. The warmth from our fingers sometimes melts the makeup product into the skin which can create a flawless look. Some formulations don’t really work well with brushes because it can leave brush streaks causing the makeup to look patchy.
Foundations
Certain foundations can blend better with our fingers due to the thin foundation.
Tinted moisturizers: Usually these moisturizers blend beautifully with your fingers. This type of a foundation will blend better with your fingers because the formulation is more thinner and simply sheers out better on the skin.
Tinted moisturizers usually have a lot of moisturizer and can be rubbed into the skin like you would normally do. By using your fingers to blend out a tinted moisturizer it will help you save more product than to use any other beauty blending tools.
BB creams: BB creams are similar to tinted moisturizers, they blend out the best with the fingers. The formulation is usually thicker than a normal tinted moisturizer and have more coverage. If BB cream is blended out with a sponge or a brush it will end up using more product.
Blending out BB creams with the fingers is a great option, because it helps melt the BB cream into the skin and even gives the finish a beautiful smooth finish on the surface of the skin. It’s also good to remember that BB creams do have a bit of skin care in it hence why it’s easier to blend into the skin than normal foundation.
Concealers
Liquid concealers
With concealers I found that the best way to blend them out is by using your fingers, that’s because with your fingers you can press in the product properly without using too much, but rather letting the product to naturally melt into the skin. The second reason is because with your fingers you can get into tighter places such as crevasses, where with a makeup brush it’s slightly more difficult.
Cream concealers: When it comes to cream concealers, our fingers work really well at melting in the cream product, such as cream concealers into our skin. By using our fingers to blend in the product under the eye area or even to spot correct.
Blushes:
Cream Blush: When it comes to cream formulations and applying blushes you can also use your fingers to blend it out, because just like any cream formulations it melts into the skin with the heat off your fingers. Cream blushes blend into the skin giving a beautiful glow that may have a bit of a dewy finish.
Gel Blush: Gel blushes are usually stains. Blush stains usually come in a gel like formulation, when you blend it into the skin it gives the skin a natural finish. When gel blushes are blended into the skin it can be layered by simply using your fingers and dabbing on top of it.
Highlighters:
Cream formulations: When it comes to blending out the cream highlighters it blends out smoothly with your fingers. There are some highlighters that go on as a cream formulation and later blend out to a powder finish. Using our fingers usually blends more smoothly than any brush would.
Liquid highlighters: Can be blended out with your fingers. The best way to blend out a liquid highlighter is by applying the liquid highlighter by dabbing into your skin and blending It in one direction (In a swiping motion).
Eyeshadows:
Cream eyeshadow: When it comes to cream eyeshadows, I personally find the best way to apply eyeshadows is by using your fingers. The cream formulations can pick up on the fingers more pigmented than it would on a eyeshadow brush. Once the cream eyeshadow is applied to the eyelid it blends in beautifully and with a great amount of pigmentation.
Liquid eyeshadow: Is usually applied best with your fingers, because when it is applied to the eyelid just like the cream eyeshadow, your fingers can pick up more pigmentation than it would with an eyeshadow brush. When it comes to glitter eyeshadows that come in a liquid formulation it’s best applied with your fingers because you will have more control and it picks up more color and glitter.
Lipstick:
When applying the lipstick to the lips one of my favourite ways of applying it without making it look too bold is by using my fingers. The best way to apply the lipstick is by applying it directly from the tube to the lips and then blending it out with your fingers. This helps with the even distribution of your lipstick across your lips, and it also gives an overall smooth even natural finish.
Blending foundation with Beauty Blenders and Sponges
Another way to blend out your makeup is by using beauty sponges, there are traditional makeup sponges that do work aswell when your applying your makeup. Makeup sponges help blend out your makeup smoothly without having to worry about streaks or unevenness. There are many beauty blending sponges that are made specially to blend out makeup all over the face.
There are Beauty Blending sponges that are usually in a tear drop shape. One of the most popular ways to blend out your makeup is with the Beauty Blender by the brand ‘Beauty Blender’.
These makeup sponges work best once they have been soaked under water. Once the Beauty Blender is soaked in water it expands 2 times it’s regular size, this allows you to blend out the cream and liquid formulations.
There are also mini Beauty Blenders which are used for blending out concealers, highlighting and contouring. When using beauty blending sponges to blend makeup it usually requires a bouncing motion which presses makeup into the skin giving the makeup a smooth finish.
Blending out foundations with the Beauty Blender
Liquid foundations: When it comes to liquid foundations that are more of a thicker formulation, the Beauty Blender is one of the best items out there because of the way it blends out the product evenly. The sponge is usually in a tear drop shape where the larger part of the sponge is used to blend out larger surfaces of the face. The pointer side is usually use to blend out foundation on smaller parts of the face and also gives more precision.
Cream foundations: Cream foundations are usually thicker in formulation, it’s easier to thin out and sheer out this type of a formulation. The dampness from The Beauty blender sheers out the formulation making it easier to layer the cream product.
Powder foundations: Beauty blending sponges that have a sharp edge are really good because they help “bake” translucent powders on to the face. Baking is a common technique used to seal in concealer into place and help blur out fine lines.
One particular beauty blending sponge that works well in blending out powdered foundation is ‘Real Techniques’ miracle complexion sponge which can be used wet or dry. This particular sponge can be used with powdered formulation.
Concealers: When it comes to blending out concealers it’s best to use a Beauty Blender mini. The mini size allows you to concentrate on blending in one spot and in tricky spots like under the eye area and the small crevasses. The mini beauty blenders are good for spot correction as well.
Cream Blushes: When it comes to beauty blending blenders you can always use beauty blender to blend out cream formulations. When applying it’s best to apply cream blush on the face and blend it out with a beauty blender.
Cream and liquid highlighters: When it comes to blending in cream and liquid highlighters it’s best to use a beauty blender mini. The beauty blender mini will help blend in the highlighter down the bridge of the nose, under the brow bone and on the cheek bones. By using a beauty blender mini it will give more precision as to where you want the product blended out.
Cream Contour: When it comes to cream contours the best beauty blender sponge to use is any beauty blender sponges with a sharp edge. This will give precision on where to contour out sharp edges. The beauty blender mini also works really well in delivering that type of precision.
Silicon Beauty Blenders: Are beauty blenders that are made of silicon. Silicon beauty blenders are another form of applying foundations and other cream and liquid formulations. Silicon beauty sponges are said to be more hygienic because bacteria build up is less likely to occur. Silicon beauty sponges also are known not to soak up too much makeup products. The silicon beauty blender usually requires a slight dabbing motion to blend makeup into the skin, this is another way to apply makeup without makeup brushes.
How do I do my makeup without makeup brushes?
If you have no makeup brushes and have somewhere to go, there are ways to do your makeup without it looking like a disaster. I have put together a basic guide as to how I apply a full face of makeup without makeup brushes:
- Primer: When I apply makeup primer I usually use my fingers and blend it in to my face making sure I cover every spot on my face.
- Foundation: Most of my foundations are usually a liquid formulation. If I have a beauty blender or even one sponge on hand, I will soak the beauty blender into water, where this will expand the sponge. While the sponge is expanding, I would apply a few drops of foundation onto my face and gently dab the foundation into the skin with the expanded sponge. By using a wet damp sponge, it will help thin out the foundation, which helps me control how much product my skin needs. By using a damp sponge or a beauty blender there would be no streaks or brush strokes giving the skin a smooth and even finish.
- Concealer: When it comes to cream concealers it’s best to blend out thicker formulations with a small beauty blender to get an even finish. With a thinner formulation of concealer I would usually use my fingers because this helps blend under the eye area.
- Blush: When it comes to blush, I would look into a cream formulation. When it comes to a cream formulation, I found that these formulations blend into the skin beautifully. I would use my fingers to blend in the blush until I get a natural finish. I would then go in with my damp sponge and blend out any harsh lines out. This will give this skin a nice flush of color.
- Highlighter: When applying the highlighter, I would go with a cream highlighter and use my fingers to blend in the highlighter on my cheek bones with my fingers, because again cream formulations will melt into the skin. I usually apply a bit of the highlighter under my eyebrow bone and the inner corner of my eyes. By adding highlighter to the cheekbones it helps give the skin a beautiful glow and by adding highlighter to the inner corner of the eyes it usually helps open up the eyes and by using highlighter under the brow bone it lifts the eyebrow.
- Lipstick: When it comes to applying lipstick, I personally never really use a lip brush I usually apply lipstick directly from the tube onto the lips. I usually then take my finger and blend out the lipstick around my lips. This usually distributes lipstick evenly across the lips
- Eyeshadow: When applying eyeshadow, the best formulas that I usually have on hand are cream eyeshadows. By using your fingers, it usually picks up more pigment than any brush or sponge would. Once applied to the eyelids the pigmentation is usually stronger on the eyelid. By rubbing the eyeshadow onto the eyelid nicely.
- Mascara: Mascara usually comes with a mascara brush. This usually helps enhance the lashes making them look longer and opening up the eyes.
- Brows: When it comes to the brows it’s best to use a clear gel. Brow gel usually comes with a brush to brush out the brow hairs and to keep them looking neat and maintained.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to applying makeup to our faces, we don’t necessarily need makeup brushes. Depending on the formulation of products makeup can be blended out without makeup brushes. Thinner formulations of makeup usually blend out better by using our fingers. The warmth of our fingers melts the product into the face giving it a more natural sheer finish.
Cream formulations usually are thicker in consistency and require more work such as a beauty blender. A beauty blender requires to be soaked under water in order to expand. This allows the beauty blender to blend out and sheer out thicker formulations. We can definitely survive without makeup brushes but it all depends on what formulations we normally carry in our makeup bags.