Soap Opera Digest
September 5, 2000
Product Queen

There are no rules with makeup, but there are tools—so go get yourself some!

Many people have been asking me about makeup brushes, so here’s the skinny: it doesn’t matter what makeup you ‘re using if you don’t have the right brushes. All brushes are not created equal. The small ones you get with your blush are usually useless (except for Clinique brushes).

What drives me around the bend is when I spend good money on brushes and the hair comes off on my face, making me look like I was attacked by whatever animal the brush is made from. (No animals are harmed in the making of brushes, by the way.) Even the cheapest blush brush I sampled was a $15 drugstore brand made by Prestige, and yes, Virginia, the hair came off on my face.

Origins makes synthetic brushes, and thought I love this company, I do not recommend its brushes. They get really funky after being washed. Good brushes should last a long time when cared for properly. Wash them every two weeks by using mild shampoo, gently squeezing the water out before placing in a cup to dry.

Below is a list of makeup companies whose brushes are of high quality. My company (CAT NYC) also makes a brush set (powder, blush, eyeshadow and eye smoker) although for obvious reason’s I can’t objectively rate my own product—you be the judge!

But first, here’s what to look for. High-end companies are hot on squirrel, but I prefer goat hair mix because it grabs the powder better. Squirrel also costs a fortune, and the everyday woman (hear us roar) just doesn’t need it. You also want brushes that are machine cut; the ones listed below are hand cut.

I recommend that you invest in a nice set because it will make a huge difference in your application.

Happy hunting!