What do you usually use to apply foundation? Sometimes I get the best results when I use my fingers, but I go through phases. One week I’ll use fingers, the next week a skunk brush, and then maybe even a kabuki brush the week after that.
I guess I’m a bit of a wild child when it comes to tools. It really just depends. 🙂
Lately I have been rather enamored with fan brushes, though, like the lovely Trish McEvoy 62 ($36), which I’ve been using to apply MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation.
That’s right — a fan brush to apply a liquid foundation.
Weird, I know, but hear me out. I actually got the idea from MAC Senior Artist Keri Blair, who uses it in this video to apply MAC Mineralize Foundation. Her results just looked so flawless and natural that I figured, heck, why not give it a try?
The first fan brush I thought to try it with was the Shu Uemura 7.5EX, a brush I’ve loved for years (as a side, I think it paints scary pigmented blushes like MAC Frankly Scarlet with aplomb).
With Studio Sculpt, I thought it was just a’ight. I liked the thin, light level of coverage, but I also got some streaks.
Hmm…
Not yet ready to give up on the idea, I tried a few other fan brushes, all of them with mediocre results until I came to Trish’s 62.
It was love! 
The 62 was designed to deliver thin layers of powder products for faces and cheeks, but I think it does a bang up job with liquid foundations, too. The dense, wide brush head lays down just the right amount of product to cover what I’m trying to cover without leaving a bunch of annoying streaks behind.
To use it, first, I load a bit of Studio Sculpt on the back of a hand (I’m right handed, so I used the back of my left for this), and then pick up a small amount of it with the 62. To apply, I start from the center of the face and work my way out.
It’s amazing how much a brush can help or hurt when it comes to application, and I love the results I get with the 62. I think the coverage looks natural and flawless, and it doesn’t look or feel heavy at all — the coveted “my skin but better” effect.
This has been my first experience with a Trish McEvoy brush, and what an experience it’s been. Too bad it’s such a expensive brush, but at least it looks and feels worthy of the price. It’s sturdy, and over the three weeks I’ve been using it, I haven’t seen it drop a single bristle.
I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for a drugstore equivalent and will let you know if one turns up.
PRICE: $36
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Trish McEvoy counters and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
A fan brush for foundation….!! It’s so difficult to imagine..I really should try this out 😀
I have a Trish McEvoy brush set that I bought the day before my wedding, and the brushes are the best I have ever used. I decided to splurge since I had just written the check out for the reception and I figured what the hell. Another few hundred won’t make much of a difference. haha. Crazy expensive for the set, but in 10 years, they have not shed A SINGLE HAIR! They have held up like champs and still look pretty new. That’s saying a lot coming from a brush abuser like me. So worth the investment.
I love brushes for foundation!
And this one is awesome!
Have a nice day & happy new year dear Karen 🙂 🙂 🙂
xoxo
Is the Trish McEvoy fan brush synthetic or natural haired?
Amazing! I haven’t even tried using a skunk brush to apply foundation, usually it’s fingers!
I’ve been experimenting with foundation brushes a lot lately. So far I really loved the angled Japonesque brush and the Hourglass # 2 brush. I also have this brush from Trish McEvoy and love it applying highlighter and bronzer but will definitely try applying the foundation now. Thanks for sharing!
I guess I’m just going to have to try this myself 😀
ohh I need to try this one out! what a great tip!
hey Karen (And anyone else), if you haven’t tried one yet you must try either the sephora airbrush or precision airbrush foundation brushes (#55 and #56 I think). They are AMAZING, especially with MUFE’s HD foundation. The synthetic rounded heads do all the blending work for you.
I second this! LOVE my airbrush foundation brush!
OMG! I have both of these and i’m in love they deliver a much lighter coverage for me than my sigma F80. Their big concealer brush is great as well for concealing.
I could never make a fan brush work for me. Blame it on my lack of skills. But from your review and also from Kate’s comment I would watch out to lay my hands on these
Great post, I never really got into this brush maybe I’ll give one a try.
I loved Fan Brushes and have the ones from Smashbox and Benefit and they have saved me a lot of effort at times. I am a makeup artist with a light hand and yet some really pigmented blushes can go garish even on the slightest touch. Fan brush helps me do a better job for contouring, highlighting, applying powder and so many more…
Its a wonderful multi tasking thing to own.
Btw my new year’s resolution is to write comments on two of my most favorite bloggers, you and Christine from Temptalia and I hope I succeed in the venture.
Thanks a ton and wish u very happy new year!
Awesome tip! It’s always good to find multiple uses for brushes. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Never used a fan brush before – still with my old faithfuls. Interested in the difference it may make so will try.
Thanks as usual…
Great idea! Where would I find the keri Blair video, I can’t seem to get the link to work…
Ahhh!! I DID NOT SEE THIS COMING.
Will have to give it a try sometime! I’m intrigued 😉
I’ve never tried, but I think I just might try a fan brush for foundation. I usually use a sponge, a kabuki or skunk brush, then occasionally a traditional foundation brush.
I foolishly thought you really were going to list 62 reasons, but I should’ve known it’s your usual clever titling. 🙂 I have to agree that tools make all the difference!