When I was last in Singapore, I was fascinated by and picked up the Sana Maiko-Han foundation brush and mixing palette set. This pretty set of short foundation brush and 5 Japanese designed mixing palettes cost S$29.90.
I’ve never really used a brush for liquid foundation before. I’d always used my fingers mainly because I found that it spread better. I’ve used this brush twice so far and I’m thinking ambivalent thoughts about it.
I like the mixing palette. It is laminated cardboard and one side of it has a pretty pattern and the other side is white. You place your liquid foundation on the white site and then use the brush to mix it and apply it on your face. It beats putting the liquid foundation on the back of your hand, which is what I always do.
The brush is short and just the right size for my smallish hands. The bristles are soft yet firm enough to apply the foundation on the skin. However, perhaps I’m not very good with it, but I find that applying liquid foundation with a brush is streaky. I keep having to double back to touch up the streaks which results in a thick layer of foundation which I do not like.
The other thing I did not quite like was the fact that the brush picks up a lot of foundation. When I use the brush, I end up using nearly double the amount of foundation because the brush absorbs the liquid and then applies sheer. When I use my fingers, nothing gets absorbed and I can control it to a fairly thin layer. Because it gets all gunky with foundation, I have to spend extra time cleaning the brush after use, which has made me late for work!
I’m not saying this Sana foundation brush is bad. I’m just saying that I prefer using my fingers to apply my liquid foundation because:-
- It doesn’t leave my foundation streaky
- It doesn’t use up a lot of foundation
- I can control the thickness of foundation on the skin
- Washing my hands is easier than washing a brush!
I haven’t tried a sponge yet, but I have seen others using sponges and it too absorbs a lot of liquid foundation which for me results in wastage.
I suppose since I do my own makeup, I’ll be sticking to using my fingers to apply my liquid foundation. However, if you do makeup on others, then brushes or sponges would be best for hygiene purposes and to cultivate a professional look 😉
The Sana Foundation Brush has only been used twice. Does anyone want to give it a good home? Please contact me if you do 😉 If you want to buy this Sana Maiko-han brush set, look in Sasa or John Little in Singapore or on Adambeauty online (HK118/US$17.50).
What is your preferred tool for applying liquid foundation? Fingers, Brushes or Sponge?
me it really depends on my mood, I usually apply using a triangle sponge! or sometimes, the foundation brush..or sometimes, my fingers..lol so ALL? I depend on my mood! LOL but i found the best foundation look on me is when I applied using a sponge..it just works for me ! 🙂
I can’t get over how cute the photos are!!!
Nikki: I must try it with a sponge. I read that it gives better coverage and looks better.
yes try it! Use the triangle ones! it really works so well especially the undereye area 🙂 tell me how it works on you 😀
oh the mixing palettes are just SOOO cute!!
for a big night out, I usually use a wedge sponge to even out the coverage – it helps if you moisten it first though…less wastage of foundation. 🙂
Nikki: I will! Thanks.
Beetrice: They are adorable, but I only use one lol… I have to try this sponge thing if it works so well for everyone else.
Fingers work best for me. Like you said, it doesn’t promote much wastage. Oh oh…super sidetrack, since I couldn’t find my old Revlon foundation so I decided on a Bobbi Brown one. OMG. I love it. Best part is, one press from the bottle (small press) and my whole face is covered even better than when I was using Revlon. So at the end of the day, even though you’re paying so much…the quality is better and it’ll last me quite awhile. Luckily it’s a pump bottle. Fingers + BBrown…woot…my liquid foundation will go a longgg way. Hehehehe.
Fingers at the moment (current foundation requires squeezing), but I also have a foundation brush (Body Shop one) for when I was using a different foundation which I had to pour out.
While I agree with the streakiness of brush use, but I’m lazier when it comes to washing hands at times and it’s easier just to wash the brush over the weekend.
i have given up on any LIQUID foundation brushes, seriously any, including my beloved MUFE and Anna Sui. NONE whatsoever worked for me in the past. FINGERS for me! 🙂
that brush is adorable though. no wonder you couldn’t pass it! 😛
S-kay: Wow the BB foundation sounds great. I found them a little too yellow but maybe will look at them again.
synical: Oh I find it easier to just wash my hands heh…
Jojoba: yep, its an adorable brush that I never use now! Should just stick to what I know works.
If I had to use a brush, I’d certainly go for that one–woot! That is gorgeous, and the palettes? The Japanese are just geniuses I say.
But, it’s fingers for me. I tried the wedge sponge previously. It felt really nice and soft–no drag of skin. But the thing I hated most was the wastage. I mean SPONGE, right? It soaks up your hard earned money. I’d go through a bottle of foundation in err…3 months? I think normally my bottles can last up to 6 months? And I also hate to be late for work too – applicators just add more time. Maybe cos I’m just not skilled enough!
I use my fingers when applying to my own face. But if I’m doing other’s face, I use a damp sponge, its more hygienic cuz some dont like others touching their faces. 😀 I like using fingers though cuz its more sheer and natural. ^^
It would depend on the foundation for me. Some foundations need body heat to spread, those are best used with fingers. Some are very liquid, then sponges do well. I turn to brushes (I use The Body Shop’s) for silicone based foundations like Max Factor Miracle Touch. For full-coverage loose mineral foundation, I spread it on with the foun
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Beauty Blogger @ So Loverly
Monstro: I’m going to try sponge wedges though to see if the finish is as flawless as I’ve seen. I have a couple of foundations to use up so wastage at this point is fine 😉
HD: Yes on others faces, tools will be best – less bacteria too. And I agree with you about fingers making foundation application sheer. I prefer that too.
Kahani: Great tips, thanks!
Lovely palette…:D I’ll looking for it on my next trip to singapore 😀
I love using brush. I bought from my friend…a foundie from china called “make up show”. It looks like MAC’s 😀
Love using sponge also….but I found that sponge absorbs the foundie…wasting it much :(. But perfect result.
Do u use foundation primer, PB? I helps much to avoid the streaking result. Smashbox one is the best,,,,but Laura MErcier’s also great!
The set looks so adorable!! I would love to add it to my collection if I was not broke and already have a pretty good amount of foundation brushes.
For full coverage, I use a foundation brush (Giorgio Armani Blender Brush). It’s actually quite simple to fix the streak problem. I’m hardly bothered about them. Simply press and warm your foundation with your hands — like the whole palm + fingers pressed onto your face and the streaks will be gone. Using a foundation brush helps to give really good coverage and prolongs the staying power of your foundation because since our skin is not perfectly smooth, the foundation brush bristles help to get foundation into all the nooks and crannies of the skin so that there’s a more “rooted” coverage of foundation. A better hold basically.
For normal coverage, I use a duo fibre stippling brush (skunk brush). It’s really a must have tool because it makes foundation look so incredibly good on the skin. It’s also very fast and easy to you. Basically just get the foundation on the top of the bristles, stipple the foundation onto your face to distribute according to the amount that you want, then BUFF! you’ll get an air-brushed look. Unless you use too much foundation, you almost never get streaks with this but I’d still do the palm-pressing thingy just to warm up the foundation so that it settles better.
Fingers, I only use when I’m in a super duper hurry and when I’m travelling. It’s totally fine to use your fingers if your skin is in OK condition but I find that when the skin is bad, fingers makes foundation look very patchy and uneven. I also don’t like a coverage that is waay too light. For light coverage, I’d just use my BB cream and that, I use my fingers to apply. Concealers however, I always use my fingers.
I’m quite anti-sponge because it really absorbs waaay too much product but it’s quite useful to buff foundation to give it a smoother finish. I’ve learnt that wetting the sponge (then squeeze out the water) will prevent it from absorbing too much product but I’ve never really tried that.
i use brush and fingers, depending on my mood. i use a brush when i want more even coverage all over, and fingers if i just want to put foundation on certain areas only. i don’t find that using a brush wastes more foundation. maybe it depends what brush you use. sometimes using brushes can get streaky, but i second connie’s palm-press method as a fix. i’ve also tried the infamous MAC skunk brush and yarrrrr it gives a gorgeous, even, perfect finish! too bad it costs a freakin bomb!
Reeka: I use the hands over face trick to prevent streaks but I just don’t like it I guess.
Connie: Yes, I do that hands over face trick to warm up the foundation and reduce the streaks. I’ve read a lot about using skunk brushes to apply foundation. I guess I’m just not patient enough to wash my brushes everyday. But thanks for your feedback!
Jooj: I guess I just like the control fingers give although I do agree that tight corners still require some sort of tools.
The MAC’s 187 is ~RM180 if I’m not mistaken. LOL! Can definitely blow up Nagasaki. Makeup Store has a duo fiber brush as well for less: ~RM125.
I’m currently using a China brand mini stippling brush called “Malian” which I found in KLCC’s Chamelon for only RM12.90. Quality wise, it is definitely lacking because the handle is quite loose, you may get some fall-offs and the black bristles bleed like crazy. Quality aside, it does the job and I’ve fallen for skunk brushes ever since. I’ve ordered the coastalscents one which came up to RM39. It’s arriving next week and I’ll definitely review it once I’ve used it for awhile. I’ve also seen a stippling brush in Sungei Wang (I can’t remember where. one of those stalls) that was less than 50 bucks. 40+ if I remember correctly. That was actually before I knew what the brush was for.
I’d go a general application of liquid foundation with my fingers, to spread it in. And then a makeup wedge to blend it in further to those nook and crannies. I find that it gives me a more even tone that way. But no, I don’t use a brush. I find that it wastes even more foundation!
Connie: Thanks for the price breakdown.
Tine: LOL we seem to be the only 2 who thinks that way about brushes.