Makeup brushes for
re-creating yourself come in many shapes and sizes. Most makeup
artists and cosmetics companies ask the perennial question: Why
spend good money on makeup and use poor tools to apply it? A good
makeup brush can create a flawless look. Which is the right brush
for me? A specific brush is made for a specific task. Look at
your makeup collection. Look at your routine. Then, decide which
makeup brushes will help you make the most of your unique features.
Urban Apothecary stocks a complete collection of makeup
artist-tested brushes for the ultimate in luxury, durability, and
craftsmanship. Each exclusive silver pearl makeup
brush is handcrafted from top-quality natural and synthetic fibers.
Urban Apothecary uses only renewable-resource, plantation-grown wood
for its brush handles. No animals are harmed for the
purposes of making Urban Apothecary brushes.
Synthetic Makeup
Brush Bristles Synthetics are
man-made of either nylon or polyester filaments. They can be tapered,
tipped, flagged, abraded or etched to increase color carrying ability.
Often, synthetic filaments are dyed and baked to make them softer and more
absorbent. The common filament are taklon and nylon. Advantages of synthetic
brushes are: 1: They are less prone to damage from makeup and solvents. 2:
They are easier to keep clean than natural hair brushes because the
filaments don't trap or absorb pigment. 3: They are better suited for for
soft layering of powder color or cream color and concealer.
Natural Makeup
Brush Bristles
Various types of natural materials include squirrel, badger, pony and
kolinsky. Hand stacked in place for various shapes and sizes. Natural
bristles are used for layering of color with a variety of touches – from
very soft (squirrel) to firm (badger).
Badger Makeup Brushes
Stiff enough to define and shape, thin enough to fill in sparse brows.
Badger bristles provide the coarseness necessary for firm brow
feathering and a more natural-looking eyebrow pencil application.
Badger hair is an age-old tradition. It comes from various parts of the
world and is more readily available than most animal hair, although the
quality varies greatly. Badger hair is thickest at the point, and
relatively thin at the root, so it has a distinctive bushy appearance.
Capra Makeup
Brushes
Capra or goat hair makeup brushes provide optimum bristles which
basically makes it impossible to get a bad application! Like all other
hair types used for makeup brushes, they come in a wide range of quality
within its type. The softest goat hair is, known as capra, or the
first-cut with the tips still intact. This top quality bristle is
hand-made like any other high quality cosmetic brush to preserve their
precious tips. Luxuriously soft, goat hair provides a medium to
full application for both the face and body.
Kolinsky Makeup Brushes
Kolinsky makeup brushes have the best porosity for application of the
most intense, truest form of color. Kolinsky, sometimes referred to as
kolinsky sable, is not from a sable at all, but comes from the
tail of a species of mink that is a member of the weasel family found in
Siberia and northeastern China. It is generally conceded to be the best
material for precise layering of color, especially for creation of
specific gradations due to its strength, spring and ability to retain
its shape ("snap"). It holds a very fine point or edge for precise
application that is favored by professional makeup artists around the
world. This is considered a professional grade of hair, and if
properly cared for, Kolinsky will last for many years.
Pony Makeup Brushes
Pony Hair is soft but strong, from mature animals at least two years of
age. It is primarily used for blush or eye brushes. The wonderful
bristle strength and strong snap makes the bristle prefect for
contouring. The versatile bristles can s create a variety of
different captivating looks. Dampen the brush to provide opaque
coverage or use dry to create a light wash of color or a soft, foiled
effect The versatile bristles give the flexibility to achieve
dramatic matte color or a soft, smoky look. Pony makeup brushes are
often blended with other hairs such as goat.
Sable Makeup
Brushes Red Sable is
obtained from any member of the weasel family with "red" hair, not at
all from the animal known as the sable. It is found in a variety of
brush styles for many varied mediums, with quality and characteristics
varying greatly. A good quality pure red sable makeup brush is an
alternative to the more expensive Kolinsky, with slightly similar
performance and durability. Often, weasel hair is blended with ox hair
to make a more economical brush, but the fine point is sacrificed.
Squirrel Makeup Brushes The softest, gray or blue
squirrel (Talayoutky), provides a soft, natural wash of color.
Native to Russia and nearly always in short supply. Brown squirrel
(Kazan) is more readily available, and is used mainly for medium quality
makeup brushes. A very fine, thin hair, taken from squirrel tails, it
points as well as Kolinsky, but has very little "snap" because the hair
is not very resilient. It works best for contouring and blending shadows
to perfection. Perfect for detailing and for using in the
crease. It gives more definition because of the compact head.
