4 SUPER FAST HACKS COURTESY OF YOUR KABUKI BRUSH

Brayden Olson, design by Katja Cho

Kabuki brushes are a makeup-bag staple. Just ask Kylie Jenner. You probably have one, and you probably use it like you think you're supposed to: To apply loose powder. Which is totally fine. But there's a whole *world* of awesome beauty tricks that little tool can do.

Here, four ways your most neglected brush will become your favorite go-to

Brayden Olson

The Steps

Brayden Olson

• Spray the kabuki with your hairspray of choice we're loving Oribe Superfine Hair Spray, 3-5 inches away from the bristles.

• Smooth over stubborn fly aways, letting the dense bristles stick it to 'em without disrupting the already-styled texture of your hair. It will not only polish your look, but the stray strands will no longer distract from your makeup.

Brayden Olson

The Kabuki pictured is Jenner's go-to: Tarte Airbuki Bamboo Powder Foundation Brush


Apply Liquid Foundation *Really* Quickly

Brayden Olson

The Steps

Brayden Olson

• Squeeze some foundation onto the back of your hand, dip your kabuki brush into the formula, and quickly map out your coverage by dabbing on medium-sized circles of product with your brush.

• Blend the foundation in a circular motion, which will buff it into the skin as opposed to the striking/swiping motion of a standard flat brush. "Its size makes for a quick application because it covers a larger portion of the face, while its bristles pick up more product," explains makeup artist Rommy Najor. "Overall, it's a faster application with great coverage."

Brayden Olson

Editors' Note: A dome-shaped kabuki, like Make Up For Ever's 124 Powder Kabuki Brush, is the way to go for optimal blending.
 

Create an Actually Natural-Looking Contour

Brayden Olson

The Steps

Brayden Olson

• Using a kabuki that's tapered at the tip, press one side of it into the contour powder, forming a crescent-moon of product on the bristles. Then, lightly tap the brush. "It picks up much more powder than a fluffy brush, so be very sparing with the amount you're picking up," says Najor.

• With the tip of the brush facing towards the ear, lightly swoop along the cheekbone, but remember as a rule of thumb: don't exceed where the cheek alines with the outer corner of the eye.

 If there's too much pigment, clean off the brush and simply buff/blend the pigment—kabukis thrive in this arena!

Brayden Olson

Make Your Shoulders Look Insanely Amazing

Brayden Olson

The Steps

Brayden Olson 

• Swirl the brush in the illuminating highlight of your choice and feel free to be a bit more liberal with how much pigment you pick up as you're working with a much larger surface area.

• Warm up your dull winter skin by sweeping the kabuki along the décolletage, tops of the shoulders, and the collarbone in small, circular motions. Buff, buff, and then buff some more!

source: Marie Claire