Unless you are the owner of a salon or are a hair stylist, you will probably not be aware of all the tools of the profession. Makeup brushes, for instance, come in all sorts of make and uses. The basic brush is the powder brush. A large, full brush, it is designed to apply loose powder so it does not cake on the skin. A foundation brush has flat bristles; it is used to apply liquid or cream evenly.

There are also brushes for blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, and lipstick. These brushes are designed for precise application. It takes special skill to be able to handle these brushes expertly. Most people will buy only the brushes that they need individually. Others will be more exacting and will want to buy a set of all the brushes in one package.