Terms of UseHow to Use a Flat Top Foundation Brush (Tips & New Techniques) Explore this Article methods 1 Foundation 2 Concealer 3 Finishing Touches Other Sections Expert Q&A Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles References Co-authored by Katya Gudaeva and Hannah Madden
Last Updated: October 14, 2020 References
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This article was co-authored by Katya Gudaeva and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Katya Gudaeva is a Professional Makeup Artist and the Founder of Bridal Beauty Agency based in Seattle, Washington. She has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years and worked with companies such as Patagonia, Tommy Bahama, and Barneys New York and with clients such as Amy Schumer, Macklemore, and Train. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 12,092 times.
Flat top foundation brushes are made specifically for applying foundation with a flawless, airbrushed finish—but did you know that you can also use your flat top brush to apply the rest of your face makeup? By using a few precise techniques and holding your brush the right way, you can do a full face of makeup using just this one brush. It might take a little practice, but you can get the hang of your flat top brush in no time!
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Foundation
1 Dab a small amount of liquid foundation onto the back of your hand. Flat top foundation brushes work the best with liquid foundation, not powder or stick. Dab a little bit of your foundation of choice onto the back of your hand to make it easier to work with.[1]XResearch source
You can apply a small dollop of foundation straight onto the brush itself, but that gives you less control over where the product goes on your skin.
Make sure you put on toner and moisturizer before you add foundation! A strong base will give you a smooth, even coverage.
2 Tap the top of your brush into the foundation. To pick up your foundation, hold your brush in one hand and lightly stipple it, or tap it, into the product. Start with less than you think you need at first, since you can always add more later.[2]XResearch source
Your foundation should just barely coat the bottom of the brush. If you use too much, your skin could end up looking cakey.
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3 Pat your brush gently on your nose, forehead, and chin. Take the brush with your foundation on it and start by lightly tapping it onto your forehead, right in between your eyebrows. Bring the brush down onto your nose (still tapping, not buffing or blending), then go down to your chin.[3]XResearch source
This area of your face is also called the T-zone, and it usually needs more coverage than the rest of your face.
Flat top foundation brushes help give you a full coverage makeup look without creating harsh lines anywhere on your face.
4 Add more foundation and pat it onto your temples and cheeks. Dip your brush back onto the back of your hand and tap more foundation onto your temples and cheeks. The goal here is just to distribute the product, not to make it look flawless, so don’t worry if you see some streaks or harsh lines just yet.[4]XResearch source
Always move from the inside of your face to the outside of your face for a full, even coverage.
5 Swipe the brush down your neck to blend your foundation. Don’t forget to drag your foundation down your neck! Use your brush in a swiping motion (not a tapping motion anymore) to bring some of the product down your jawline and onto your neck.[5]XResearch source
You don’t need to go all the way down your neck; just go about halfway to make the contrast less stark.
6 Swirl your brush across your skin to blend in any harsh lines. Take your brush and start from the center of your face again. Gently move the brush back and forth to blend the foundation into your skin.[6]X Expert Source Katya GudaevaProfessional Makeup ArtistExpert Interview Focus on any areas that look streaky, like your cheeks or your forehead, to make the foundation look smooth and flawless.[7]XResearch source
The more you blend, the lighter your foundation coverage will be. If you’re going for full coverage, don’t blend as much!
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Concealer
1 Swipe liquid concealer under your eyes, forehead, and chin. Put the concealer directly onto your skin, focusing on your undereyes and any blemishes you may have. For fuller coverage, add more concealer; for a lighter coverage, stick to just foundation or go easy on the concealer.[8]XResearch source
It’s best to put your foundation on first and then see how much more coverage you need before adding concealer. That way, you can avoid cakeyness.
A fluffy, dual-fiber brush made from both synthetic and natural bristles is perfect for blending liquid concealer—it creates thin, even layers for a more natural look.[9]X Expert Source Katya GudaevaProfessional Makeup ArtistExpert Interview
2 Blend the concealer into your skin with the brush. Grab your flat top brush and start swiping it against your skin in small circles. Focus on going from the center of your face outwards for the smoothest, most even blend.[10]XResearch source
If you need to add more concealer, you can! Just make sure you work on blending it out to avoid cakeyness.
Since flat top foundation brushes give you such an even coverage, they’re great for blending and smoothing concealer into your skin.
3 Keep blending for a lighter coverage, or stipple for a full coverage. If you’re going for a natural look, blend your concealer in a small circular motion toward the outside of your face. If you want a heavier coverage, tap the brush gently against your skin to pat it in without blending it.[11]XResearch source
You can try out which technique you like best to find the one that works for your look.
A lighter coverage is nice for going to work or out to lunch, while a full coverage is great for date night or a red carpet event.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Finishing Touches
1 Use the brush to pat powder onto your T-zone. Pat the foundation brush into your powder, then tap off the excess. Stipple, or tap, the brush onto your forehead, your nose, and your chin to apply your powder and set your foundation.[12]XResearch source
If you’re using a loose powder, like a mineral powder, just swirl the brush around in the powder until it picks up enough to use.
2 Contour with your brush by creating harsh lines, then blending. Dip the side of your flat brush into your bronzer, then swipe a harsh line down your face just beneath your cheekbone. Flip the brush to the flat side, then buff the line out in small, circular motions to blend your bronzer into your skin.[13]XResearch source
Blending out your bronzer is super important! If you don’t blend it enough, the harsh line could look a little strange on the side of your face.
If you’re going you use your brush for a different product after applying bronzer, be sure to wash it off first.
3 Pat blush onto your cheekbones. Dip your brush into a powder blush or a cream blush, then pat it onto your upper cheekbones. For a more natural look, use your brush to blend the blush into your face just slightly to even out the color and shape.[14]XResearch source
Powder blushes are a bit more subtle, while cream blushes give your cheeks a bright pop of color.
If you want to use your brush for a different product after your blush, give it a quick wash to remove any leftover product.
4 Swipe highlighter onto your nose, cheekbones, and browbones. Dip your foundation brush into your highlighter, then drag the brush down the bridge of your nose. You can also pat highlighter on top of your cheekbones and on your brow bones to accentuate your delicate features.[15]XResearch source
Now you can finish off your makeup look with eyeshadow, mascara, lip color, and setting spray!
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Expert Q&A
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Question What is a good brush to use with concealer? Katya Gudaeva Professional Makeup Artist Katya Gudaeva is a Professional Makeup Artist and the Founder of Bridal Beauty Agency based in Seattle, Washington. She has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years and worked with companies such as Patagonia, Tommy Bahama, and Barneys New York and with clients such as Amy Schumer, Macklemore, and Train. Katya Gudaeva Professional Makeup Artist Expert Answer I like to apply liquid concealer with a fluffy dual-fiber brush. That's a brush that has two different fibers, one synthetic and one natural. The fibers are different lengths, so when you apply and blend the concealer, it gives you a very thin, blended layer. Then, if you'd like, you can go over that with a damp beauty blender. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
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Tips
Wash your flat top brush every few weeks with a makeup brush cleaner. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Things You’ll Need
Foundation
Toner
Moisturizer
Liquid foundation
Concealer
Liquid concealer
Finishing Touches
Powder
Contour
Blush
Highlighter
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Co-authored by: Katya Gudaeva Professional Makeup Artist This article was co-authored by Katya Gudaeva and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Katya Gudaeva is a Professional Makeup Artist and the Founder of Bridal Beauty Agency based in Seattle, Washington. She has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years and worked with companies such as Patagonia, Tommy Bahama, and Barneys New York and with clients such as Amy Schumer, Macklemore, and Train. This article has been viewed 12,092 times. 13 votes - 68% Co-authors: 4Updated: October 14, 2020 Views: 12,092
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Co-authored by: Katya Gudaeva Professional Makeup Artist This article was co-authored by Katya Gudaeva and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Katya Gudaeva is a Professional Makeup Artist and the Founder of Bridal Beauty Agency based in Seattle, Washington. She has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years and worked with companies such as Patagonia, Tommy Bahama, and Barneys New York and with clients such as Amy Schumer, Macklemore, and Train. This article has been viewed 12,092 times. 13 votes - 68% Co-authors: 4 Updated: October 14, 2020 Views: 12,092 
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. 
471 
1 Dab a small amount of liquid foundation onto the back of your hand. Flat top foundation brushes work the best with liquid foundation, not powder or stick. Dab a little bit of your foundation of choice onto the back of your hand to make it easier to work with.[1] 
2 Tap the top of your brush into the foundation. To pick up your foundation, hold your brush in one hand and lightly stipple it, or tap it, into the product. Start with less than you think you need at first, since you can always add more later.[2] 
3 Pat blush onto your cheekbones. Dip your brush into a powder blush or a cream blush, then pat it onto your upper cheekbones. For a more natural look, use your brush to blend the blush into your face just slightly to even out the color and shape.[14] 
Katya Gudaeva Professional Makeup Artist Katya Gudaeva is a Professional Makeup Artist and the Founder of Bridal Beauty Agency based in Seattle, Washington. She has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years and worked with companies such as Patagonia, Tommy Bahama, and Barneys New York and with clients such as Amy Schumer, Macklemore, and Train.