The Fan Brush -- a Must-Have Makeup Tool

The fan brush should be in every woman's makeup kit, but many women don't have one, and of those that do, many don't know what they're for, or rarely use it. A fan brush has a boatload of uses, and once you try it, you'll never give it up. The photo shows a Smashbox fan brush from a seasonal collection; nearly every cosmetic company has a fan brush in their line, or you can get a less expensive (but usually just as good) one at a drug store or major discount chain store.

Apply Facial Treatments
One often over-looked trick is to use the fan brush to apply masks, peels, or other facial treatments. Instead of using your fingers, put a small amount of the product into a small container (like the cover of the jar), and use the fan brush to apply it evenly all over your face. The fan brush lets you get more even coverage, and also uses far less than you'd use with finger application. Your jar of product will last nearly twice as long. Be sure to clean the brush after each use of this type!

Brush Off Eye Shadow Crumbs
It can be hard to apply eye shadow and mascara without having bits of powder shadow or bits of mascara drop to your cheeks. One solution is to do your eye make-up first, so that you can wash the stray make-up off. For those of us who prefer to do the eyes last, the fan brush, used with a light hand, can brush those flecks right off without smearing them. You gotta love that.

Apply Powder Foundation
Whether you're using a powdered mineral foundation, a foundation with bits of gold, or a baked foundation , apply it with a fan brush. The fan brush gives you far more control over how much you use and where you use it than the large "kabuki" or "face" types. You can layer for more foundation, or apply one or two coats for an even and natural look.

Blush Application
Although I've raved about angled brush blushes elsewhere, the fan brush is another perfect tool for applying blush. The brush picks up less color than an angled or blush brush, and makes it easy to apply it where you want to. One or two sweeps give you a natural look for day, or layer on more for a glam evening look.

Bronzer Application
Like blush, bronzer can be applied easily with a fan brush. The best use of bronzers is to sweep them lightly across those parts of the face that the sun would hit the most: the cheekbones; the nose; the chin; and above the brows and along the hairline. Again, the fan brush lets you pick up a smaller amount of product so that you can keep the application light. If you want it darker, layer on more color.

Powder Application
Powder to set your make-up is the last step in make-up application for many women, and the fan brush is ideal for this. Brushing a fine layer of powder over your face with a fan brush will set your make-up, and you won't have that "powdered" look that your grandmother did.

So, put your fan brush to work! And if you don't have one, what are you waiting for?