Discover the Secret to Flawless Foundation

and it’s not your makeup… it’s how you apply it!

If you’ve been looking for the right tool to get flawless foundation, the Beauty Junkees Flat Top Kabuki Makeup Brush will be your new best friend. This brush dates back to the 1600s, when it was used in traditional Japanese Kabuki theaters to create elaborate faces for the stage. The makeup brushes were a part of a very careful ritual, and their large, flat shapes, and dense construction made them perfect for covering the actors’ faces with makeup so that the skin obtained a very pore-less appearance. Today we refer to the look as “air brushed” and we use these brushes in every day makeup application.

Although we think these brushes are fantastic, we know they aren’t the only type of foundation brush on the market. So we put together this guide to help explain why a kabuki brush should be a part of your makeup bag.

Why Use a Flat Top Kabuki Foundation Brush?

The biggest draw of a flat top kabuki foundation brush is the fact that you can get perfectly soft and dewy skin that appears totallyporeless. It’s perfect for buffing liquid or powder foundation into the skin and giving it a picture-perfect polish. If you want that celebrity skin that always appears flawless, this is the perfect foundation brush.

“If you’re using a flat foundation brush (one of those ones that looks like a paintbrush), try this instead and I guarantee you’ll never use another foundation brush again. This one leaves absolutely no streaks and it buffs foundation seamlessly into the skin, giving a beautiful airbrushed, perfectly blended finish.” Jen, The Budget Beauty Blog

Kabuki Brush Buying Guide

There are multiple types of kabuki brushes, but the flat top is our preference because it gives you an even distribution of makeup. It also sets powder better than rounded brushes. You can also find round, tapered, and angled kabuki brushes, which fall into this category due to their dense construction.

To find a quality flat top kabuki foundation brush, you need to look for something that is soft, dense, and has no bristle fallout whatsoever. It’s best to choose a brush that is not made from animal hair because they can absorb makeup over time, which makes them less hygienic. Our bristles are vegan-friendly synthetic taklon, which is extremely soft and dense, as well as durable.

Your comfort depends entirely on the handle of the brush. You can find shorter handles that are a bit fuller to grip easier, or long handles for more reach. We find that solid wood is a great choice for durability.

Related: Get Flawless Results with the Tapered Kabuki Brush

How to Use a Flat Top Kabuki Foundation Brush

STEP 1: The best way to use a kabuki brush is to start with your fingers. Apply the foundation to your face in dots with your hands, or use a regular foundation brush to do this step.

STEP 2: Then blend outwards, again with your hands or a standard brush, till you get a decently even face. The reason for starting this way is because the dense bristles of the kabuki brush will soak up the foundation and become very hard to clean. If you get the makeup settled onto your skin a bit first, it becomes much easier.

STEP 3: Now that your foundation is all over your face, you can use the kabuki brush to polish the foundation into a flawless finish. Blend with small, rounded motions. It’s best to use the brush very lightly – the goal is to get a very even, smooth finish; not to push the makeup into your skin.

TIP: You can also use the brush to set powder in the same way, using small rounded motions.

How to Care for a Kabuki Brush

The best way to keep your kabuki brush looking great and working perfectly long term is to do a deep cleaning once per week. This isn’t as time intensive as it may sound.

STEP 1: First, just hold the bristles face down under warm running water so that any excess makeup can start to be rinsed out. Do this till the water is almost clear, and then squeeze out the excess water.

STEP 2: Next, add a dime-sized amount of mild soap and olive oil to your palm and rub the bristles in a circular motion on your palm as you are still holding the brush upside down under the running water. Don’t press upwards into the brush, just massage with the brush.

STEP 3: When the water is running clear once again, squeeze out any excess water and allow the brush to air dry in an open room. That’s it!

Related: How to Care for Makeup Brushes

Pro Tips and Unique Tricks

We’ve told you how you can use a flat top kabuki foundation brush to apply foundation and powder. But did you know that this brush can actually replace almost any other type of face applicator that you have? Kabuki brushes can also be used for bronzer, blush, highlighter, and blending. Here’s how to make this brush work for you with each of these products.

Bronzer: Load the kabuki brush with a small amount of bronzer and tap it to remove any excess powder. Swirl the brush over the back of your hand or wrist to make sure that you aren’t applying too much to the face – remember, these dense bristles pick up a lot of makeup. Next, using swirling motions, apply the bronzer to your face by starting by the hairline at the temples and moving down and inwards. Do the same type of motion anywhere you would place bronzer, the hollows of your cheeks, temples, forehead, jawline and down the sides of the nose.

Blush: Follow the same loading technique for blush, and swirl the product onto the apples of your cheeks for a beautiful glow.

Highlighter: Once again, load the brush in the same manner, sweep the product across the top of the cheekbones in a back and forth motion moving towards the tail of the brow, up on the brow bone stopping just before the arch of the brow creating a small “C” shape. Continue to sweep down the bridge of the nose, on the tip of the nose and the cupid’s bow.

Blending: To blend with a kabuki brush, use it the same way you would when applying foundation. Once your makeup is in place, use small and light circular motions to blend effortlessly.

Related: How to Get Those Sculpted Cheekbones

Transform Your Look

The next time you’re in need of a flawless face, consider that your makeup may not be living up to its full abilities. Having the right tools can make a huge difference in the way your products look. The soft and dense bristles of a flat top kabuki foundation brush create that picture-perfect finish you want.

We made the list of the 10 Best Foundation Brushes for a Flawless Face! CHECK IT OUT HERE…

More Great Foundation Makeup Resources

How to Pick the Right Foundation

Pros and Cons of Different Types of Foundation

17 Tips You Need to Know If You Wear Foundation