Oct 18

Why do they use Camel Hair in my Makeup Brushes?

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Why do they use Camel Hair in my Makeup Brushes?

So are you curious if a Camel hair brush is really made out of Camel hair?  Well you will be happy to know its not!  Camel Hair is the beauty industries trade term which is used to describe brushes that are made from a mixture of squirrel, goat and or pony hair!
 
Here are some other interesting information on brushes and the hair that is used when creating them.

SQUIRREL MIX OR BLENDS

Squirrel mix cosmetic brushes or squirrel blends makeup brushes are made from squirrel hair that have been mixed with other hair types, thereby providing a less expensive alternative to pure squirrel makeup brushes.  Don’t worry we aren’t talking about Sammy the squirrel that runs around in your backyard! The hair for these brushes comes from long haired squirrels.  Cosmetic brushes made from squirrel mix or squirrel blends, can contain a variety of ‘mixes’ or ‘blends’ of different types of hair and in different proportions. Most common hair types used in the squirrel mix makeup brushes are goat hair and/or pony hair. Pure squirrel hair is ideal for blending heavy pigment, which is why it is commonly found in eye shadow brushes.

 

SYNTHETIC

Synthetic ‘hair’ is not real hair, but polymer filaments made to look and
act like hair.  These are available in a variety of diameters, lengths,
colors, stiffness’s, and qualities. It is an affordable substitute for sable, and are not as absorbent as natural hair brushes. Synthetic brushes are wonderful for those that have allergies and want an extremely affordable and soft alternative to Sable.

 

PONY

Pony hair is typically from the mane of young horses (ponies) or the shaved underbelly of the horse.  It is very soft and fine hair, and is typically used in traditional Cosmetic Brushes such as a fluffy ceek, contour or powder brushes where dense color deposits are needed.  The finest-quality pony hair is excellent for blending and is used in the hair-mixtures of inexpensive brushes, typically referred to as ‘camel hair’ brushes.

 

BADGER
High-quality badger hair is light and dark brown color, while the lower-quality badger hair is gray and is commonly found in shaving brushes. Although badger hair is extremely firm, it is also very soft and has an elastic quality so it will never scratch your face. Badger hair has the firmest bristles, which makes it ideal for eyebrow brushes, fan brushes, bronzer brushes and for everyday grooming.  Be sure to keep your badger hair brushes clean at all times!

 

GOAT

Goat hair is very soft, has minimal resilience, and is inexpensive. Goat hair or ‘Capra’ is, another decent quality hair for use in brushes and less costly than other natural hair types. Goat hair is also believed to be the most effective hair to pick up mineral powder and deposit it smoothly. It is also ideal for buffing and blending, since goat hair naturally brings luster to the skin.

SABLE AND KOLINSKY SABLE
There are three types of sable brushes: Kolinsky is the highest quality, then red sable and then just plain sable. Kolinsky Sable is an animal found in the cold regions of China and Russia. It is a species of mink and a member of the weasel family. Makeup brushes that are created from this animal fur are the finest, softest and the most expensive. The color of Kolinsky sable is typically golden brown. Sable is popular because the hair is very resilient, and it snaps back in place. When purchasing sable brushes you need to think of them as an investment.  If you take care of them properly they will last a lifetime!

I hope this gives you some insight on what hairs are used in your brushes and why.  If you have any questions please feel free to email me!

 

Check out our line of Brushes and Beauty Tools Here!

Dedicated to Your Beauty,

 De Nelson
 Owner 
 Mineral Silk and
 Balance Skin Care

Written by DeAnna Nelson from Mineral Silk Mineral Makeup

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Oct 02

Makeup tools, which ones do I really need?

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 Makeup tools, which ones do I really need?

So you are still wondering what brushes you really need to purchase to get that perfect application when applying Mineral Makeup?  Well, to be honest you can get by with just three basic brushes if you need to. Of course it’s always fun to have a few extra brushes to play with! But, here are the three main brushes that you will want to invest in for starters!

The Kabuki - Real or synthetic hair, mini or large its all a personal decision.  Just be sure the brush hairs feel dense and the bristles are not too stiff.  I prefer the synthetic brushes as they are much softer on my sensitive skin and apply the minerals very well. Kabukis will typically give you a medium to full coverage in the least amount of steps.  I know what you are thinking too, synthetic brushes shed hairs and fall apart so quickly!  That was true just a few years ago but, today we have much better quality brushes that dont shed, and actually will last longer than natural hair brushes!
 
A Concealer Brush -  These are typically synthetic bristle brushes. They do not absorb as much as a natural hair brush so they are great for applying a liquid or dry concealer. My daughters like to mix some of their lotion along with a concealer to create their own liquid concealer.  They use the brush to apply the concealer to areas that have had breakouts and are slightly drier than the rest of their skin.  This is my favorite brush for applying my concealer to all those broken blood vessels that keep popping up as I get older.  

A Blush or Finishing Powder Brush - I typically use my Tapered Cheek Brush to apply my blush and then dip it into my Satin Finishing Silk to finish my daytime makeup routine.  If you dont have a Tapered Cheek or some other blush brush you can always use the Flawless Face or similar type of brush. Don’t worry about using the same brush for more than one thing, as long as there is not too much sheen in a product, brushes can be used for many different applications. 

So those are the three basic must have brushes in my opinion.  Some other brushes or tools you will want to eventually invest in are: 

Tweezers - Just spend the extra couple of dollars to get the good one! Well, unless you’re prone to losing them like my daughter. But, a good tweezer will get those fine little hairs and save you so much more money in the long run compared to waxing. Besides, waxing breaks down the collagen around the eyes and makes those droopy lids appear much faster than any of us want!

Eyelash Curler -  This is a must for me!  I have stick straight, white eyelashes that stick out like a sore thumb!  A quick curl and a coat of mascara will make your eyes pop and create a totally finished look to your makeup. Dont invest in the heated eyelash curlers they are harsh on your eyelashes just like a straightening iron and sometimes if used inncorrectly can cause burns to the eyelids.  My eyes tear up just thinking about it!

Eye Brow Brush/Comb -   Yes you need to tame those monsters! The comb is great when you need to hold the hairs that need to be trimmed instead of plucked and the brush works great when dipped in minerals to fill in those sparse areas that have been overplucked!

Eye Shadow Brush - Yes, I said brush.  Sponge applicators are ok for shadows that have tons of glitter but, brushes work just as well if not better!  You may choose to have a few different shapes and sizes as well.  I like using the Wet/Dry Brush for all over application and the Smudge Brush for getting into the crease of my eye.  Each brush has a specific job, but you can get by with one good quality brush to start with.  

Eye Liner Brush  -  Whether it is a Thin Liner, a Flat Liner or a Line and Smudge everyone needs a little definition to their eyes.  Find a brush that is comfortable in your hand at all angles and lining will be a quick and easy task! If you like a thicker line or cat eyes try a Lip Liner Brush.  It makes drawing the line much easier in one quick swoop.

 

Fan Brush - Fan brushes are nice but, not absolutely necessary. They remove loose eye shadow from under the eyes without streaking and can be used for applying Bronzers or Finishing Powders that contain a slight amount of sheen.

 

Alright, those are the basics of brushes. Just be sure to buy quality brushes the first time, so you dont have to keep investing in a new brush every few months. It will actually save you big money in the long run!

Next time I will go over the different hair types used in makeup brushes. In the mean time here’s a question for you.  Is a Camel hair brush really made out of Camel hair and if so what part of the camel do they get it from?

Dedicated to Your Beauty, De Nelson
 Owner 
 Mineral Silk and
Balance Skin Care

Written by DeAnna Nelson from Mineral Silk Mineral Makeup

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