Kabuki is a type of traditional Japanese theater that involves drama, dance, song, and elaborate costumes and makeup. The aesthetic often involves a solid white coat of face makeup as a base, followed by dramatic designs with black, red, and other colors. Taking its name from this classic art form, the multifunctional kabuki brush is used to apply a variety of different types of face makeup from powder to liquid. What makes it unique from other makeup brushes is its design, purpose, and bristle density.
With longer, finer, and more loosely packed bristles, you use powder brushes for applying compact powder and dusting on loose powder makeup. The kabuki brush can work for powders, too, but its fuller brush design makes it a top choice for liquid foundation and cream makeup. Often (but not always), kabuki brushes may have a shorter handle, which is then bound to a group of smaller, fuller, and more densely packed bristles than the average powder brush. What is a kabuki brush used for? This unique brush style can support the weight and consistency of a variety of makeup types, making it ideal for full-face coverage and touchups. With this tool, you can apply a base, add layers, buff, and blend like a beauty blender sponge.
While the original brush design featured a rounded shape, the range of available brush shapes has grown, each with its own purpose.
Round: Use a round brush head for sweeping, full-face coverage with liquid, cream, or powder foundation, and setting powder.
Angled: The slope of an angled brush gives you the perfect diagonal line for contouring and getting into hard-to-reach areas.
Dome: Bristles in a gently tapered dome shape easily grab onto powdered highlighter, blush, and bronzer, ideal for patting or swirling onto the skin.
Flat Top: The flat top brush makes a great tool for buffing, blending, and sculpting with liquid and powder makeup.
Depending on the type of makeup you’re using and the overall look you’re going for, the techniques you’ll use will vary. For starters, when applying your base layer, you’ll want to use the kabuki brush to blend your liquid or cream foundation over your face in a circular motion for even, buildable coverage without pesky streaks. You might use a stippling or dabbing method for under your eyes or reaching around your nose. For powder foundations, a gentle sweeping will give you light, natural-looking coverage. To contour, use deliberate strokes to apply your contouring shades to specific areas of the face like the cheekbones and jawline. Then, use those small, circular swirls to seamlessly buff the contour lines in with your foundation.
Just like other makeup tools, kabuki brushes also need regular cleaning. To keep your brush working efficiently and get rid of bacteria build-up that can cause breakouts, it’s important to stay on top of your cleaning routine. If you use your kabuki brush for liquid and cream products, you’ll need to clean it more frequently, once every week. If you only use it for powder, you can go up to two weeks between washings. Follow the easy steps below to properly clean your brushes.
Step 1: While keeping the silver metal wrap DRY, wet the brush's bristles with lukewarm water.
Step 2: Add a dime-sized amount of cleanser to the palm of your hand.
Step 3: Swirl bristles around in your palm with cleanser until fully saturated.
Step 4: Place bristles under warm water and rinse until water runs clear. Be sure to keep the silver metal wrap dry at all times while rinsing.
