Makeup Brushes and Tools in Detroit

The short list that covers everything

A dense flat or buffing brush for foundation, or a damp sponge if you prefer. A fluffy brush for setting powder. A smaller angled brush for blush and contour. An angled spoolie brush for brows. One fluffy blending brush and one flat shader brush for eyes. That's six tools and it covers a complete face.

Brush or sponge for base

A brush gives more coverage and uses less product, and a dense buffing brush blends foundation into the skin rather than sitting it on top. A damp sponge gives a lighter, more skin-like finish and is better for cream products and for pressing concealer into place. A sponge must be damp; a dry one absorbs most of the product.

Washing, and why it matters

Brushes and sponges collect oil, product and bacteria, and applying that back onto skin causes breakouts that get blamed on the makeup. Wash base and concealer tools weekly, eye and powder brushes every couple of weeks, and sponges after every few uses. Warm water, gentle shampoo or brush cleanser, rinse until clear, reshape and dry flat with the bristles hanging over an edge.

Making them last

Never stand brushes bristle-down in water, which dissolves the glue in the ferrule and sheds hairs. Dry them lying flat or hanging bristles-down. Synthetic bristles work best with cream and liquid products; natural bristles hold powder better. Good brushes last many years with this care, so buying a few decent ones beats a large cheap set.

Our Detroit store

Our Detroit store is at 15221 Houston Whittier St, just off Gratiot near 7 Mile on the east side, and it's the one that handles every online pickup order. It opens at 8:45 AM every day but Sunday, with the latest closing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:15 PM. Coming from downtown or Midtown, Gratiot runs straight there; from the west side, 7 Mile or Davison to Conner is the quickest way over.