►Characteristics and core advantages
Material characteristics:
High elasticity, wear resistance, easy to clean, suitable for cream/liquid products (foundation, concealer, lip gloss, etc.).
Limitations:
The powder holding is weaker than animal hair, not suitable for dry loose powder or matte eye shadow.
►Bristle Diameter and brush types
| Diameter（μm） | Brush type | Functions | Representatives |
| 30-50μm | Concealer brush | Firm and precise, covering acne marks and tear grooves | Real Techniques Detailer Brush（RT300） |
| 50-80μm | Tongue-shaped/flat foundation brush | High coverage, polished finish | Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki |
| 80-120μm | Cream Contouring Brush | Apply cream contouring/highlighting over large area | Morphe M439 Dense Buffer Brush |
| 120-200μm | Lip brush | Outline lips,fill in color precisely | MAC 316 Lip Brush |
| 200-300μm | Eyebrow brush/eyelash comb | Comb eyebrows,blend eyebrow cream | Anastasia Beverly Hills #7B Brush |
►Key applications and selection guide
1. Base makeup (liquid foundation, concealer)
φ50-80μm(ongue-shaped/flat brush):
Suitable for thick foundation (such as Estee Lauder DW), through quick polishing to create a seamless base makeup.
Pitfalls: Avoid too fine hair (<50μm), which is easy to leave brush marks.
Suitable for thick foundation (such as Estee Lauder DW), through quick polishing to create a seamless base makeup.
Pitfalls: Avoid too fine hair (<50μm), which is easy to leave brush marks.
2. Details (concealer, lip makeup)
φ30-50μm（Pointed concealer brush）：
After applying concealer, use the side of the brush head to tap the edges to avoid sticking (such as Nars concealer + RT300).
φ120-200μm（lip brush）
The firm bristles define the lip curve with precision and are perfect for matte lip lacquers like Pat McGrath Labs Lip Lacquer.
After applying concealer, use the side of the brush head to tap the edges to avoid sticking (such as Nars concealer + RT300).
φ120-200μm（lip brush）
The firm bristles define the lip curve with precision and are perfect for matte lip lacquers like Pat McGrath Labs Lip Lacquer.
3. Cream contour/highlight
φ80-120μm (round brush)：
After taking the paste, spread evenly on the back of hand and apply in circular motions to avoid caking (such as Fenty Beauty contour stick + Morphe M439).
After taking the paste, spread evenly on the back of hand and apply in circular motions to avoid caking (such as Fenty Beauty contour stick + Morphe M439).
►Choosing rules
“Harder ≠ Better”：
Eye concealer: choose 30-50μm (moderate softness)to avoid irritating sensitive skin.
Eyebrow brush/eyelash comb: 200μm+ (high hardness) to ensure shaping power.
Eyebrow brush/eyelash comb: 200μm+ (high hardness) to ensure shaping power.
Bristle Density:
Foundation brushes: high-density bristles (such as Sigma F80) to reduce the absorption of powder.
Concealer brushes: medium density to prevent the paste from being absorbed by the bristles.
Concealer brushes: medium density to prevent the paste from being absorbed by the bristles.
Antimicrobial coating:
For products that frequently contact with liquids (such as foundation brushes), it is recommended to choose silver ion coated bristles (such as the Artis Elite series) to inhibit bacterial growth.
►Classic combination recommendation
| Product | Synthetic fiber | Examples |
| High coverage foundation | φ70μm + Flat head with dense hair | Shu Uemura small square bottle foundation + Sigma F80 |
| Liquid blush | φ60μm + stippling brush | Glossier liquid blush + Real Techniques Stippling Brush |
| Paste highlight | φ100μm + fan brush | Fenty Beauty Killawatt Highlight stick + Morphe M458 |
►Pitfalls
Multi-functional brushes
The styles that claim to "one brush for whole face" (such as pointed + flat double-headed brushes) usually have unprofessional functions on both ends.
Ultra-fine synthetic hair (<30μm)：
Easy to split and deform (such as low-quality eyeliner brushes), so better to choose animal hair.
The styles that claim to "one brush for whole face" (such as pointed + flat double-headed brushes) usually have unprofessional functions on both ends.
Ultra-fine synthetic hair (<30μm)：
Easy to split and deform (such as low-quality eyeliner brushes), so better to choose animal hair.
Summary:
Synthetic bristles are irreplaceable in the field of liquid/paste products due to their stiffness and durability. Choosing the right brush type according to the diameter can unlock professional-grade tool efficiency!
