Brushes, and Sponges, and Tweezers, Oh My! Our selection of makeup tools can be overwhelming, but we're here to help! If you're unsure which brush goes where, or how to use a lash curler without pulling out your lashes, you're not alone. The sky's the limit when it comes to makeup tools, so we've refined our collection to bring you the most ethically sourced, high-performance tools on the market.
Welcome, to the Tool Talk! 

Do I Need A Brush For That?

Here's the truth. You can apply nearly all our foundations, concealers, blushes, and shadows with your fingers - but the right makeup brush is a game changer when looking for a more refined and polished finish (and they transfer less bacteria to your skin than your hands will). Fortunately, we just so happen to think our natural brush selection is the bee's knees. The Green Kiss promotes exclusively cruelty-free, non-toxic, ultra-soft, vegan makeup brushes to take your natural makeup application to the next level. Buff in your foundation, dust on your bronzer, blend in your concealer and sweep shadow over your eyes for a flawless streak-free finish. Happy brush browsing! 

Brush Breakdown By Product

We tend to take a less-is-more approach when it comes to makeup consultations. The baking, caking, and countless hours down a makeup contouring and sculpting YouTube rabbit hole is ... not our vibe. So we have become masters at short-cutting our skincare routines and makeup applications for a snappy no-makeup-makeup look worthy of the red carpet. Fortunately, our high-performance clean beauty products are up to the challenge, and the right brush gives an end result akin to hours spent in the makeup chair. 

Liquid Foundation - for light coverage, look for longer, fluffier bristles; for fuller coverage, short, dense bristles are the way to go. Your choice! GK ProTip: Avoid bristle marks and achieve a poreless finish by holding your brush so it hits your skin at a right angle, not slanted, and buff in a circular motion. Perhaps you're considering a bristle-free alternative? A good makeup blender gives an airbrushed finish, is excellent for buffing out bristle marks, and allows for a foolproof foundation application. Our latex-free makeup sponge is dense enough to avoid soaking up your product. Use the pointed side for hard-to-reach corners around the nose and eyes, and use the rounded side as a larger surface to apply foundation to cheeks, chin and forehead. Your makeup sponge has a lifespan of around three months. 

Pressed Foundation and Cream Blushes - a good kabuki brush (i.e. super dense bristles) packs a punch when applying a pressed foundation or when blending in a cream blush.

Concealer - a concealer brush uses a delicate bristle on the most delicate of areas, blending in your liquid or cream concealer for spot and scar coverage or covering dark under eye circles.

Powdered Blush, Bronzer and Setting Powder - when applying your natural powdered blush, bronzer, or setting powder, look for a brush with long bristles that will disperse your product evenly across the face and along the jawline.

Eyeshadow - a tapered pencil-style brush is essential for an effortless smokey eye, perfect shadow placement and soft lash line blending. Our shadow brushes are intentionally shaped to hug the contour of your brow bone when applying shadow in the crease of your eye. 

Brows - whether you fluff, feather, or laminate, to style your brows with a pomade or pencil, start with a comb-through using the round spoolie side, then use the brush side to accentuate brows with your product. A final comb-through with the spoolie gives a more natural-looking brow. A good set of tweezers and carefully designed scissors play a role in giving TikTok-worthy brows.

Lashes - help your mascara reach its full potential by curling and lifting your lashes like a pro with an easy-to-use lash curler. To avoid ripping out your lashes or accidentally pinching your eyelid, always use your lash curler on clean, dry lashes, tilt your head back and use a mirror! Follow with your favourite mascara. GK ProTip: This skinny cruelty-free eyeliner brush fits perfectly into your mascara tube, allowing the formula to double as a liquid liner. The hero we didn't know we needed!

Why We Choose Synthetic Bristles Over Animal Hair

Animal cruelty is NOT our jam (no shocker there). That aside, animal hair makeup brushes have some pretty apparent disadvantages. Here's why we think synthetic makeup brushes take the industry lead: They are great for effectively applying makeup where you need it. They use less product overall than animal hair brushes because they're not porous. And they keep the sniffles away - animal hair makeup brushes can cause allergic reactions to those susceptible (ick!). Their leading edge? Synthetic brushes have a much longer lifespan. It's a no-brainer, right?

How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes In 3 Simple Steps:

1. Wet: Run your makeup brush under room temperature water. Avoid soaking your brush - if given too much time, the water will weaken the glue and ruin the hardwood handles. 
2. Sudz: Gently massage soap into the bristles using your fingertips, or swirl the wet bristles into soap on the palm of your hand, gently working into a lather to loosen product buildup. Rinse your brush under the tap until the water runs clear. Natural dish soap or a non-stripping, sulphate-free shampoo are great at cutting oils and lifting makeup ingredients. We also love washing our brushes with the Kaia Naturals Underarm Bar. Its natural blend of activated charcoal and apple cider vinegar effectively lifts makeup residue and purifies bristles. 
3. Dry: Shake your brush a few times, holding it by the handle, then lay it flat on a clean towel or position the bristles hanging over the edge of your sink or countertop to dry. If you need same-day use, use a hair dryer on the cool setting. Make sure the brush is completely dry before putting it away. To store: avoid a drawer where your brush is likely to rattle around with products, causing bacteria to transfer. Any small upright container will do, or go for something more aesthetically pleasing with a shallow stoneware milk jug or speckled ceramic cup. 

How Often Should I Clean My Makeup Brushes?

Weekly! More, if you're acne-prone. Using a dirty makeup brush, or sharing one with someone else, is a great way to spread bacteria onto the skin and cause breakouts. Regular brush cleaning is essential in your clean beauty routine to keep skin healthy and makeup application smooth. 

Time To Toss?

Synthetic makeup brushes have a 2-3 year lifespan (far longer than their animal hair counterparts), but how do you know when it's time to retire a brush? Let's do a quick quality check. Are the bristles shedding? Is the brush not rinsing clean, no matter how often you wash it? Has it developed a musky smell? It's time to bid them farewell. 

Visit us for your customized skincare consultation and ask us how beauty tools can improve your routine.