Dear Meg,

Whenever I go to makeup stores, I always get dumbstruck with all the brushes. There are too many for me! It’s hard to distinguish one makeup brush from another, much more finding out what each one is for. Do I really need all of it? Thank you in advance! –True, 24

Dear True,

Picking out makeup brushes is really tricky, especially when you have zero idea on their specific uses. There are five essential brushes to keep in your kit: powder, blush, eyeshadow, lip and brow. A powder brush is usually dome-shaped, has natural bristles and is usually the biggest one in the range. It is similar to a blush brush which is a smaller version but with a round shape, as it is designed for the apples of the cheeks. An eyeshadow brush is also important, especially when creating a smoky eye. It should be flat, stiff and made with natural hair since the eye area is sensitive. For perfectly-defined puckers, using a lip brush is a key step. Choose one with synthetic fiber to make application easier. Add a brow brush to the list. While it is undoubtedly the most underrated brush, it helps a lot in defining the shape of brows. It has the same shape as the eyeshadow brush, only slightly smaller. With these five brushes, you’ll definitely be able to create more makeup looks. Have fun!