The Sephora employee who recommended this brush to me, specifically said to use rubbing alcohol to clean it, instead of brush cleaner. I just got it so I haven't tried either, but that's what they told me.

For deep clean, I use Enkore's deep cleaning method.(every 2 weeks, i only use it 2 times a week)
For regular clear (after each use), I use spay on brush cleaser. (Enkore's homemake brush cleaser fomula works just as great as MAC's brush cleanser)

NO reason to use any fancy or expensive brush cleaner on this one—it's synthetic so you cannot dry the hairs out much at all. I like to use Palmolive or Dawn dish soap in it, as these strong detergents really cut the foundation out of the bristles quickly and thoroughly; this is the kind of detergent you would be crazy to use on natural bristle brushes, like my many MAC brushes—it's too drying and harsh for animal hairs, but ideal for these synthetic bristles. Baby shampoo works well too (people generally think baby shampoo is mild, and baby shampoo is NOT mild, it simply contains anti-tear chemicals that make us think it is gentle. Baby shampoo is just as harsh of cleaner as many other soaps—don't use it on your natural bristles MU brushes!!)

I use a plain ol bar of Dove soap to clean my brushes. I rub the brushes across the bar, lather, rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. You can buy specially made cleansers for brushes but why spend the money.

i use johnson & johnson baby wash. its very gentle and cleans well.

Every few days (3 or so), I put foaming hand wash in my palm and swirl the brush in it in a few times. I do it for all my brushes. It seems to do a great job, and its easy. My brushes aren't any less soft or anything. As long as you use a pretty mild cleanser (I prefer foaming for some reason), you should be good.

Use baby shampoo for all big brushes. You can also use brush cleanser. Make sure to always hold your brush bristles side down so the water does not get into the metal part and start rusting the handle. :)

I use the Sephora Anti-Bacteria brush cleaner in between uses and use the Sephora Shampoo Cleaner when I deep clean my brushes once a month. This will keep your brushes in great condition.

many SA's will give you different opinions. But the makeup artist at Sephora told me I can use it on ANY type of foundation. I let her know that other SA's told me not to use it with MUFE mat velvet, and she let everyone know that it's okay to use with any type of foundation.

I have used the #55 brush with thick foundations like Hourglass and Alexandra de Markoff creme foundation which is a thick custardy type foundation (you can turn the container upside down and the foundation won't fall out). It works fine with both. Have also used it with MUFE HD and currently use it with Nars Sheer Glow. It does work beautifully with all these foundations, but you will have to wash the brush 2 times per week or 3 if you're very fussy. But, this brush will dry very fast within hours. If you do it at night, the next morning it will be dry and or if in the morning, it will be dry that night. It actually dries in about half a day. It fluffs up perfectly back to pre purchase condition. I use baby shampoo to clean it.

The consistency of Colorstay isn't the issue. The quick-dry formula will gum up the brush. I tried it with Revlon and Loreal and got the same result.

Yes! That's what I use it for now and it's great for blending it out and concealing.

I don't know, I use a tinted moisterizer. I think the stippling brush would be better when applying this foundation. You can try this brush and see if it works, if it doesn't you can always take it back.

I use this brush with Clinique liquid foundation,and it goes on flawlessly! would think it would do the same for any other liquid makeup.

Definitely #55 Air Brush. I bought the large stippling brush when the SA told me it was the best for liquid foundation. It was sheer coverage, the bristles fell out, it smelled, and I don't love the two types of bristles. I went back to exchange it for this and I am the happiest person in the world. With this brush, the foundation stays on the tips of the bristles so you get more makeup and more coverage. It blends on your face so smoothly. The best purchase ever.

Definately this one.(I tried them both) The tapered head does a lot better job than flat top stillping brush.

The airbrush hands down. I used to use a stippling brush and recently changed and am completely pleased!

I got the same results as with stippling brushes I tried. But the bristles are a bit softer on this brush and hairs do not fall out!

Definitely the air brush.

I have zero experience with a stipple brush, but the airbrush left my skin looking as if I used a primer. My pores seemed smaller. I had no streaks and the coverage from my tinted moisturizer was incredibly even.

Don't forget to use a primer before you apply the foundation. The primer (like Benefit's porefessional) will minimize your pores, so when you apply the foundation with the brush it will look flawless. Good luck!

One of the make-up artists in the store showed me how to use this. I apply a small amount of foundation directly to the brush and briefly dab the brush on the area I am applying the foundation to so the foundation settles in to the brush. Then I just swirl the brush around to blend (like they demonstrate on the commercials for applying mineral foundations). I repeat these steps for each area of my face and layer the coverage where needed. Oh, and if you dab the brush (versus swirling it), you can blend hairlines, jawlines, etc. Hope this helps!

Best way to use this is, take a drop of foundation, and place it on the back of your hand. Then pat drops onto your face using your index finger, ousting the opposite hand, then using your brush, blend the dots together to even the makeup.the brush will look very messy but it evens out the fundation. Best thing tomdomis go,to a professional makeup counter at sephora or blooms and watch the pros. They'll teach you and this is a great brush series.

I don't believe it's the brush that's making your pores look bigger, I think it's the amount of foundation you're putting on it. try building on layers to get more coverage. How i use this brush is in circular light rotations across my face. I make little circles on trouble areas. holding the brush by the end. The closer you hold your brush, the harder you will be pushing on it; the more product you will be putting on your face. More product doesn't mean a smother complexion. Remember less is more, and build, build, build. best of luck.

swirl the brush as you apply your foundation, don't swipe. apply a setting powder afterwards, like MUFE's translucent setting powder.

Not sure if this will help . . . don't know what sort of foundation you're using but it might have something to do with pores showing. I use mine with a tinted moisturizer, I apply in small circles.

Sure it will work with heavier creme foundations, no problem. HOWEVER, these heavier cremes (I've mainly used LM's Creme Smooth and Silk creme) is not where this brush excels. These thicker foundations tend to "bog" this brush down, and clump the many finer bristles together, negating much of this brushes magic finish. This brush REALLY does shine, IME, with thinner consistency liquid foundations, that allow the bristles to be kept separate and do their magic with the airbrushed like finish. Honestly, with thicker creme foundations, I have found traditional brushes, or the the MAC #130 (which stipples cremes well), or a sponge with a stippling motion, to give the best results; the thicker creme based foundations really are NOT geared toward an airbrushed finish—instead look to them for more heavy coverage, and, unfortunately, a more cakey appearance; it's just the "nature of the beast". When talking about an airbrushed finish, really the ideal situation is liquid foundation stippled or buffed on younger skin. But with patience and a MAC #130, or a sponge, and a stippling motion and patience, very nice finishes with heavier creme foundations are possible (but while in a hurry to get to work is not the ideal time for this!)

I use it with MUFE Hi Def foundation which is a liquid. Works wonders!

I use it primarily with cream Dermablend, but it works with liquid foundation too.

I have this brush and use it with my liquid foundation, and tinted moisturizer. I find that the lighter the make up product, the better I like the coverage the brush gives.

Absolutely!

I use it with powder foundation and it's better than any of the BE brushes I've tried. The bristles are super soft and don't leave any extra powder behind-- totally flawless!

Yes, I was told by a sephora sales person that it works well with both powder and liquid products. I have personally only used it for liquid foundation so far, but i think this brush would work really well for powder, it is shaped a lot like a powder brush.

Yes, it is perfect.

I use this brush for bare minerals finishing powder, and it works amazing! I don't think it should only be used for liquid. I use for a variety of things!

I use it for my Laura Mercier mineral powder foundation, and I think it works great. It is a very good quality brush, so it is worth a try. You can always ask about their return policy first if you are unsure.

I don't see why you couldn't use it for blush or bronzer, but it might not be the best. I would use it for blush over bronzer though - I personally prefer a fluffier brush for bronzer.
I use this to apply cream blushes, but since I only have 1 I can't use it to apply my liquid foundation and then to apply my powder blush.
Even if you use all powder products, i think this would be a great brush to have in your arsenal.

I have used this brush to apply blush and bronzer, and think it's great! I use it as a multi-purpose brush.

I use it to apply powder blush and find the application to be light and natural.

I use it to apply my loose mineral foundations and my bronzer. A Sephora consultant used it on me in the store and she used it for everything (foundation/bronzer/blush) - she just washed it inbetween each application.

I think this applies a light layer of powder, so it's good for very pigmented blushes that you don't want to deposit too much on your face. Therefore, if you want to use it for powder, it would be if you wanted to dust on a very light layer of powder, perhaps an illuminating one. But if you want a thicker layer that acts almost like a powder foundation, then a kabuki would be better.

Yes. It is perfect.

I've used this brush with several different tinted mosturizers, and it works great. The coverage will be a little sheer, but the brush allows you to build coverage effortlessly.

Yes, definitely.

I use it to apply my Studio Gear tinted moisturizer and it does a fantastic job.

Yes - I got a sample size of that product from Sephora and this brush worked great with it (and I normally use it with a Mary Kay tinted moisturizer - perfect).

When I went to the store, the Sephora artists applied my liquid and powder foundation using this same brush for each. I've also used it to apply some of my powder foundation with no trouble.

Yes. I use it for setting powder and bronzer, it works great.

I was told by a Sephora sales person that it can be used for both powder and liquid products. Having used this product I think it will work well with powder.

Yes, I have used it for loose powder after applying liquid foundation and it works great. I am not sure about just straight powder (no foundation first), but I would imagine it works well that way too

Depends on the coverage you are looking for...it will only give very light coverage with powders. If you are looking to use this with a translucent setting powder I think it would work just fine but if you are using a powder foundation that you want full coverage with then it doesn't work as well. I used it with my MAC powder plus foundation and it barely applied product.

Dab the foundation brush in a bit of the liquid foundation and apply to the skin in a buffing circular manner as if it was a mineral power and watch how it covers with a just air brushed finished effect.

It may depend on how you're first applying the foundation? I always dot it around my face and then sort of buff it in with the brush. I've been using Josie Maran's newest foundation and it works really well. Also have tried it with other liquid foundations (MAC & Make Up Forever) with the same result. Keep at it - it's definitely worth it when it works! =)

You don't actually apply the foundation with the brush. You dab the foundation in little dots all over your face with your fingers, then use the brush in small, gentle circles over the foundation to "spread" it. Just lightly, in quick circles. It should blend in beautifully and looked "airbrushed." If all else fails, go to Sephora and askfor one of the girls to demonstate it on you. They do a great job demonstrating the products!

I actually use it with the same foundation, and was having sort of the same problem that you described. What I personally do, (I need a full coverage) i use one pump per side of my face. So I start on my areas that need it the most (for myself it is the cheek area) and use half a pump for each I use really light-circular blending motions and then once it is applied, I use a slight harder pressure and continue to blend.
I find that if you keep working with it, it will turn out perfect!
Good luck, and try to use a light hand! (if you aren't already) :]

its like buffing with this brush and you blend with it as well. circular motions all over the face and blend it with circular motions as well it should work that way but since its not working for you its probably the brush is too big for your hands plus when i use it it works out my arm when i use it because of the circular motions im doing. look for a smaller version of the brush or get mac's kabuki's brush and use that for foundation, the handle is smaller and shorter but he brissels are bigger but it should be alot easier to use then this one here.