the buffer™ brush

Tarte's the buffer™ brush is the fluffy dome foundation brush the brand calls its revolutionary one — and the one it credits with going viral. The point of it is technique: instead of painting foundation on, you buff it in circles so the base looks airbrushed without an airbrush. The handle is sustainable bamboo with a rose gold accent.

What it actually does

• Presses foundation into the skin rather than onto it. Tarte describes the result as flawlessly buffed-in coverage with an airbrushed effect — the dome shape is what lets you do that in one continuous motion.
• Hides the application, not just the product. Because the bristles are fluffy and rounded, there are no hard edges or streak lines left where you started.
• The brand's most talked-about brush. Tarte itself attributes its popularity to going viral, and leans on that in how it describes the brush.
• Bamboo handle. The body is sustainable bamboo finished with a rose gold accent, so it is noticeably lighter in the hand than a metal-barrelled brush.

How to use

1. Dispense onto your hand first. Put roughly a quarter-size dollop of your foundation on the back of the hand so you can control how much goes onto the brush.
2. Load lightly. Take a small amount with the brush head — repeated light passes beat one heavy one.
3. Start in the middle of the face. Begin at the centre, where most people want the most coverage, and blend toward the edges.
4. Buff in gentle circles. Keep the motion soft and circular until the complexion reads even and the product has disappeared into the skin.
5. Clean it as often as you need to. Rinse only the bristles under warm running water, keeping the handle out of it. Work a small amount of shampoo into a light lather, rinse until the water runs clear, gently squeeze the water out and lay the brush on a flat surface to air-dry before the next use.

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