Beauty Makeup Tips

I Have Dry, Eczematous Skin, and This Makeup Brush Is the Only One That Doesn’t Irritate My Skin or Cause Me To Break Out

Kayla Hui

January 12, 2023

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My skin has never gotten along with makeup brushes. Using them to apply powder to my forehead would inevitably leave me with breakouts, and even gently dusting shadow onto my lids (where my eczematous skin tends to be its driest and most sensitive) would cause irritation and flaking. To avoid all of this—especially during the colder months, when my skin is more volatile—I've typically steered clear of makeup brushes, but my hiatus ended when I found Merit's Blending Brush ($30).

Merit, Blending Brush — $30.00

This easy-to-use and lightweight brush is made of vegan and pillow-y soft bristles that transfer makeup to your face in just one sweep. Use it to buff, blend, or contour your pressed powders, highlighter, and blush.

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How I liked Merit's blending brush

To put it simply, all of the issues I've had with makeup brushes in the past just... don't exist with this one.

It's made with vegan bristles and feels pillowy soft to the stroke so that it doesn't piss off my easy-to-anger skin. What's more, the bristles as packed into a lightweight, minimalist cylinder that's easy to hold and maneuver. The whole brush measures just shy of the length of my hand, making it easy to pop into my purse or bag whenever I need to touch up on the go.

What I love about this brush are the densely-packed bristles that make application a breeze. Brushes I've used in the past for both eyeshadow and blush always seemed to hold pigment hostage, resulting in more product wasted and less friction on my skin.

With Merit's blending brush, a single sweep artfully transfers product onto my complexion. So far, I've used it to apply Laura Mercier's Translucent Setting Powder, Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush, and Fenty Beauty's Trophy Wife Highlighter, and since the brush is ever-so-slightly angled, I can apply powder, blush, and highlighter without straining my wrists.

photos of highlighter, blush, and loose powder

Using this blending brush has been a lifesaver in my makeup routine. I no longer have to tip-toe around my skin with rough bristles or sacrifice wearing makeup completely. For anyone who wants to wear makeup but has been battling eczema, sensitive, or dry skin, I'd recommend this brush. Since using it, I haven't returned to my former brushes, and intend on sticking with it for years to come.

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Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.