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I've never been a foundation person.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love makeup. But every time I wear foundation, I feel like I can see it sitting on my skin. No matter how expensive the formula was, I'd end up with patchy areas around my nose, streaks on my cheeks, creases in my smile lines, or it would just look very cakey. 

I've always preferred a more natural, breathable finish (AKA, the no-makeup makeup trend).

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Then, a few years ago, I went to South Korea to spend an embarrassing amount of time wandering through Olive Young (their huge beauty store). On almost every trip, I noticed what felt like every single woman buying the exact same small, flat makeup brush.

So, of course, I bought one too.

The brush in question was the fillimilli mini spatula brush, a cult-favourite K-beauty tool that has become a staple in many Korean makeup artists' kits.

Here's what it looks like.

This tiny brush does wonders for your foundation. Image: Supplied/Juna Xu.

When I got back to my hotel, I immediately jumped on TikTok to figure out how to use it and quickly realised it wasn't just another random beauty purchase. The brush had developed a huge following in Korea, with celebrity makeup artists using it to create the flawless, glowy, glass skin complexions K-beauty is known for.

The concept is surprisingly simple.

Unlike traditional foundation brushes that buff product and leave streaks or beauty sponges that absorb a lot of product, the spatula brush is designed to spread foundation in an incredibly thin, even layer.

What you get is skin that still looks like skin, just a whole lot better. Plus, you also end up using a lot less product, so it's great for budgeting reasons.

Unfortunately, the exact fillimilli brush I bought can be difficult to get your hands on (yes, it's THAT popular). The good news is that the trend has well and truly gone global, with countless affordable alternatives now available online, with prices starting as low as $6.

Here are some great ones you can shop.

OXX Cosmetics Foundation Spatula Brush, $6.

Image: Kmart.

Flat Foundation Brush, $8.99.

Image: Amazon.

If you're willing to spend a little more for quality, I would recommend this one…

Wakemake Spatula Wide Foundation Brush, $28.

Image: La Cosmetique.

How to use the spatula brush.

To use it, I start by applying a small amount of foundation directly onto the back of my hand. Then I lightly coat the brush before gently sweeping it across my face using long, soft strokes.

Instead of concentrating product in one area, the brush distributes it evenly across the skin, creating a sheer layer that can be built up where needed. Once I've finished, I'll lightly go over everything with a beauty sponge just to soften any edges.

As someone who spent years convinced foundation simply wasn't for me, I can confidently say this little brush completely changed my mind. And considering you can pick one up for around $10, it's probably one of the cheapest and best beauty hacks I've ever discovered. Thank you, K-beauty. 

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Feature image: Supplied.