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Some people stumble into their calling. Otis Batterbee practically tripped over his—on a fashion shoot.
After studying fine art and fashion design at Central Saint Martin’s School of Art & Design in London, he built his career creating everything from sportswear to luxury handbags for some of the world’s leading brands. But between fittings and fabric swatches, he found himself drawn toward the makeup artists on set. “They were always the most fun people in the room,” he says. “I was fascinated by how they could transform a look completely.”
The fascination morphed into a very specific obsession: makeup brushes.
“One day, I bought every single brush I could find—no exaggeration—and went down a rabbit hole of textures, densities, and bristle types,” he recalls. “Before long, my studio looked like a full-on DIY lab.” He began prototyping, handing samples to friends, gathering feedback, and tweaking designs in hopes of creating the perfect brush.
Over 18 months, he obsessively fine-tuned and tested every element—bristle materials, handle weights, ergonomics—treating each brush like couture. “In fashion, you start with the raw components and tailor every detail until it’s just right,” he explains. “That’s exactly how I approached brush-making.”
It wasn’t just about softness or looks—he wanted tools that picked up and blended products effortlessly, performed consistently, and felt intuitive in the hand. “I treated the process the same way I would when constructing a beautifully made jacket: precise and hands-on,” he recalls.
His fashion training also brought a different lens to beauty tools. “Functionality is non-negotiable, but design matters too,” he says. “I imagine a brush as part of the whole experience—how it feels in your hand, how it looks on a dressing table. It’s not just an object, it’s creating a mood, a ritual.”
The philosophy is clear in the brand’s signature colorblock handles—bold, joyful nods to Miami’s Art Deco architecture. “They’re designed to be little objets d’art,” he says. “I wanted them to be conversation starters that make you smile before you even pick them up.”
And if you were wondering, he has a favorite: the Foundation Makeup Brush 103. “I actually reshaped a sample by hand with embroidery scissors until I got the perfect taper,” he admits. “It blends beautifully, but also feels so plush and soothing that I sometimes use it just because—it’s like a mini therapy session for your face.”
For Otis Batterbee, brushes are more than tools. They’re confidence-boosters, mood-lifters, and part of a daily ritual. “When someone tells me they can’t imagine going back to anything else, that’s the ultimate compliment. It means we’ve created something that’s not just functional—it’s empowering.
Otis Batterbee makeup brushes now available at Beautylish.com.
Images courtesy of Otis Batterbee
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