I just recently published my 100th post so I want to take a moment to thank everyone for reading my blog and supporting me. Makeup was always a hobby for me, but now I've found a way to channel that creativity and turn it into something. It started as a personal record of all the makeup looks I was doing at the time and it's blossomed into something more. I want to show you that you don't have to be an expert to pull together a look. I want to show you that you are beautiful no matter what. I want to give you, my lovely readers, my honest and truthful opinion on makeup products, brands, etc. I want you to experience how much fun doing makeup can be. When you feel beautiful, you feel confident, and you can rule the world.
Also, I've moved the Facebook Like gadget for my Facebook Page onto the sidebar instead of at the bottom of every post. I finally figured out how to do it. Gosh I'm so horrible with configuring blogspot to look pretty.
So today's post isn't specifically about makeup. It's about the tools we use to put our makeup on, our trusty brushes! Oh what would we do without our brushes?? Oh, the horror! To be honest, I love my makeup brushes. They make doing the job that much easier. But sometimes, it is okay to use your fingers. I know I do.
I'll be telling you all about my favorite brushes and I know it's hard for me to stay down to 10. I'll tell you which brush and brand they are and why I like it so much. These are also staple brushes that every glamour girl should own, whether they are name brand or drugstore, you need a good set of brushes.
I use mostly MAC and Sephora Pro brushes along with a couple of others. The Sephora Pro brushes are the older generation brushes, the ones with the grey handles. They can't be purchased anymore, you can only get the new version so I will list the newer version of the brushes that I use.
This isn't in any particular order, because I do use most of these everyday and they are all necessary brushes to create a flawless look
1. MAC 217 - Blending Brush
This brush is #1 because it is extremely versatile. It's main use is to be used as a blending brush, so that means blending out foundation, like for example for a smokey effect or to blend out harsh lines. You can also use it to put shadow on the lid. I also hear of people using it to put on concealer and that it applies really well. I've also used it to apply contour down the sides of my nose. Honestly, this brush is great. It does so many things that I went and bought myself a spare, and it's my first spare brush of the same kind ever. You definitely want to have this brush in your kit, whether to do makeup professionally or for your own personal kit.
2. MAC 239 - Eye Shader Brush
This brush is fantastic for packing color onto the lid. It really does a great job of saturating the lid with color. You can also use this brush for pressing pigments onto your lid. This is the brush you need for really loading color on like crazy. I also recommend getting this brush. I used to use the Sephora Pro Medium Shadow Brush and I like this one so much more.
3. MAC 219 - Pencil Brush
This brush is great for smudging out eyeliner to create a smokey effect. I also use it to apply shadow to my lower lashline for a smokey effect. Since the bristles are nice and stiff, it's perfect for drawing in a cut-crease and smudging it out. A similar brush is the Sephora Pro Smokey Eye Brush, but it is less dense than the MAC one and it comes to a point. This brush isn't necessary for a personal kit, but I would recommend it if you are a fan of smokey eyes and/or cut-creases.
4. Stila #28 Smudgepot Brush
This double-ended brush is my favorite gel eyeliner brush of all time. On one end you have a smudge brush, the MAC 214 is a good alternative, and on the other end you have a liner brush, the MAC 209 being an alternative to that. I love using this type of brush to apply my gel eyeliner, like my MAC Fluidlines. I feel like it does a very precise job, more so than an angled liner brush. And the smudge brush on the other end comes in handy for doing a smokey eye! I also use it to apply a touch of highlight to the inner corners of the eye. I recommend getting this brush, it makes eyeliner application such a breeze!
5. Sephora Pro #10 Crease Brush
I personally don't use this brush in my crease because it's a little too big (I have small eyes and not a whole lot of space between my crease and my eyebrow) so I use this to apply my highlight shade on my eyes instead. For a sheerer highlight, this brush works perfectly and it blends everything out nicely. A similar brush is MAC 224. I recommend getting this brush because it does come in handy either for the crease or for a highlight.
6. Sephora Pro #44 Stippling Brush
I love this brush for applying flawless foundation. By using a stippling motion, you don't get the streaks that you would normally get using a standard foundation brush. This gives you a much more airbrushed looking finish and you use less product than if you used the standard brush. This is my go-to foundation brush, I use it daily. I cannot think of a better foundation brush than this one (well, maybe MAC but I haven't tried theirs yet!). I definitely recommend getting this brush, it will make foundation application a total breeze!
7. MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush
This is a great brush for applying powder contour and bronzer. It's not as large as the name suggests, it's quite small actually. It fits in the hollows of the cheeks perfectly and it's so easy to contour with this brush. It really makes application super easy and fast. It's the best contouring brush ever. If you're into bronzer and contouring, definitely get this brush. You could also use it to apply blush if you wanted to.
8. Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush
This brush is so pretty and so soft. It's perfect for applying powder blush to the cheeks and blending it into the contour. It applies very well and is really precise. I also use it to apply highlight powder onto the cheekbones. I recommend getting this brush or the MAC Contour Brush, whichever brush you feel most comfortable with and that suits your needs.
9. Makeup Forever HD Kabuki Brush
This is such a super soft and dense brush, making it perfect to apply powder to the face. It does a great job of applying powder evenly and thoroughly all over the face. It's also fantastic for blending out harsh lines on the face and for blending out colors (like sheering them a bit) and also for blending two colors together so they seemlessly transition from one into the other. I definitely recommend getting this brush, or a kabuki in general, they are way more than just powder brushes.
10. Sephora Pro #22 Angled Liner Brush
Last but not least every girl needs an angled liner brush. Whether it's to apply gel liner, powder as an eyeliner or applying color to your brows, you'll most likely use it for something. I also use it to define a cut-crease so that you get a super precise line. Everyone needs this brush in their kit. The MAC 266 is a good alternative to this brush.
Here are a few bonuses:
11. Sephora Pro #81 Lip Brush
I don't often use lip brushes on myself personally, but if you have a lipgloss palette where you need to use a brush, this is it. For your purse makeup kit, get the MAC 316, which has a cover included with it so you won't have to worry about it getting your purse all dirty. Again, it's not a necessary brush unless you love lipstick and lipgloss palettes.
12. Sephora Pro #45 Concealer Brush
I like using a concealer brush, but it's not the end of the world if you don't. You can use the MAC 217 or your fingers. But if you do like using a brush, it's super precise and gets into the nooks and crannies of your inner eye. It's also great for highlighting around your brows and your lips. I would recommend getting this.
So these are the main brushes that you need for your personal brush collection. Of course, I'm not telling you to go out and buy every single brush on this list. Over time, you will accumulate them. I find that the best way to start out a brush collection is to buy one or two brush sets. Right now is the best time to buy because many brands put out a lot of brush sets during the holiday season. Your best bet is buying either a MAC or Sephora brush set. I recommend buying your eye and face brush sets separately because you get more and you don't end up with doubles when you're just starting your set.
I don't want to tell you which brushes you should buy first, everyone has different tastes and styles of putting on makeup. Buy whichever brushes you feel that you need the most. The best quality brush sets on Sephora's site start at around 70$CAD. There's a lot to choose from, so just ask Santa for your favorite one. For the longest time I was using a Sephora Collection Travel Brush set with my trusty MAC 217. For at least 2 years I would look at this amazing brush set on Sephora's website. It was their Pro brush set. 15 brushes and a makeup belt. 360$CAD. I knew I would never get it at that price. Then something awesome happened. Sephora decided to revamp their Pro Brush line and release a newer edition. So the price went down to 270$CAD, then to 180$CAD and then finally to 100$CAD which I of course had to jump on and lucky I did because the day after I placed my order, they were forever sold out. So be patient. It might take a while to get your brush set together and get some good deals, but you'll be so happy when you finally do get it.
What is your all-time favorite brush? What is your favorite brand for makeup brushes?
Steph xo.
