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Sunday, February 15, 2015

Makeup Brushes

Today I want to start with the most basic tool you will need to complete any makeup look: Brushes.


Some people will tell you that you don't really need brushes to do your makeup. I've had people tell me that brushes don't really do anything for you, unless you are a makeup artist you don't need them. Well, that may be true for some people. But not for me.

If you are the type of person who rarely ever wears makeup. maybe your idea of a full face is a little BB cream or tinted moisturizer, mascara and lip gloss, and that's all you need to get out the door. Well, then I would say that you absolutely do not need makeup brushes..

But, if you like to have nicely blended eyeshadow, you want a flawless finish with foundation, or you like to get that perfect crisp line when wearing a bold lip, you are going to have a very difficult time doing any of those things without at least a few basic brushes.


I know what you're thinking, "But Ashley, I just cant afford to go out and spend a ton of money on expensive makeup brushes. The eyeshadows I buy come with applicators, why can't I use those?" I have great news for you! You DON'T have to buy expensive brushes! Especially if you are just starting to experiment with makeup, you don't want to invest a lot of money into brushes you don't even know how to use..

I don't think I own a single brush that cost more than $10! I have purchased sets that run a little higher, but you can get a great set of brushes, that comes with 10-20 brushes, for $20-$30.

Starting out, you only need a few basic brushes, and you can add to your collection as you go!
For eyes, I recommend having; a small flat shader brush, a fluffy blending brush, a stiff domed crease brush, a pencil brush, an angled brush, and a small eyeliner brush. For foundation you need either; a flat top kabuki brush, a flat foundation brush, a sponge, or a buffing brush. You also will need a concealer brush and a lip brush.

Here's a list of my favorite brush lines, and the best places to get them!

  1. BH Cosmetics
  2. Coastal Scents
  3. Crown Brush
  4. Real Techniques  
  5. ELF (Eyes Lips Face
  6. Sonia Kashuk
These are a few of the brushes I use every time I do my makeup.
Left to right: BH Cosmetics 10 pc Sculpt and Blend Brush Set, Coastal Scents Pro Blending Fluf, Coastal Scents Classic Blender Pointed Natural


Side note: I also have an Ebates account. I use it EVERY TIME I make a purchase with any retailer that is registered! (Ebates has no idea who I am, I just LOVE cash back! [None of these other companies know who I am, either....])

To clean your brushes I recommend spot cleaning them between each use, and deep cleaning, once a week. To spot clean, I simply take 70% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle with a fine mist, spray the brush and wipe it on a clean towel until all product is off. To deep clean you can buy a variety of brush cleansers, or make them yourself, based on your budget and preferences. My current favorite is the Blender Cleanser Solid by Beauty Blender, but it is pricey... After deep cleaning, either lay the brushes out to dry on a towel, (try to prop them up so that the handle is elevated and the water runs out of the ferrule), you can also take hair ties and hang the brushes from a towel bar, or buy brush guards, and prop them upside down in a glass.


Like I said, there are no hard and fast rules to makeup, experiment with different brushes and techniques to find what works for you! Start small, so you don't get overwhelmed, then expand as you go.

Have fun, and remember to blend!!!

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