Makeup brushes for a complete novice!

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I've been using the same eyeshadow brush since I was a teen- just a cheapy one from a kit from superdrug or similar. It's soft and the hairs don't come out, that's all I know! I think I want to upgrade to, well, something new! I need some advice- are makeup brushes one of the things you should 'invest' in, get expensive ones that will last a lifetime? Or just get whatever, and buy them regularly? No idea!

I can't spend much, any recommendations welcome. I'm looking at this set, is that too cheap to be good? I can go a bit higher, that was just from looking at ebay!

After researching it a bit and checking reviews about 2 years ago, trying to get the best for my budget, I have this set, individual brushes are really affordable great for the money, no shedding [http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~170.htm] I got it sent from a friend in the states it is only $30 there and they have offers off often sometimes 50% off the whole range. Go for studio range not the regular range

here

Thanks! Never come across that brand, looking now. I have no idea what brushes to get, am just getting into this whole make-up thing. All I use currently is eyeshadow and mascara, but I plan to start using foundation at least for going out if not every day. Ordered some mineral sample pots based on recommendations here!

So I'm looking at the sets as I would have no idea which individual ones to get, don't know how to use them or anything. the one you linked to is a bit above my budget, as I just have no idea how to use them. Maybe i should get a cheapy set just to try different things then get a proper set later on, I don't want to spend lots on something I end up not using.

Shu Uemura and MAC are good

For basic make up stuff I would personally buy:

Royal foundation brush (about £3 from Amazon, better than the MAC one - I have relegated my MAC 190 to the back of a drawer)
Flat topped stippler
Big fluffy powder brush
Blush brush
Angled eye brush
Blending eye brush

If you do a makeup course at the major private makeup school near me, they recommend you buy this set which is pretty cheap and has everything you need.

I do really rate the Royal foundation brush though. I have about 3 just in case they ever get discontinued! And I also love the big fluffy flat-topped stippler from www.makeupgeek.com and have several of those too .

Royal & Langnickel do a 12 piece set on Amazon for about £40, is great, powder brush is fab and huge, concealer and liner brushes are also fab

I use mineral makeup and don't use the bare minerals brushes, have them and hate them, you need to try with various brushes to find what suits you and givs you the kind of finsh you like

Oooh I might buy that Royal set then... I've never bought any of their other brushes but the foundation one is so good I am tempted... I don't really need it but what the hell.

I hate mineral foundation - hate hate hate it. It's like marmite I think. If you don't get on with it, try a liquid.

I bought a really good eye shadow brush from Tesco. It's by Ecotools and you can get them in little sets too. I've also bought some from the Body Shop and they were good. I love the Mac ones but they are expensive.

Eco tools brushes are very good, as are Real Techniques ( I prefer these of the two. You can get both brands in Boots. Kind of mid-range price wise, and more economical if you buy them in a set. I prefer both of these to MAC brushes. Sigma brushes are good too, and reasonably priced. Can only buy these online though.

I've had a big set of MAC brushes for years and they've been everywhere with me-love them!!

Not Primark anyway. Threw a brand new bronzing brush in the bin this morning. It looked like a dead furry , black ,animal in the sink and i had all these long, black hairs on my face and chest....so not a good look!!!total waste of money

Thanks all for the replies, I've been googling like mad! I think most of the recommendations are a bit dear for me... as I really don't know what I'm doing! But someone on another forum recommended I go into a department store and get a makeup trial or something, some advice in person anyway and go from there. I do really like the look of the EcoTools ones, look very soft and cheap on ebay. I'll go in Tesco and look too, I want to take a look at this makeup they have (Barbera Daly I think it was) that I saw recommended on here! And Boots.

Thanks for the Primark tip, I'll give them a miss then- I'm going in tomorrow as I need more cheap clothes as I'm mid-way through my weightloss!

I have no idea why/how the Laura Mercier eybrow brush is so very brilliant but it is. I have the Space NK eyebrow brush as well and it's just not as good.

I have to brush my eyebrows? I just pluck them, and I only started that about 5 years ago!

I bought these from QVC and have found them brilliant. Would defo buy more from the same range.

Thanks sobenobu they look more my price range! And the reviews are fairly good. I went town today and at the Estee Lauder they did my face with the BB cream, with a foundation brush, and now I really want one!

I have a full set of Laura Mercier and an Estée Lauder foundation brush. Works well for me.

This is the foundation brush I mentioned earlier - it's less than £3 including postage on Amazon and it's better than the MAC 190 brush that cost me £26.50.

The Laura Mercier look really nice and soft but a bit beyond my budget for now- perhaps something to aspire to!

Thanks emsyj that brush is well in my price range, I'll get that one if I don't get a whole set with everything in- argh this is all complicated!

Ok brushes I use every day (this may help!)
Real techniques foundation stippling brush
Mac concealer brush
BE blusher brush
Jemma Kidd double ended eyeshadow brush
Eyeliner brush (comes free with maybelline gel liner)
I think as long as you check that they aren't scratchy and the bristles don't shed then you can't go too far wrong

I have just bought the real techniques stippling brush to apply foundation - I have a question (sorry to hijack). If I use a primer, eg smashbox primer, and then put foundation over the top using the brush in a gentle swirling motion, will that be ok or will it disrupt my primer?

I haven't had a problem but I use a primer that you have to let set for 2 mins anyway. I imagine as long as you give it a bit to set before applying it would be fine

I use Mac and Bobbi Brown brushes.

Oooh I want primer too, I suppose I should sort out actual makeup first! I've ordered the brush from Amazon linked by emsyj now, seems a cheap way of finding out what to do!

I love the Royal & Langnickel brushes. They are excellent quality in my opinion too. I have that £40 set and a couple of other sets (I'm a make up artist so I need a LOT of brushes!) and have been very impressed. That set is very good value but you can also buy a lot of them separately on Amazon.