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Best make up brushes?

21 replies

imustbepatient · 26/08/2013 13:04

I've had my Clinique ones for about 12 years and they are giving up the ghost, malting bristles all over my face and feeling rougher etc.

DH has said he will get me some more when he swings by duty free next week, I just need to give him a list of whatever I want! It will be my five year anniversary present from him so I can splash out a little Grin

Can anyone please help to recommend the best brushes they have come across?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Wishfulmakeupping · 26/08/2013 13:09

I don't know about expensive ones but love my ruby and Millie ones they are fab

MildredH · 26/08/2013 13:11

Ooh sorry no help but am going to watch as am after a powder brush.. Casually asked for one at Laura Mercier counter last week ( only because its their powder I use).. When the nice John Lewis lady rang it up it was £49!! Yikes- I was expecting £25-30 ish..

I don't mind paying a bit more for one if it comes recommended.

inneedofrain · 26/08/2013 13:17

I think you will struggle to do better than mac brushes.

There are some totaly fab japanese brushes but they are seriously expensive.

What sort of foundation you where will depend on which foundation brush is best for you and what sort of makeup you like to wear but these are the ones I use regularly

213
217 (id get a couple to be honest)
219
231
266
263
316

168 I love for contouring
193 for liquid foundation
182 for powder or mineral foundation
195
128/ 116/ 129 for blush

Hope the helps

inneedofrain · 26/08/2013 13:19

MildredH the Lauramercia Foundation brush is fab its huge and very soft (liquid foundation and cream) Not tried the powder brush what sort of application are you after? I might be able to recommend one?

inneedofrain · 26/08/2013 13:21

Oh the 224 is also very useful if you do cut crease or shading of the crease

imustbepatient · 26/08/2013 13:37

Oh fantastic thank you very much for those suggestions!

I have a still decent bobbi Brown liquid foundation brush but need a new powder brush, blusher, and eyeshadow brushes for all over and for contouring.

Anything else I should get?! Grin

OP posts:
inneedofrain · 26/08/2013 13:53

What type of contouring do you use?

Liquid and then foundation or foundation and then cream or powder? will depend which contouring brush to go for possibly!

these are all great for eye showdow?
213 great for getting colour on the eye lid

217 (id get a couple to be honest) blending brush, also great for a very sheer eyeshadow look

219 pencil brush, great for fine line in the crease or similar near the lash line, or precise application in the corner of the eye or anywhere on the eye lid

231 small shader brush, its flatter so is good for blending left and right rather than out, also good for packing on lose pigments etc,
239 medium shader brush, is similar to above but bigger, if you can only get one think about your eye shape, do you have a lot of lid if so go for this one, if not go for the 231

266 small angle brush great for brows, powder eyeliner or creating a line of eye showdow
263 also a small angle brush similary to the 266 I´d get one for brows and one for lid.

316 techically a lip brush but works fab for powder under the eye etc. similar to 219 but smaller.

224 is also very useful if you do cut crease or shading of the crease tapered blending brush, also good for putting softer colour into the crease and then blending at the same time!

210 and 211 are both eye liner brushes, I prefer to use a 212 which is more flat and square but it is personal choice!

Vibbe · 26/08/2013 15:09

MAC and a couple of the ones from Real Techniques are very good.

freerangeeggs · 26/08/2013 17:09

NOT Benefit. I have an expensive brush from them and it has shedded little black hairs all over my face since the day I bought it. I kept it because it was so much money (present) but I hate it. I might buy a new one soon.

Aquelven · 26/08/2013 17:14

Have you thought of looking in art shops?
You can get some terrific quality brushes, in all shapes & sizes, for far less money than they charge at the beauty counters.

Aquelven · 26/08/2013 17:15

Sorry, just re read your post & as it's a present you might not want to do that.

inneedofrain · 26/08/2013 18:52

If you don´t have it already by a proper brush cleaner and something to store your brushes in!

imustbepatient · 26/08/2013 20:48

Brilliant thanks inneedof and everyone. I have smallish eyes / lids hence don't need the medium coverage one. I use liquid foundation (or on make-up 'light' days BB cream) over primer, then mattifying powder on top, with a powder blush. Eyeshades are powder too (Stila, Clinique or MUA). I don't use liner very often as I rarely manage to get it right so as to enhance my eyes, rather than looking like a cupie doll...

I do contour like nobody's business though thanks to aforementioned small eyes in a round face!

Will make a careful list of the brush numbers that will suit me best and send DH off to the MAC counter!

Is it wrong to be this excited by make up brushes?!

OP posts:
MildredH · 26/08/2013 20:49

Ah thanks inneed- I use LM foundation powder over shiesedo bb cream.

As you can probably tell I'm no expert! At the moment am using a brush from sephora which I don't think is quite right.. Seems to load lots of powder on the first spot it hits and none by the time I've swirled it a bit! Just want a nice finish..

Sorry to crash your thread op!

inneedofrain · 26/08/2013 21:37

Op these will work face wise (sorry on iPod at the moment

168 I love for contouring
193 for liquid foundation
182 for powder or mineral foundation
195
128/ 116/ 129 for blush

If you like contouring I really recommend trying a ore foundation contour super easy and fab results its very difficult to explain but basically you apply lines of dark and light foundation in strategic places then "normal" foundation over that its all blends together but gives the most amazing contouring. I'll find a video for you tomorrow which will make it much clearer it you'll need a slightly different contouring brush I'll look the number up in the morning too

If you have issues with eye liner try a 212 put power on the tip slide down your lashes (outer 1/4 only if you have small lids) and the blend in with a pencil brush

Even better line the upper water line with black will give you definition but much easier than liner

Mildred try 182 it's like a kaboki brush dip into powder shake and then swirl well in small circular motions its hard to explain I'll see if I can find you a Video as well its all about finding a good brush that will hold a decent amount of product the knock off will get rid of the excess. Alternatively you can pat on powder and then brush off the excess. God it's so hard to explain sorry

Hth

Scarletohello · 26/08/2013 22:27

Oops still use my fingers for foundation! Am I missing something...?

valiumredhead · 26/08/2013 22:33

I have some Mac ones but actually prefer the real technique ones I have from boots.

Leviticus · 27/08/2013 00:09

I've just bought real techniques expert face and stippling brushes (buy one get one 1/2 price currently in Boots) and love them. They're by a British make up artist team and give a much better finish with foundation or BB cream.

Look up their videos by searching Pixiwoo on YouTube to see how to use them.

Joycey29 · 27/08/2013 21:50

Which brush types did you buy?

imustbepatient · 31/08/2013 10:23

Grrrr I had typed a long response to this but it somehow disappeared when I posted it!

Anyway, I've asked DH for the following:

Eyes: 213, 217, 219, 231
Blusher: 228 or 116
Powder: 150 (as I like long handled ones)

Together with the still in decent shape bobbi brown liquid foundation brush and eyeliner and a bare essentials concealer brush, I will hopefully have a great set for all uses.

Smile
OP posts:
singaporeswing · 31/08/2013 15:06

Another vote for the Real Technique ones. I'm a MUA and find they are the best to work with hands down.

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