Must-Have Brushes

When I first started using makeup on a regular basis, I had probably a max of three or four brushes: a powder brush, blush brush and two kinds of eye shadow brushes. Oh boy has that changed! I especially feel like I have a never ending brush collection when it comes time to washing them all. I pulled out a few brushes that are staples in my collection and that I HAVE to use almost everyday.

Not pictured: My Beauty Blender because it was GROSS looking, but it's a MUST for my foundation everyday. I don't even know how to apply foundation using a brush anymore because it's the only thing I will use.

Real Techniques brushes are among my favorites for the variety of good quality synthetic brushes at an affordable price. If you're a beginner and are looking for brushes to start your collection or just want to find a specific brush for a specific function, Real Technique has it all. My favorites are the Powder Brush, Blush Brush and Sculpting Brush.

The powder brush is your basic large, fluffy yet somewhat dense powder brush that I use to set my foundation. The Blush Brush is ideal for blush and bronzer since it is a bulb shape and can get around those cheekbones no problem to deposit a smooth, even application of product. It's probably my favorite out of the three! The Sculpting Brush is fairly new and is prefect for contouring without producing harsh lines since it blends so well. Check out my post on my comparison between the e.l.f Contour Brush and this one here!

For setting my concealer and highlighting, my go to's are the e.l.f Small Stippling Brush, Real Technique Setting Brush and e.l.f Small Tapered Brush.

The Setting Brush can really get in under your eyes to powder your concealer to prevent creasing. The Small Tapered is good for setting concealer as well or for highlighting all over the face or precisely hitting the tops of the cheekbones. The Small Stippling brush I use for my cream blushes and highlighters a.k.a Colour Pop Cheek products. It's soft and gives a blended, diffused look since it;s stippled into the skin for a flawless application without disrupting your other makeup. The e.l.f Studio line of brushes is really great and are even CHEAPER than Real Techniques. These two are only $3!

Out of my gazillion eye brushes, these four are my ride-or-die favorites that I use daily. They are among the cheapest and oldest assortment of brushes but I love them. Real Techniques Shading Brush, Coastal Scents Classic Blender Crease Brush, Essential Tools Shade & Blend Brush, and a SOHO Brush that I can no longer find anywhere and I have no idea what it's called because the name has worn off. But this guy is a fluffy blending brush that has been with me for YEARS and is one of my remaining OG brushes. I don't know what I'm going to when he kicks the bucket because it's my favorite...

The Shade & Crease brush is from Walmart and is duo fiber brush that helps blend out my crease color beautifully, while the Shading brush packs on my lid color and the Coastal Scents brush helps define my 'outer v' with a darker shadow. All of these create amazing eye looks and are good brushes!

Another favorite powder brush is the EcoTools Powder Brush because it's so soft, fluffy and perfect for setting my make up with a finishing powder to blend everything together. It also has more of a paddle shape instead of the larger, more round powder brush from Real Techniques.

Those are all of my must have brushes at the moment! What are some of your favorite brushes?

xoxo

Jessica