The LineUp.
Face Brushes.
RT(Real Techniques) Buffing Brush, MAC 182, RT Pointed Foundation Brush, MAC 168, MAC 129SE, RT Contour Brush.
RT Buffing Brush.
This brush I use for my foundation. The bristles are synthetic & densely packed so it's firm yet extremely soft. Also another plus note of being synthetic means the brush dries quicker than a real haired brush, which is handy if you use your foundation brush everyday. I first dab the foundation over my face then work it into my skin using circular motions. I find it really works the foundation into the skin, making it look flawless & not caked on. Before I used to use my MAC 187 & I really liked that but now I feel like it doesn't work as well.
MAC 182.
This I like to use to apply my powder lightly over my foundation where I need it. I also like to use this clean over the foundation I applied, just to further buff it into the skin for that extra flawless finish.
RT Pointed Foundation Brush.
I use this brush for my under eye cream/concealer. Because of the size & shape I find it makes it easy to do that area nicely & quickly.
MAC 168.
This is one of my favourite blusher brushes. I feel like I have smaller cheeks so using a large brush seems to distribute product on too much of my face. This brush being angled allows me to control application & place the perfect amount. This is also a good brush for contouring & highlighting.
MAC 129SE.
When a girl has too much blush, she definitely needs enough blusher brushes! This one I like to use with my pigmented Nars blushes as it helps to diffuse the colours.
RT Contour Brush.
This brush is pretty much a multi-tasking brush for me. I Iove using this as a blush brush, again for the reason that the head being relatively small, allows precision application on my cheeks. I love using this brush with pigmented blushes especially when I'm going for that pop of colour look. Also I use it for its intended purpose of contouring because it works well at that. And finally I find it awesome for highlighting too. It's just an amazing brush. They should definitely think about selling these separately as I would definitely repurchase it.
Eye & Lip Brushes.
MAC 239, MAC 217, MAC 226, MAC 266, MAC 219, Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eye Liner Brush & RT Detailer Brush.
MAC 239.
This is a good eyeshadow brush for when you want to pack on the colour. The bristles are firm yet soft. I find the size of the head to be a good size for general application of eyeshadow.
MAC 217.
This brush gets a lot of love on the Blogosphere & on YouTube. Known as the queen of blending brushes & I would have to agree. It's got just enough density & softness, making it perfect for blending without the effort. It's also perfect for applying a light wash of colour on the lids. I definitely recommend trying this brush out & owning at least one. There are dupes out there, for a cheaper alternative I hear the Sigma one is good but have not tried it out personally.
MAC 226.
This is a contoured crease brush. I like using this to apply my crease colour on my lids. I prefer using this to the 217 because of the contoured head & having smaller lids, it applies more defined whereas the 217 with a larger fluffier head would apply on too much of my eyelid. I would recommend this brush for those with smaller eyelid space that like using crease colours & doing cut-crease looks.
MAC 266.
This is an angled liner brush. When I initially purchase this brush back in the day being a novice, I found it extremely difficult to line my eyes with this brush. I was using it with MAC Fluidline but could never get my eyes the same. With practice though, I have managed to master a technique that works for me. Also through trail & error I have found I like using this brush when I want to use eyeshadow on my lash line. If you struggle with applying gel eye liner, my tip would be to trace in the line first with an eyeshadow and then then go over with the gel. This way if you make a mistake, it's easier to hide the eyeshadow line as apposed to one drawn on with gel liner.
MAC 219.
This is another brush I regretted purchasing when I first bought it. I just felt like it didn't really have a purpose for me & found myself hardly ever reaching for it. But as my skill level increased & my interests in different complex looks grew I really started to love this brush. I think it's great for adding detailed colour into a look or it's great for smudging colours onto the lower lash line. It's also perfect for inner corner highlighting. Another tip for transforming a natural look into a more sultry/smoky look would be to add a black kohl pencil to the top lash line, then using the 219 smudge the kohl into the lid colour. It instantly changes the look.
RT Detailer Brush.
I think this brush is perfect as a lip brush. I use it to apply lipsticks & glosses. Its the perfect size for the lips & good for when you want to blend different lip colours together. (which I'm really into at the moment). It's also a perfect size for inner corner highlighting & brow bone highlighting.
So that was a roundup of my favourite brush picks. I love using them for my makeup routine & if I am going anywhere that I know I'll be applying makeup on anyone else, these are the selection of brushes I like to take.
The Real Techniques Brushes came in a set called the core collection from Boots. I would definitely recommend them if you are just starting out or even if you have brushes but want to try something new.
I would also recommend the MAC 239 & 217 as a must. For blush I would recommend the MAC 168 or the 129 depending on wether you would like a brush suited to smaller cheeks or larger respectively. If I were choosing for myself, I would choose the 168. A) because I have smaller cheeks, & B) because it can be used for contour & highlighting as well.
Lastly I would definitely recommend the Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush if you like to do winged liner looks.
What are your favourite brushes? & which would you most recommend?
Lots of Love XOXO
