10 yrs, 5 mths ago

What kinds of makeup brushes are the best to buy ?

Hi Beauty Heaven Members,

I want to buy myself a good set of makeup brushes but I don’t know which ones I should consider essential.

What sort of brush is best; synthetic or natural hair and from what kind of animal ? I see many are made with goat hair.

Are bigger makeup brush sets better value than the smaller ones?

Are the ones available on-line from China as good as ones bought from stores here and if so, what is the most that I should pay for a set on-line ?

60 comments 24 voices

Replies

  • 5 yrs, 11 mths ago

    I marked the previous post by GivoniMakeupBrushes as spam.

  • 9 yrs, 1 mth ago

    Apparently Sigma Brushes are great. I personally love Real Techniques, Eco Tools and Stila Brushes (the Stila ones are amazing if a little on the expensive side). I think Mac are overpriced and the Napoleon ones I have tried shed and the silver discolours quickly. The Rae Morris brushes look promising. I am crushing on the Nars ITA brush but at $75 I cannot justify it.

  • 10 yrs, 4 mths ago

    I can confirm the quality of the Mirenesse brushes. They are made from Taklon and are a good basic starter set but high quality. The other bonus for beginners is they pictures to suggest what each brush is best used for. Only criticism is the lack of a dedicated concealer brush but given the number of eyeshadow brushes and a lip brush, all taklon, use one that appeals for concealer. I also love my Mac brushes and some cruelty free Hair brushes I have had for so long the label had come off. They wash brilliantly. I just use a A’kin Baby Shampoo and Body wash to clean them.

  • 10 yrs, 4 mths ago

    Personally, I find a kabuki brush easier to use for mineral powder foundations. I find that you get better coverage, and it’s just easier. Like I said, I need a new one.

  • 10 yrs, 4 mths ago

    Yep you can use it for loose powder & for mineral powder foundation, to buff the product into the skin.

  • 10 yrs, 4 mths ago

    They sure do look pretty Arty Girl.

    I’m extremely happy with my Real Techniques. I’ve only got the powder brush (for my ASAP mineral foundation), blush brush, eyeshadow brush, eyeliner brush and eyelash comb. That’s all I really use anyway. I’m thinking about getting the kabuki brush, cos the one I’ve got is pretty old and starting to look a bit icky.

    I’ve heard the name “kabuki” mentioned before Rose_P. Is that for loose powder ?

  • 10 yrs, 4 mths ago

    They sure do look pretty Arty Girl.

    I’m extremely happy with my Real Techniques. I’ve only got the powder brush (for my ASAP mineral foundation), blush brush, eyeshadow brush, eyeliner brush and eyelash comb. That’s all I really use anyway. I’m thinking about getting the kabuki brush, cos the one I’ve got is pretty old and starting to look a bit icky.

  • 10 yrs, 4 mths ago

    Here is the set of makeup brushes that I ended up buying. I know that you other ladies will shake your heads especially after all your good advice. But I thought that I would give these a go. At least I can report back to you on how they fair. Don’t worry, I don’t have high expectations as this set was very cheap.

    The hair is goat and the bristles are very soft. So far I’ve used them to apply my mineral powder/foundation, powder eye shadow and lipstick.

    I have not tried washing them yet but I am prepared for the hairs to start falling out when I do, LOL !!! At least the brush hold-all is very pretty and I can always use that to hold my art brushes if these makeup brushes fall apart :).

  • 10 yrs, 5 mths ago

    I’ve been using Ecotools for years, and I’ve always been happy with them. They are all pretty old and ratty looking, so I’ve replaced them with Real Techniques. Extremely happy! Excellent quality brushes.

  • 10 yrs, 5 mths ago

    I always prefer to use natural bristle brushes over synthetic as I find they pick up the product better. Revlon has an affordable range of really good quality brushes, they are sold individually which is great as you can choose which brushes you need rather than buying a set and having brushes you don’t use. Always make sure you keep your brushes clean, once a week I clean mine with baby shampoo and warm water then let them air dry, I also use an anti-bacterial spray after use to give them a quick freshen up and to kill any pimple-causing bacteria.
    I would be cautious of buying any ‘cheap’ brushes, you really get what you pay for and cheaper brushes won’t last as long, won’t have high quality bristles and will shed far more than a more expensive brush. High quality brushes are a great investment and will give you years of use if you take care of them.

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