In this post I will talk about both caring for your brushes, and what each brush does and where to buy them with different price points. There is going to be a TON of information in this post so get ready!
Care
You NEED to wash your brushes often! That is one of the biggest mistakes people make. 45% of women never wash their brushes! I know it can be a hassle and time consuming depending on how many brushes you have, but it is very important not only for your brushes, but for your face and makeup as well. Washing your brushes will improve the lifespan of your brushes. If you are going to spend the money on getting nice brushes (which I highly recommend), not taking the time to wash them means you basically just threw half your money down the drain. I have a Japonesque spray ($12 at Ulta) that I try to use every day when I use my brushes. I just spray a little on a paper towel and swirl the dirty brush in before I toss then back into my makeup case. I then try to deep clean my brushes every other week with baby shampoo.
Cleaning your brushes not only extends their lifespan, but it also keeps your makeup nice, especially products like eye shadows that change every day. If you use a dirty brush then the colors will get mixed and come out muddy looking. Basically you won't get the true color of the product if you have remnants of another product on the brush.
It is also important to clean your brushes to keep your skin nice. Your face excretes oil, thats normal. When you use a brush on your face it picks up that oil. Then if you don't wash it you are wiping old face oil on your face every time you use the brush, which is really gross. So, please, please, please CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES!
Brushes 101
I pulled the above from an article by Shira Hirschman Weiss you can find here
These are just a list of brushes I use often. I don't use all of these every day, but every brush I have has a purpose and I wanted to make sure you knew what they are for, so you can decide if they are the right brush for you.
Face
Angled Contour Brush: good for contouring under the cheekbone for definition and applying blush
I use MAC 168
MAC 168 $35
Bare Escentuals $20
Sigma F40 $19
Makeup Geek $8.99
Foundation Stippling Brush: for those days when you need/want a more full coverage look. I prefer this to a flat foundation brush because it doesn't leave the streakiness, it give an almost "airbrushed look"
I use MAC 159
MAC 159 $35
Bare Escentuals precision face brush $28
Sigma F84 $21
Makeup Geek $16.99
Concealer Brush: for covering up blemishes
I use Bare Escentuals
I have Bare Escentuals
MAC 195 $24
Bare Escentuals $20
Sigma F75 $12
Makeup Geek $5.99
Beauty Blender (optional): for blending in liquid products such as concealers, highlighters and bronzers for contouring. Use it dry for more full coverage, or damp for a more shear, blendable coverage
I use one from Ulta I got for $2.99
MAC blending sponge $9
Bare Escentuals N/A
Sigma N/A
Makeup Geek $18.99
Eyes
Eye Shader Brush: for packing on color on the lid. Can be used wet or dry
I use all three Bare Escentuals
MAC 239 $25
Bare Escentuals wet/dry shadow brush $18 or double ended precision eye brush $28, I also have a third brush called quick color and crease but it looks like they don't sell that anymore (it's a bit larger) it would be the equivalent of the full tapered shadow brush $16
Sigma $14
Makeup Geek $5.99
Stiff Dome Brush: for feathering out color and blending
I use a Bare Escentuals quick color and crease brush that came in a kit years ago and they don't sell it by itself
MAC 217 $23
Bare Escentuals N/A
Sigma E35 $14
Makeup Geek $7.99
Pencil Brush: precision shading on the lid, mainly in the crease
I use Bare Escenutals
MAC 219 $25
Bare Escentuals heavenly liner brush $14 I also have a brush called Rock 'n' Roll that would be the equivalent but that came in a kit I bought years ago and they don't sell it individually
Sigma E30 $12
Makeup Geek $7.99
Soft Dome Brush: for blending out any harsh lines below the brow bone
I use MAC
MAC 224 $31
Bare Escentuals crease defining brush $18
Sigma E40 $14
Makeup Geek $7.49
Liner Brush (can be Bent): for applying liquid or gel eyeliner precisely
I use Bare Escentuals
MAC 209 $20
Bare Escentuals $12 (bent is $14)
Sigma E10 $12
Makeup Geek (bent) $5.99
Dual Ended Brow Brush: for filling in and shaping the brows
I use an Elizabeth Arden brush that came in at kit
MAC duo lash comb/brow brush $9
Bare Escentuals $10
Sigma E80 $12
Makeup Geek $4.49
Push Liner Brush: to tight line eyeliner…it's a whole new technique I have been introduced to fairly recently…I'll do a post on it soon.
I use a Kirkland brush that came in a costco kit
MAC 212 $24
Bare Escentuals double ended liner/shadow brush $24
Sigma E15 $12
Makeup Geek N/A
Other Brushes I have
Bare Escentuals
Buff & Go I use for applying sheer powder to set liquid foundation
Flawless Face I have two and I use one for contouring with bronzer and one for applying blush
Soft Focus Liner to apply gel liner for a winged look
Tapered Blush Brush for applying a smaller amount of blush
MAC
138 for applying powder foundation all over the face for a more sheer look
Other
Avon rounded shadow brush for applying color right into the crease
Kirkland stiff flat dome brush for applying color all over the lid and up to the brow
Mary Kay lip brush
I hope that this was extremely helpful. As always, let me know what you would like me to post about next! Have a merry Christmas!
MAC
Bare Escentuals
Sigma
Makeup Geek
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