Staff Picks: The brushes we can't live without
I was a young teen when I purchased my very first makeup brushes: a cheap travel set I'd spotted in the department store. The handles were thin and flimsy, and the bristles scratched my face and left a patchy application. I wasn't ecstatic about my purchase but I remember feeling proud of myself for getting them. To me, they signaled that I was serious about makeup and learning how to properly apply it to my face.
Of course, I've since learned that they're not actually supposed to scratch your face and found better tools to get the job done. I've also learned that sometimes it's better to buy brushes individually rather than as a set. While there are basics that make sense to keep in your kit, a special few can make the act of applying makeup really feel like an art!
Den: I've always been more of a skincare addict than a makeup lover but for the days that I put some on, I fixate on perfecting two things: my complexion and my brows. My tools of choice reflect that as well. The Soffia Opulence Perfect Skin Angled Foundation Brush has been my secret for creating a face base that looks like skin, but better. The soft yet densely packed bristles blend liquid and cream foundations into my skin seamlessly! It's not top shelf but I'm plenty happy using the Marionnaud Angled Blush Brush to apply powder blush, diffuse contour, and lightly blend in my highlighter. It seriously saddened me that the Marionnaud Dual-Ended Brush is no longer available - I dare say it's actually my absolute favorite of these three. The fat, angled tip makes it easy to apply brow gel and soften harsh pencil lines with controllable precision, while having the spoolie on the other end is nifty for blending everything together and brushing the hair into place.
Marielle: I have two brushes I'm constantly using. The MAC 217 Blending Brush is what I reach for every single time I put on powder eyeshadow. I like how it blends and diffuses without too much effort, so much so that I even bought another one to serve as an alternate! The second brush I pretty much use for setting powder, bronzer, blush, and highlighter is this old Artist Studio fluffy powder brush (medium size) I got from Landmark Department Store. It's fluffy and wide enough to use with powder bases, but not too much that it can't be used for sculpting.
Gett: I can't live without an dual-ended eyebrow brush. I find them to be versatile because I can use the spoolie on the brows and lashes to remove excess product, and the brush end for filling in the brows and even for eyeliner! I currently use Detail's dual eyebrow brush, which has a skinny angled brow brush on one end and a spoolie on the other. The brush is very small, making it easy to place eyebrow powder exactly where I want it. The spoolie could be longer but it does it job well.
Charlie: I can't be without the MAC 266. I love how the angled brush helps me create a nice winged liner look or simple lined eyes well because it's small and easy to work with. It's also the perfect brush to draw on my brows.
Claire: Sigma's Color Pop Brush Kit will always hold a place in my beauty-lovin' heart; it was one of my first purchases from Sephora PH. The F40 Contour Brush can do it all, despite its name. The angled edge blends blush, contour, and highlight powders perfectly, and also works well with setting and finishing powders.
The Charm retractable powder brush lives in my handbag, as I like retouching face powders with brushes instead of sponges. It looks almost as good as he day I bought it - which says a lot because my handbag is always full!
Do you still remember your very first makeup brushes? Have you started investing in your tools since then? What are the best ones you've tried?