My favorite brushes!

I was asked to do a post about makeup brushes recently so I figured I would share my favorite brushes with you all. These are brushes I use every single day. I would be lost without these brushes!

 

Eye shadow Brushes

I have quite a few eye shadow brushes but these are

the three eye shadow brushes I always reach for. I basically

use shadow brushes to apply shadow in the general

area and then a blending brush does all the real work. That being said,

I am not too picky when it comes to shadow brushes. They must be soft,

small in size ( if I am applying one color to the lid

 I use a larger shadow brush) and lower in price.

 

Top: Up and Up Medium Eye shadow Brush. 

This brush is perfect size, applies the shadow

nicely and is cheap! Less than $3.00 and available at Target!

 

Middle: Real Techniques Shading Brush.

This brush is also perfect size but a bit rounder than the Up

and Up brush. It also applies the shadow just right.

At $5.99 the price is right!

 

Bottom: Pink Shadow Brush from My Glam Bag/Ipsy

I have no idea the brand on this, but it was from one of the early My Glam Bag

subscriptions last year. It the smallest out of the three and I use it most for applying

shadow to the inner area of my eye. It is great for precision application

 

Blending and Crease Brushes

I am addicting to trying new crease/blending brushes. I have quite a few

now and these two remain my absolute favorite. I truly would not be able to do

my makeup without these brushes. I am also a fan of the Up & Up Crease brush

available at Target. I think it works really well and is super affordable. I really

prefer goat haired crease/blending brushes over any other type.

 

Top: Mac #222 Tapered Blending Brush.

This brush is AMAZING. It applies crease color and blends out

edges with ease. I have said before, basically you put the eye shadow on

the brush and the #222 does the rest. This brush was limited edition but has

been seen at CCO's and on other websites for sale. If you have the opportunity

to pick this up I would grab it as fast as you can! I actually have nightmares

about losing this brush. Yikes.

 

Bottom Hakuhodo J146 Round Eye Shadow Brush.

When I seen this brush at IMATS I thought it looked like a smaller

#222 so I had to have it. Oh Em Gee. It is amazing. I actually prefer this

brush for adding crease color and depth over the #222 because of the size.

It has all the same amazing qualities as the #222 except it is a little bit smaller.

This brush retails for $17 which is a great deal for how awesome this

brush is. I have heard that the shipping prices on the Hakuhodu website

are a bit much so if you have the chance to pick this brush up at an expo

or convention it will save you some money.

 



Face Brushes

I have more face brushes but these are the ones I use on a daily basis.

I do not really use any type of finishing powder or all

over powder on my face so my big fluffy brushes are rarely used.

 

Top: Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

I used to apply foundation with my fingers. Ew, I know. I watched

a tutorial from Wayne Goss about using a stippling brush and thought

it looked neat. I decided on the Real Techniques brush because of the price.

At under $10 it was affordable enough for me to try out in case I did

not like using it for foundation. After using it once I was sold. I have used it for

my foundation every single day ever since! I barely dab it into my foundation

and then apply it to my face in a circular motion. The bristles are different lengths

which help to not get too much foundation on the brush. This brush gives a flawless

airbrushes effect when used to apply foundation.

 

Middle: Real Techniques Buffing Brush

I actually use this for bronzer and contouring my cheeks and around

my hairline. I like how the brush is flat on top, it gives a nice surface for

applying and buffing the product on the skin. I am not 100% in love with this

brush for bronzer and contouring but at this point it is the best I have

tried for the application I am using it for.

 

Bottom: MAC 168SE Angled Contour Brush

Here is another brush I can not live without. It is also a goat hair brush.

I got this brush in a trade from someone last year. It is a mini

travel sized brush but  there is a large version

available. I hope to get it eventually. I use this brush to apply

blush. It is the perfect size for my face. It fits the area I want to apply

blush to exactly. The angle is just right as well. It was like it was

made for my face. The large version of this brush retails for $35



 

Last this this random brush I use for my eyebrows.

This brush is also from the My Glam Bag so the brand is unknown.

It is a typical angled eyeliner brush but it is a bit smaller than the others

I own so it is perfect for doing my brows. A great alternative to this brush

is the Up & Up eyeliner brush from Target. It is a little bit bigger but not

by much. I use this brush everyday to apply my eyebrow color.

What are your favorite brushes? I love trying new brushes, any recommendations?
Thanks for reading,

I edit all my photo's using PicMonkey! Go check them out!

Morphe Brushes Review and FOTD

 

Please note that the items below were obtained free of charge for blogging purposes.

 

 

 As you all know from my PHAMExpo blog post, I had the pleasure of visiting the Morphe Brushes booth recently. Before PHAME I received a promotional email from Morphe saying I should stop by their booth and build a 4 pan eye shadow palette for free. I had forgotten all about that email during PHAME and only stopped by the booth because of the HUGE selection of brushes they had on display. I was in brush heaven!! I could have spent a small fortune on new brushes but sadly I had spent almost all of my fun money earlier in the day so I only picked out a few. I decided on a few more odds and ends and then at the checkout I handed my blogger media/press sheet to the guy working the booth who then brought over Linda who was a complete doll! She told me I could have my whole basket for free and also let me pick the 4 pan eye shadow palette.

You can check out Morphe makeup paletttes here and individual shadows here.

The individual shadows are only $2 each. Super bargain!

 

 I decided to build a neutral palette. I know that is odd since I am normally so colorful but I am finding there are certain neutrals I am missing in my collection. I actually only have two neutral palettes, one is primarily matte and the other is shimmer. Anyhow I wanted to get some darker, smoky purple and red based neutrals.

Intense Reddish Brown

This color over a base is such a different color than without!



 

 Burgundy with Red Shimmer

 

Muted Blackish Brown

 

I can't find this one on their site, their 45 is purple, this could be 20

I have to say I am floored by the quality of these shadows. I have an 88 palette and a neutral palette by other private label companies and the quality is quite blah so I thought these may not be that great but I was wrong. They have really nice pigmentation, they blend easily and the texture is really smooth. I really like these colors I picked, they are very warm and rich. The magnetic palette is $4.99 for a 4 pan and available here. I plan on building a big neutral palette for my MUA kit soon.

I used the entire palette for the look below

 

Here is a little more information about Morphe Brushes from their website:



Morphe Brushes specializes in high-quality makeup brushes without the name-brand cost! We are a company that has been manufacturing and importing makeup brushes for many years now. From start to finish, we are here for our customers every step of the way. Our staff is specially trained and has the knowledge to help guide you through every professional makeup brush purchase. All of our products are handmade and all carry warranties. Whether you are ordering from our open stock catalog or creating an entirely private line of make up products, turn to Morphé brushes, the leader in quality, price, and customer satisfaction. With us, you will find the premier quality brushes at the lowest prices on the beauty and skin care markets.

Enjoy our extensive line of beautiful brushes and makeup brush sets! We have many brushes for foundation, eyes, cheeks and lips! And don't forget the accessories! Take the time to browse our website and find out for yourself just how wide and diverse our inventory is. We are confident that you will find what you are looking for. For example, our eye make up brushes cannot be beat for selection with the five kinds eye blending, eye defining, eye liner, eye shadow and eye smudge we offer. The brushes are exceptionally durable and made of either sable, goat, synthetic, or italian badger bristle. So what are you waiting for? Experience the Morphé brushes difference today. We also accept Private Labeling and wholesale. Please feel free to contact us.

Metal Eyelash Definer - $3.89                      I got this for my MUA kit because it is metal it can be sanitized easily.

 

Deluxe Crease Blender -$2.99

I am a sucker for any type of crease brush. I love them. This brush is badger and is really great.

It is a very cheap alternative to my favorite MAC #222 and Hakuhodo crease brush.

I used it in the look above in the crease and to blend.



 

Deluxe Soft Fan Brush - $5.89

I also got this brush for my MUA kit.



Brush cleaner and Disinfectant Spray - $3.99

In addition to my addiction to buying crease brushes I also have an addiction to brush cleaning supplies. I love trying new things. This cleaner caught my eye because of the disinfection properties. All of the brush cleansers I have do not contain anything that will disinfect my brushes so I normally spray them down with alcohol after washing. I used this spray as a disinfectant after washing.



 

Lastly I got this rad leopard brush apron. I have been doing a lot more MUA work and thought this would be nice to use instead of the brush roll I have been using. It can hold a TON of brushes and tools and is made of plastic so it can be wiped down and sanitized easily. I cant find this style on the Morphe site but they have a wide variety of  brush aprons and holder to choose from. Check it out here.

My overall opinion of Morphe Brushes and their products is a good one. I really love their eye shadows and their brushes are great and CHEAP! I plan on shopping again with Morphe Brushes very soon. I want to try a ton of other brushes and other items. You can shop online with Morphe Brushes or you can visit their retail shop at 616 Victory Blvd. in Burbank, CA. I am fairly local so I hope to check out their retail shop soon!

Thanks so much to Linda from Morphe Brushes for the goodies! Also check back VERY soon because Linda and I are collaborating on a giveaway for you all! You won't want to miss it!


Thanks for reading,

I edit all my photo's using PicMonkey! Go check them out!

IMATS Haul - Bdellium Smoky Eyes brush set

 I really wanted to get some new brushes at IMATS. I looked at a gazillion brushes that day and sadly either they were WAY out of my price range or really cheaply made. I really liked the look and feel of the Bdellium brushes and luckily they had a set in my price range. I am pretty happy with my current face brushes so I decided to get the 5pc Smoky Eye set which was $20. Normal pricing on this set is $24.30 which is still a great deal for 5 makeup brushes.

Here are some details from the Bdellium website:

The collection of perfect blending and lining tools you need to create beautiful smoky eyes. Brushes that are included in this set are: #781Y Crease, #777Y Shadow, #769Y Angled Contour, #760 Liner/Brow, and #716Y Smoky Eyeliner.Bdellium Tools Yellow Bambu series brushes are professional eco-friendly makeup brushes with all sustainable bamboo handles and all vegan soft synthetic bristles with an anodized aluminum ferrule. Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources and environmentally sound plants on Earth. Due to its rapid re-growth cycle, it can be harvested with virtually no impact on the environment. All of the soft synthetic filaments used in the Yellow Bambu series are not treated with an antibacterial agent. The advantages of synthetic bristles includes less or no hair shedding compared to natural bristles, it is easier to clean and provides a light application. The synthetic bristles are hypoallergenic and 100% cruelty-free.

781 Y Crease Brush

This brush is probably my favorite of the bunch. It is a nice sized crease brush. The bristles are soft yet firm.

#760 Liner/ Brow Brush

So I have grown up and tossed my $1 elf eyeliner brush in exchange for this one. This brush is REALLY small so it works well for doing small precise application . I use it on my brows and really like it so far.

769 Y Angled Contour Brush

Okay I really have no clue how you use this brush on your eyes. It is the second one of it's kind that I have had. Explain this to me please. LOL

716 Y Smoky Eyeliner Brush

This is a new brush for me. I have never had a brush this shape before. I have used it for smoky liner and like it so far. I do forget I have it though and end up just using my finger to smoke out my liner

777 Y Shadow Brush

This is probably my second favorite out of the bunch. I love small shadow brushes. It is a perfect size in my opinion for precise application. 

Overall I am  pleased with these brushes. The pricing is VERY fair and on the cheap side. The brushes are well made, soft and do a good job at what they were intended for.  It is a great stash building set or workhorse set. They are eco-friendly which is a plus as well. I am going to be doing some googling and asking around to see what are some must have Bdelliums to try next.

Do you have an Bdellium brushes? If so, which ones and what do you think about them?

 Thanks for reading,

I edit all my photo's using PicMonkey! Go check them out!

Hakuhodo J146 Eye Shadow Brush

 Sorry the lag in posting. I have been in a makeup RUT!! I have been really busy with my kids and then all my spare time has been spent watching old episodes of Switched At Birth. Gah, it is so cheesy but I am addicted. I swear I am embarrassed about this. I normally like my shows more, uhhh, adult themed. Anyhow, I have not worn makeup for almost a week. However I did get a chance to try out my new Hakuhodo brush that I picked up at IMATS!!

 Steph and I walked past the Hakuhodo booth at IMATS at least a dozen times before actually stopping to check the brushes out. I had heard of the brand and knew that they made good brushes but were expensive so I was reluctant to even look. Once the crowd died down I noticed that they had a brush that looked like a mini MAC #222 so I stopped to look at it. Much to my surprise it was only $17 so I snatched it up and brought it home!

Here are the details about this brush from the Hakuhodo website.
Eye Shadow Brush Round -Our brand new J range introduces the next-generation of makeup brushes as we have carefully selected the materials and designed the brush shapes. The natural hair used in this range has not been dyed so keeps its original color. This means the bristles will not lose any color. The bristles in this brush range provide moderate resilience and produce great coloring and the bristle shapes available are our most standard to cutting edge.

Hair Type ：	Goat
Handle Type ：	Wood Handle/Black
Ferrule：	Nickel-plated brass
Size：	A. Full Length: 156.0㎜ B. Hair Length: 16.0㎜ C. Thickness: 5.0㎜

 I am in LOVE with how detailed the product listings are on the Hakuhodo website. They tell you what every piece of the brush is made from and exact measurements of each piece. Very informative. I have been to many websites where you can't even find what kind of hair the brushes are made from.

I have used this brush a few times and so far I am highly impressed. I basically have been looking for something exactly like the MAC #222 but smaller to really get into the crease and deepen it up. Well I found it. This brush is small enough that it filled in the crease without overlapping much onto my lid or up into the brow bone area. It also is fluffy enough to blend which is a trait the #222 has as well. I must have a thing for goat hair brushes because this and the #222 are the best brushes I have ever used.

Left is MAC #222

Right is Hakuhodo J146

This brush has quickly became my everyday brush. I use it every time I do my makeup. It is a must have in my opinion. I am highly impressed with the Hakuhodo brand. The website is super informative and so far the brush has been fantastic. I look forward to ordering more brushes in the near future.

Do you own any Hakuhodo brushes? If so, what do you think of them? Which ones should I add to my ever growing list?

 Thanks for reading,

I edit all my photo's using PicMonkey! Go check them out!

My Christmas Gifts!

 My husband I decided to not exchange anything expensive this year and just do really small gifts. He surprised me with Coach Poppy. I wasn't expecting it at all. I had smelled it in an Ulta catalog last month and mentioned I liked it. He went in the catalog and pulled out the sample and saved it so he could remember which one to buy! Super cute!! I also got a couple manicure things, Burt's Bees Lemon Butter cuticle cream and some awesome over sized glitter barrettes in my stocking! Thank you Santa!! The elf nail polish set came from my niece . Earlier in the month my husband sent me in to Ulta with $60 and I came out spending only $20 on a mini Benefit face set and a Real Techniques brush. I could not find anything I needed or really wanted! Crazy!!!

 Benefit Besties set - $12

 I am SMITTEN with Some kind-a gorgeous!!! It is described as a "foundation faker". The product description says, This cream-to-powder formula means silky, even perfection for your complexion. So translucent, its THE finish for most skin tones. Its an instant beauty boost any time of day! 

 I totally agree with the product description. The formula itself is very smooth, It reminds me a little bit of  Benefit Porefessional . Just like Porefessional, as you apply this it just melts right into your skin. Normal pricing on a full size is $30 but to me it is totally worth it.

 You can see how light weight and translucent it is below on my finger. I apply it to my entire face using a stippling brush and it gives the perfect amount of coverage. I am finding lately that my face looks older when I use a thicker coverage foundation but with Some kind-a gorgeous it is so light weight  that it doesn't accentuate all the fine lines I have. The one thing I do not love is the scent. It smells gross in my opinion. I can overlook the scent though because it is a really neat product.

Benefit "that gal" 

 I actually keep forgetting I have this. I will try it out ASAP and do a new post about it.

Real Techniques Shading Brush

 I love my Real Techniques face brushes so I picked this shading brush up from Ulta for only $5.99. I love how affordable these brushes are. Just like the face brushes, this brush is very soft and nice. It is a great eyeshadow brush. It is a great addition to my brush hoard.

 elf Nail Polish Gift Set

 This set was a gift, probably from Target and I would image it was $5-$7. I have a lot of nail polishes but most of these colors were unique and not in my collection so I was happy. I used the nude color once and really liked it.

 Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

 Santa gave me this cream in my stocking, but I have seen it at Target for $5.99 and also in a gift set with a lip balm for $4.99. I have heard great things about this cream. It smells heavenly. I have used it a few times but have not noticed a difference in my cuticles yet. I have pretty dry hands and my cuticles are a mess usually so hopefully this cream works its magic!

 Also in my stocking were these insanely fabulous over sized barrettes!! You can see how huge they are compared to a MAC lipstick!! I do happen to know these are sold at Target and you can find them in the girl's accessory section in the clothing dept. for around $4.

 So that was my little Christmas haul!! What did you get for Christmas? Have you tried any of the products above? If so, what do you think about them?



 Thanks for reading,

I edit all my photo's using PicMonkey! Go check them out!