Love for Brushes

[AMK721]

I'm developing a love for brushes of all kinds.  I bought a few higher end brushes and they are amazing.  They are incredibly soft and my makeup glides on like a dream.  There are so many interesting shapes. I am really interested in creating a beautiful brush collection.  Show your brushes and share any cleaning and storage tips and let us know which ones are your favorites.

[Shelbstirr]

That sounds awesome @makeitup305, thank you for sharing! I'm not really a fan of using my finger, too easy to get sparkly shadow everywhere.

[makeitup305]

@Shelbstirr I find it better than regular flat shaders (MAC 242 types) and it's easier to pick up and product with it. Definitely a new love.

[clemon]

I am looking for a recommendation for a new blush brush! For reference, my favourite shape is the Hakuhodo J110 (I have both the J110 and the B110) - I would prefer something a tinny little softer - but not squirrel soft. Please let me know your favourite Japanese blush brushes! 🙂

[blackkitty2014]

@clemon, I have both the J110 and J210 (round but not flat). I prefer J210 over J110 so I don’t collect that many round flat shape. Have you check out Chikuhodo Takumi lines? Wayne Goss? or Koyudo BP016? Sonia G also has a really nice blush brush. It has similar shape to J210 but I like it mmuch more.

[clemon]

I have a few brushed from Chikuhodo Z series (they are great, but i prefer a little less soft for everyday use), but not takumi series. You are right about Wayne Goss! I been meaning to try something from him, do you have a favorite?

[SportyGirly125]

@clemon I love the Tom Ford blush brush.  It's made in Japan and reminds me a little of the Hakuhodo brushes.

[kikyochan]

I love the Sephora PRO brushes. People just don't talk about them enough. My favorite is SEPHORA COLLECTION - PRO Precision Powder Brush #59for bronzer

[kikyochan]

I love the Sephora PRO brushes. People just don't talk about them enough. My favorite is SEPHORA COLLECTION - PRO Precision Powder Brush #59for bronzer

[blushnglow]

So, last year I finally splurged on the Surratt line of brushes during the Rouge fall sale.  I must say I love them.  However, I am now in the market for a high-end large, white-coloured fluffy synthetic face brush.  I've narrowed my search to La Mer's Powder Brush (like the shape),  Marc Jacobs Bronzer 12 (like the size), Tom Ford Bronzer (new synthetic version) (like the weight).  I'm interested to hear from anyone who has one or all three and what your impressions would be in terms of streakiness/blendability, quality (hairs falling out) etc.  I"m also open to other suggestions......

[Mochapj]

@blushnglow I don’t have the new TF but I had the natural hair version and got rid of it because even after owning it for two years it shed much more than it should’ve. 

It was shedding and not breakage so that’s likely due to the binding and glue process.  thus it might still be an issue with the synthetic brush since the same manufacturer is making them.

[blushnglow]

@Mochapj Oh I didn't know it's the same manufacturer. Shedding is something that I just can't stand so thank you!

[eshoe]

You bought the entire line, @blushnglow😳 I have questions!! Is the highlighter brush truly necessary? How much of a difference is there between the medium and large SURRATT BEAUTY - Artistique Smoky Eye Brush Grande? I would rather pick up a second SURRATT BEAUTY - Classique Shadow Brush Moyennethan have the former which I might never reach for. 

[blushnglow]

@eshoe I agree with Mochapj's impressions of the brushes.  I actually don't reach for the Smoky Eye Grande that often because of it's in between size - a little too long for blending eye, too small for sweeping cheeks. (do-able but time consuming I assume).  The Medium Smokey I reach for fairly regularly as it blends effortlessly yet still picks up enough product to sweep some colour.  The Petite however I think is a niche product while I love it to smoke the lash line, I know it's not for everyone.  I wouldn't say the highlighting cheek brush is "necessary" but it does perform better for cheek applications because it is larger and denser.  I actually use it for a subtle contour.

Classique Moyenne is a good size multi-purpose brush great for patting on color but also the rounded edge fits into my crease perfectly for quick immediate blending into a transition.  Picking up a second one is a good idea!  Quality is outstanding on all of them.  Hope that helps.

[eshoe]

Thank you for the details you provided, @blushnglow. I think a second Moyenne wouldn’t be the best for me. I never would have thought of the petite Smokey to cover the lash line...I now know how to use the purples in my KA palette!

[Mochapj]

@eshoe I also own the Surratt brush line and happened to see your question 

there is quite a difference between smoky grande and moyenne, size wise. Tbh grande is so large that I actually don’t use it for my eyes but as a highlight brush. Their actual highlight brush works fine but is a little larger and dense than I prefer, while the smoky grande is a looser bound candle shape.

While i own all the brushes, classifique moyenne is the one I own multiples of. Whether you should buy another or buy smoky is probably dependant on how you wear makeup. Smoky isn’t just for smoky eyes but is generally good at diffused, washes of colour. Classifique I find better for packing and shading.

hope that helps. 

[eshoe]

@Mochapj thank you very much for your reply. I was wondering if the grande would be too big for my eyes, the medium is even a bit large but it gets plenty of use. I haven’t used the Smokey brush for sheer washes of color, thank you for this tip as well!

[StephxMakeup]

I really like the Real Techniques Brushes they have many, many kinds. They are also so adorable too!!

[AMK721]

New dilemma - I've been traveling quite a bit and I'm apprehensive with taking along my expensive brushes. I've been getting better about packing, so I mostly carry on which is comforting that my belongings are with me, but I'd freak out if I lost my good brushes. Maybe I'm being paranoid. Does anyone have a separate set of brushes for travel?

@Mochapj, @blackkitty2014

[WinglessOne]

@AMK721 I won’t travel with my Chikuhodo Z brushes, or really any squirrel brushes, mostly because I don’t want to risk damaging them. I very rarely check luggage (if it won’t fit in my carry-ons, it stays home), but I’ve had a couple instances where hotel housekeeping literally dumped my brushes out of a hotel-provided glass onto the bathroom counter and left them there. 😡 Sure, silly me for not keeping them in my own brush bag, but c’mon man. 

Anyway, I recently ordered the Chikuhodo Passion series cheek brush (PS-2) specifically for travel, plus a second PS-4 shadow brush because it works well for me as an under eye concealer brush. (I like to travel with 2 concealer brushes if my trip will last longer than a weekend.) Both the P series brushes are goat instead of squirrel, but the PS-4 is so soft for goat, it convinced me to buy more. 

I also recently bought some Wayne Goss eye brushes and will travel with the goat ones—but I’ll also use them at home because hey, you can never have too many blending brushes. And I don’t mind traveling with my synthetic MUFE and MAC brushes, though I prefer shorter handles. 

Travel storage: 

Spoiler

My travel brush case is usually a book-style leather case meant for art pencils. But I recently found this larger case on clearance that’s rigid on all sides and padded on top and bottom, with built-in elastic slots. I’m picking 2 or 3 of the slots loose to widen them for thicker handled brushes. I’ll probably also paint it because I don’t love its current exterior. Then I’ll travel with this case when I need to bring more makeup than will fit in my usual small makeup bag. 

It had another set of elastic slots attached to a rigid sewn-in flap, but I cut that flap away because it’d smush my brushes.

[eshoe]

What kind of paint would you use for that, @WinglessOne? I’m trying to picture it...I could see you decking it out in a violet-Prussian blue velvet interior lining...

[WinglessOne]

@eshoe I haven’t decided yet. 🙂 Nylon’s not the easiest thing to paint unless it’s untreated, so I’ll probably focus my efforts on the exterior and leave the interior alone. I might even paint just the top and bottom, and leave the sides as is. I could even draw/paint something separately and then attach/seal it to this case instead. I could just slap lots of stickers on it. I could use metallic pens/markers on it. Decisions, decisions!