Hi,
In todays post, I thought I would share my collection of makeup brushes, and also how I look after them. Brace yourselves, it's gunna be a long 'un.
So those are all my brushes + I have two beauty blenders. I don't store them here, I store them on my makeup drawers on top of another drawer. It's easier to just show you.
As you can see I keep my brushes in two candle holders, unfortunately I don't know where these are from as my boyfriend got them for me, I have a feeling they might be from Yankee Candle, but you can store your brushes any way that is best for you. I also have loads of owl lipbalms, and mini snowglobes up there too, just for decorative purposes.
Face Brushes:
So from left to right we have...
1. MAC 190 Foundation Brush
My mum got this for me last year, and It is a really high quality brush. It works well for liquid foundations, and it washes well. It is your typical foundation brush.
2. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
This brush can be used for a variety of different things, but I like using it to blend in foundation, because it does a really good job at that. The Real Techniques brushes really are very good, and I would highly reccomend them.
3. Real Techniques Contour Brush
This is a really soft, small tapered brush, which I like to use to contour, so I use it with bronzers. It also works well for blending out concealer, and blush as well. Very multi-purpose.
4. Real Techniques Buffing Brush
There is a lot of hype around this brush, but personally I prefer the expert face one. I found this works nicely for when I apply too much bronzer, you can blend it out. This also can be used for blending out foundation, I just prefer the expert face one for that.
5. Real Techniques Small Pointed Foundation Brush
This is a tiny pointed foundation brush, and I like to use it to apply concealer under my eyes, or for blending in concealer. It comes in surprisingly useful!
6. E.L.F Studio Blush Brush
It's in the name really. I use this for applying blush and it works nicely. It's really soft, and I haven't washed it yet as it is quite new, but the other elf brushes I have wash well. Its also really cheap.
7.E.L.F Studio Stipple Brush
I originally got this for the purpose of applying foundation, but it isn't dense enough, so I use it for blush and bronzer now. It's a good brush, but not for foundation.
8. E.L.F Studio Complexion Brush
I use this for applying powder and it works really well.
Eye Brushes:
Again, from left to right..
1. Mac 217 Blending Brush
This is my favourite brush. I love it so much, and If I had to reccomend one high end brush, go for this one! It makes blending eyeshadow so so easy, and its so soft. It also washes really well, and overall its incredible.
2. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Brush
I got this brush with the Naked Palette, and I use it to pack on colour to my lids, or to apply highlighter on my brows and inner corners.
3. Urban Decay Double Sided Naked 2 Brush
This brush came with the Naked 2 Palette, and the side you can see on the bottom, I use for my eye lids, and then the bigger side, I use for applying crease colours. I find it works quite well.
4. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush
I don't use this for my eyes, I use it to apply concealer, and I find it works really well.
5. Real Techniques Base Eyeshadow Brush
I like using this to apply a wash of colour over my eyelids. Its softer than the Urban Decay ones, so it blends it out a bit more.
6. Real Techniques Brow Brush
At the moment, I don't really use this brush as I can't think of what to use it for, but I am going to try it with gel eyeliner at some point.
7. Real Techniques Pixel Point Eyeliner Brush
I don't use this for eyeliner, I use this when I am trying to get definition in the crease of my eye, and when I wear more dramatic makeup. I also use this on my lower lash line.
8. Real Techniques Accent Brush
I love using this to apply eyeshadow on my upper and lower lash lines, because it's so small, you can be really precise with it.
9 + 10. Random Drugstore Brushes
I got these from a shop called Savers for 99p. They were the first makeup brushes I bought, and the bigger one is actually really nice for blending, but the smaller one isn't so great...
How I clean them:
I am going to be the first to admit, cleaning makeup brushes is such a chore, but it has to be done, and every time I do it, I always appreciate it! Typically I try (try being the key word) to clean them at least once every 2 weeks, but sometimes, I'm too lazy...
This method might not work for everyone, but it's just how I do it, and it works well for me. So these are the products that I use:
For the majority of my brushes, I clean them with the Alberto Balsam Juicy Green Apple Shampoo. It works really nicely, doesn't damage the brush hairs, and leaves them smelling nice and fresh.
For my beauty blenders, and any foundation brushes, I use the Blender Cleanser because this is much stronger and really cleanses them, which is important for face brushes.
I run the brush under warm water, then apply the cleanser to the palm of my hand and swirl the brush around in it.
Then, I work the product into the brush, and squeeze out the excess.
Pointing the brush down, and avoiding the handle, I rinse through the brush, and leave it to air dry.
It's a very simple method, and if you put some music on, the time goes very quickly!
I hope this post was interesting to at least someone! But If you have any better suggestions for cleaning brushes, please leave a comment and let me know!
Love from Lauren xx
