Which brushes?

Post your favorite tips and tricks, FOTD's, and swap foundation recipes!
User avatar
sewwies
Posts: 304
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:17 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Which brushes?

Post by sewwies » Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:38 pm

I'm completely addicted to SN now... and I'm trying to limit how much I'm spending (and failing....!!) lol but seeing as I have exams I'm going to treat myself to a couple of new brushes... but I don't know which ones!

At the mo' I'm using the Bare Escentuals flawless face and their concealer brush to put on foundation and a finishing poweder, a MAC 168 angled brush for blush, the MAC 190 foundation brush for highlighter (it seemed a shame to leave it all unloved and it's the perfect size!). For eyeshadow I use the 239 for application and the 275 for blending and the 266 angled eyeliner brush. Sometimes I use my big 150 for bronzer on my face and body.

They're getting a bit bedraggled now (bless 'em), and I'm sure a complete overhaul's called for lol, but which do you guys recommend to start off my new collection? I like my foundation coverage to be thorough, but not too heavy cause I get freckles in the summer which I don't like to hide too much, but pimples, which I do :(

There's too much choice! :shock: Help!!!
~~Sarah~~
Rhys
Posts: 767
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:03 am
Contact:

Re: Which brushes?

Post by Rhys » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:22 pm

The fibre optic blush brush is a lot nicer than the MAC ones - I can't remember the number off-hand, but I have a couple of their angled blush brushes. I really really prefer the fibreoptic, because I'm pale.

MAC has nice e/s brushes, I have to give them that, though I only have one of them. I like the Ultimate E/S brush a lot, too - it holds pigments really well and I use the smaller end for both brow powder and eyelining.

I don't like heavy coverage for foundation, either, but I love the flat-top kabuki. I use the original formula foundation and it doesn't apply too heavily. The baby buki is nice, too. I wish Karen still had some of the 7-brush travel sets, as those are a wonderful set and fit into your handbag for easy travel.

It depends on what's falling apart the most, but I haven't got a bad brush from here yet. if you're pale though, definitely go for a fibre optic for blush application - those do make the world of difference.
User avatar
sewwies
Posts: 304
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:17 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: Which brushes?

Post by sewwies » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:34 pm

Thanks! The blush brush is looking the most ropey and not really the greatest... on my wishlist now! :) the eyeshadow ones are pretty good but unless I dab them on the back of my hand a bit I get a little dusting on my cheek, do you find the UES brush works better? I'm loving the idea of a crease brush too... aaaah they're all so tempting!
~~Sarah~~
Rhys
Posts: 767
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:03 am
Contact:

Re: Which brushes?

Post by Rhys » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:43 pm

The Ultimate E/S brush probably falls into the 'must have' category. You still have to tap it to avoid the faery dust look under your eyes (or not), but it's good at putting pigments where you want them to go.

I lost my crease and regular eyeliner brushes from here (or they're hiding on me somewhere), but those are nice, too. The thing I like about the Ultimate E/S is you really can do your entire eye with just the one brush.
User avatar
Ghost
Posts: 541
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:08 pm
Location: Gloucester, UK

Re: Which brushes?

Post by Ghost » Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:05 am

Hey sewwies

Get the flat top long handle brush, get the flat top long handle brush, get the flat top long handle brush (this includes anyone else who doesn't have it), the fibre optic blush brush, the ultimate eye shadow brush (I love the liner end for the cream liners). I know I said "Get the flat top brush", but once you have that one get the super soft vegan kabuki brush.

Little tip for shipping to the UK: I know its hard but try and keep the packages small and you'll get them faster. If I order early friday morning (and shipped that day) I can get them as soon as the following Tuesday.
Foundation: 1: baggie 6: ebony: 7 glow
Fav blush: Steller
Fav Lippie: Symphony
Fav combo: cream 1st half of lid, 09:59 2nd half, chocolate twinkle in the crease with Blackheart over it blended out and vanillia on brow bone.
kitten1711
Posts: 239
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:47 am
Location: Manchester, UK

Re: Which brushes?

Post by kitten1711 » Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:00 am

Ghost wrote:
Little tip for shipping to the UK: I know its hard but try and keep the packages small and you'll get them faster. If I order early friday morning (and shipped that day) I can get them as soon as the following Tuesday.
Totally agree about ordering on a Friday - makes Monday bearable knowing the good ole Royal mail will be delivering some little treats the next morning :D

I have placed orders upto $100 and still got them in the same time frame, and luckily customs have NEVER nabbed one of my SN packages (touches wood, crosses fingers etc etc) ;) .

I have the UES, crease & wet/dry e/s brushes from SN, plus the FO (which I have 2 of - one for blush & 1 for glows; means less washing :lol: ) and can't say enough good things about them - the e/s brushes are soft yet firm enough to place minerals way better than any others I've tried, and as Ghost said, the FO brush makes some of the more vibrant blush shades much easier to apply without overdoing it. The brushes wash like a dream & dry quickly, and after an initial running of the black dye from the FO brush during the 1st wash that's it. I have used all sorts of brushes over the years including MAC, the Body Shop, Everyday Minerals & Bare Escentuals/Minerals (or whatever they're calling themselves these days) but these are by far my favourites.

HTH.

Txx
User avatar
sewwies
Posts: 304
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:17 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: Which brushes?

Post by sewwies » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:12 am

Ooo thank you :) definately going to get the FO brush then :) I was looking at the long handled brush (I prefer a longer handles) but I was worried the coverage would be too heavy? And it looks like the UES is gonna be on the list as well... oh deeeear!

I was so surprised by now speedy the shipping was, but I've still always got another cart ready before the last package arrives hehe :D

Does anyone know a decent brush roll that has a kabuki slot? The little flap never seems to come down to cover them!
~~Sarah~~
User avatar
Cupcake
Posts: 1097
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:52 pm

Re: Which brushes?

Post by Cupcake » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:15 am

Totally agree on all counts - the Flat Topped Long Handled Foundation brush is the best brush investment I've made. I've owned a lot, but this is a superb step-up from other FTB's out there (like EDM) and the difference it makes to the finish and quality of application is worth every penny of the price. It is also by far, much more suitable for the SN foundation than other brushes - they work together so much better than when applied with other brushes. I was happy enough using another brush - until I tried this and loved it instantly! I'd credit that to the type of bristle it has in that it doesn't grab so much product and compact it onto the skin like others do. This gives the kind of control that a precision tool ought to. Others simply don't which is why they overload or streak or don't spread out right.

Likewise, the UES brush, useful for skillful application, no more finger smudges. Lots more control than a regular eyeshadow brush designed for traditional powders.

Also agree about shipping times. My little order from last friday was dispatched but still has not reached Scotland even though it's a Thursday (two days later than usual). I'm assuming it's the little bottles of gumball toner, etc. In the UK, the Royal Mail have a new-ish system of package sizing. Flat 'letter-box' packages ship much faster. Anything bulky lags behind.
User avatar
sewwies
Posts: 304
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:17 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: Which brushes?

Post by sewwies » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:49 am

Yeah the one with all the gumballs is taking a little longer than usual! Maybe thats why! So do you not find the application too heavy? I think i've found my brushes hehe!
~~Sarah~~
Rhys
Posts: 767
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:03 am
Contact:

Re: Which brushes?

Post by Rhys » Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:35 am

I like the flat top long handle brush (got 2 of them, 2 of most everything, including the FO and UES, actually), but I haven't seen it on the site for a while. So I don't know if Karen sells them anymore. But the baby buki and the flat top buki are nice, too.

I don't have the big buki, oddly - the little ones have been just fine, though.
Post Reply