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Brushin' Up

I have a problem. Hello, my name is Jenn and I am a makeup brush junkie. There, I said it. Whew, it feels good to get that off my chest!

But it’s more than just an obsession. On a regular basis, I work with an endless assortment of products, people, and textures. Makeup brushes are my tools, and I need the right selection of tools to be able to do my best work on anyone and everyone.

As a result, I have two sets of beauty brushes and one set of special effects brushes. Yes, each genre of work needs different tools. Beauty brushes tend to be softer, fluffier, and honestly, down right prettier. I have over 20 brushes just for the eyes, and another handful of foundation, contour, blush and powder brushes. SFX brushes are more dense, a little stiffer, and not as ornate. My collection consists of several of the same style (short and flat for general use), a couple specifically for glue, a splatter brush, and a variety of body painting brushes.

Meanwhile, my personal brush collection at home is small. Why? Simply put, there’s no need. My face shape never changes and I often use the same products, so there's not much need for me to grow my personal collection. Instead, I get all my brush kicks through my work.

So you're probably wondering what's the “best brush”? That’s not a simple answer, but here are some tips for both beginners and pros:

Beginners
Economy/no name brushes are the way to go! Get a feel for how a brush size/shape works for you. There's no point in investing in a $50 powder brush if you're never going to use it. ELF has great starter brushes, and we offer private label brushes as low as $5 a piece. My recommendation if you don't have ANY brushes, start with: 1 fluffy angled blush brush, 1 angled eyeliner/brow brush and 2 eyeshadow brushes in different sizes. Minimum commitment: $20-30. Then you can build from there as necessary.

Makeup Lovers
If you're starting to dabble in makeup artistry (as in doing makeup on others), opt for better quality brushes for longer durability. Same goes for those who wear a full face of makeup every single day. While economy brushes are great for the casual user, better quality brush brands such as Bdellium Tools, Royal & Langnickel, and Graftobian will allow for more professional application, easier cleaning, and a lasting investment.




If you're ready to up your brush game, we currently carry two fantastic beauty brush sets that, in my opinion, are reasonably priced for what you get, and have everything you need for a full face. We're continuing to update our online store with in stock items.

Not sure if the brushes you have are the right ones for you? Book a private lesson today!


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