What brushes do you Recommend?

[thespry]

I am looking for a good blush brush... I have 168 and 129, but am finding that neither is quite what I'm looking for. I checked out the link above, and think this line explains my thoughts... "And I love the blush and contouring brushes from Alchemy Cosmetics... they have [] a super-soft squirrel brush (for the apple of the cheek)..." Does MAC have a comparable brush?

 

[kiiwi]

Eyes:
239
219
217
266

Face:
188
116

 

[Kimmer]

N/A

 

[Blushbaby]

Any more eye and cheek brush recs from OTHER brands please?

 

[MACandie2012]

try e.l.f. brushes from eyeslipsface.com. they're a dollar each and they're professional brushes! hope that helps!

 

[celestia]

What i've tested and liked the most thusfar.

EYES
[Powder Surface/detail application]
MAC 239
Laura Mercier angled eye colour brush
TBS Concealer brush

[Cream base application]
MAC 239
TBS Concealer brush
Laura Mercier Creme Eye Colour Brush

[Blending]
A'Squirrel all pure squirrel eye makeup brush
Laura Mercier crease brush

[Crease work]
Stila #15 Double-Ended Brush
MAC 222

[Liner]
Smashbox #21 arched liner brush
Stila smudge and line brush #28
MAC 219

[Lashes/mascara]
(i should scratch this since I haven't tested either.. but I will have them soon!)
MAC 205
Loew Cornell 7000 Series #2/0 fan

FACE
[Powder Foundation brush]
MAC 187

[Blush brush]
A'Squirrel all squirrel powder brush


LIPS
i'm not too much of a lip person ... but i figure i'll edit as i roll... it could change one day!

 

[kay_411]

too many brushes, argh

 

[lucycoo]

I was given a set of make up brushes for Christmas and have completely fallen in love with the the 217 blending brush - it has made blending so much easier I can't see how I coped without it before. I have 188 duo fibre brush and I have heard other users rave about it but I can't say that I have managed to achieve an 'airbrushed effect' with it. I might be in need of more practise but having said that I am still pleased with the results I just can't see any difference between it and my old foundation brush. The 266 is also another favourite of mine; it's excellent for getting a precise line thats close to the lash line. I tend to wipe my brushes off with a baby wipe between using different colours and then every now again again (probably not as regularly as I should) I clean them properly.

 

[makeupjunkie08]

I just got the 226 brush (for the crease) and it is amazing! Its smaller thanthe 224 brush so you can do more precise work. It's part of the BBR collection and is a LE, it'ssold out pretty much everywhere and is hard to find but if u do find it, get it!

 

[moonlit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamiez any recommendations for lip brush? I figured i should have two different ones for lipstick and lipglosses/lipbalms.

I use 318..

 

[chickatthegym]

ww Quote:

Originally Posted by thespry I am looking for a good blush brush... I have 168 and 129, but am finding that neither is quite what I'm looking for. I checked out the link above, and think this line explains my thoughts... "And I love the blush and contouring brushes from Alchemy Cosmetics... they have [] a super-soft squirrel brush (for the apple of the cheek)..." Does MAC have a comparable brush?

Have you tried MAC's 165 Brush? It's great for contouring cheeks...it's smaller than the 168 and 129. I just got one the other day and love it

 

[*lolly]

Hi everyone

I'm new to the whole eye makeup scene and I'm in the market of purchasing some MAC brushes.. any suggestions for the must haves for beginners??

So far I've got the #217 on my list, which I've read is a multipurpose brush for shading and blending. What others do I really need? (I'm really only looking at purchasing three brushes at this stage!)

TIA

 

[kittykit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *lolly Hi everyone I'm new to the whole eye makeup scene and I'm in the market of purchasing some MAC brushes.. any suggestions for the must haves for beginners?? So far I've got the #217 on my list, which I've read is a multipurpose brush for shading and blending. What others do I really need? (I'm really only looking at purchasing three brushes at this stage!) TIA

If you're planning to get Fluidline, #209, #210 and #266 are the ones great for it.

#272 is my favourite brush to apply e/s and for highlight on my brow bones. I also use it for the outer v.

#219 is good to have to apply e/s along the lash line.

 

[ChrisMakeupMan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by helloitsjeanna the brush sets are great values but don't last as long as the individual brushes you buy.. i was told by a MAC MA that most all the brushes that you buy individually are at a high price because they're hand made with virgin hair of animals and they last longer. She also told me that the brush sets are all machine made, hence the cheaper price. I have mac's brush set when they came out with the short handles with green or whatever.. they work the same and great, i just find myself having to pick the hairs loose from the brushes and especially when you wash and clean te brushes. .

No true. just a story to make a higher sale.

There are four major brush manufacturers for cosmetics
Anisa international
Hakuhodo (spelling)
Crown
Royal & Langnickel

Anisa being the largest makes brushes for
MAC (even the brush sets)
Sephora
Laura mercier
Lola
Bobbi brown
Smashbox
A design

Almost all makeup brushes are made by hand
not by machines
the price difference depends on the materials used to make the brush
the only place i can see machines coming in is when the hairs are cut but even then you can tell if it was done by machine. (those cheap brushes that come with makeup sometimes that are bluntly cut off and even feel cheap) those are mass produced and made by machine, big difference from the mac brush sets.

my fave brushes right now are A design, Hakuhodo (very expensive), and simple beaute.

 

[versace]

i love
239 and 217 and 266 for eyes
168 contour
165 highlight
187 foundation and i use it for tinted moisturizer
129 blush

 

[barbie.doll]

Instead of making another thread, I thought I may ask my question here.

I'm buying the Bobbi Brown longwear gel liner today, but I don't want to spend $25 on the brush that goes along with it. I won't be able to afford them both. Does anyone have a recommendation on a good quality, less expensive liner brush? I'd like one that I can do a cat-eye shape with it. And preferably one that is straight, not slanted? Thanks so much!!

 

[User38]

The MAC 209 is a great brush and not as expensive. The other alternative is the Eyeliner brush from Eco tools.. works beautifully but is a slant edge

 

[Destiny007]

Just got the 239, 217, 224 and 252 with the F&F sale and I don't know how I did my eyes without the 239 and 224....I swear they have cut my application time in HALF! Also, LOVE 109 for liquid foundation....like a majic wand!!!

 

[LeeleeBell]

These aren't MAC brushes but my most recent brush purchases that I LOVE love love (aside from the Loew Cornell maxine mop brushes that Enkore recommended)....

I will do this in two parts...

Below are (r-l)...
Sephora Bronzer brush #44 paid about 35$ for it..very dense, LOVE it. It works perfectly.

The Sonia Kashuk Blending sponge...works just like the Beauty Blender...I am SO excited about this product because it totally smooths out any rough patches in my foundation (it works great with liquid foundation AND mineral)

...and it's a great tool for apply Fix + as well . I paid 10$ for it at Target...the Beauty Blender is about twice as much and does the same thing.

The Sonia Kashuk crease blender (not sure if that is its "official" name). -Two pics, one up close. I paid about 5$ for it and it works SO well to apply color in the crease and to blend it out. I love when I find something that works so great and is so affordable.

 

[LeeleeBell]

These two e/s brushes I got at Michael's...I had gone there to purchase some magnets and LOVED this Loew Cornell brush below...But it was $20 and I didn't want to spend that. Well, when I bought the magnets at Michael's I got a 40% coupon for my next purchase (could only go towards one item). I came back and bought the Loew Cornell brush I wanted (below...it's the round, stiff dome brush..even denser than the pic shows)

and the flat brush below (Robert Simmons brand E67-12 "Filbert"). They are both just awesome

ETA: The Loew Cornell brush is called "272-L/ Dome Round"