Makeup brushes are like the various stray animals that show up at my door. They arrive looking for shelter, and I can’t resist giving them a new home. 🙂 Above are a few recently adopted brushes from Target’s Sonia Kashuk line, brushes known for delivering a lot of bang for your buck.
From top to bottom:
- Powder Brush, $19.99
- Synthetic Flat Blusher Brush, $14.99
- Synthetic Crease Brush, $9.99
- Synthetic Concealer Brush, $9.99
Brushes are like potato chips; I can never have just one. Today I “researched” (i.e. surfed the internet) highly rated brushes and ended up at Makeup Alley. Here are some of the highest rated brushes I found:
MAC
- 187 Skunk brush, $42 – For applying foundation, powders or pigments
- 266 Small angle brush, $19 – For applying eyeshadow or brow powder
- 217 Blending brush, $22.50 – For blending and application of both cream and powder eye products
Side note: I love MAC brushes!
Bare Escentuals
- Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush, $20 – For full coverage application of concealer on detailed areas of face (undereye circles, blemishes)
- Heavenly Face Brush, $30 – For light application of face powders
Sonia Kashuk
- Blusher Brush, $17.99 – For a contouring and application of blushes and bronzers
- Foundation Brush, $14.99 – For a foundation application
Prescriptives
- Foundation Brush, $30 – For application and blending of liquid foundation
- Face Brush, $28 – For application of powder to face
Bobbi Brown
- Ultra Fine Eye Liner Brush, $22 – For use with gel eyeliner to create precise eyeliner lines
The Body Shop
- Face/Body Brush, $25 – For application of powders, bronzers and blushes
Stila
- #5 Eyeshadow Brush, $22 – For eyeshadow application over the entire lid
Sephora
- Bronzer Brush, $25 – For application and blending of bronzer to cheeks
Nars
- Bronzer Brush, $50 – For application of bronzing powder
- Smudge Brush, $24 – To apply eyeshadow to lash line
Even though my brush stash has grown a little out of control, I never regret adding new brushes to it because of how often I use them.
I can’t believe it’s already Sunday night, ya’ll. Drat! It’s back to work for me tomorrow.
This morning I woke up, watched a few episodes of Samatha Brown’s Passport to Europe on the Travel Channel (let’s go to Monaco!), and then went for a run around the neighborhood. I’ve sort of skipped out on my chores today (boo to me, I know), but I needed to just chill out for a spell. Now I may watch a movie on TV.
How was your weekend? What was the most surprising thing that happened to you?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Girlfriend, you know your weekend isn’t over ’til you catch up on your reading! Get ready for the best posts from the ladies of the Beauty Blog Network and Splendicity!
Beauty Blog Network
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FASHION
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SHOPPING
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All that & a found a gorgeous knife pleat dress that will take you through summer
Hey awesome brushes. That flat blush brush looks just like my favourite Anna Sui flat top blush brush. It applies blushes like a dream. 🙂
ParisBs last blog post..Review: Makeup: Shiseido The Makeup eyeshadow quad
whoo hoo I’m the one lonely vote for Bare Escentuals brushes so far. I love them and have to hide them from my cat. BE’s Full Flawless Face Brush is my favorite, oh it works so great!
I was looking at some of those brushes you have pictured at Target Friday! I was wondering how they were. You have great blog timing.haha
The most surprising thing about this weekend is that I actually got my presentation done for tomorrow. Oh! And the sun came out today! 73 tomorrow, yessss.
Nice haul! I recently got her bent eyeliner brush about a week ago. Loooove it! I have a habit of “collecting” brushes myself. I don’t think I even use half of what I actually have. 😛
We don’t have Sonia Kashuk in Canada, but I can’t wait until our next US trip to pick up some of the line – I’ve heard it’s great for the price, right?
I voted for the Body Shop brushes – they don’t have a ton, but what they do make are super soft, and pretty 😛
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I love my MAC brushes, the 187 & 269 (I think). Love it!~ I’m going to purchase the blush brush, $64 *takes a deep breath*. Everything so expensive here!~ It shucks >.< I used to have the bodyshop blush brush, it was soooo good & soft BUT mum stole it off me. LOL =P
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Ahh, I love my Bare Escentuals brushes. I have a ton of them (since you practically save money by buying a whole new Basic set when you run out of foundation, and it comes with the Full Coverage Concealer Brush, the Blush Brush and the Buki Brush.) And I have some from special sets too. The Hard Rock Diamonds set from Christmas had a gorgeous long handled fluffy blush brush and a perfect shadow brush, and they both had pearly white handles with little “diamonds” in them.
But yesterday I decided I needed a real crease blending brush, and so I popped for a Sephora fluffy blending one. It isn’t even the Pro version, but it’s the softest brush I have ever felt! It’s almost like nothing is touching your eye! It’s fantastic! That’s why I voted Sephora.
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I don’t have any MAC brushes yet, but I regularly gaze adoringly at the website and contemplate buying some. I’ve got quite a few Smashbox ones, which I think are fab but most of my others I got from a theatrical make up place in London and were a total steal!
The most surprising thing about this weekend for me is how fast it has gone – I go back to work tomorrow after 11 days off and I’m so very not looking forward to it!
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ahh .. i have a set of Shu brush but not exactly miniature or normal size. haha i wanna try MAC 187 and Sonia ones.. they sound promising
Most of my brushes are Smashbox, from their holiday sets. They really vary in quality, but I have 3 of the sets (with surprisingly few repeats) filled out with various other off-brands and some Sephoras. I want to get some MAC brushes, having heard loads of good stuff about them, but, of course, it’s an outlay!
The only surprising thing that happened to me this weekend was an unexpected allergy attack on Sunday morning! Boo! Your kitty-face post was a much better surprise! 😀
I can’t believe you didn’t even put Shu Uemura on the list.
Hi Sylvie,
Well now there’s at least one vote for Shu Uemura. 🙂
I suspect that all the “None of the above”s go to Shu Uemura. 😉
ahhh, I have brush A-D-D so I just can’t vote in the poll, LOL. I have a bunch of mac (mostly eye), and stila, also love urban decay brushes (sooo soft) then a bunch of “singles” from many brands!
I did have a big makeup day at the mall yesterday-whew, almost TOO big. BUt I finally got the bobbi brown malted cream eyeshadow, too faced shadow insurance, and tons of shu! (yay, shu! 2 eyeshadows-IR green 450-olive and IR rainbow 900p, a lipgloss-sweet cherry, and my first shu lipstick: OR 538-nude peach). then I totally splurged on chanel candy glow lipgloss-my first chanel! 🙂 I’m DONE (until you rave about something else fabulous, haha)
Sonia Kashuk has really good brushes for the price. I’m also a brush hoarder, have about 20 of them and growing. I’m waiting for Sonia to do her version of the skunk brush, I love that type of brush because it’s really really soft and apply foundation like a dream. You get an airbrush effect when you apply your foundation with that brush (and a bit of water or MAC fix).
The most surprising thing from my weekend was that I saw like four different people I know on Saturday while out and about. It was random and weird because I very rarely see anyone i know around here. 🙂
i hav heard sonia kashuk’s skunk brush goes by the name of highlighting brush and its pretty gud.giv it a go and lemme know.i hav heard gr8 reviews bout it.
Hey Karen,
I love the handles on those brushes very curvacious haha!
You missed Chanel from your brush poll!! I know im biased but i really do think they are the best around! Although the u.s. ones werent great quality so I will forgive you until you come over the the uk and sample ours!
I had a little look at the clinique brushes over the weekend as was shocked at how poor the quality of them was!
Out of interest have you tried soap and glory blueberry body butter by any chance? I read an article in UK Vogue which said it was good but have not tried it yet!
Wow, those handles look very ergonomic (or however you say that) 🙂
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I like those brushes too. I have no name genuine brushes that are made from real goat and squirrel hair with natural lacquered handles. And I have two brushes (183, 190) from MAC.
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I just got the Sonia Kashuk Flat Blusher Brush and I love it! I’ve been thinking about doing a favorite brushes for some time now. I think I’ll finally get around to it!
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Hi ParisB.,
OH! So I am super psyched about that flat brush. I used it for the first time this morning along with a cream blush and I liked it a lot.
I have a hard time finding Anna Suit beauty stuff. It’s too bad cause if I had ready acess I’d buy more of it. I used to be able to get it easily at Sephora but the one near me stopped carrying it.
LOL, Bridget! Why do you have to hide your BE brushes from your cat?
So far the brushes are *very* soft and pretty nice. I used them this morning, and I like overall them so far. I’ll have to lay with them a bit more before I can formally review them though. I gotta say though, the powder brush is 1000% softer than my old Sonia Kashuk powder brush, which I got a few years ago. The quality has really stepped up.
Hi Lehea,
Oh, that bend eyeliner brush sounds neat. Do you use it with liquid or gel liner?
Yah, my brush fetish is getting a little bit out of control. I find them very easy to justify though, and that gets me every single time.
Hi Rae,
Yup, they are great for the price. So far I am really liking mine (check back for the review later on this week).
I am so bummed because the Body Shop is no longer at my nearby mall! Rats!
Hi Sandy,
You’re mom just “borrowed” it from you and forgot to return it. That’s what I tell my mom, at least. 🙂
The blush brush is awesome, you’ll like it. Dunno which one you’re thinking about, but I’ve really been liking the 116 blush brush; it has a smaller head and I find it easier to place more precise color.
Hi Mariah,
Aren’t those Sephora brushes a nice surprise? I had one way back in the day and I hated it, but ever since discovering the brushes in the Smokey Eye Kit I feel completely different about them. The brushes are incredibly soft and actually work really well.
I didn’t know you were a Bare Minerals girl! I wanted to use the foundation but I had a really bad reaction after just one day, pooh. The Hard Rock Diamonds brushes sound really pretty though!
Hi Beth,
Awww, the first day is the hardest coming back from such a long break off. Did you go on vacation? Or did you just chill out at home (that’s fun too!). Let me know in the future what MAC brushes you’re thinking about… I have quite a few that I’m *very* passionate about!
Hi Ping,
Do you have Shu brushes with short handles? The MAC 187 is so great. I do hope you get to try it someday.
Hi Glosslizard,
I really hope you’re feeling better. Things around this way have been awful in terms of allergies (lots of grass in the air, which gets me BAD) so I feel for you!
I have just one Smashbox brush – the huge face and body one. I use it more to remove excess powder and blend away any obvs lines.
Girl, you need some MAC brushes, ASAP! 🙂 We’ll start you off with the 217, then move you onto the 187 and of course you’ll need the 266…
Hi Amanda,
OMG!!!! I nearly fell out my chair when I read about your mall haul! Yay!
Okay, now that you’ve picked up your first Chanel expect the floodgates to open… just wait!
How hot does your IR Rainbow shadow sound? I gotta head back to the store when I’m done with my deadlines and stock up on some goodies. But I’m thinking I’m gonna need that Rainbow!
Hi Dao,
Yup, I have a MAC skunk brush too and I agree regarding the nice foundation application it gives. Another one to try applying foundation with is the MAC 182 – it’s the short, stubby kabuki brush. I wet the brush head with some Fix+ and get perfect foundation application with it every single time, even when I’m in a hurry.
Hi Megan,
That’s weird! Maybe the stars were aligned were aligned or something! That happens to me every once in a while too, when all of the sudden I’ll run into folks who I’ haven’t seen in a long time all in the span of like 24 hours. It’s kind freaky.
I hope you had fun during your mellow weekend!
Hi Anshu,
Thanks for the info! Time to go hunting! 😉
Hi Holly,
I know, I know! Okay, it looks like I’m just going to have to head to the UK to visit you at your counter so you can show me the Chanel brush light! 🙂
Yah, I don’t really use of the Clinique brushes. I had one a long time ago in college and remember not being to crazy about it. For Clinique I like some of their skin care and certain products in tehir color line.
I’ve heard of the Soap and Glory brand but haven’t tried the Blueberry Body Butter. I got a thing about smelling too much like fruit…
How was your weekend?
Hi Karen B.,
Yah! They are very curvy and cute! The handles are surprisingly light, too!
Hi Baby Girl,
I have a few made from squirrel and goat hair too. They are super soft! I have the 190 too. How do you like it?
Hi BeautyTalk,
Yeah, I used it today with a cream blush and like it so far! What do you use if for?
Hi Karen,
Yup you deffo need to visit my counter, check out the brushes, buy some sublimage….. haha!
Im not sure if i mentioned I bought a Clinique pore filler over the weekend and im really very impressed, it lasts really well, doesnt create any extra oil and covers up my open pores really well!
I had a little sniff of the soap and glory body butter actually and the smell was so sweet and sugary that it put me off! That was why I was asking your oppinion to see if it was good enough to override the nasty smell!!
I had a pretty boring weekend really, just work and revision really! I is a bank holiday here in the UK this weekend though so I had an extra day to relax today!
Hi Holly,
If there was discount Sublimage I’d be all over it in a hot second! 🙂 My itty bitty jar is on it’s last legs! I am really, really sad about that.
Oh! The pore filler is news to me! Cool! I know that you previously weren’t a big Clinique fan… what made you change your mind? BTW, is the pore filler used on it’s own or underneath foundation?
Ewww, while I like sweet and sugar in my desserts I’m not the biggest fan of the scent for daily wear. Speaking of scents, I got a lotion sample for Chanel Chance and I really like it… it’s much more tart than the original perfume.
On nice! Gotta love those three day weekends. When are you gonna be done with school?
Hi Karen,
I cant promise you discount but i can promise you as many free samples as you can carry!!
The pore filler is called pore minimiser instant perfector it can either be used on its own or underneath or over foundation, it is purely a cosmetic thing, it wont make my pores go away but it also wont make them worse which is good!
I just read something about it in vogue and the writer said she loves it so much that she stockpiles it so i thought it was worth a try! Thats the good thing about clinique its relitavely cheap so i can take a chance on it!
Is it the new eau fraiche shimmering lotion?? if so i love it! its not officially out over here for another week but i did get a chance to try it out and i love it! i like that it is only a very light shimmer rather than a all out sparkle too!
I have my final exam on 3rd June so not too much longer now! Im sooo excited for a summer of fun!!
My cat will get on my bathroom counter and paw at the brushes until they come out of the holders. Then if she gets on one the floor it’s over. She licks them to death! That’s why I call her Madame Cat Dylan say it like: Ma-Damn Cat…. haha
I use the eyeliner brush with my Fluidlines. It’s practically mistake proof. Well, at least for me it is. 🙂
Thanks! My allergies have been pretty good overall this year, it’s just that when they hit they kinda sneak up on me! Stealth allergies!
Ooh, MAC brush attack… my wallet is cowering! 😉
hey karen! yeah mind is shorthandle, which i find it better than my long handles(eyeliner brush) one. is there any different if i buy 187 short or long handle? the price quite different though
Karen, I’ll be honest. I just found my 190 in my train case. It was sitting there in there for 4 years. I only purchased it the one time I bought Studio Tech foundation. I’ve never used it with my liquid foundation, but I’m going to try and see how I like it. I normally use sponges to apply so this will be a big change.
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Hi Holly,
Awww, you are too kind! 🙂
I gotta stop by the Clinique counter to check out the Moisture Surge spray, so while I’m there I hope I can find this stuff for pores! I want it for me nose!
OHHHH I didn’t know that the Eau Fraiche had a shimmering lotion. The sample I got was a lil’ tube of the original Chance lotion. I am ALL OVER THAT lotion if I can find it. Happy early birthday to me.
June 3rd is right around the corner. Hang in there girl! I am excited about a summer of fun, too! Doing any traveling on your break? I hope so!
Bridget!
I gotta say, that’s pretty darn cute (and weird!). Tabs hasn’t displayed any interest in my brushes and I hope he doesn’t develop a fetish for them in the future.
Hi Lehea,
OHHH! I love my Fluidlines and have been using a crappy old 209 SE (blah) but I am now on a mission to find that bent brush!!! It shall be mine!
Hi Glosslizard,
LOL! We’ll MAC brush you in baby steps. If you get em in parcels it’s way less sticker shock. Oh! I just remembered! You’ll also need the 182 and 187! Let’s add those to the list while we’re at it. J/K… kinda!
Hi Ping,
Yes, girl. There’s a huge difference in the MAC brushes. The SE brushes that are released in the holiday sets, while priced well, tend to not have the same brush head quality as the long handled brushes. The brush heads in my SE are coarser, not as precise and definitely flimsier than the brush heads in my long handled brushes, which I’ve had for years. I know the long handled brushes are much pricier, but in my experience, they perform better.
Hi Baby Girl,
Ha! I bought mine years ago to use with MAC foundation too. I actually hardly ever reach for mine when working with liquid foundation. I find the 190 leaves a streaky finish and absorbs a lot of product. Do you have the 182 buffer brush? It’s actually pretty amazing when used with liquid foundations and gives that “airbrushed” effect.
Hi Karen,
Yeah give the clinique stuff a go, im still impressed now after using it for the 3rd time which is pretty good by my standards i have usually lost interest by now! It is much better than the Clarins instant smooth!
Yeah Eau Fraiche has a shimmering body lotion and a hair mist which are both lovely for summer, i cant wait to get my hands on them!!
Im going on a trip to Rome in August which im really looking forward to but the rest of the summer im really going to play by ear and see what i can fit in! Im just looking forward to all the pressure being taken away more than anything! We are having some really good weather at the moment over here so im hoping thats a good sign for the summer too!!
Hi Holly,
Oh! I can’t wait. I will be getting my hands on that Eau Fraiche lotion for sure.
I’m excited for you and your up coming trips! I’ve never been to Rome but would love to go someday.
I love Sonia’s brushes. I have a ton of them. I think they are fabulous, especially given the price. I have my fair share of MAC and Sephora brand, but I always go back to Sonia’s brushes.
No one here mentioned Essence of Beauty brushes! I know they are at CVS drugstores, but I am not sure where else they can be found. Great price, great quality.
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I love my MAC brushes, the 187 & 269 (I think). Love it!~ I’m going to purchase the blush brush, $64 *takes a deep breath*. Everything so expensive here!~ It shucks >.