When it comes to beauty tools of the trade, I’ve always been loyal to Real Techniques makeup brushes. They’re easy to use, affordable and most of all, effective. I have only a few high-end makeup brushes and if I’m totally honest, they’re collecting dust under my bathroom sink as I type this.
I recently had the opportunity to interview the founders of Real Techniques. Being the busy working girl I am, the questions I had for sisters Sam and Nicola Chapman were mostly centered around quick tips for getting ready without all the fuss.
With my wedding just a little less than three weeks away (eeek!! I can’t believe it!!), most of my down time has been spent working on wedding related things. I’ve come to rely on a simple makeup routine—one that requires just a few products that last all day or I can take with me on the go. Enter: EcoTools Essential Eye Set, which includes a large eye brush, angled crease brush, petite eye shading brush, highlighting brush and smudge brush. Combine this brush set with one of my favorite eye palettes in my arsenal—my Urban Decay Naked 3 (I love the romantic shimmery and matte rose shades) and my makeup arsenal is complete. Check out this eye look I created for my Parisian themed bridal brunch…
Love my eye look? Here’s a quick breakdown of how you can achieve this eye look using this essential eye brush kit, priced perfectly under $8:
I used the large eye brush to blend a base shadow (Limit) over the entire eyelid. I then applied Nooner, a slightly darker shade along the crease using the angled crease brush (it adds just the right amount of definition to the outer crease of my eye) while the petite eye shading brush is perfect for an accent color. I use the highlighting brush to accentuate the brow bone (using Strange, a pure crème white) and the inner corners of my eye. As a quick and final touch-up, I smudge the Darkside shadow as eyeliner along the lash line for a smokey finish. I finish with a couple coats of mascara and voila!
Lately I’ve been opting for less eye makeup and focusing on perfecting my complexion. Maintaining a healthy and glowing complexion starts with an arsenal of complexion perfectors. Lucky for me (and you!), you can scoop up two effective makeup brushes for just under $8 a piece.
My skincare routine starts with my favorite summer moisturizer and illuminating eye cream. In the hot summer months I always opt for my go-to Tinted Moisturizer with SPF to protect my skin and give me a sheer summer glow. I’ve been using my EcoTools Custom Coverage Buffing Brush to help smooth out makeup lines. This is one of my favorite makeup brushes because it buffs liquid or mousse foundation in to the skin flawlessly. It applies just the right amount of product and prevents any caking. Every gal needs a powder brush in her makeup arsenal too. Keeping my makeup intact during those hot and humid days is hard to do but I’ve been heavily relying on finishing powder. My EcoTools Large Powder Brush works great for loose and pressed powder for an even all-over dusting before I step outside. I know I’ve mentioned this in previous posts before, but these really are the softest brushes I’ve ever felt—high-end brands included.
A few readers have been asking me for recommendations on quality makeup brushes. Almost always, price is a valid concern and while there are a bevy of affordable makeup brushes on the market, there are only a few brands I’d actually recommend that are effective.
If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend the EcoTools Complexion Collection, a bundle of natural makeup brushes perfectly priced together for under $25. These duo fiber brushes are made with soft, cruelty-free bristles, recycled aluminum ferrules and sleek bamboo handles. These brushes are super soft and easy to clean. I’ve been using these on a daily basis and today I’m sharing a few of my favorites that I’ve incorporated in to my beauty routine.
The Correcting Concealer Brush is my go-to when I’m applying my Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener. Normally I apply concealer in the shape of a piece of pie and blend with my finger or sponge but by lightly patting product on with this brush this really perfects my look for an even finish.
The Skin Perfecting Brush is my favorite brush from the collection and here’s why: I really don’t like the feeling of applying tinted moisturizers (like NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer) and other BB creams with my bare hands. This round edge brush is precise when I’m applying around my nose and under my eyes.
The Mattifying Finish Brush is perhaps the softest makeup brush I’ve ever used (yes, even better than high-end brushes). You can use this for loose or pressed powder. I’ve been using this brush when applying my Stila Custom Color Blush.
Special thanks to EcoTools for sponsoring this post.
I’ve always relied on the padding of my fingertips when I apply makeup, so I guess you could say, I’ve been deprived of makeup brushes for quite some time. OK, maybe not deprived, but, severely lacking in the best makeup brushes! About a month ago, I noticed one of my blush brushes was shedding excessively (and it all went downhill from there), so I embarked on the ultimate makeup brush shopping binge. Check out my tried and true picks when it comes to an even application and a flawless look.
Best eyeshadow brush: Sephora Pro Blending Brush #27 ($20)—Call me lazy but for the longest time, if an eyeshadow palette came with a cheap mini brush or sponge, I probably used it. I discovered this large shadow brush during my first brush binge at Sephora and haven’t blinked twice since. It’s definitely my go-to for smudging and diffusing color with just one sweep.
Best liner brush: Sonia Kashuk Core Tools Bent Eyeliner Brush No. 107 ($5.99)—While I pretty much live off smudge sticks and pencils, my beloved Bobbi Brown long-wear gel eyeliner sadly does not come with a liner brush. Sonia Kashuk’s bent eyeliner brush works with the natural contour of your eye and delivers a smooth line (not to mention is only six bucks!).
Best loose powder brush: NARS Loose Powder Brush ($50)—Expensive, I know. But I swear, it’s worth every penny. Made of super goat hair, it’s the ultimate powder pick-me-up and is ideal for blending.
Best travel brush kit: Sephora Slim Essential Brush Set ($39)— Instead of cramming all my makeup essentials in one bag, this travel kit makes my life so much simpler (and lighter). Set includes a powder brush, angled blush, large and small eye shadow brush and a retractable lip brush.
Best travel bronzer brush: Too Faced Bronze-buki Brush ($34)—Retractable brushes are basically the best things ever created for anyone who is always on-the-go. This is a dense brush allows you to blend for a layered, airbrushed finish.
Best eyebrow brush: Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Duo Brush #7 ($18)—We all know Anastasia Beverly Hills is the holy grail of brow maintenance. I’m a fan of this mini dual sided brush for application and grooming/blending.
Best concealer brush: Chanel Concealer Brush #10 ($32)— I typically apply concealer with my fingertips, but the one time I tried this concealer brush, I fell in love. Suffer from dark circles? This tool will help you lighten up.
Best blush brush: bareMinerals Angled Blush Brush ($15)— I’ve tried a merry-go-round of blush brushes, but I’ve found angled brushes work best for perfectly sculpted rosy glows.
Best foundation brush: Benefit Foundation Brush ($24)—This was gifted to me from the fab PR ladies at Benefit but the saleswoman at Ulta recommended it. It uses two-tone synthetic hair but I swear, it provides all the coverage where my fingers can’t.
Best Kabuki brush: Dermablend Professional Kabuki Brush ($41)—Whether I’m applying bronzer or powder, I love the coverage I get from this little fluffy brush. The short bamboo handle makes it easy to use for the face and body.
Honorable mention:
Real Techniques. I actually just heard about this brand from Lara of The Glossarie. She swears by this line and of course, so now I’m eager to try this. I haven’t bought anything yet from the line, but based off reading about their cool color-coded system on its website, I’m feeling a second wind for my next brush binge…
I’d love to hear what you think of these picks! Leave a comment below and tell me what your favorite brushes are!
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