must-have makeup brushes

I'll shout it from the mountain tops all day long.  Good makeup brushes make the BIGGEST difference in how your makeup looks. Each brush is created for a different purpose and a different product.  Yes, that means your powder, blush, and bronzer each deserve their very own brush.   Quality makeup tools might have a large price tag at first, but with proper care, they will last for years and years.  I've had some of my brushes for almost ten years!  To maintain proper care, wash your brushes (here's a post on how I do it!) at least once every two weeks.  This will allow them to last longer, apply better, and will keep nasty bacteria off your face.  Here are some of my must-have brushes that I keep on regular rotation.

1.  The Shiseido Foundation Brush is perfect for applying your liquid base.  The flat kabuki style blends like no other.  I like to wet my brush with MAC Fix+ before applying foundation.  This helps the product apply in a very thin, natural layer. 

2.  This  Clinique Powder Brush is what I use to apply clear translucent powder over my foundation and concealer.  The density allows it to pick up and disperse the perfect amount of product.  I also love the shape and size of the brush.  It's not overwhelming, but not too small, either. 

3.  My favorite blush brush I've ever touched is by Bobbi Brown.  It's densely packed and pretty perfect in every way.

4.  The Bobbi Brown Bronzer Brush allows you to use your bronzer in either of two ways: contouring or giving that summer-glow bronzy look.  Most other bronzing brushes don't have this same versatility, but due to BB's perfectly shaped, fairly short bristles, this one is multi-function and worth every last cent.

5.  Now on to eyes... I love to use the Bobbi Brown 'Eye Sweep' Brush to effortlessly apply a wash of light beige/off-white shadow before applying any other color.  This provides a perfect canvas for any type of eye look you're going for and makes it look more tidy/last longer. 

6.  A brush like the MAC 252 Large Shader Brush is a must have for packing on the color, whether you're hoping for a dark, smoky eye or a natural look.  I love using this to add a shimmer or all over color onto my lid (just the section under the crease!).

7.  Blending is key.  And I really don't know what I'd do without my MAC 217 Blending Brush.  You can use it to apply color or to blend existing color on the lid.  It's unlike any other and a necessity in any makeup bag, in my opinion, due to it's versatility.  I typically use this to blend a light brown color into my crease.

8.  The Lancome Dual-End Eyeliner Brush is a multi-function duo brush.  One end works for smudging eyeliner or for applying shadow as liner.  The fine-point end is perfect for applying gel liner, which is my preference for a precise winged out liner look.

9.  Finally, don't forget the brows.  If you do nothing else to your face aside from tinted moisturizer and mascara, please do your brows too.  Properly groomed brows frame your face and instantly make you look put together.  I prefer a brush like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Duo Brow Brush that serves two purposes: applying color to the brows with the angled end and taming the brows with the spooley brush end.  You don't have to buy a product specifically made for filling in brows... just use an eyeshadow from the drug store that is the same color as your brows and apply sparingly!

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