Favorite Must Have Eye Brushes

This was requested by a few readers. Next up will be face brushes. :)

If I were stranded on a desert island and could only grab just a handful of eye brushes with me, it would definitely have to be these! These brushes are the magic sticks that make my eye looks the way they are. I noticed that most of these brushes have multiple uses to them (at least the way I use them) and I think that's why they're considered my favorites. :) Without further ado, let's get started! These brushes are in no particular order. :)

PS: Prices may vary on some brushes depending where you buy them.

Sigma E60 Brush ($11.00)

□ The is my favorite brush to apply my brow bone highlight. It seems a bit large but I personally like this because it also helps to blend the outer edge of your eyeshadow with the highlight color. So it almost does 2 jobs in one! :) It's also great for applying a quick sweep of eyeshadow on the lid.

MAC 266 Brush ($19.50)

□ Of course, I can't be without my angled brush. My eyebrows wouldn't look this way if it wasn't for this brush! I've also used this brush for applying eyeliner and defining my crease for when I do a cut crease look.

Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop (3/8) Brush (about $4.00)

□ This is probably one brush everyone needs! It's pretty much the best "all over the lid" brush and ideal for packing on color. It has a rounded top to it so it also blends outer edges really nicely especially if you're experiencing harsh lines.

Sonia Kashuk Small Eyeshadow Brush (about $5.00)

□ Another great "all over the lid" brush and another favorite of mine for packing on color. This one is a lot smaller so it applies nicely to precise areas of the lid, for example the inner eye corner.

Sigma E40 Brush ($11.00)

□ Say goodbye to harsh lines because you won't experience any if you have this brush! Sometimes I'll have this harsh edge between my brow bone and lid color and this brush effortlessly eliminates that. It's a pretty large blending brush so I use it mostly for blending rather than applying color. It also works nice to diffuse eyeshadow if you happen to overdo it.

Sonia Kashuk Smudge Brush (about $5.00)

□ This is like the baby of all my eye brushes. It's so small but it gets into places with precision and it gets the job done! I use this for smudging eyeshadow or eyeliner on my lower lash line and to set eyeshadow on my waterline. I'm not sure if this brush is still available since I can't find it anywhere. :(

EcoTools Bamboo Angled Eyeliner Brush ($3.00)

□ This is another brush that I can't thank enough for giving me clean eyebrows. I use this for applying concealer on my eyebrows to create really clean, sharp lines.

MAC 224 Brush ($28.00)

□ This is the queen of all blending brushes and my very first MAC brush I've ever purchased! Of course, this brush is what it is... a blending brush! Great for blending colors together and for applying color to the crease. It does the job of applying color and blending at the same time so it's one of those all-in-one type of brushes. I'm probably going to buy a back up of this brush just because I love it so much! It's definitely required to have this brush in everyone's collection from beginners to professionals.

MAC 217 Brush ($22.50)

□ I can't express how much I love this brush! I have a back up of this brush because I use it so much! I think if I had the choice to grab just one (eyeshadow) brush to use for the rest of my life, it would definitely be this brush. It's fluffy enough for blending but it has just the perfect amount of density for packing on and building up color. It's the most ideal eyeshadow brush anyone could ever ask for. I'm saying this to everyone who is starting out in makeup that if you're not sure what brush to get, this is definitely the best choice you could ever go with.

MAC 219 Brush ($24.50)

□ I use this brush in more ways than one. I use it to define my crease, smudging eyeshadow and eyeliner, and even for blending! It's another one of those brushes that have so many uses to them and that's why I love it! This brush is unlike any other pencil brush that I've tried because some were too flimsy and had very little density and others were too harsh for my eyes. This one is just perfect!

Sonia Kashuk Bent Eye Liner Brush (about $6.00)

□ This is such an amazing eyeliner brush. I've had this for years and years and it definitely changed my outlook on how to apply eyeliner. I never preferred applying eyeliner with an angled brush and using a bent brush is so much more easier. Perfect winged eyeliner every single time!

Bdellium Tools Bent Eyeliner Brush ($7.04)

□ Another great eyeliner brush. This one is a lot smaller than the SK brush so it's perfect for really precise eyeliner.

MAC 204 Brush ($13.00)

□ This is another staple brush that I need for doing my eyebrows. Of course this brush has different uses to them from eyebrows to eyelashes to... believe it or not... eyeshadow. Yes! Eyeshadow! I once had an eyeshadow that was really dry from accidentally applying water to it and creating a hard layer on top (it was a matte eyeshadow). I just used this spoolie to gently scrape off the hard layer and the eyeshadow was good as new! I know it's kind of random but who would've thought? :)

What are your must have brushes?

Bdellium Tools Review & Photos

Besides collecting makeup, I love to collect makeup brushes. I'm always looking for new brushes to add to my collection and I love to branch out and try all different kinds of brands. I've always believed that it's not all about the kind of makeup you use. High end or drugstore, makeup is makeup! What's important is having the proper tools to help you achieve the looks you desire! The quality of your brushes can make all the difference in the outcome of your looks. Bdellium Tools (pronounced del-ee-yuhm, the "b" is silent) are antibacterial and eco-friendly handmade brushes made up of both natural and synthetic bristles. I've been testing these brushes out for a few weeks now and here's what I have to say about them!

Bdellium offers 4 different product lines:

Maestro Series → Black painted handles, nickel plated brass ferrule that gives it more shine, has a more professional look to them.
Studio Line → Yellow painted handles, made to give you optimum control and comfort.
Travel Line → Same luxurious yellow painted handles in a more compact form.
Green Bambu → Eco-friendly brushes with handles made from bamboo, synthetic vegan bristles, hypoallergenic, 100% cruelty-free.

The difference between these collections of brushes compared to most brushes is their implementation of anti-bacterial technology. What is anti-bacterial technology? According to Bdellium's website, "Cutting edge anti-bacterial technology guards against harmful bacteria, fungus and mold which will bring you the utmost hygiene and assist in creating a germ-free environment. All of the materials used in the anti-bacterial process are non-toxic and safe to the environment." All of Bdellium's brushes except their Green Bambu line are treated with anti-bacterial agents. Having anti-bacterial treated brushes does not make them any different than your other brushes. You use them the same way and clean them like you would normally. For more info about their brushes check out their FAQs page.

To purchase Bdellium Tools click here.

 #964M Maestro Series - All purpose blusher brush ($13.26)

After several uses & washes, MAC eyeshadow for size comparison

→ (Mix of natural and synthetic bristles) I've used this as a face and blush brush. I do have to say that I prefer to use it to apply blush rather than powder due to its size. I do however think that it's a great universal brush when you're traveling and you don't want to take too many brushes with you because it's fluffy enough to apply face powder but it provides just the right amount of density for applying blush. I'm a little particular when it comes to face brushes especially since I don't like the feeling of scratchy bristles or when bristles fall off and they get stuck to my face. This brush on the other hand gives me no problem. However, I did experience a little bit of shedding when I washed them. It didn't lose too many bristles but I typically like to see no shedding.

#945S - Contour brush ($8.76 USD)

After several uses & washes, MAC eyeshadow for size comparison

→ (Natural fibers) At first I thought this brush was too small to contour my big cheeks. I was wrong! This brush is great because it gives you precise application without making your face look too chiseled (if you know what I mean!). The dome shape makes it easy to contour and easy to blend out as well. I also like to use this brush for highlighting my cheek bones because the size is just right. This brush also did not have any fallout when using it but I did experience quite a few shedding when washed.

#716S - Smokey eyeliner brush ($7.51 USD)

→ (Synthetic bristles) This brush is soft with medium density. I find that it doesn't distribute eyeshadow very well compared to other pencil-shaped brushes that I have but it is great for smudging eyeliner and eyeshadow. I'm also very particular when it comes to pencil brushes because I feel like some of them are too scratchy. But since this is made of synthetic bristles, it feels very soft.

#936B - Concealer brush ($6.77 USD)

→ (Synthetic bristles, bamboo handles) This concealer brush has really soft bristles which makes applying concealer under my eyes a breeze! I typically REFUSE to use a concealer brush to apply concealer under my eyes because I feel like most of the time they are tugging or scratching my delicate eye area. That is one thing I cannot stand! That's why I usually settle for using my fingers, a blending brush, or a sponge to apply concealer. This brush however is amazing! The bristles are soft and flexible and it applies concealer so smoothly. It's also very lightweight which gives you full control of the brush and you don't over apply your concealer.

#708B - Bent eyeliner brush ($5.76 USD)

 → (Synthetic bristles, bamboo handles) This brush is by far my favorite eyeliner brush at the moment. I have quite a few eyeliner brushes and a couple of them have a bent head as well. However the bristles on my other eyeliner brushes are nothing compared to this brush. The only thing I would change is probably the length of the handle. I prefer to hold my brushes from a distance and this brush isn't long enough for me. However, I love the fact that the bristles are extremely thin which gives me full control of my eyeliner. I also love the density of the bristles because the problem with some of my other eyeliner brushes is that their bristles lose it's shape and they spread apart over time. The bristles on this brush stay put and bounce right back even after several washes.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

→ These brushes are made with really great quality and are inexpensive. They apply and blend your makeup so effortlessly. If you were to hold these brushes in your hands you would think they would cost more than what they are. You can tell right off that bat that the brushes are made so well and I love that they're sleek and have a professional look to them. I would definitely consider these brushes high-end.

DISCLAIMER: In no way is this blog accepting any form of payment for products received by companies. The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. The products in this review were provided by the company.