The Only 4 Brushes I'll Ever Need


I am guilty of possessing ridiculous amounts of brushes. But when it comes down to it, these four are probably the ones that I could really do my whole face with, and not really ask for more!

This is described on MAC's website as a powder/blush brush - it speaks for itself really! The size works for both, and what MAC missed out (maybe for the sake for keeping the name short) is that it works AMAZINGLY for contouring as well. The tip is tapered to fit into your cheek bones. It also works great for blending, as it's so soft.

I think the only time you wouldn't find this that multitasking is if you were to use cream consistencies or not very pigmented products. It doesn't have the stiffness to blend creams, and as for pigmentation - the bristles are very soft and not incredibly dense.. but these two kinds of products can be covered with the next brush.

Incredibly famous and rightly so, MAC 109 is described as a contour brush, but it's so much more than that. I use it for foundation, cream products, less-than-pigmented blushers, powders and contouring. It's great to brush on foundations with a really light hand, or buff it in properly. The bristles are stiff enough to pick up creams and buff it on. The brush is dense enough to pick up a lot of product if you swirl it in, so this is a go-to for not very pigmented blushers. And when I use powder foundation, or I want to use setting powders like the MAC MSFN for foundation, this is what I use to buff. And of course, the size and shape is perfect for contouring - but I don't use it for that so much ;P

The only downside that many people mention is how it sheds. My trick would be - don't stick it directly into the product forcefully! A great example is the Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel, that everyone seems to leave hairs in from their 109's. Take some of the product with your fingers, put it on the back of your hand and go from there! :)

This is your standard flat shader brush. It packs on colour well, but I'd say only for eyeshadows that aren't so densely packed (MAC Frost finishes, I'm looking at you!). But most eyeshadows aren't, and the reason why I'd say this is part of the few I can live with, is because of how incredibly flat and tapered it is. The top edge can be used to line your lids with eyeshadow or highlight your inner corner with.

Not gonna lie - not a fan of this specific brush (bit stiff, bit fray-ey, extremely scratchy..), but having something of this shape (cough MAC 217 cough) is invaluable. I love it for applying crease colour, but also for blending out product. It's also handy to have if you have extremely pigmented or very bright eyeshadows as this brush will only disperse a wash of product over your eyelids. Applying brow highlight is a synch with this shape, and believe it or not, face highlighting as well!

As much as I adore these 4, I have to admit that the brushes you reach for definitely depends on what products you are using. There are some blushers, foundations or powders that just require a duo-fibre or a synthetic brush - and I suppose that's why I have them! But these four are what I use for products that I've been using a lot.. which you can see in my Currently Using post ;) I find that finding multi-tasking brushes is extremely rewarding cuz a lot of brushes can cost an arm and a leg! Okay maybe not that much, but I find that in the long run, it is very much worth it because apparently with good quality brushes, you wont need to repurchase in a good 5 or 10 years if you take care of them well :)

Do you have brushes you reach for everyday? :)
What are your favourites?

<3yu

Comments

  1. Excellent post Yu! Most of my brushes are from here, there and everywhere such as The Body Shop, Clinique, Benefit - but I feel that I need to invest in a couple more brushes and haven't been sure if MAC were worth the price tag, so I found this super helpful hun - thanks! x

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    1. Thanks, I'm glad to be of help, it makes blogging totally worth it! :) I personally think MAC is worth the price tag if they are multifunctional, and are brush types that you know you will use :) I think for most of my MAC brushes I'd tried a cheaper alternative, and only got MAC because I found myself using it/needing it everyday!

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  2. i love the 129 it is my favourite blush brush! aside from that ecotools brushes are amazing quality :)

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    1. I've never tried EcoTools, I really should! Totally with you on the 129 front ;)

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  3. Loving your layout!! Did you do it yourself.. ? xx

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  4. I love the look of all these brushes! I love the face ones.

    http://thefashiondistrictnlc.blogspot.com/

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    1. Haha they're all great! :) (Except the E25 lol)

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  5. I LOVE the 109 brush, it makes contouring so much easier! And mine hasn't shed at all which is nice. Love the MAC 130 for cream anything, it's amazing.

    x

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    1. Yeah mine hasn't shed much either, must have been lucky! Oh I've been wanting the 130 for a while, not sure if I'll get that or the Real Techniques one!

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  6. I literally use the same brushes every single day. Currently the 109 for applying my BM foundation and contouring, the 134 for powder, and a Crown tapered duo fibre for blush. If I'm using liquid foundation then of course the Sigma F80. Saves having to wash hundreds of brushes. I still have far more than I actually need!
    Oh and Eco Tools ones are really good :-)

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    1. Wahhh I do not like my F80 anymore! I really fancy the 130 or the Real Techniques stippling brush.. :)

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  7. Love Mac brushes, although I also have a trillion others! Need a clear out.

    Great post!

    Jen x
    http://kitsch-n-sync.blogspot.com/

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  8. i am SUPER impressed you managed to pick only four - very impressive. but i think you're right, if i had to pick only brushes i used every day there would prob. be only a handful. can't live without sigma F80 flat top kabuki brush.

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    1. Hahaha! Yeah it's weird how much excess stuff we all seem to have :) I did used to like the F80 but I've gone off it significantly now!

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  9. Hmm..now i wanna try Mac's 109...nice post:))

    http://www.shellzdoll.com/

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  10. I love ur blog <3 plz check mine out and add if u like it :) follow me ill follow you
    kissandblushmakeuptm.blogspot.com

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