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Beauty: Makeup Brushes

Brushes are vital to good makeup application. Investing in good quality brushes is the best thing you could do to improve your makeup.

Two months ago, I bought a couple of budget brushes. I wanted to look for affordable brushes that didn't compromise on quality for the price. I wasn't very happy with the brushes I got from Royal & Langnickel, last September at IMATS.

I had purchased an Ecotools and a Real Techniques brush off of iHerb (my referral code is RBN281, in which you can use this for a discount if you're a new customer; $5 off if under $40, $10 off if $40+).

I've only used the Ecotools fan brush thus far and it's been one of the most versatile face brushes I own. I use it for a sheer layer of pressed powder all of the face and powder highlighter over blush and other areas of the face. You may also use it for bronzer and contour.

This is the brush I haven't used: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I hope to use it for mineral foundation when it gets warmer.

I made a purchase for Zoeva brushes as well.


I grabbed a few brushes that weren't something I had in my arsenal:
  • 310 Spot Liner
  • 228 Luxe Crease
  • 222 Luxe All Over Shader

I also grabbed a brush for a friend, who bought the 234 Smoky Shader (left), which was roughly the shape of my MAC 239 (right). The difference is that the tip of my 239 is flatter whereas the Zoeva is more domed.


The Zoeva brushes offer a range of natural/synthetic mix bristles and vegan Taklon bristles. I've recorded my observations after a few washes and how the application was:
  • 310 Spot Liner - Brush held its shape after washing. No shedding. Very thin so it's ideal for tightlining. I definitely would recommend.
  • 228 Luxe Crease - Bristles frayed a little after a wash. There was little shedding but that's expected of the natural bristles. It's not as soft as it could be and it's a little prickly. Not really necessary when I've got two blending brushes that work for me.
  • 222 Luxe All Over Shader - Easy to sweep shadow all over the lid as a base. Little shedding after first wash. Decent brush to have.

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