My Favorite Makeup Brushes!

So I've tried a lot of makeup brushes over the years and these are the best yet! I change up my makeup all the time but I never feel the need to change up my brushes. The MAC ones are the only ones on the pricier side but everything else is very affordable :)

FACE BRUSHES

I use pretty much just Real Techniques, MAC, and ELF brushes on my face.

FOUNDATION (top to bottom):

1. ELF Powder Brush ($3): A flat top brush that I use for liquid foundation. I usually use this to get a more natural coverage out of my foundation.

2. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush ($9): I also use this for liquid foundation but this gives me more of a flawless finish vs. a natural look.

3. Real Techniques Buffing Brush (I believe this is only sold in the Core Collection which retails for $18 but includes 3 other brushes): I have always thought that powder foundation never worked for me but now I've realized that I've been using the wrong brushes. This one is perfect! I use it with the Hello Flawless powder by Benefit.

POWDER/CHEEKS (top to bottom):

1. Real Techniques Blush Brush ($9): I use this for setting my foundation with powder. I like it because it's tapered so it can get into all of the crevices of my face. (sounds weird, but it works)

2. MAC 109 Small Contour Brush ($35): This is perfect for contouring the cheeks. This one is a little on the pricier side so a more affordable option would be the Real Techniques Contour Brush which is sold in the same kit along with the Buffing Brush.

3. MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush ($35): This size and shape is perfect for adding a touch of blush to the apples of your cheeks.  You could alternatively use the Sonia Kashuk Small Powder/Blusher Brush ($8.99)

ELF Stipple Brush ($3): Side note-this brush isn't that special that it go it's own picture I just ran out of space. Lol. But anyway, I use this to sweep away any eyeshadow fallout.

Real Techniques Domed Shadow Brush (only sold in the Starter Set which retails for $18): I forgot to put this in the big photo. Lol. But this is amazing for concealer! This is the only brush I use for concealer because it blends it out perfectly.

EYE BRUSHES:

I have a slightly more eclectic collection of eye brushes with various brands.

FLAT SHADER/BASE SHADOW:

1. This one is from My Glam/IPSY. I got it in a monthly subscription so I'm not sure where else to get it. But this is perfect for putting highlight under my brow bone. It's different from other flat-shader brushes because it's much smaller.

2. Up & Up (Target brand) flat shader brush (somewhere between $3 and $5 not sure because I bought this like 5 years ago): I use this to deepen my crease colors. You can also use this for highlighting under the brow.

3. Real Techniques Base-Shadow Brush (also sold in the Starter Set): I love laying down shadow all over my lid with this.

BLENDING BRUSHES:

1. MAC 217 Blending Brush ($24): I know I put two of them in there but it's because they're perfect. I'm obsessed with them. For all of the other high-end brushes I have an alternative but these cannot be replaced in my eyes. Sounds pretty dramatic but I use these every single time I use eyeshadow. You can lay down eyeshadow, deepen the crease, or blend out a smokey eye. If I could only have one eyeshadow brush, it would be this one.

2. My Glam/Ipsy Blending Brush: Sorry for putting another one of these brushes in here but I really use it all the time. It's hugeeee and fluffy so it softens up a smokey eye very easily. If you can't find this one, try the Sonia Kashuk Blending Brush ($3.99)

BROWS/LINER:

1. MAC 266 Small Angle Brush ($20): I use this for filling in my eyebrows which give them a very natural look. You can also use it for gel/powder eyeliner.

2. Sigma E30 Pencil Brush ($12): Perfect for highlighting the inner corner of your eyes or smudging out eyeliner.

3. ULTA Pro Eye Smudger Brush ($10):  I use this to add eyeshadow to my lower lash line and to smudge out eyeliner as well.

I hope this was at least a little bit helpful to you if you're in the market for some new brushes. Good tools can make even bad makeup look decent :) 

Thanks for reading! :)

-Ashley

October Favorites!

I literally cannot believe that October is over and the holidays are just around the corner! Here's everything I've been loving over the last month.

HAIR:

Kenra Styling Creme

I honestly don't really spend a lot of time on my hair and I don't use many products on it but this styling cream is seriously amazing. After washing my hair at night I let it air-dry until it's about 90% dry and then run a bit of this through it and throw it in a bun and I have really nice waves the next day. I have very straight hair so this thing works miracles! 

SKINCARE:

Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer

I how this is super lightweight and also has SPF so it's great for daily wear! It smells a bit like sunscreen which I actually like but if you're not into that then you might not enjoy it as much. Lol.

Almay Longwear & Waterproof eye makeup removing pads

I don't really know if this is technically skincare but I didn't know what other category to put it in. Haha. But this stuff is AMAZING. It takes off my waterproof mascara super easily which is something I have always struggled with. And the fact that they're in little pads makes it extremely travel friendly. It does leave a slightly oily residue on the skin but that comes off easily when washing your face.

MAKEUP:

Sonia Kashuk Perfecting/Mattifying Primer

This is probably one of the best face primers I have ever tried. I have extremely oily skin and this stuff really helps to keep my face matte. It has that smooth silicone-ish feel without being greasy at all! It helps my makeup go on smoothly and last longer.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation

This foundation claims to have the lasting power of primer, coverage of concealer, and blendability of foundation, all well being shine-free. I believe that most of these are actually true! It has great coverage and blendability but I do find that it does not last as long when I don't use a separate primer. If you have normal/dry skin you can probably skip out on a primer but if you have combo/oily skin like I do I would definitely use a primer and set it with some translucent powder.

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer

I had never used a cream bronzer before so it took some getting used to but now I love it. It looks extremely dark in the pan and could get really intense but it blends beautifully. After foundation but before powdering I use this to contour my cheeks/jawline and the results are so natural! I'm obsessed. Also, apparently this is very similar to the Chanel Soleil tan de Chanel and it's like 1/10th of the price.

Nars Pro-prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

THIS IS THE BEST EYESHADOW PRIMER I HAVE EVER USED (I'M SHOUTING BECAUSE I'M EXCITED) No but seriously, I've tried all type of primers both high-end and drugstore and no matter what by the end of the day my eyeshadow ended up creased. This is literally the only primer that works on my ridiculously oily eyelids. $24 is probably far too much to pay for eyeshadow let alone what goes on underneath it, but I don't even care. It's worth every penny.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

This is a re-discovered favorite. When I first got this palette a few years ago I literally used it everyday but as I got more and more products I kind of forgot how great this eyeshadow palette actually is. It has the perfect set of neutrals. The only downfall is that it doesn't have a matte highlight or many matte colors at all but these shades are beautiful and seriously pigmented.

My favorite shades are: (L-R) Sidecar, Smog, and Darkhorse.

MAC luster lipstick in Syrup

I love this shade.  It's a nice mauvy-plum that's not too harsh. I like that it can get pretty deep in color but if you blend it a bit with your fingers you can give it more of a natural look. (I didn't have this when I did my top 10 lip colors or it definitely would have been featured there)

NAIL POLISH:

Moon Over Mumbai by OPI

I don't usually wear the same nail polish more than once (in a row) but I've painted my nails this color about 3 times in a row. I got this color a while back but for some reason I didn't love it the first time I tried it but I decided to give it another try and it's amazing. It's a pale gray with a slightly lilac-ish undertone. I think it's understated and beautiful!

Another look at the polish :) Also these rings are kind of another monthly favorite also as I have been wearing them nonstop! Above-knuckle rings from forever 21 and Brandy Melville, and infinity ring from Tiffany's.

FRAGRANCE:

Daisy Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs

I hardly ever buy new perfumes for myself but I just had to make an exception. I didn't make a full commitment since I only bought the rollerball but the second I run out of this I will definitely be purchasing a full size. I'm the absolute worst at describing scents so here are the notes listed on the website: natural raspberry, grapefruit, pear, violet, wild rose, apple blossoms, musks, cedarwood, and plum. It's basically very light and somewhat fruity while still being fall-ish? (told you I'm bad)

So I hope you guys enjoyed my first monthly favorites ever! These are my favorite posts to read and my favorite videos to watch so I hope this brought you some sort of entertainment or knowledge. Hope you're all having an amazing week and Happy November!

Thanks for putting up with me <3

-Ashley