Good cosmetic brushes

[pomba gira]

This is for Brenda and our other makeup goddesses... I want some decent brushes to go with that in-fukkin-credible L'Oreal H.I.P. makeup . (thanx for the tip on that line- I love almost every one of the eyeshadows!)

Right now I have a few brushes by Palladio and Face Secrets, both from Sally Beauty. Both are better than cheaper ones I've bought at drugstores; the FS seems more ergonomic tho. Are these considered decent quality lines?

Any suggestions would be welcome! What are some better but not outrageously priced lines? Does natural/synthetic fiber make a difference? What brushes does one need for a basic set? A more elaborate set? Finally, what's the best way to store them? I have some brush cleaning stuff (more Face Secrets) that works nicely so I think I'm OK there. Thanks sistagirls!

[Brenda Starrr]

L'Oreal has some decent ones. If you want to spend the cash, MAC has great ones.

[holliwood66]

Sonia Kashuk (spelling?) at Target makes awesome brushes...soft,pliable hairs that don't shed or scratch. I've had some of my Sonia brushes for 2-3 years and no problems. They are inexpensive: $5-$12 each.

I've also bought sable or fine camel-hair brushes from discount art-supply stores and saved a bundle on what would have cost a ton from a big label cosmetic line.

[pomba gira]

Sonia Kashuk (spelling?) at Target makes awesome brushes...soft,pliable hairs that don't shed or scratch. I've had some of my Sonia brushes for 2-3 years and no problems. They are inexpensive: $5-$12 each.

I've also bought sable or fine camel-hair brushes from discount art-supply stores and saved a bundle on what would have cost a ton from a big label cosmetic line.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

groovy... I meant to ask if artist brushes would work but forgot to put it in there. That's great to know.

& Brenda- I was surfing eBay last nite & the prices on MAC brushes inspired me to write a movie treatment about a possessed makeup brush... I made the comment "for that price the damn things better put the makeup on all by themselves without me touching them", and the story popped into my head fully formed. Maybe I should post it in the appropriate forum...

Two more questions:

What are the flat, fan-shaped brushes used for?

What's the expected lifespan of a properly-cared for brush?

[holliwood66]

Flat, fan brushes can be used for blending or for light contouring of the face.

Good brushes can last for 3-5 years with good care (washed evey 2 weeks with mild shampoo, air dry)

[Brenda Starrr]

You can't blend Jack Shit with those fan brushes! They're better used for light powder applications. Just my .02.

[Guest Megalicious]

I'm with Bren here, I have a couple of Loreal ones, but the majorty of what I have is Bobbi Brown. They are a little expensive, but worth every penny. Not to mention Ive had them forever and they still work just a wonderful as when I boutght them =)

People are always asking how my make up looks so good, well ... it really does come down to the blending .. and to blend awesome you need awesome brushes. This is one of those rare things I allow myself to splurge on =)

[Brenda Starrr]

Yeah....

Amazing blending HAS to be done withan excellent brush. Those cheap ghetto brushes will NOT do it without irritating your skin. Your face is nothing to fool with. Use the right tools.

[BrassFusion]

someday someone pretty's gonna have to sit me down and teach me how to do makeup. i mean, all this "blending..." what ARE you blending, exactly?

[Brenda Starrr]

Colors.

You don't want obvious lines. It's not pretty. You want to look like you're radiating color. Not like it hit you in the face.

[BrassFusion]

so... blush and stuff? i never really got into the blush thing, i think it looks unnatural on me. i'm already kinda pink.

[Brenda Starrr]

Depending on your natural tones, blush could ease that up a bit.

[BrassFusion]

i thought blush was for people who wanted to be pink... so if i'm already pink, why would i wear it?

[Brenda Starrr]

Nope. There are more colors to the palette than just pink. You wear foundation and powder to tone down the pink, then apply a blush that suits your skintone.

[pomba gira]

All makeup has to be blended right, not just blush. I'm just discovering what a difference using decent brushes makes... it really is a revelation. The little foam wands that come with eyeshadow & the little spongie puffs that come in powder & foundatio compacts are pretty much useless for creating anything but the crudest look.

I've been a makeup lover since I was a young girl, but I didn't really get an understanding of what makeup is all about, & the possibilities, until I saw those two Kevyn Aucoin books- Face Forward & I can't remember the other one. He was really a genius... & sounded like a beautiful spirit, too. I like his books 'cos he did so much to de-mystify the amazing transformations he created- you really feel like "yeah, I could do that!"

& BF, maybe one of our makeup queens could do a workshop for us... I think a DGN grrl's day doing something like that would be helly fun. I would be happy to chip in to cover supplies, refreshments & the artist's time... what do you ladies think?

[BrassFusion]

That sounds like it would be fun!!! I'd pay for my part, too.

[Brenda Starrr]

Kevyn Aucoin's books:

The Art of Makeup

Making Faces

Face Forward

You should read his life story, "A Beautiful Life" as well. Really inspiring stuff.

[pomba gira]

Kevyn Aucoin's books:

The Art of Makeup

Making Faces

Face Forward

You should read his life story, "A Beautiful Life" as well. Really inspiring stuff.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Making Faces was the other one I had. I can imagine the life story is good, just going by the stuff about his life in the other books. This will sound helly lame... but after I read Making Faces I actually cried 'cos he sounded like such an incredibly beautiful person and I would never get to meet him. I'm turning into such a sniveling little bitch in my old age... you'd never believe I actually used to be a hardass, would you?