Perfect Brush and Beauty Matches

I've build up a bit of a collection of make-up brushes, and there are a few brush-and-beauty-product partners which are truly a match made in heaven.  After reading a similar post on From Roses, I was inspired to write my own post all about my favourite brush and beauty product pairings.

All About That Base

Over the last year or so I have fallen for base make up.  For years I stuck to the same foundation, concealer and powder regardless of what I was doing, where I was going or how I was feeling, but lately that's all changed.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Favourite Face Brushes

(L-R) Real Techniques Powder Brush, Real Techniques Duo Fibre Powder Brush, Lauren Luke Flat Contour Brush, Real Techniques Blush Brush, Real Techniques Deluxe Contour Brush, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Since getting into make-up a good few years ago, I've built up quite a collection of make-up brushes.  I actually use every brush I have, and when I wash them I usually end up giving every single one a good scrub, but of course I have my favourites.  I've split this up into two separate posts - firstly I'll be talking about my favourite face brushes, and later in the week I'll be posting about my favourite eye brushes.  As you can see, I love Real Techniques brushes.  For me, the quality is perfect, they're easy to get hold of and they're affordable.  There are a few other brands thrown in, but my collection is made up of mostly RT.  I don't have any high-end make-up brushes.  Although I'm lusting after a few, until now my high-street options have served me perfectly.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Since falling in love with Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation, I've been searching for the perfect brush to apply it with.  My beloved buffing brush just isn't working for me with this foundation, it seems better suited to either more liquid formulations or mineral powders.  I was enjoying using my Sigma F80 flat-topped kabuki, but it soaks up so much foundation! After reading a huge amount of awesome reviews of the Expert Face brush I took the plunge and ordered it, and as always with Real Techniques, I wasn't disappointed.

Top Five Face Brushes

Five years ago I owned one makeup brush - a 17 kabuki which I hardly ever washed and used to apply everything - powder, blusher, bronzer, you name it! Fast forward to this year, and I have at least one brush for applying each product to my face.  These are my current favourite face brushes, as you can tell I'm turning into a bit of a Real Techniques fan.

To apply my foundation I either reach for my Real Techniques Buffing Brush or my Sigma F80 Flat-Top Kabuki.  The buffing brush is ideal for pairing with my Bourjois 123 Perfect foundation or my L'Oreal True Match Mineral Foundation.  I'm fancying giving the Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation a go, and apparently this brush is perfect with it.  I have been loving applying concealer with the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush, even though this brush is intended to be used for eye shadow it is absolutely perfect for buffing concealer flawlessly over any blemishes.  The Contour Brush from the Real Techniques Core Collection is perfect paired with Benefit Hoola to contour my face, it's the perfect size to emphasise my cheekbones and temples.  Lastly, the Real Techniques Powder brush is an amazingly soft large powder brush which I use to apply my 17 Miracle Matte powder over my base.

Currently I'm using a Lauren Luke Flat Topped Contour brush to apply my blusher, but over time It has turned coarse and is no longer a pleasure to use.  I have ordered the Real Techniques Blush Brush and Stippling Brush to apply powder and cream blusher with, so I'm just waiting for them to arrive.  Hopefully I love them as much as I love my other brushes.

I do plan to do a post on my favourite eye brushes in the future, have a guess what brand I love the most! What brushes do you use on a daily basis?