The Sephora Delux Brush Set

Sorry for the crappy photo! Once I am in my NYC apartment I won't have to commute home and it will actually be light out when I leave the house/come back home so my pictures will get much better...promise!

Can you believe that this was just 39 dollars?! It comes with a blush brush, foundation brush, and a double sided eyeshadow brush/eyeshadow smudge brush, double sided eyebrow/eyeliner brush, and double sided lip brush. The bristles were so incredibly soft, but are cruelty-free (not real animal hair). I can tell that the brush handles are nice quality wood and they are even labeled so that you know exactly what to use each brush for if you weren't sure.

This was such a deal and I can tell that these will last me a really long time if I care for them properly. Check out my blog on brush care for details!

elf Blush Brush

elf Blush Brush:

I am truly impressed. This brush is absolutely surprisingly fabulous! I mean you have to remember that all studio line products are 3 dollars (or less with a coupon) so this is a great value for the quality of the product. The small head is perfect for getting a precise application on the apples of the cheeks and blending from there. The bristles are so silky soft that I could swear this was a department store purchase. It has yet to be seen how they will stand up against wear and tear, but I will keep you updated on that.

I think I need to go on the elf site right this minute and order more of their brushes!

EcoTools

EcoTools Brushes:

Cheap Thrill Alert!!!

This travel set of brushes is cruelty-free, super soft, and was five dollars at Target for all four brushes. The set came with a kabuki brush, a blush brush, an eyeshadow blending brush, and a concealer brush. They are small enough to take anywhere, but big enough to use easily. Alicia Silverstone has come out with a line of cruelty-free brushes with EcoTools which I will definitely be checking out.

Does cruelty-free matter in your brush choices?

Brush Care

Vincent Longo Hygienic Professional Brush Cleanser:

For a quick cleaning or a mini-clean between colors used on the same brush, I use this brush cleanser. It is hypoallergenic even though it has a slight fragrance and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. Simply spray it directly on your brush and then wipe the brush gently back and forth on a paper towel or soft cloth until the brush wipes clean.

Johnson's Baby Shampoo:

This is the only thing that I will use to deep clean my brushes. It is extra gentle so it won't harm even the softest brush and it gets brushes very clean and smelling fresh. Get your brush wet in the sink and put a dime sized amount (more or less depending on the brush size) into your palm. Swirl the brush around in the shampoo for a round brush or stroke back and forth for a flat brush. Rinse the brush in the water. Squeeze the hair between your fingers to wring the water out and if the water runs clean then you know you're finished, but if not, then repeat the process. Let the brush air dry. I promise it will get back to its original shape once it's dry and you gently rub the bristles a few times.

Just a trick: For lip brushes that seem gunky and hard to clean, try putting a teeny bit of olive oil in your palm and running it through the oil, then clean with your shampoo as described above. The olive oil will break down whatever lipstick is stuck in the brush and help you get it completely clean- no sticky residue!

Favorite Face Brushes

Sonia Kashuk Stippling Brush:

This brush stipples on blush like no other brush I have tried and it is also a Target purchase so it didn't cost an arm and a leg. I get some color onto the brush and then slowly stipple it onto the apples of my cheeks, blending upwards towards my temples as I go. The handle is also a great perk of this brush because it has a great hand-feel and makes the brush easy to hold and the application easy to control.

Favorite Face Brushes

Two Faced Teddy Bear Hair Blush Brush:

This brush is so amazingly soft that you would never guess (unless you checked out the cute name) that it was made of synthetic hair. Two Faced Teddy Bear Hair brushes are 100% cruelty free. Blush application is smooth and even with this brush and it feels amazing on my skin!