[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] If I can just jump in the way back machine for a moment, I’ll take us to the mid-2010s when everyone was obsessed with make up brushes. It was around the time that MUAs started to shine and become famous for their talents in making the great and the good look utterly beautiful – Sam & Nic Chapman, Wayne Goss, Lisa Eldridge and so on – and brushes, of course, are their tools of the job so great store was set by brush quality.
Both Nic & Sam and Wayne had their own brush ranges (Wayne still does although Nic & Sam have closed their relationship with Real Techniques brushes) and Lisa, well, the rest is history. What changed, and what started to bring brush prices down, was the vegan movement. Brushes were the start – nobody wanted animal hair brushes any more so technology had to change and find a way to create fibres that mimicked the softness, pick-up and effectiveness of ‘real’ hair. There were some horrible offerings to start with (Illamasqua a particular low point) that were too silky so product didn’t adhere – just strands of nylon really – and it’s taken until the past few of years for synthetic brushes to get to the right quality. One of my very favourite brushes is the Liquid Blush Brush from e.l.f. and it’s £5. I use it for tinted moisturizer, foundation, blush, bronzer and highlighter so it’s more than paying its way.
One of the key differences between ‘luxury’ brushes and affordable brushes is bristle density, but the Liquid Blush Brush holds its own in that department so if you have one of these, there’s no need to search beyond. It’s a good time to say that e.l.f. has brought out an excellent value brush set for £35 that’s very good quality although with a slightly lesser bristle count and it will see you through any make up situation you can think of. There’s a little Putty Primer brush (e.l.f.’s own brand primer) that will go straight into my travel make up bag and an eye brush that I’ve already used as a diffusing lip brush. There are five face brushes (although if you’re like me, they’ll all end up as multi-taskers) and four eye brushes as well as a make up sponge.
As well as bristle density, hand feel and hold is super important – these are robust and smooth (not slippy) with a little bit of weight (wood) to them. So, if you need an entire brush overhaul, go for the set HERE, but if you just need a reliable multi-tasker you can throw five pounds at, head HERE.
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