All About Makeup Brushes

Any good artist will tell you that the brushes are as important as applying the same trick. Brushes create a perfect finish, that move the makeup for the face of a smooth surface that helps and gives control to the whole. Brushes should be used for any part of your routine application of the composition of its base, and emphasized the use of eye makeup.

Before I knew about makeup applications, I was just using sponge tip applicators for eye shadows. Not that's not anything wrong with it, it's still a popular application method among Asian countries. But the more I learned about makeup brushes, the more I became fascinated with them.

The are so many brands out there, one of the most popular brush brands is MAC. It's individual brushes averages about $40 per brush. I can't imagine if you want to have a complete face to eyes brush set, how much that's going to cost you. They are good quality indeed and will probably last you a while.

MAC Brushes

The are other high-end makeup brushes out there other than MAC. And one of them is a Japanese brand called Hakuhodo (白鳳堂）here is a description of who they are:

Hakuhodo is one of the leading makeup brush manufacturers in Kumano, producing 500,000 brushes monthly.  It also has been producing and providing high quality makeup brushes for many leading cosmetic companies and makeup artist brands worldwide as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufaturer) supplier. Through these collaborations, we continue to make the ultimate fude, the perfect tool.

They are crazy expensive though, just take a look here:

8 pcs vermilion handle set - $369.00

Close-up of the 8 piece set

Basic 17 pieces brush set $509.00

Close-up of the 17 piece set

So.... what are some alternatives if you want to start building up your makeup brush kit? In fact, in my research, I found some brands that's cheap and very good in quality also.

1. Sigma - they are a fairly new online company. I found about this through watching Youtube beauty videos. And a lot of people are comparing these brushes to MAC. They offer many duplicate MAC brushes for a fraction of the price.  I own the 3 piece synthetic brush set ($42) and it makes your liquid foundation look flawless. And the brushes are very soft. They have great customer service and they always include a free gift with your purchase. I got a travel sized blending brush with my 3 piece kit.

Since not everyone of us can afford a Hakuhodo or MAC set, this will be your best choice to buy a complete set without spending couple hundred dollars.

Complete Kit without Brush Roll - Black -$79

Synthetic Face Kit - $42

2.  Ecotools - I love love love this brand. They are sold in drugstores like Ulta, Walgreens & Target. And they are so affordable.

Here is what they say:
Getting gorgeous, going green, and giving back is what we are all about! EcoTools is a brand from Paris Presents Incorporated and a leader in eco-conscious beauty products, most notably known for its incredibly soft cosmetic brushes. We take pride in offering a collection of cosmetic accessories and bath products that feature innovative, earth-friendly materials. In a continued effort to give back, 1% of EcoTools annual sales is donated to 1% For The Planet^®, an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier planet.

How I found out about this brand, is through a forum thread that mentioned their recycle program.

If you own a bunch of old make-brushes, sponges, etc. now is the time to do something with them! You can send them off to EcoTools for their Look Gorgeous, Love Green Campaign.

EcoTools will collect used cosmetic brushes and bath + body care products and swap them for an EcoTools alternative AND a sample pack. Examples of items to swap include:
* makeup brushes
* body washes and scrubs
* body lotions/butters
* hand creams
* body mists
* bath sponges

For each item turned in, participants will receive a coupon for a FREE EcoTools alternative (up to $7.99 value; limit 2 coupons per person). The EcoTools coupon(s) will be sent to participants within a month of receiving the swapped product(s). The items collected will be recycled.

I've participated in this for 2 years now and slowly build up my Ecotools collection. I love these so much that I send a couple off to my cousin-in-law and my sister-in-law to share with them. I swear these are the softest brush you will ever feel! I could just feel them on my skin all day. My favorite ones are the Retractable Kabuki (in the silver tube below), you can just put some powder on there and put it in your purse for touch ups during the day. And the Bronzer brush (the two toned one below). I don't have many of them because they are very hard to track down, the stores only carry a limited selection or it's always out of stock. But definitely check out these brushes if you haven't yet. They are so affordable (under $12 and you can find them on sale often at Ulta).

3. Sonia Kashuk Brushes - Exclusively at Target

Sonia Kashuk offers affordable and great quality brushes too. And at Target they have testers out so you can feel the brushes before you buy it. Sonia Kashuk comes out with limited edtion brush sets and designs for Target all the time, so check it out next time you are in a Target.

Here are some of her collections:

Last but not least. Make sure you wash your brushes once a week with a cleanser like my favorite Dr. Bronner's Soap (also available at Target) and spot clean them with makeup wipes or brush cleanser spray after each use. This way they will stay sanitized and won't irritate and cause break outs of your skin!