Ramsha

i want to invest in a set of good quality makeup brushes, does anyone know a place that sells them as sets. So for i've looked into the following:

Online Exclusive (from MAC) : the 129 Powder/Blush, 187 Duo-Fibre Face and 190 Foundation. For the eyes: the 213 Fluff, 219 Pencil, 224 Tapered Blending and 266 Small Angle. For the lips: the 318 retractable Lip Brush.
US$217.00

(from MAC) the 190 Foundation Brush, 168 Large Angled Contour Brush, and 194 Concealer Brush. For the eyes: the 212 Flat Definer Brush...US$131.50

(from Lancome) a foundation brush, a powder brush, a cheek brush and two shadow brushes, one for the base shadow and another to define the eye crease and contour; 139US

(from Smashbox) 22 Fan Brush, #12 Angle Brow Brush, #3 Blending Brush, #15 Definer Brush, exclusive Angled Blush and Contour Brush, #13 Foundation Brush, and #21 Arced Liner Brush. US $85.00

The other question is whether it is worth it to shell out the bucks or will dept store brands be just as effective. Cause i'm not sure about other people but as i was trying the brushes i could feel a substancial differance between a brush from MAC and a bruch from loreal, but does it effect the way the makeup turns out?

lublyjubly

i'm in the same predicament! i don't know what to do!!

i think i'm going with MAC... i'm going for the foundation brush and 3 eye brushes, i already have a bobbi brown lip brush and a concealer brush.

Not sure about the other brands... not even heard of smash box...

shweetdreamz

is it really THAT much of a difference between drugstore brushes that sell for tops $5 dollars and $30 MAC brushes? i wanna know too.

purplerose

i bought a mac foundation brush, it haswhite and black hairs, very good. i do think it makes adifferencein makeup, abit. plus makeup brushes if you take care of them they willlast forever, im at the moment trying to build my brush collection... if you look in ebay i think they are slightly cheaper than buying in store, also for those in london there is a guy who sells real good quality brushes in surrey...details will be known soon...email me for details

lublyjubly

where in surrey?!?!!? can you post the details up here?!

purplerose

my friend who is a makeup artist is going to tell me in a few days as i shall be going with her to buy the brushes myself...so please do email me to remind me as i am forgetfull....

shweetdreamz

thanks purplerose but somehow i cant justify myself to spend more than $5 on a brush

belle

It makes a huge difference, and they last you a long time.

shweetdreamz

but what about hygiene? dont u need to throw them out because they ALL do get germ-y after a while no?

purplerose

yep i know how you feel, i went to Narz in selfridges, got a makeover done by them, the brushes felt fantastic on the skin, and makeup was very good,but the brushe set, which included about 11 brushes and about 12cm long was about 150 pounds....lol....of course didnt buy any...but Mac are cheaper ... look into ebay thou...as you can get same thing for cheaper price on eay or on the net....i think one should just have a couple of good brushes and thast it...dont need to be too expensive....but blusher brush is important i think....

teelobhain

Even i was confused but now i have satisfied myself with my own facts and figures...i.e. every brand claims that their brushes are made with real squirel hair and they are soft and all but i have mac brushes, some brushes which i bought from boots, anabelle brushes and then art brushes (the softest kind) which i ask all girls to buy since they are cheap yet work nicely so i use a brush from this set and a brush from other set and my makeup looks fine

belle

tehehe you just wash them with shampoo and water ( the makeup artist at the counter will tell you how towash and take care of your brushes). Next time your at the mall have someone do a test on you, you will feel the difference.

teelobhain

^ Wash them in nice warm and soapy water after you use them and they will be clean till they are in a state to be used

Sara516

Mac has a small set out just for the holidays, it's 6 brushes, in a travel sized pouch..theres two diff sets, for face and all purpose and one for eyes, for $48..

http://www.maccosmetics.com/template...T_ID=PROD10945
http://www.maccosmetics.com/template...T_ID=PROD10947

What I do is i mix and match all my brushes. Most of my brushes are from this makeup brush set I bought from Pakistan (for 425 rs) and then a few others I got from duane read or rite aid or the corner beauty store. I'm not a makeup artist or a professional, so I can't really justify spending $200 on makeup brushes, one day maybe, but not right now. But slowly, I'll try to build up and upgrade my collection. I think the most expensive brush I have is a concealor brush from Sonia Kashuk that was 5.99

Ramsha

^ i know what you mean, all my life i've been using cheap brushes, but a friend of mine just got out of beauty school, and i've been her guinea pig, and to me the bruses seem to make a big difference, anyways i allow my slef to splurge on something big ones a year, so i guess this year its brushes.

Sara516

My biggest concern is eye makeup, I'd rather try and perfect my technique before I waste tons of money on products. Expensive products are useless if you don't have the technique down.

Ramsha

^ thats true, but a blender brush for eye shadow goes a long way, its just cleaner than finger tips or Q-tips, which is what i use to do

trillian

I have the Stila travel brush set and have been happy with it for a few years now. It was $70 I think. I've added a few more low key brushes from Sephora's line. My friend has the Bobbi Brown brush set and it has fallen apart after only 2 years! Don't get that one.

Ramsha

^^ How do you like the Sephora ones, cause i was looking at their website and they have pretty decccent prices

trillian

There are two types of brushes by Sephora - I have the cheaper kind and only have the concealer brush and an angled eyeshadow brush. I think they're totally fine! Give them a shot!