My Daily Essentials: Makeup Brushes

I shared my daily makeup essentials a little while back and as promised, here is my set of essential makeup brushes that have elevated my routine–without cleaning out my bank account. 

(Fair warning, these are all Real Technique brushes–

they are seriously amazing and the price can't be beat!)

(From right to left)

1. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: Hands down the best liquid foundation brush ever, and I do mean ever. I have recommended this brush to at least two close friends and now it's the only foundation brush they use too. It blends liquid foundations seamlessly (say goodbye to brush strokes) and looks so natural while still giving full coverage. I also love using this brush with powders like my Bare Minerals foundation for a medium to full coverage look.

2. Real Techniques Blush Brush: I love my blush so if I can find something to make it look even better than count me in. This brush adds just a whisper of color to your cheeks and applies the color smoothly and evenly.

3. Real Techniques Multi-Purpose Brush: When I received this brush as a gift for my birthday last year I wasn't really sure what to do with it. It's too dense for a powder brush and not dense enough for liquid foundation. I've found it to be very good at contouring and highlighting and that is now it's official job.

4. Real Techniques Powder Brush: The newest addition to my collection, this powder brush may just already be one of my favorites. It's big, fluffy and so soft! It allows for a light dusting of powder to set makeup without looking cakey and also helps to blend out any too harsh contouring or blush. Sometimes I like to tap it into my [The] Body Shop Matte Bronzing Powder and dusting it all over my face for a nice tan glow.

5. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush: My favorite way to use this one is for all-over lid color. It's a little more dense, which is good for packing on eye shadows making it ideal for lid colors.

6. Real Techniques Domed Shadow Brush: Best crease brush alert! The Domed Shadow Brush applies shadows into the crease with ease while still blending well.

7. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush: Have you ever wondered how people apply darker shadows at the outer corner of the eyes? This brush is your ticket! It's pointed tip allows for precisely placing shadows in the outer corner and the flat sides help with blending it over the outer edge of the lid and up into the crease.

You can find Real Techniques online (www.realtechniques.com) or at Ulta stores.

What are your favorite makeup brushes?
Check out the rest of my daily makeup essentials here.

My Daily Essentials: Makeup

 My morning routines consist of rolling out of bed, grabbing coffee and breakfast, then makeup and clothing time! Within my makeup routine, I have my daily essentials–products that are 

vital in getting me out the door while still looking my best all day.

(From top left going clockwise) 

1. Revlon Colorstay 24 Hour Foundation (150 Buff): *Holy grail product alert* I don't know how it covers and blends so well while still staying put (mind you, shine-free) throughout the ENTIRE day without ever breaking out me out! I don't know how it works and I don't care, I am just happy it does.

2. Physicians Formula Conceal Rx (Fair Light): This stuff is some serious business right here. With the consistency of a thick paste it conceals with ease and doesn't budge once it sets.

3. The Body Shop Bronzing Powder (02 Fair Matte): Most shade of bronzer are too intense or ruddy looking for my fair skin. However, this shade is PERFECT for my fair skin ladies out there! It's pretty light and not too pigmented allowing easy blending for a natural glow.

4. NARS Blush (Orgasm): A cult classic, this shimmering beauty affords the perfect natural peachy-pink glow and works on just about any skin tone! After all, there is a reason why it has a cult following.

5. L'Oreal Lash Out Butterfly Effect Mascara (Black): I rarely go a day without mascara, it ties a makeup look together and makes everything look more polished. Plus, the tips of my lashes are blond so mascara is a must for when I want to look pulled together.

6. Maybelline Define A Brow (Light Taupe): This is like mascara for me–having filled in brows just pulls a look together and looks more polished. I don't do a ton of filling in, I like to just enhance the shape of my brows a bit.

7. L'Oreal Super Slim Infalliable Liquid Liner (Black): I reach for this liner whenever I don't want to bother with smudging pencils or time-consuming cream liners (which, to be honest, is most days.) It's pen-like shape features a very fine tip making it a breeze to apply in a pinch. No smudging or budging here, just clean liquid lines that stay put all day.

8. Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi Highlighting Concealer (Ivory): I talked about this product all of the time. It brightens the under eye beautifully, no matter if you stayed up too late watching Netflix, without weighing your eyes down or settling into fine lines!

9. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (Natural): To set my new face in place, the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder comes to the rescue. Never looking cakey, this powder locks everything in place and gives my face the nice matte look that I am always wanting.

Check out my daily essential makeup brushes here.