My top 6 (affordable) eye brushes!

When it comes to makeup products, I think my biggest weakness has to be brushes. I want them all! They're the one thing I'll be keeping an eye out for at the Irish Beauty Show on Sunday. I don't think I'll ever have enough :)

It was so hard to whittle this post down to just 6 brushes. (It was meant to be 5 but they're all just too good!) These are the brushes I reach for most. I can do a full eye look with just these alone. So lets dive right in!

First up I chose a lovely little shader brush from Sigma brushes. This is the E55. It's perfect for applying your base shadow to your lid. The hairs are quiet dense, so I don't find as much fallout with product as I do with other similar brushes. I've also had this for a few years, and after many washes it's never lost it's shape or many hairs. To me it's a classic brush that should be in everyones kit!

Next we have the Patricia from Nima brush. I nabbed this at last years beauty show and it's been a staple ever since. I use this for crease colours. It fits in the crease of my eye perfectly, and it's hairs are so soft it makes blending that much easier. All you need is a very light touch to get this brush to do it's job. Another part I really like about this (and the other brushes in the range) is the handle. It's a pretty matte duck egg blue, and feels lovely in your hand! Nice colourful addition to any kit.

One of my absolute favourite brushes ever next, the E10 from Blank Canvas Cosmetics. I think I own 3 of these in case anything were to happen to one and I couldn't replace it! This is my go to brush for a strong eye look. I'll use this for blending under the eye, to give a lovely soft smoked out effect. It's one of the softest brushes I own. I also love that even after using a black shadow, this little beaut washes up like new again! Couldn't be without this brush to be honest :)

Gel liner is a must for me for night time makeup. And finding a good brush for this has been a struggle of mine. However my favourite so far has definitely been the Synthetic Detail Liner brush from Royal & Langnickel. It's from their Silk Pro range, yet is still so affordable. I own a few of these as liner brushes don't last forever, but I've had very little hair loss out of this considering how much it has been used! It looks a little splayed in the picture after being washed, but once you place it in your liner the hairs come back together. A brush line that definitely deserve more attention.

The second time for BCC on this blog, I'm talking about the 006 blending brush. So when you're eye look is completely done, this is the brush you'll run over the top to get that final soft edge we all love. I have a few different versions of these, but this is my favourite as its more flat topped rather than round topped. I feel this gives me a softer finish overall. I also like the size of it. Makes finishing your look much quicker if you're short of time! (Upon review I'm not entirely sure if this brush is still available to buy on the site, but they have various styles which are very similar indeed :) )

And finally...not technically an eye brush, I have this angled brush from AYU brushes. I've been obsessed with eyebrows for a long time, especially getting the shape of my own sorted. Most angled brushes are too soft, or it's impossible to get a fine tip at the end of your brow. However, this is the holy grail of them all! I don't think I could ever use a different one. The hairs are strong but not so much that they drag your brow. And it is still super thin, yet packed full of brush hairs. Again, everyone needs this brush in their lives!!

Wow I said brush a lot of times! Anyway...if you'd like to pick up any of these brushes for yourself, here's where you can do so :)

http://www.blankcanvascosmetics.com/

http://www.ayumakeup.ie/

http://www.nimabrush.com/

http://www.cloud10beauty.com/brands/sigma-beauty.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwqNiwBRDnq93MioaqtKQBEiQAb7Ezn3-RBxqgS4_jubw41GncB9XE3kmiROBdSAMob7C_J1waAg6F8P8HAQ

http://beautyuk.royalbrush.com/

Till next time,

Toodles,

Brush Crush! - The Sexiest Makeup Brush Sets!

Over the years I've accumulated a crazy amount of makeup brushes. High end, low end, brilliant and rubbish, you name it, I've got it!

Now when I purchase brushes I tend to look for not just quality and function but I also opt for brushes that look amazing too!

If you're in need of some inexpensive or super expensive makeup brushes or makeup brush sets here are a select few that have me drooling.

Sonia Kashuk All The Jazz 10 Piece Brush Set

To start, we have Sonia Kashuk All The Jazz 10 Piece Brush Set at just $34.99

On a trip to New York, oh so long ago, I bought a few Sonia Kashuk brushes and they are amazing considering how inexpensive they are. 

This signature range of professional quality brushes are dressed up with stylish black handles caged in gold ribbed details, and ivory bristles to add a sophisticated touch to your beauty routine. Talk about luxury at a stupidly low price!

Cozette Vitality 8 Piece Makeup Brush Set

Next we have Cozette Vitality 8 pcs Makeup Brush Set in Red at $166.00

Roque Cozzette is a force to be reckoned with to say the least! Not only a serious talent in the makeup industry but a real innovator when it comes to perfecting a makeup brush! 

This amazing set is comprised of 8 stylish makeup brushes that are essential in creating endless makeup looks; perfect for devotees of makeup and those learning to become a makeup artist.

Made of Luxury Faux Goat/squirrel custom blend these babies are as soft as a can be and are seriously luxurious! 

Nanshy Luxury 13 Piece Makeup Brush Set

Next up is Nanshy's Luxury 13 piece Makeup Brush Set at just €46.63

With beautiful curvy handles and no bristle shedding these really are a steal! Antibacterial Synthetic Bristles that are also 100% Vegan, Cruelty Free and Approved by PETA.org. What more could you ask for!

Hakuhodo 8 Piece Brush Set

And lastly, but certainly not least, we have Hakuhodo's 8 piece brush set at $499.00

I purchased a few Hakuhodo brushes for my pro kit many, many years ago at IMATS and boy these brushes are seriously luxurious and they last for years! 

This stunning 8 piece brush set selected from Hakuhodo's S100 Vermillion Brush Range (the flagship range of Hakuhodo) is nothing short of sublime! You really can feel the quality in these and if you are a little flush with cash, I'd be suggesting getting these bad boys for yourself or your pro kit!

Here's to seriously sexy brushes :D

This Sh@t Costs Money!

Ah yes, long gone are the days when money crossed palms without any question, query or rhyme. In the good ole days giving a quote or getting paid a proper rate was never an issue but now it’s all ‘will you do it for a credit?' or ‘You’ll get great exposure?’... blah, blah bloody blah!

Let’s face it, the only people that look at those credits are our competitors and as for exposure… if I want to expose myself I’ll streak across a football pitch, neither of which will pay my bills!

Has everyone forgotten that it costs money to work as a professional makeup artist? I know some people have the notion that ‘it’s only makeup…’, ‘sure I do my own makeup all the time…’ etc. etc. but let me just break it down a little here in the hope of shedding some light on this financial situation which is making us all grit our teeth right now.

So you want me to come to your house to do your makeup? Great! Well my vroom vroom costs money to run and the petrol prices, as you know, are crazy, oh and I also have insurance and tax to pay on my car. Oh and least I forget, I have to pay my AA Insurance which is vital. After all, if I do break down/get a flat tyre on the way to your house it means I can get that sorted so I don’t let you down… yay!

So you have sensitive skin and I can’t use facial wipes and you require a particular type of cleanser – hypo-allergenic? Suitable for sensitive skin? No problem! I carry a range of skincare products to suit the majority of skin types. Hey it’s all part of the service.

You get kinda’ oily and are worrying about that makeup stuff slipping off your face? No worries, I have primers that work like magic. They are expensive but you are so worth it!

You get dry lips? Yep, that will be the cold weather, sure I have a great lip balm that’s an industry fave and I am never without it in my kit.

You want to be airbrushed? Giving you a flawless complexion and a long lasting finish? No problem! I trained in Airbrush makeup doncha' know! Yep, it was an expensive course and I also like to keep up to date with new techniques so I tend to do workshops on it every now and then, just so I can always offer my clients the best of the best! Oh and did I mention I also carry spare airbrush guns? Just in case I have a lot of faces to make beautiful, because most of you ladies don’t have time to wait for me to clean out an airbrush gun. 

What’s that you say, will I have a shade that suits you? Sure, I carry at least 6 – 8 shades of airbrush makeup and I also have an even larger selection of cream makeup’s in case you prefer the look, feel or finish of those. You lucky, lucky duck!

You have some blemishes and are concerned about those dark circles under your eyes? Don’t fret! I have just about every kind of concealer you can think of, all the best brands of course!

Now let me set that beautiful base with a gorgeous and lightweight powder, can’t have your makeup not lasting all day/night long now can we.

As an artist I also love to put the contours back into your face after I've made that canvas of yours all even and flawless, so I have a gorgeous array of bronzer's to suit and some cute blushers to add that pop of colour back into those cheeks of yours.

You want a smokey eye? A natural eye makeup? A classic contoured eye? Something bright and colourful? Excellent! My selection of shadows covers every need, want and desire. I have matte, cream and metallic textures coming out of my … so I know I’ll have exactly what you need.

You want a little sumin' sumin' to make those gorgeous eyes of yours pop? Cool! I have so many loose pigments and glitters it’s just not funny.

You love that flick of eyeliner? I do too! What colour would you like?

You wear contact lenses and have very sensitive eyes? Poor baby :/ I have a great selection of mascaras and you know these babies only last about 3 months once opened? Yep, that means I have to replace them on a regular basis but hey, the hazards of the job right?

And eyelashes? Yep, I have those. Plenty of them. I use only 100% human hair lashes and to stick them on, I have every kind of glue… oh wait, you’re allergic to latex? No problem! I have latex free glue just in case!

Pencils, pencils, pencils… You don’t want that heavy lip line and want me to make sure the lip pencil matches your lipstick or gloss? Sure! I have that covered so don’t you worry your little head.

You like lipstick rather than gloss? You want a nude shade… oh wait… a cool shade? Oh and you don’t have one for touch ups so can you have mine? Hmmm

Sorry? What’s that you say? You can’t pay me but you’ll tell all your friends what a great job I did and they might book me to do their makeup? Woop de do! So you know what I’m thinking, in order to keep this bartering system going I’m thinking next time I go to restock my kit I’m gonna’ ask if I can have everything I want and need for free too and in return I will tell everyone how great the shop/brand/sales person is… that will work right?!?!