Semi Crunchy, Always Extra

It’s time to talk about brushes and tools I love. Friends sometimes ask which brushes to use with their new products… that’s usually followed by the common conclusion, there are So. Many. Brushes. to choose from. The options that saturate the market are just overwhelming! Where to start??

First off, I’m not a makeup artist or YouTube sensation, but I have amazing friends who are the source of all great recommendations. 😊🙌🏼

I asked one of the best makeup chicks I know (Laura) for a recommendation and she said MORPHE brushes. I tried them out and I have to say, I’m in love. I do have some brushes from other brands that I’d recommend, but you can’t beat the price and quality of MORPHE.  

What do I suggest?

I went MORPHE Set 695. It offers a well rounded brush selection is synthetic. Oh, and it’s a steal! Look at what you get for $29.99

Set 695 Includes:

• Tapered Powder Brush
• Flat Buffer Brush
• Eyeshadow Fluff Brush
• Blending Brush
• Blending Crease Brush
• Bullet Crease Brush
• Shader Brush
• Concealer Brush                       
• Detail Pencil Brush
• Bent Liner Brush 

Do I use all of them? No. I only use a handful from the set, but I wouldn’t be able to buy the majority that I do use separately for under $30. 

If you’re not in the market for a whole set of new brushes and just need one or two… here’s the equivalent or alternative to each piece. 

Tapered Powder (alt. Angled Tapered Powder)
Blending Fluff
Deluxe Blending Fluff (alt. Blending Crease)
Bullet Crease
Oval Shader
Concealer
Detail Pencil Brush (alt. Detaik Crease)
Angle Liner (alt. Bent Liner)

Other brushes to have in your arsenal:

Real Techniques- Blush Brush -I bought this brush from Target when my favorite blush brush went MIA (thanks kids) and I needed a quick replacement. I have to say – I love the brush head itself, but I don’t love the handle. My favorite thing about MORPHE is the nice weight and feel in my hand – this makes me feel like a pro. 😉 I can’t say the Real Techniques brush makes me feel the same way, but it definitely performs just as well and falls in the same price range. 

You can buy Real Techniques anywhere. Target. Ulta. Amazon. 

MORPHE Large Duo Foundation  – This is not full synthetic, but the little white tips that stipple on my Color Correcting Tinted Moisturizer and MakeSense Foundation are just perfection. With this brush, I’m able to get the most out of the formulas, often only using 1/2 to 1 pump of product. This brush picks up the tiniest bit and distributes everything evenly, leaving an airbrushed finish.  

MORPHE Deluxe Buffer – multi use all over face and oh-so soft. 

MORPHE Flat Bronzer – This brush is my jam. I use it everyday to apply Silk Pore & Wrinkle Minimizer. It’s a workhorse that can bronze, and soft contour too!

Sephora Smudge brush – Smudgey, smokey liner? Yes please. This is all I ever use when I’m not wearing a precision winged liner. 
Frushy – Combo Highlight/Contour brush – this is the link to the official Frushy. This whimsical fishtail brush was a late night impulse purchase, but it quickly became my favorite combo contour/highlight brush!

What else is good to have? A stainless steel palette makes you feel like a makeup pro. Mix and blend custom shades… the world is your oyster! The best part is that you can put product on the palette and then pick up just the amount you need for buildable coverage. 

Have you ever wondered what mixed lipstick would look like? I’m not talking about layering, I mean tapping some color out of the tube and blending to create your custom shade! 😮 #gamechanger

This is my friendly PSA to clean your brushes regularly! You don’t want your brushes to turn into a breeding ground for germs. YUCK! I clean mine weekly, and recommend choosing a day and make it a ritual. This is how I clean my brushes:

• Fill a mason jar with 1-1.5″ of warm water
• Add a splash Brush Cleanser
• Swish each brush and let sit in solution for 10 minutes. (It’s fine to leave it longer if you wish.)
• Rinse each brush individually and air dry

Tell me what your favorite tools are! I’m always looking for products that make my morning makeup routine easier!

xoxo