Brushes: What I Use {Real Techniques, MAC, Sephora}

Sometime before our summer vacation I had a nice long talk with a good friend in another state I hadn't spoken with in a while. When the conversation turned to make-up, we both stated our recent realization: It's. All. About. The. Brushes.

In all the years I've been playing around with cosmetics, I never really gave much thought to brushes. I've had a nice Cargo blush brush for years, but beyond that I'd just used whatever kind of seemed right from the drugstore, or what came with the makeup. How this happened, I don't know. But my recent viewings of fabulous make-up tutorials by Pixiwoo and Raychel Wade (check them out on youtube if you haven't already) have changed all that.

At the beginning of the summer, I bought the Real Techniques Travel Essentials set after hearing the multi-task brush mentioned in a Pixiwoo video (it's Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo's brand). I switched out the foundation brush and eyeshadow brush for others that I already really liked, but kept the multi-task in and really loved using the travel case during our travels in Europe and on the East Coast. I actually still keep the brushes in the case here at home, propped in the standing triangle on my bathroom counter at the ready.

Besides the Real Techniques multi-task (for bronzer and blush), here is what I'm using:

Sephora Professionnel lip - levres retractable #60

MAC #266 (eyeliner)

MAC #217 (eyeshadow)

Sephora Professionnel mineral powder - poudre minerale #45 (the description says this is for loose powder, but a sales associate recommended this to me for use with liquid foundation and I love it)

The look I'm wearing almost daily right now (and wore throughout our summer travels) is adapted from this Pixiwoo video (usually minus the black eyeliner or with just a bit) ...using the brushes above and Chanel foundation, Urban Decay Baked Bronzer in Toasted, MAC Shale eyeshadow, and Makeup Forever Smoky Lash mascara. I change up lipsticks and glosses quite a bit.

I'd love to hear of favorite make-up tutorial videos!

xoxo