Hello again! Welcome to my second blog post! If
you watch my YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/alexal0vesmakeup) then I'm
sure it will come as no surprise that I love me some e.l.f. brushes. In case
you are unaware, e.l.f. stands for Eyes. Lips. Face. They are affordable, good
quality, and did I mention affordable?? There are 14 in my collection all
together (one is not photographed bc I forgot about it). The ones photographed
below are all "studio" brushes, there are also the "essential
brushes" that retail for $1 a piece. One of my brushes is an essential
brush that was $1. I will talk about it later in this post.
I have said it before and I'll say it again,
e.l.f. brushes are cheap in price but they are not cheap in quality, at least
not the studio ones. I have about a dozen more brushes apart from these ones
and they range from brands such as MAC, Sephora, Bare Escentsuals, Lancôme,
etc. I love to spoil myself from time to time by buying higher end makeup and
brushes but at the end of the day I believe these e.l.f. brushes do just as
good of a job as some of my more expensive brushes. So I am hear to give you
some feedback on these 13 brushes and the many different uses they have. They
are soft, durable, dense, and they retail for $3 dollars each (the ones that
are photographed, their other brushes range from $1-$6).
My e.l.f. brushes
I will go ahead and name each individual brush I
own and the uses they have for me, along with what e.l.f. says it can be used
for. I also have the links to each brush posted after the description. To save
me from having to write this in each description, e.l.f. brushes claim to be
"vegan friendly.'
The other 3 are ones I bought at separate
times.
My smaller brushes
My bigger brushes
1. Eyeshadow "C" Brush- This is perhaps
one of my favorite elf brushes I own. It is so dense and does such a good job
of picking up eye shadow pigment and just packing the color right on to my
eyelid. I use this brush almost every day and even though I use a number of
other eye shadow brushes along with this one, I love using this to apply base
colors and darker shadows since it packs on so well with this brush. The
website states:
This anti bacterial,
synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with
wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look
with this e.l.f. Studio brush!
Creates the perfect
smokey eye.
The medium size brush
gives more control for more specific blending needs.
Use with any powder eye
shadow product for color blending.
2. Angled Foundation Brush- This brush is made
with synthetic hairs. I personally use it for exactly what it says, foundation.
The website states:
This new anti bacterial,
synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with
wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look
with this e.l.f. studio brush!
Creates flawless
coverage. The angled shape allows you to apply product with precision in
hard-to-reach places.
The brush applies
foundation and other liquid products evenly across the face and within the
creases of your features.
3. Complexion Brush- This
brush has served many purposes for me. I either use it with my bronzer to do a
rough contouring job or if I just want to add color all over my face, it can be
used for blush, but I mainly use it with setting powder. I think it probably
works best with powdering your entire face since it is pretty large in size.
The website states:
This
new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent
and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and
create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush!
Creates an even and
natural finish
Expertly sweeps all types of powders across
the entire face and sculpts features beautifully
4. Blush Brush- I don't
think I need to say much about this one because once again I use this for
exactly what the name of the brush is, blush! My fav blush at the moment is the
Nars Orgasm. These two pair nicely together, the brush really does a great job
of sweeping that peachy golden color all over the apples of my cheeks! I would
also use this brush for highlighter if you do not want to buy a separate brush.
Many people have very few brushes or none at all and get on just fine, so it’s
really all about personal preference. Website states:
This new anti
bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can
be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a
flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush! The tailored design allows for
easy maneuvering and precise color application creates a beautifully defined
and sculpted look can be used to apply blush or bronzer.
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/brushes/single-brushes/blush_brush
5. Powder Brush- This is
probably one of my least used e.l.f. brushes. I couldn’t even tell you why
because I'm not sure. The few times I have used it, I applied bronzer with it.
The website says use it with powder or blush and I think it could even be used
to apply foundation if you do not own a foundation brush and just want to buy
this one. Website states:
This new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more
absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist
and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush!
-Creates a professional sculpted look
-Full coverage color
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/brushes/single-brushes/powder_brush
6. Fan Brush- Until I
bought my 11-piece set I had never owned a fan brush. This was one of the
brushes I was most excited to use. I had seen beauty gurus use it for applying
highlight and I love using it with my Nars highlighter in Albatross from time
to time. I alternate with the fan brush and one other one I will be mentioning
later. I also use it to sweep eye shadow fall out off of my cheeks. If I could
change anything about this brush I would want it to be a bigger, thicker fan
brush because I think I could probably get better use out of it had
it been a denser brush, but with that being said, it still does a good job of
applying highlight and dusting off fall out. Website states:
This new anti
bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can
be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a
flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush!
7. Concealer Brush- I actually use this mainly
with wet eye shadows such as MAC Paint Pot's or if I want to wet the brush
first before applying powdered eye shadow because it does a good job
of packing on color since the bristles are so close together. I very rarely use
it for concealer since I absolutely love using by Bare Escentuals
concealer brush most of the time. I think it works better than the elf one does.
Website states:
This
new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent
and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and
create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush!
-Creates even and full coverage
-Applies and blends concealer smoothly and evenly to eyes, face, and blemishes
-Use with any cream products, including concealer, foundation, primer, eye
cream, or cream shadow
8. Contour Brush-
This is another brush that I do not really use as what is named for doing. I
usually like to use this brush in the crease of my eye, I have used it maybe
once or twice to contour down my nose but that’s it. To be honest, this is
another one of those brushes that I don't use that often. Website states:
This
new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent
and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and
create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush!
The domed bristles pick up a lot of color and
deposit it onto the eyelid for extra definition.
Adds depth close to
the lash line and in the corner of the eye.
9. Small Smudge Brush- In
the past I've used this brush for eyeliner, eye shadow, and filling in my
brows. I do not reach for this one very often but it does a good job when I do
use it. The website states: This new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is
softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a
professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio
brush!
-Creates detailed pin-pointed color application
-Great for blending in eyeliner and shadow to create a smokey eye look or to
fill in brows
-Use to apply powder to line eyes or create concentrated color definition
10. Small Precision
Brush- This brush is my favorite to use for eyebrows. I think it could probably
be used as a lip brush as well but I've got my eye on the elf lip brush and
when I go home to the states next month I think I'll purchase it. This small
precision brush does a good job of filling in my brows and picks up pigment
well. Website states:
This
new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent
and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and
create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush!
Creates thin lines
and precise coverage.
Applies color evenly
for small targeted areas.
Use to apply concealer, smooth on lip color,
or line eyes.
11. Small Angled
Brush- Last but not least from the 11 piece collection is this small angled
brush that I love using to apply my gel liner or black eye shadow as a liner.
It also comes in handy for filling in my brows when I cant find my small
precision brush. Website states:
This synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer
and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional
makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush!
Creates precise color
application.
Creates even, thin
and straight lines every time.
12. Professional Brow Comb & Brush
(the one that is not photographed)- The title of this one makes it pretty self-explanatory.
There are two sides to this brush, although they are both meant to be used for
brows, I usually use the thicker looking brush to comb through my brows and the
comb side to brush through my lashes before applying mascara. For a brush like
this, I don't think there’s any point in buying a high-end brush, I'd say all
brushes that look like this work pretty much the same. Why spend a fortune
unless you want to buy a name. http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/brushes/single-brushes/brow_comb___brush
13. Pointed
Foundation Brush- Now this is the brush I almost always use to apply highlight
ever since I got it last month. I'd say it's a dupe for the Sigma F25 and F35
brush which costs $25 and $18. Sometimes I have to dip this brush in the
highlight quite a few times to get the desired pigment, which is my only
complaint about this brush. But I would rather spend $3 dollars than $25 for
something that looks very similar. Website states:
Create a flawless
face with the Pointed Foundation brush. This Taklon brush features a tapered
brush head for precise application with an even, streak-free and flawless
finish. Perfect for concealing, highlighting, and contouring. Ideal for use
with liquid, cream or powder foundation products - can be used with wet or dry
products. Become a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this
studio foundation brush.
14. Angled Blush Brush- I'd say this brush is another Sigma
dupe. It looks a lot like the F40 Large Angled Contour Brush. I really really
love this brush. I use it mainly for contouring with my favorite bronzer at the
moment, Hoola by Benefit. I also do use it for blush as well. It does a great
job of sweeping color along the apples of my cheeks and up towards my temple.
Website states:
The slanted shape of the
Angled Blush Brush offers precision application for a sculpted look. The soft
dense bristles contours facial features easily. Use with cream, liquid or
powder blush, bronzers or highlighters for a professional result.
