MY ESSENTIAL MAKEUP BRUSHES

I've travelled quite a bit this year, and these brushes are the ones I seem to always have around with me - I know there's quite a few! I do switch it up between them when I'm at home, mainly because it means I don't have to wash each brush straightaway after every use. I think I have a good balance of less expensive to high end brushes, but I believe a good brush is worth a little investment as it should last years and years. What are some of your essential/favourite makeup brushes? ;)

(L-R: Sigma Flat Kabuki F80, Chanel Foundation Brush #6, Real Techniques Contour Brush, Sephora Pro Precision Blush Brush #73 and Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush #127)

Sigma Flat Kabuki F80 & Chanel Foundation Brush #6

My 2 favourite foundation brushes - and I refuse to pick between the two! :P I find the Sigma kabuki great for everyday use because it spreads liquid foundation very evenly and does not require a lot of strokes to blend the product into the skin. I grab the Chanel foundation brush when I need to build up coverage, and it's great for manoeuvring around intricate areas on the face. I haven't had much luck with flat foundation brushes up until this point, the application tends to be streaky (this may vary with different foundations) but the Chanel foundation brush is so densely packed that it blends product very easily. Like most foundation brushes, I recommend washing them very thoroughly - I use the Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove (which I know is a little excessive) but it gets the job done so much quicker!

Real Techniques Contour Brush

I've been quite impressed with Real Techniques, mainly with the brushes for the face, the bristles are really fine and they pick up makeup really well. I don't generally apply finishing powder all over my face, just around my t-zone and underneath the eyes, so this brush is the right size for getting the job done. Another great thing about Real Technique brushes is that they are a great choice for beginners or anyone who is on a budget.

Sephora Pro Precision Blush Brush #73

My go-to contour brush! The head of the brush is quite flat, so it is perfect for reaching in and around the hairline as well as the cheekbones. The bristles on this brush are probably the softest amongst the ones I've noted so far - which is really saying something about the quality of this brush. I really do wish Sephora was more readily available here down under, I would highly recommend checking out the Pro Series brushes.

Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush #127

I'm still new to Zooeva brushes, but have been loving them so far - especially the price tag! This brush is pretty much the same as the Sigma F40 (or any angled contour/cheek brush) which I also have in my collection, but I find the bristles on the Zoeva brush to be softer and more gentle on the skin. Both brushes actually pick up powder blushes/bronzers quite well, but I would opt for the Zoeva one!

Jump for the eye brushes!

URBAN DECAY REVOLUTION LIPSTICKS

Urban Decay is one of few makeup brands that holds a dear place in my heart. I've swooned over many of their product releases (I can't wait to get my hands on Naked 3), so when I saw these Revolution Lipsticks I knew I had to try them out. 

The sleek metal encasing of these lipsticks is a much needed upgrade from the original line - the little dagger on the ends annoyed the crap out of me! I really like the gunmetal exterior and the contrast of the purple once you lift the cap, I think UD is right on the money with the packaging of these, it's minimal and very modern. 

I picked up 2 shades out of the 22 that are available. I opted for more natural/everyday colours this time around, still going back and forth on the brighter options, let me know if you have any recommendations! ;)

Jump for more info!

MY TOP 5 FOUNDATIONS

Finding the right foundation can be a big challenge. Despite reading into the reviews and doing the research, I find that I can never really predict how a product will wear on me until I've tested it out on my skin. I've been on a bit of a foundation kick lately - I've read through my fair share of 'favourites' and 'top 5s' in the blogging world, and as a result my stash has grown significantly in the last few months. 

I generally jump between various foundations depending on the condition of my skin and the weather, which means sometimes I will use up to 5 different foundations over the course of one week! It is an essential product in my makeup routine, so I thought I would share some of my absolute favorites in this post. I'm going to try to keep things short by pining it down to the key factors, but don't hesitate to leave a comment if you have any questions. Also, I would love to know what some of your current favourite foundations are! :D

In no particular order…

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation (53)
Coverage: Light to medium
Longevity: 6-7 hours
Shade Range: 5 shades available
SPF: None
Primer I use with this foundation: Various (It's worked with pretty much all my primers!)

My current favourite drugstore foundation. I usually reach for this when my skin is looking a little dry and tired - I find that it gives my skin the boost it needs without making my face too 'shiny', which is often the case for me when it comes to illuminating products. I do point out that this foundation is not the longest wearing product (I have combination skin), but it stays put for most of the workday, so it is a great choice for a day-to-day foundation.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation (5.5)
Coverage: Medium to full
Longevity: 9-10 hours
Shade Range: 26 shades available
SPF: None
Primer I use with this foundation: Illamasqua Hydra Veil

The wear of this foundation is fantastic, it lasts from day to night even around oilier areas of my face (mainly the T-zone area). The product blends seamlessly into the skin and is overall great to work with. This foundation can be easily built up to full coverage, but also wears quite natural if applied sparingly. Illamasqua Skin Base is a great choice for flash photography, it contains no SPF so there won't be any unwanted flash back.

Jump for more foundation love!