Crown Brush Haul

Crown Brush is a brand I've wanted to try for the longest time, but for whatever reason kept putting it off. It's not even like the brushes are extortionate - they are so affordable so who knows why I've put off getting brushes from them for so long. 
Anyway, for Halloween they had a 20% off code going - so naturally I had to get one or two (or eight). I figured I'd show you the brushes I decided on, and maybe give a bit of a first impressions? LETS DO THIS! 

The first brush that added into my basket was the IB118 Spoolie, I decided on getting a spoolie brush because the one I'm currently using is the tiny one that comes in the Benefit Gimmie brow, my one ran out but the spoolie came in really handy - it's gotten a bit hairy though so I thought it was about time to say goodbye. It feels really good quality, I don't think you'd have ever guessed that it only costs a few quid! The spoolie even feels really nice on the brows, sounds weird but it really does! 

I also bought the IB117 Lip Brush, I currently use the little detailer brush that came with the Real Techniques face set for my lipstick. And I thought it was maybe about time that I bought another lip brush since I'm constantly needing to wash my brush if I want to put a different colour on. It seems like it will be a really good wee brush, feels nice and soft but not too soft, if that makes sense. 

The C431 Precision Detail looks like it will be a brilliant wee brush for upping my eye game. Its soft, densely packed and fairly sturdy feeling. The brush feels good to hold, and it actually gives me great excitement thinking of using this. Super sad I know... But when you've worked with the same style of brush for so long a new shape and type of brush brings joy to a make-up junkie like me. 
Annoyingly the rest of the brushes I've bought don't have their names on them. I'll look back and find out what they are called just in case you want to buy them for yourselves. 
Okey, so I'm pretty certain now of the names of the other brushes. 

BK16 MiniSmdger Brush, is one of the brushes with no name on them. Its a tiny wee brush, feels so light in the hand too. You could almost forget that you're even holding it. It is so soft! Like its unreal how soft it is, I think I've basically said soft about a thousand times already, and I'll probably say it a thousand more. I think this brush will be good for so many things, from highlighting the brow bone to smudging out liner and shadow. My excitement to see what looks I can create with these brushes is unreal!!

BK18 Round Crease Brush is maybe the cheapest looking, like don't get me wrong it feels nice and soft and good to hold. However its got a fair few hairs that don't look like they've been cut right... Could just be that my one was a bit bad, but I'll sort it myself by giving it a wee trim. The brush is super soft, its not overly densely packed - I feel like it could maybe be a little more packed but I'll play with it a bit before I make any final decisions.

BK42 Bullet Crease THIS BRUSH FEELS BRILLIANT! It feels like it will fit perfectly in the crease and will make applying shadow there a thousand times easier. Its super densely packed and feels so sturdy. You could even maybe use it for contouring since it is fairy pointed and sturdy.. 

C461 Infinity Precision Crease, I'm noticing a pattern with the type of brushes I've bought... They all seem to be these tapered crease brushes, ah well they'll be the handiest! This one is just as soft as the BK42, but it doesnt feel as sturdy. It'll be interesting to see how they differ. 

Final brush now, I'm pretty certain this one is the SS021 Syntho Blending Brush. It was the most expensive of the brushes, but even still only cost £4.99 full price. The brushes are so crazily affordable and such a high quality too! This brush is really soft and seems like it'll be really good for packing on shadow and blending out the edges of shadow. Its incredibly fluffy and looks like it'll do such a great job of blending. 

What brushes are your must have ones?

The Cheap Brush You Need In Your Life | Contour Brush

I can't remember where I originally saw this brush, but I'm pretty sure I saw it on a blog a few months back. Anyhoo, I basically saw it and thought it looked pretty good and for a couple of pounds I didn't really think I could go wrong. I didn't expect big things from this, and I think that's why I'm so blown away by how good this is! 

For such a cheap brush it feels super soft and so far the bristles haven't started to fall out - they don't actually seem like they will fall out which is a huge plus. 
It grabs just enough product - just as a heads up, I've been using it with the NARS Laguna bronzer - I've used it a handful amount of times and it never picks up too much. It gives the most perfect amount of product to blend on the face, its also the perfect size so contouring the cheeks is literally the easiest thing. 

For £1.79p including the postage you really can't go wrong and I couldn't recommend this brush more. I'm thinking I might try it out with cream products to see how it works with them since it does so well with powder. 
Have you found any bargan brushes? 

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman | Blush brush and Expert Face Brush

Hello everyone, I hope your al doing well! So about a month ago I made my first order with iherb.com, and was so happy with the price that I got the brushes for that I made another order - basically as soon as the other ones arrived. In order to avoid customs I have to keep the cost to £15 or less, meaning I can only really buy two brushes at a time. I'm not too fussed about that though, since it keeps the cost down and forces me to pick the ones I really want.
The two I bought this time were the Expert face brush - so many people talk about this brush and I wanted to try it out since people say its better than using the Buffing brush - and the Blush brush - I don't own a brush for blush, so applying blusher is a bit of a hassle and doesn't always look nice, hopefully this will make the application of blush look so much nicer.

The Blush brush is so soft and fluffy! I don't actually think I have ever felt something quite as soft on my face! On the iherb site the blusher brush costs $9 - which works out to be around £5.50. Pretty good price and a bargain if you ask me! The blush can be used to apply both cream and powder blushes - I only have powder ones though so I won't be able to comment on how well it applies cream blush.

The brush is such a high quality and does not shed any bristles! When you use it to apply blush, it feel soft and doesn't feel scratchy on the skin - like some other brushes can. The brush looks really pretty, the handle is a lovely metallic pink and the base is round enough that if you wanted to you could stand it up on your dresser or where ever it is you apply your make-up.

 The brush picks up a good amount of product and applies like a dream, its really easy to use - it makes blusher look lovely on the skin. I don't really know what else to say about this brush, except that if you don't have this brush already then you should definitely go out and buy it. Its beautiful.

The Expert Face Brush is so also soft, the bristles are packed closely together and the bristles are quite short - perfect for blending and buffing in foundation. Just like the Blush brush this brush costs around $9 on iherb. Meaning I got this brush for about half the price that other shops in the UK charge. The brush is used for applying foundation, and it gives such a nice finish.

 I found that with this brush - unlike the buffing brush - you use it more like a paint brush, using small strokes to apply the foundation, instead of using circular motions. Doing this gives such a lovely air brushed look, I would say flawless but the foundations I use aren't the type to give a really full coverage, but it does help make my face look a lot more even and pretty close to being "flawless".

 Just like the Blush brush you can - if you want to - stand this brush up by setting it on a flat surface, I'll probably just put this in my brush pot and take it out when I need it. I think I'll probably be reaching for this brush more than my buffing brush, I find its a little easier to use. And I don't think it swallows up quite as much foundation as the buffing brush.

I am slowly but surely collecting all the brushes, even if I don't specifically need it I think I'll probably still buy them.

What brush do you recommend I buy next? 

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Real Technique Brushes

My love affair with Real Technique brushes started when I got really into watching Pixiwoo on YouTube. I had never used a make-up brush to put my make-up on before buying these - even my eye shadow was put on with those rubbish sponge things.

My collection is slowly growing, the first Real Techniques brushes I bought was the Core Collection. This is such a lovely set, and the brushes are so versatile. I use 3 out of 4 of the brushes in the set, but recently I have been using all 4.

The detailer brush is meant for concealer and can even be used for lipstick application. I use this brush for applying my lipstick, I find that it lasts so much longer using a brush to apply it than applying straight to my lips. I also found that I could get a nicer shape, and not go over the lines by using a brush.

The pointed foundation brush is one of the brushes I don't use very often. It's meant for liquid foundation but I find I can get a nicer finish if I use the buffing brush to apply my foundation. I've started to use this now though to brush over my face to soften out any lines on my face.

One of the brushes I use most often is the Contour brush. I love this brush, I have a chubby little face and I love the way I can make my face look by using my Sleek Face Form kit. I use this for 3 different things. - blush, bronzer( contour) and highlight. I am in desperate need of getting myself a blush brush, and some brush cleanser.

Buffing brush. Well, what can I say about this? It is fantastic! I use this to apply my foundation, I don't use it straight away. I first use my fingers to apply the foundation and then finish off with the buffing brush, I think it just gives a really nice flawless looking finish.
The brush isn't specifically for liquid foundation, in fact I don't think that is what it's meant for at all, they say that you can use it for full coverage application of powder and mineral foundation.
This is such a lovely set and totally worth £21.99.

One of my newer sets of brushes is the Eyes Starter Set. I got this set from a site called iherb. Iherb is an American site that sells loads of different health care things along with quite a few different make-up brands - including physicians formula. This set cost me around £12(£21.99 in the UK), which is a massive saving! I've not had much of a chance to play around with these yet so I wont be able to give a huge amount of detail on these. The kit contains:

Base shadow brush, this is the brush you would probably just use for any wash of colour on your lids.  The brush is really soft and fluffy, it's really dense as well so will be perfect for packing on shadows.

The deluxe crease brush is just the thing I was needing. I've gone for so long with one cheap fluffy shadow brush. Been unable to do any proper make-up looks because of my serious lack of brushes. The crease brush is lovely, soft and thick. It looks like the perfect size for fitting into the crease of the lid. It's described as brig " soft, oversized design for effortless contouring". Perfect. Just what I needed.

Pixel point liner brush this is quite a thick brush considering what it is meant to be for, I'm by sure what else I could use it for but I'm sure I could think of something.

The brow brush looks like it would be really nice for using powder to fill in your brows, it seems quite thick and sturdy so your brows should be looking lovely in no time.

I wasn't sure what The Accent Brush was for, it's said to be "designed for precision detailing, spotlighting, highlighting, and smudging". I think I could use this for highlighting my brow bone - instead of using my finger - and maybe even making a smoky eye? I'm not sure, so many possibilities.

Another brush I recently bought also from iherb, is the Fine Liner brush. I love gel liner, and have been wanting to buy a nice eye liner brush for quite awhile so I could get a nicer line. It's really soft and the perfect size for the cat eye flick. This cost me about £3/4 so I saved about 50%. Bargains!!

If your planning on using iherb.com, you can use the code VKK826 for up to $10 off your order! Gotta love a discount code.

What are your favourite brushes? Do you like Real Techniques brushes? 

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Everyday Make-up

When it comes it my everyday make-up I'm very minimalistic, I go for a natural look and try to put as few things on my face as possible.  I don't tend to use a make-up bag very often, but I have been trying to use one. My make-up bag is one I got off eBay, its originally from No7, it wasn't very expensive- no more than about £5.

It is looking a little dirty in places, but I think it does show that it is being loved and used if it shows a little bit of wear. I bought it because I really liked how it looked, its a lovely blue colour with scallop detailing. Since I'm beginning to use my make-up bag I thought I would show you my daily make-up. 

I think my bag is a really good size, I wouldn't take this out with me though since when I go out I don't tend to do anything with my face. Maybe touch up my lipstick, nothing much though. 

Face Products

Maybelline Super Stay 24Hr Foundation - I have rather oily skin and decided my old foundation ( Benefit Hello Flawless) wasn't working for me any more, it just seemed like my foundation wasn't staying on my face. So I bought this one since it claims to last a very long time, it does say suitable for all skin types, but I found it was really good for my skin. I would highly recommend this to any one with oily skin, the colour range is extremely good, I have 005 light Beige and it is practically identical to my skin tone. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Power - I use this to control my oily skin, this is the best powder I have tried. Granted I haven't actually tried many powders. But of the few I have tried this is the best one. For me anyway. Its highly affordable, I bought the transparent one since I'm too lazy to find my own shade. 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - I bought this purely down to the fact that everyone and their grandmother talks about this in the blogging world. I think I maybe bought a shade to dark, even though the one I bought is 2, which is still classed as light. I am able to work with it, but I will be getting the lighter one. Its a good concealer, there are probably better ones, but this is cheap and does the job.

Sleek Contour Palette - This is an amazing little palette, three products in one. I think for the price ( around £6/7) this is utterly and totally the best thing ever. Its a contour, highlight and blush all in the one palette. The colours are brilliant for my complexion and I am so glad I bought it. 

Eye Products 

Maybelline Gel Liner - I bought this on impulse one day, didn't need it and to be honest at the time I didn't overly want it. I'm glad now I bought it. Its not the best gel liner, I will admit. I tried my friends L'Oreal gel liner and that was amazing - I really want to pick it up. I've found that this gets a little dry and hard the longer you have it, which is a little disappointing, but its the best liner I've found to do flicks and stuff so I keep it around. 

Smashbox Photo finish Lid Primer - I bought this little sample size(really should read the descriptions of things) off eBay a little while ago. I like using this before I apply eye shadow, I find it does help eye shadow last that little bit longer. 

Maybelline 24 Hr Colour Tattoo - I Love the colour tattoos, the pigmentation is amazing and they last ages and ages. I have a couple of these but I use On and on Bronze most days, its a really nice bronze colour, I think it looks like it has silvery/ gold parts in it sometimes. 

Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp - I've recently switched back to using this bad boy, after a long period of using Maybellines Rocket. I had forgotten how good this is. It gives you big, thick, long lashes. I adore this, it gives me the lashes I've always wanted. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kajal - I like this little nude pencil for my lower lash line. I don't know why I use it or what made me start using it, probably YouTube. It stays for a very very long time and I've never found myself needing to re-apply this. 

Lip Products

Maybelline Colour Sensation Lipstick - I got this off eBay for a few pounds awhile back. The colour is a dusty pink, I didn't have a colour like it so decided like any other rational person that I must have it. The colour is 540 Hollywood Red, despite the name I would say this is not a red lipstick. I think its a very grown up colour and is quite sophisticated. 

Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter - I am a huge fan of lip butters, this is probably one of my favourites. The colour I have been wearing a heck of a lot is 035 Candy Apple. Its a lovely red, I think you could make quite a sheer red with this or a really bright one, depending on how heavily/ how much you apply. This is probably one of my favourite lipsticks. 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - If I'm ever wanting something quick to put on I always reach for this, I never need to blot it or tidy up around my lips, I don't think I have ever gone over the line with this. This is the only shade of this that I have, the one I have is 045 Romantic. Its a lovely red, nothing to bright like some reds can be and it is very moisturising on your lips. 

Benefit Dandelion Lip Gloss - This is the only lip gloss I own, I use this only occasionally. If I want a glossy lip - which I 9/10 don't, I much prefer matte lips - then I will put this over the top of what ever I am wearing on my lips. The colour is quite light so you could probably wear it over any lip colour. 

Jason Lips Bee Healthier balm - I use this every day, several times a day. I hate having sore cracked lips and this is just the thing I need to prevent that from happening. I got this in a glossybox last year and have only recently been using it. It smells lovely - like a after eight - and really nourishes the lips. 

Brushes

Real Techniques Buffing Brush - I use this 99% of the time to put on my foundation, the other 1% of the time is when I'm to lazy to use a brush so use my fingers. I really like the real techniques brushes, they are really soft and give such a lovely finish. 

Real Techniques Contour Brush - I use this with my sleek palette, its probably not the best idea to use the one brush with 3 different things, but awk well. I just find that it does the best job of putting my blush and stuff on. 

Maybelline Gel Liner Brush - This little brush came with the gel liner it does the job and does it well so I've stuck with it. Until I find a brush that is miles better then I shall continue to stay with this brush. 

Eye Lips Face Total Face Brush - I use this with the Rimmel Powder, it doesn't give off any bristles and is relatively soft. Its an okay brush for powder. 

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