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amy Avatar

light with neutral undertones.
fave foundation brush: sigma F80
setting powder brush: elf flat top blush brush or elf complexion brush
cream blush brush: elf small stippling brush

patsyann Avatar

My skin tone is NC20 with light olive undertones. I don’t use a brush for my foundation as I mostly use a cream foundation and a sponge/beauty blender. I have a very nice Sephora foundation brush from their series with the “silver” handles. (I am out of town today and don’t have all my brushes with me so I don’t know the number. I think it just says “foundation brush”). My favorite brush for cream blush is definitely the small Elf stipple brush (from Target). For powders (which I rarely use) I prefer my Hakuhodo powder brush with the short black handle. Again, I don’t know the number because I don’t have it in my brush roll today and I am not at home. I recommend the little Elf brush. I have tried so many kinds of brushes to make the cream products work for me, and this cheap little brush has been, hands down, the best at applying and blending smoothly.

ElKay Avatar

■Your skin tone/coloring: NW-25
■Favorite brush for applying foundation? Real Techniques Expert Face Brush – nothing compares and the bonus is the price.
■Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? An old Bobbi Brown powder brush with sable bristols. It’s so soft.
■Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I’m not a huge fan of cream blush. I only own 2 and I use a Mac 187 if I wear it.

Mariella Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: Fair, cool-toned
Favorite brush for applying foundation? Tough one but for liquid foundation, it’s probably the Shiseido foundation brush followed by the RT Expert Face Brush or Stippling Brush; for mineral powder foundation, probably a tie between the IT Cosmetics flat topped Buffing Brush or the RT Expert Face Brush or Buffing Brush
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? RT Buffing Brush or this freebie brush I got years ago from Pur Minerals
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I don’t often use cream blush and when I do, I use my fingers though I should maybe try using my MAC 130

Alicja Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: light/medium, I guess with some yellow undertones
Favorite brush for applying foundation? Sigma F80
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Sigma F30
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? Sigma F55

Nicole Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: light-medium neutral-warm (NC25-30)
Favorite brush for applying foundation? Real Techniques Buffing Brush or BeautyBlender, depending on the consistency of the foundation
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Laura Mercier Powder Puff
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? Real Techniques Stippling Brush or Buffing Brush

Rachel Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: I am light in winter, light-medium the rest of the year- neutral undertones!
Favorite brush for applying foundation? Sonia Kashuk Large Duo-Fibre Brush, although I would like to try some of your (Christine’s) MAC brush suggestions from past reviews.
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Just a big Mary Kay powder brush, it’s a little old but in great shape, quite fluffy.
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? Elf Small Stippling Brush. Not the softest, but I get amazing color transition from the pan to my cheeks.

Laurel Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: Light/medium Neutral Dark hair amber eyes
Favorite brush for applying foundation? I don’t tend to like brushes because every single brush makes foundation not sit nicely against my skin, so I either use my hands, beauty blender, or on the rare occasion a paddle brush. I have the F80, Sephora airbrush, Real Techniques Expert face brush and all leave my skin streaky and unnatural looking
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Ecotools setting brush
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I got this from Emilynoel83-the elf stippling brush!

Maddie Avatar

I recently hauled a ton of ELF products with their 50% Studio sale. I got some cream blushes, and I remembered Emilynoel83 suggestion on the ELF stippling for cream blushes… I don’t know if it was the texture of the blush, the brush itself or the tecnique, but it was an epic failure when I tried to use the ELF stippling brush with the HD cream blushes. Any suggestions? How do you do it? 🙂

Laurel Avatar

I use it to stipple on products not swirling like I would a powder blush. Also building up slowly helps so I know the elf hd blushes are super pigmented so take 90% of the product off on your hand and stipple it on. Then if you want more color do it again. This is just the technique that I’ve found works for me. I hope yours wasn’t a dud!! I have two and both of mine are great!

Desiree Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: Tan/olive
Favorite brush for applying foundation? Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Sephora large powder brush
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I don’t own any cream blushes!

Mindy Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: NC30
Favorite brush for applying foundation? It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush for liquid foundation or a beauty blender sponge.
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Tarte has a fantastic large and fluffy powder brush.
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? It Cosmetics Dual Ended Airbrush Foundation Concealer Brush. It picks up the perfect amount and buffs cream blush in beautifully.

xamyx Avatar

Skintone/coloring: Fairly light, very neutral; dark-featured.

I wouldn’t say any of these brushes are my absolute “favorites”, as there are brushes I prefer with specific products, but these are the ones I reach for if I’m in a hurry, or travelling, as they are sufficient to work on *every* product:

Foundation: I’ll apply with any paddle brush, but for blending/buffing, I like Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. It works well for powder & cream/stick foundation, as well.

Setting Powder: I have an amazing face brush that came with a GWP 25 years ago from Ultima II that is still as amazing as it was when I first got it. I also have a random Kabuki brush that I bought at CVS some 10 years ago (I *think* it’s Essence of Beauty).

Cream Blush: I only wear cream blush as a contour or highlighter, so there are 2 completely different brushes I use. For contouring, I typically use my e.l.f. Studio Angled Foundation Brush (which, by the way is horrible for it’s intended use) to place product, and blend it out with Essence of Beauty Angled Blush Brush. For highlighting, I’ll use a second EoB Angled Blush Brush and pick up product directly onto brush, and blend it on.

Cindi Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: Fair/Light/medium with freckles! I love my freckles.

Favorite brush for applying foundation? RealTechniques foundation brush

Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? I use the powder pouf that came with the powder. I use Coty Airspun in Translucent. I do use my Real Techniques buff brush to blend it all in and brush away excess.

Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I don’t use cream blush. I use my RealTechniques contour brush for applying powdered bronzer, blush, and highlighter. It’s a great multipurpose brush. Sometimes I will just grab my ELF brush though. It’s my second favorite.

tzwiggy Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: Light-medium (NW20-25)

Favorite brush for applying foundation? Jane Iredale The Handi (for pressed mineral foundation)

Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Best so far is Chikuhodo GS-T Tamari blush for setting powder. I have very oily skin and like to apply a somewhat thick layer to my t-zone.

Favorite brush for applying cream blush? Hakuhodo G5552

Maddie Avatar

■Your skin tone/coloring: C3/NC20
■Favorite brush for applying foundation? Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush for sure!
■Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Sephora XL Rounded Powder Brush #49. LOVE. IT. *_*
■Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I just hauled a ton of ELF Cream Blushes (which also happen to be the first ones I have ever owned!) and I have no clue! Going to stay tuned for the suggestions of other readers! <3

Rebecca Avatar

Favourite foundation brush – Real Techniques Buffing Brush. Soft but dense and buffs foundation in flawlessly
Favourite powder brush – Real Techniques large powder brush. Big but not too big and incredibly soft.
Favourite cream blush brush – Real Techniques stippling brush. I love this brush as it’s smaller than all my other stippling brushes. It’s easier to use on smaller areas – so for cream blush it’s perfect.

Veronica Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: NW10/15
Favorite brush for applying foundation? Real Techniques Expert Face brush. It’s just great for blending. Just the right density!
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Sonia Kashuk kabuki brush.
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I always use stippling brushes for pigmented blushes, particular cream ones.

courtney Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: fair
Favorite brush for applying foundation? Real techniques expert face brush
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder?Elf powder brush
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? Elf small stippling brush

Wwendalynne Avatar

❆Your skin tone/coloring: NC 20ish Neutral undertones
❆Favorite brush for applying foundation? Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush
❆Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Hakuhodo S100 Angled Finishing Brush
❆Favorite brush for applying cream blush? MAC 130 short duo fibre brush

Aelita Avatar

skintone-chanel b30
fave foundation brush- mufe kabuki
setting powder brush – smash box I think its number 2 brush, red handle face and cheek brush
cream blush brush-fingers are the best:)

Pami Avatar

■Your skin tone/coloring: light w/cool undertone (approx NW20)
■Favorite brush for applying foundation? When I use BB Cream for foundation, I use my fingers to apply. When I use mineral makeup (usually pressed) I either use Jane Iredale Handi Brush for sheer to light coverage, or Stila #21 a flat top brush (similar to BareMinerals Heavenly Brush but softer) for light to medium coverage. If I’m just touching up small areas I use a baby flat top kabuki brush.
■Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Stila #8.
■Favorite brush for applying cream blush? If it’s very pigmented I use Sephora Pro Platinum #44 stippling brush, otherwise I use my fingers.

Precious Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: NC20

Favorite brush for applying foundation? Hakuhodo Powder & Liquid Brush (G5556), MAC 187, Rae Morris Radiance Brush, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, Tom Ford Cream Foundation Brush

Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Hakuhodo Fan Brush (black), Hourglass Ambient Powder Brush, MAC 182

Favorite brush for applying cream blush? MAC 188, Real Techniques Contour Brush

BeckBeck Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: Bobbi Brown Porcelain [fair, slightly warm]
Favorite brush for applying foundation? UD Optical Blurring Brush or Sigma F80
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Real Techniques Multi-Task Brush
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I’ve never found a brush I really like better than fingertips for this purpose.

Cat G Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: Light with yellow undertones
Favorite brush for applying foundation? Prescriptives Powder Brush or Prescriptives Foundation Brush
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Ecotools Powder Brush
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I don’t wear cream blush

Tam Avatar

NC 45
Sonia Kashuk Multipurpose Brush or Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer
Powder puff rolled into skin with setting powder
Cream blush is the enemy for my very oily skin

Maggy Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: NC15-20, ivory with beige freckles

Favorite brush for applying foundation? Wedge sponge/haven’t found one yet

Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Ecotools large powder brush for loose or their retractable buki brush for pressed

Favorite brush for applying cream blush? fingers, again

Sarah Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: light with yellow to neutral undertones (Sephora 2Y06)
My favorites for any function are Sonia Kashuk and Ecotools; they are inexpensive and soft and don’t shed all over my face!
I’m really curious about the Japonesque 150 degree brushes I just saw at Ulta – does anyone have any experience with those? Do they make makeup application easier?

MochaKnitster Avatar

Olive-golden beige
I don’t wear foundation, but I apply my tinted moisturizer with my fingers
My favorite powder brush is the Eco-Tools powder brush or bronzer brush, depending on the powder
I don’t wear cream blush, but I’d like to find one that is long-wearing and will not cause break outs

Tuss Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: NC10
Favorite brush for applying foundation? Real Techniques Expert Face brush or MAC 187 stippling brush
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? Ecotools powder brush
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? Real Techniques Expert Face brush

Nikki Avatar

Your skin tone/coloring: NC50
Favorite brush for applying foundation? EcoTools Bronzer Brush (light coverage) & Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Buffing Brush (medium to full coverage)
Favorite brush for applying setting/finishing powder? I don’t use setting/finishing powder.
Favorite brush for applying cream blush? I only wear powder blush, and for that I use my Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush or my ELF Complexion Brush.

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