I use my Real Technique’s Expert Face the most, but the second one I purchased is inferior to the first, which bothers me a lot, as I don’t feel confident recommending it. IT’s LBD Foundation brush is great but very dense so it takes longer to wash. I also like Kat Von D’s foundation brush and Marc Jacobs’ foundation brushes.
— Christine
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RT Expert Face Brush (but if what Christine said it’s true about the quality getting worse I will be very sad). I also love Zoeva Face Shape Brush.
That is concerning to read. I know the RT sponges can be of “iffy” quality. I’ve been reluctant to repurchase another one (just looking at them, I can see they look different and seem to have a different texture though this seems most evident with the “double pack” sponges). RT really made a splash, and understandably so, with their budget priced but excellent quality brushes (even though I hate the flared handles that take up so much unnecessary room). It saddens me that they’re now starting to “cheap out”, it seems, on their quality.
Yes, it’s sad, especially because I LOVE the pixiwoo sisters!
I’ve stopped buying RT brushes, they disappoint me most of the time.
Interestingly, I still have, use, and love the first ones i bought when the line started and was only bearing the Samantha Chapman name. My RT Expert face brush bearing both sisters’ names (so once Nic came on board) has already been chucked out. Started shedding early, was not as soft, not as dense and not as well formed as the first I had.
The only brushes I have are the original ones…I didn’t realize the labelling, etc. had changed but, again, it’s such a shame. She really made a name for herself and distinguished herself, I think, by launching such decent brushes at affordable price points. Not all the original brushes were great and it continues to bug me that in spite of so many people asking/suggesting that some of her brushes be made available singly, she didn’t do that but even so, it showed that a big name makeup artist could front pretty decent brushes at okay prices.
Mine are both holding up well, but I did buy the second one within a month of the first, and from the same store, so they may have even been from the same “lot”. That said, I bought a set of knockoff RT brushes on Amazon, and they’re holding up really well (I’m guessing they come from the same factory, without the “name”, as they are identical, but a different color handle).
I had the opposite experience concerning the RT sponge. The first one I bought wasn’t a favorite, the texture seemed so much rougher and the cellulose pattern consisted of larger, more open holes. It was also a lighter orange than the second one I got, that one has a consistency very close to the beauty blender, and to my new favorite, the Beauty Junkee sponge.
I have Urban Decay’s older version of the optical blurring brush and I love it.
Me too. I have four of them!
I had the same experience with the RT brush, unfortunately. My favorite is the Sephora Collection PRO Airbrush Blender #78 (and it’s on sale right now for 19 bucks on the US site so I’d grab that up!). It’s very dense but easy to clean thoroughly. Magnificently soft, it blends foundation/base products seamlessly and effortlessly.
I must check #78n out. I have the Multitasker Complexion #45 brush from Sephora, and I like it a lot.
I like real techniques expert face brush, because I can tap out my under eye concealer with it as well, because of the shape!
I also like Wet n Wilds flat top buffing brush! It’s amazing for tapping and stippling liquid foundation into the skin!!
The Shiseido foundation brush. I like it so much I’ve stopped searching for something “better”. I also like the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and the Stippling Brush but nothing tops the Shiseido brush for me.
Yes! I was just gonna say that – I’ve tried all kinds and brands of foundation brushes including the RT which was my very first. But the Shiseido Foundation Brush tops them all. I tell you, it’s so soft and tightly packed that the finish it gives is just flawless. I urge everyone to try it! The ones in the Shiseido boutique stores are more expensive than the ones you see in drugstores in Japan but they perform just the same, at half the price!
Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush
I have this brush too, so soft and blends beautifully!
Honestly? None. I always get back to my beauty blender.
What I find really funny is that I too bought a newer Expert Face Brush and found it to be very different from the earlier versions–but I LOVE it! Lol. If found the bristles to be softer and the brush doesn’t get caked with product quite as quickly, so it stays more flexible between washes. Still nice and dense, though! I’m sorry you aren’t liking your newer version of it. 🙁 I expected to be disappointed when I realized it was different, but found I actually prefer using it over my old ones.
Still loving my Royal Langnickel foundation brush! Got it at Walmart. Fairly inexpensive, but it does exactly as I need and want it to: gives me an almost airbrushed look. Probably because of its dense domed shape, it is a very effective brush!
Sigma F80 by far the best foundation brush for buffing and blending.
I purchased the Marc Jacobs foundation brush but haven’t used it because I ordered the wrong shade of MJ unre(marc)able foundation.
I use an imitation Beauty Blender . I can’t get Marc to cough up $20 for the real Beauty Blender . It’s a quirk I suppose ! I’ve purchased expensive foundation brushes and just never noticed a difference /improvement over the sponge .
Christina – here’s a suggestion for a question sometime . Where does everyone keep their stash ? I’ve got a huge vanity with deep drawers and stuff is crammed in everywhere . I probably have 1/4 of what a lot of folks on this site own.
I finally caved and bought a “real” Beauty Blender, but I honestly prefer my knockoffs that I bought at Ross & Kohl’s, LOL!
That’s good to know xamyx. Sometimes I’m totally extravagant about things and sometimes frugal !
I’m particularly fond of my RT expert face brush, but also use my Sonia Kashuk flat top brush a lot.
That said, I’m seeing almost unbelievably good reviews of clarisonic’s new foundation brush. Have you tried it, Christine, or could you do a review?
I bought the Clarisonic foundation brush. The bristles started to fall out the first time I used it and switching out the brushes (foundation in the morning and cleansing at night) was annoying. I got my money back.
I tend to prefer a less dense brush to apply foundation, so I mostly use my MAC 187 if I’m not using my RT sponge.
Zoeva 110 Face Shape Brush unless I’m using a Beauty Blender
My most favourite foundation brush at the moment is the Marc Jacobs face III . I like it so much, I ended up getting a back up during the last sale. Ever since I started using it, I have not been able to switch and use another.
I apply my foundation with my beauty blender And then use UD Optical Blurring brush to blend my powder, bronzer, blush and highlighter.
I use to exclusively use the Beauty Blender but purchased an Artis Brush # 8 and have used it exclusively since. I love how quickly I can apply my foundation with the brush and I don’t get any streaking. I do use my Beauty Blender after I have finished my makeup and have misted. I gently tap the Beauty Blender where I have “peach fuzz” to lay the fuzz down flat. I am going to start shaving my face but am waiting for the small razors that I bought to arrive. I read on this blog somewhere about a face mask that removed facial hair when the mask is removed but couldn’t find it again after I read!!
I always have used my simple rectangle, round or squared sponges. I like the rectangular shape the best! I get them at TJ Max, Ross, Target and they perform well. I forgot where I purchased a bag of them but those turned out nasty they would brake all over I had to toss them out! LOl! I do own many, many brushes too all cheap but perform. I love a kabuki brush to even out things such a strong blush/ bronzer. I’m pale so I have to blend, blend. You could call me ‘the blender’ pretty much. Lol! My mom and few friends whom know I love makeup have asked me ‘But is the makeup?’ I tell them is there somewhere don’t want to look like my own cockatiel! But would love to wake up with that blush already on my cheeks. Oh! Is there somewhere including bronzer and highlight but very lightly. 🙂
I recently got a new one IT beauty something No 7. It seems nice to me, it has a small end for concealer. I haven’t washed it yet. I haven’t tried a beauty blender yet maybe I will.
My favorites are the M.A.C 141S (for light coverage), Sephora Collection 45 Multitasker complexion brush (for medium coverage), and the M.A.C 170 (for full coverage).
Marc Jacobs Face 2 is my favourite foundation brush 🙂 It is dense and soft, and hasn’t shed a single hair yet!
Bobbi Brown’s Full Cover foundation brush and the Luise Young large foundation brush along with Real Technique’s Expert Face are my most used, but it really depends from the foundation, how firm or liquidy is.
Hands down the Artis palm brush. Before I tried I liked sigma F82 and Marc jacobs #2.
By the way, I have to say this is a great question! Foundation brushes is one of those things that we all are looking to find the “perfect” one (like the perfect nude lipstick or underye concealer) and its very interesting to see what other people are using.
I use Bobbi Brown’s Full Coverage Face brush. I like the brush so much I’m thinking of picking up a second at the CCO to use for cream products. When traveling, I use Shiseido’s foundation brush.
Sonia Kashuk sonia Synthetic Buffing Brush
Tarte Maracuja Miracle Foundcealer Brush, especially for runnier foundations. Usually, though, I prefer a Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge over a brush. I like the e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush, as well.
I like the RT EFB too. There is a duo fiber from Chanel I like too!
Hi, you mentioned also liking Marc Jacob’s brushes. Which one(s) is it that you like?
I have been eyeing both the Face II and Face III but I also wonder how the IT brush compares to the MJ ones? Thank you!
There’s none in particular I reach for over the other – just whatever is clean.