Any brushes I've found at the drugstore, with the exception of EcoTools, are typically very scratchy, itchy, sparse, flimsy, face-tearing, makeup-eating, pieces of garbage. E.l.f. is the total opposite. There are hardly any of their brushes I've come across that I do not love. If you're familiar with Sigma or MAC brushes you will spot the dupes immediately. If not, I'm here to help because they have their brushes named less-than-optimally in my opinion. But that's okay! Maybe to differentiate? I'm not sure. But I almost use exclusively e.l.f. brushes for everyday makeup. Granted, most of my brushes are from the more expensive studio line, but it's just a couple bucks. And because I'm a dirty, lazy person the e.l.f. price point makes it easy to have duplicates of my favorites on hand so that I can use them with a different color or product without having to deep clean brushes ALL THE TIME.
My Favorites:
1. E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush, $3.00
It's called a powder brush, do I use it for powder? Not necesarily. It's definitely not a stereotypical powder brush - but it blends anything and everything wonderfully. It's flat-topped and very dense. Most of the time I use this to make sure I do not have any harsh contouring lines. But it is so dense I have also used it as a flat-top foundation brush - even wet to sheer out cream foundations. This was my first real lovebrush from e.l.f.
2. E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush, $3.00
This is a newer one for e.l.f. They had tried a stipple brush in the past that is one of the only brushes I'm not a fan of. But this one is definitely an actual stipple brush. The shorter fibers are dense enough to do light blending while the longer fibers softly stipple and blur on cream products. LOVE this for cream blush and cream bronzer.
3. E.L.F. Studio Mineral Powder Brush, $3.00
Mineral powder? Makes me think buffing. Yeah, I use it to buff, but not all over. It is a smaller face brush and very round and concentrated. This is very similar to other brands "contouring" brushes which is exactly what I use it for. It places the right amount of powdered contour in the perfect place below my cheek bones while making blending easy.
4. E.L.F. Studio Pointed Foundation Brush, $3.00
Another newer one that I enjoy very much. It isn't very large like Sigma's but this works for me because I usually use it for smaller projects rather than all over foundation. My favorite purpose for this is applying highlighting concealers or even liquid highlighter on the high points of my face or concealing around my nose and under eye area.
5. E.L.F. Studio Angled Contour Brush, $3.00
I think small should be in the name for this. It is the size of a large eye brush. With it's flat, angled top it is perfect for contouring smaller areas of the face (nose) and the density makes it perfect to blend out the edges of an eyeshadow look.
6. E.L.F. Studio Small Tapered Brush, $3.00
Another copycat that I love. This fits perfectly underneath my eye; it picks up powder lightly to set my under eye concealer while being gentle, smooth, and the perfect shape.
7. E.L.F. Essential Blending Eye Brush, $1.00
I like this blending brush because it's fibers are not very long but not as short as a smudging brush. It is the perfect medium length to create a really defined crease while still keeping it natural and blending well. Perfection.
8. E.L.F. Essential Eye Shadow Brush, $1.00
This one is a no-brainer. Everyone has to have the standard "C" shadow brush. Although I tend to use a fluffier shadow brush for lid color, I like this one for applying a highlight to the inner corner of my eye and underneath my brow. It may just be my eyes, but this brush fits perfectly in that area for me and makes it super quick and easy.
9. E.L.F. Studio Complexion Brush, $3.00
THIS is my version of a powder brush. It is dense, but soft and light with longer bristles. Applies powder lightly without disturbing other makeup.
10. E.L.F. Studio Kabuki Face Brush, $6.00
I really don't use Kabuki Face brushes anymore. (Back in the day they used to be my all-in-one face brush multi-tasker - seriously, powder, bronzer, blush, yeah.) But whenever I do feel the need for a kabuki, it is this one. I don't even own any other kabuki brushes anymore. I could pet this brush all day it is so soft and furry.
