Makeup brushes are big business at the moment. Brands seem to try to outdo themselves with each new release; beasting out brushes that get more & more Instagrammable over time, but which would also require me to sell all my possessions and re-mortgage my home to be able to afford the full set [maaaaaybe I'm being slightly dramatic here - as if I'd get accepted for a mortgage haha... But you get my drift. Price-ayyy.]
I've been trying to be a better girl / blogger / human recently, actually using makeup brushes a] to apply my face [rather than just frantically rubbing it all into my face in no particular style] and b] in the way they should be used [I seem to use brushes intended for one purpose, for something totally different. Soz angled brow brushes past.] And of course, you'll know from my mad rampages on Twitter, SnapChat [@love_lippy] and my Expectation vs Reality series that I'm a raging pauper; always looking to seek a bargain in terms of price and quality. So blend [wheyyy, you 'avin that blending brush pun, guys?!] these two facts together and mix them with the fact that Crown Brush sent me some lovely pieces from their collection to try recently, and you have the basis for this post.
In case you haven't heard of Crown Brush before - they sell professional quality makeup brushes [and a whoooooole host of other beauty related bits] which come in both synthetic and natural designs. Each product comes with a guarantee of quality and their website boasts everything from single brushes designed to replace worn accessories in makeup kits, to full makeup brush sets, eyeshadow sponges, blending tools and more. I also heard a cheeky rumour that other, pricier brands source their products from Crown Brush and then stamp them with their logos and extortionate pricing guidelines. ALLEDGEDLY.
So anyway, all this considered; I was well excited to try their brushes out for myself, to see if they live up to the hype that surrounds them.
Crown Brush very kindly sent me [from L-R] their C433 Pro Blending Fluff Brush*, the C468 Smokey Eyeliner Brush*, the SS003 Oval Foundation Brush*, the C436 Duo Fiber Blender Brush* and the C104 Angle Brush*. Each of the brushes is super soft with a sturdy handle; each with a different texture to perfectly suit their purpose.
Bring on the brushes!
C436 Duo Fiber Blender Brush, £7.94
What a bloody useful little brush this is! Soft and a little more dense than a pure stippling brush, this bad boy works a treat blending in your cream contour, and doesn't feel rough against your skin at all. Contouring and strobing has taken over in a big way at the moment - and this is the perfect tool for the job. Much better than blending with one of those sponges in my opinion - I don't even know how you guys manage with those! I just end up pure punching myself in the face with them and smudging my hard work right off.
C468 Smokey Eyeliner Brush, £4.29
I adore this brush, it's definitely one of my favourite brushes from the selection I was sent. It's soft, delicate and the perfect size for smudging a little eyeliner / eyeshadow under your lower lash line; for a smokey, smouldering look. It's also great for working deeper tones into the outer crease of your eye and to add a delicate splash of colour or highlighter by your tear duct.
C433 Pro Blending Fluff Brush, £6.55
This little beaut is a bestseller - and you can see why. It's a lovely, soft brush - a little like a fluffy cloud, the perfect shape to blend and soften any harsh lines in your eyeshadow. It's professional and effective - and works as a mean, dream team with the C468.
SS003 Oval Foundation Brush, £7.73
This lux brush is actually one of my favourites from the selection Crown Brush sent me. It's the perfect shape, texture and size to apply my foundation with; for a more professional look. I actually really needed a brush like this, and I couldn't have asked for a better product to replace my old Models Own one. It's fab. The best foundation brush I've tried to date, in fact.
C104 Angle Brush, £6.22
As soon as I unwrapped this brush, all I could think was contouring, contouring, CONTOURING!! The soft bristles and perfectly angled shape of the brush will be ideal for contouring my cheekbones; whether it be a light dusting of bronzer or a more dramatic look. A super useful little brush - especially relevant with how popular contouring [still] is at the moment!
Have you tried Crown Brushes before? Which one's your fave? What are your go-to makeup brushes?
*Crownbrush very kindly sent me these brushes to try, in return for this review. As ever though, rest assured that all opinions are very much my own - I wouldn't lie to you guys as it's not big and it's not clever.
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