Best e.l.f. Cosmetics Makeup Brushes
I promised you guys to share my favorite makeup brushes from e.l.f. Cosmetics, so today I wanted to talk about the ones I reach for all the time. I own a whole bunch of e.l.f. brushes, and honestly not all of them are good quality. I repurposed some old ones to use for mask application, others I simply tossed away, and some newer ones that were still in mint condition I gave to friends and family. What’s left in my stash is the creme de la creme of budget brushes, and these little guys are worth every penny in my opinion.
As you can see from the pictures, I currently use 2 brushes from the regular collection, and 4 brushes from the more expensive Beautifully Precise collection [ones with clear handles].
L to R: e.l.f. Contouring Brush, e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush.
I love the flat edge of the e.l.f. Contouring Brush ($6), and it’s the perfect length for a sharp contour that doesn’t drag too far, if that makes sense. I just lightly wiggle the brush back and forth, and get the most perfect chiseled look every time. This brush is really great for learning contouring, too, because the shape is pretty fool-proof.
e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush ($6) is another favorite of mine, and it’s probably my most used elf brush ever [as you can see from the discolored bristles]. It’s soft enough that it doesn’t make my makeup look streaky, but also firm enough to blend out the most stubborn powder and cream products. I use it to blend our cream blushes, and sometimes foundation when I use multiple shades at once. It’s a really good brush and I consider it a must-have for a budget brush collection.
These next four brushes are from the brand’s fancier line, and they feature beautiful instagrammable design and softer bristles.
L to R: e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Dual-Sided Eyebrow Duo Brush, e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Smudge Brush, e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Eyeshadow Brush, e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Sculpting Brush.
e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Dual-Sided Eyebrow Duo Brush ($5) is a really good brush to use with any type of brow product, whether it’s a pomade or a powder. The edge of the bristle brush end is sharp and even, so making nicely lined edges is pretty easy. The spoolie is also perfectly shaped and fully functional. It can brush the brows and fluff them if you are going for the natural Parisian chic look. I actually use this brush more often than my fancy Wayne Goss brow brushes that together cost like 10 times as much.
I also really like e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Smudge Brush ($5), which is perfect to gently smoke out the eyeshadow along the bottom lash line. I prefer this one over e.l.f.’s cheaper smudge brushes because the bristles in all Beautifully Precise are much finer, and don’t feel pokey. Usually it doesn’t bother me much in face brushes, but I always try to use gentler tools around my eyes.
I use e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Eyeshadow Brush ($5) with all of my Colourpop cream eyeshadows. It picks up a good amount of product and does a good job distributing it evenly all over the lid. It’s funny that a $5 brush totally outperformed my fancy $30 brush when it comes to cream eyeshadows!
And finally, the most “expensive” one on the list, e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Sculpting Brush ($10) is another contouring brush that I happen to like. While the black handle Contouring Brush [mentioned above] works well with any complexion product, this one is ideal for powder formulas, because it diffuses the edges beautifully and creates a more natural, softer finish. I use this one and the Contouring Brush interchangeably depending on the final look I want to achieve, but I love using both of these equally as much.
And that’s it for my e.l.f. Cosmetics brush collection! I know it’s not nearly as big as most people’s, but I am a) low maintenance, and b) brush snob who uses mostly high end brushes. The six above feature outstanding quality and performance, and are a steal for the price. I would totally recommend any of these to someone who is just starting to build their brush collection, or anyone looking for good bargain brushes.
Do you own any e.l.f. Cosmetics makeup brushes? What is your favorite bargain brush? Let me know in the comments below!
