Sigma Essential Brush Kit

So here's a bit of a long post about the make-up brushes I use everyday

First things first, I've got to say these brushes are amazing!

I know that a lot of professional make-up artists love to use M.A.C brushes but they are sooo expensive. I think that Sigma are a cheaper version of M.A.C. Just as good on quality but less in price.  

An old friend of mine from college was crazy about the M.A.C brushes and she thought they were the bees knees, I had a go with the few she owned and yes they are good but they're only brushes at the end of the day, so why feel the need to spend a bomb on them?
 

I watched a video on YouTube about the similarities between M.A.C & Sigma brushes if your interested here's the link. The video is interesting to see how similar the brushes are.

Personally I don't have cash to splash out on brushes. I'm not a professional make-up artist, I was only trained in basic/photography make-up so don't feel the need for a set of M.A.C brushes. I also felt that £85 for a set of 12 brushes isn't ridiculous and they are such good quality too.
 

This brush set that Sigma are selling is ideal for someone who needs a new full set of brushes, its got every brush you need for your daily needs, and maybe a few that aren't really needed.
 

The essential kit contains 12 brushes, some are for the eyes and a few for the face.
 

Here's what the kit includes with the names of the brush and what you would essentially use it for: 

 

 

E05 - Eye Liner: No messing. This brush is fantastic for getting the PERFECT line. I use a Rimmel Gel Liner with this brush, mainly because I find it hard to find a liquid liner bottle that the brush would fit in to, and because I adore gel liners. With the kit I received a free gift which was a small pink eyeliner brush but its no way near as good as the E05, the bristles I find aren't long enough so you don't have a smooth sweep of a line.

• E30 - Pencil: This brush is usually used to soften and smoke out any lines. I mainly use it for applying shadow under my bottom lash line. You could also use it to soften pencil lines or highlighting the inner corner or your eyes .

• E40 - Tapered Blending: So this brush gets used quite a bit by me, I've never been very good at blending eye shadow but this brush really does help. I don't usually apply colour with the brush, I just tend to use it to blend two colours together or to soften the colour on my brow bone so it doesn't look so harsh, but it can be used to apply colour and then blend with the colour you applied.

• E55 - Eye Shading: I use this to apply my second lightest colour to my eyelid up to the crease in my eye, the brush is great for compacting colour.

• E60 - Large Shader: I would use this brush to apply colour all over my eyelid right up to underneath my brow, its so quick to cover the whole area as its a large brush.

• E65 - Small Angle: Well, this brush is generally used for creating precise lines, usually across the upper and lower lash lines. I actually use it to apply shadow to my eyebrows.

• E70 - Medium Angled Shading:  I think this is probably the brush I use most on my eyes, I always use it for applying my darkest colour to the outer edge of my eyes and in the crease.

• F30 - Large Powder: Name says it all, its a powder brush and a large fluffy one at that, it got such soft bristles to it that I could just sit all day stroking my face with it, but I don't. I use it for after I've set my foundation with my loose powder and velour powder puff I brush off and excess powder. 

• F40 - Large Angled Contour: This is your contour brush - which I never do, so I use mine as a blush brush.

• F50 - Duo Fibre: WOW! this brush = super coverage foundation! I had never used one until I had this set and its fantastic, I actually didn't think it would be any good, but it most definitely is. I use mine with liquid foundation, even the smallest amount and you look flawless. unlike a sponge which absorbs the foundation, this brush buffs it onto your skin amazingly.

• F60 - Foundation: So this brush doesn't actually get used that much by me, if it does it wold be for concealing under my eyes, it's quite a small foundation brush and because of the F50 I have no need for it really but it does a good job for concealing under my eyes when I need it.

• F70 - Concealer:  Last but not least the actual concealer brush, this gets used quite often...damn you blemishes! I use it to conceal any spots I have at the time and it always gets used to conceal my broken capillaries

So there you have it, the Sigma Essential Brush Kit. If you don't want to spend stupid amounts that professional make-up artists do, but you want good quality brushes that will last you, then I recommend this set.

I bought my set from the Sigma USA website, the only problem was when it was shipped over there was a £21 customs charge which cant be claimed back. But at least I know they are genuine.