e.l.f. Studio 11 Piece Brush Collection

Hello, everyone! Welcome to my first ever blog post! I'm so thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion with you all. Today, I'm going to be reviewing the e.l.f. Studio 11 Piece Brush Collection. I was given this collection as an early Christmas present and I have to say, I'm very impressed! The set comes with a total of 11 brushes (if you weren't already aware), ranging in size from a teeny tiny smudge brush to a medium-to-large sized powder brush.

Labeled from left to right: angled foundation brush, contour brush, fan brush, small smudge brush, complexion brush, concealer brush, small precision brush, blush brush, eyeshadow "C" brush, small angled brush, powder brush.

The brushes are made out of synthetic material, which makes them less damageable and easier to keep clean, as they don't absorb liquid or cream makeup like natural brushes would. Synthetic brushes are great for anyone with allergies to the hairs in which natural brushes are made of, such as sable, mink and horse hair. It also doubles as an alternative for people who prefer not to use any animal products at all!

Since the brushes are on the cheaper side of things, running for only $30.00 (£19), it's almost inevitable that they won't be as high quality as other makeup brushes that run for a lot more money. That's why they make for great a travelling kit or starter collection for beginners.

As far as the brushes work, they all have different capabilities, and each one can be used for many different things.

For example, I tend to use the Angled Foundation Brush more for applying blush or bronzer than I do foundation. I find that because of it's angle, it's easier to gain control over product placement, meaning you have a better chance of putting everything exactly where you want it on your face. I love this brush loads!

The Contour Brush is perfect for slimming down your nose and defining the eyes. I find that on your cheeks it can be a bit difficult to blend, leaving a sort of muddy streak that almost all of the time, looks very unflattering. You can use this brush to create the initial contour, then using a bigger brush (preferably the Blush Brush or Angled Foundation Brush), blend out the harsh lines to give a more naturally defined look to
the face.

I have to say, I'm not too keen on e.l.f.'s Fan Brush. I love the idea of it, but for me personally it feels a little too flimsy and poorly constructed. The purpose of the fan brush is to lightly distribute powders or various type of sheer-coverage, liquid makeup to the face. It also obtains the job of dusting off any access powder or fallout from your face, without leaving a trace of it behind. I feel like the brush successfully does one out of the two. It's great for sweeping up fallout, but the bristles of the brush are a little too far-and-few to pick up most powders, let alone apply them to your face. You'd really have to take your time loading it onto the brush, which to be honest with you, I don't quite have the patience for.

The Small Smudge Brush works wonders for smudging out eyeliner and taking eyeshadow along the bottom lashline, giving a subtle smokey eye effect to your look. This brush is very dense, so you have to work with a light hand whilst operating. If used correctly, you can achieve a gorgeous, soft look to your eye makeup. If you're inexperienced with these types of brushes, it can be the tiniest bit difficult to get the hang of. But you know what they say, practice makes perfect!

I could go on and on about the Complexion Brush. This is one of my favourites out of the collection, simply because it's big and fluffy and can be used for almost anything. It's soft bristles and dome-shaped physique make it the ideal all-in-one brush, if you're the kind of person who can't be bothered with a bajillion extra brushes that you don't actually need. The Complexion Brush bronzes, powders, highlights, contours and everything in between! Definitely a must-have in your overall collection.

I'm not a big fan of e.l.f.'s Concealer Brush. I find that it's a little too small to be pegged for such a job. The bristles of this brush are very short and somewhat dense. They're all different lengths as well, which makes it slightly harder to pack product onto the brush and apply them to the places you want concealed. It's a lot longer of a process than I would've hoped for. Personally, I find the best concealer brushes to be slightly flatter and less dense, with bristles a tad longer than e.l.f.'s model. But with every negative, there's a positive of course! Even though this brush isn't the greatest for concealer, you could still use it a slightly smaller eyeshadow brush! Be creative!

The Small Precision Brush is perfect for detailed and precise eyeshadow applications, especially when you're looking to create a better defined crease or colour transition. This brush gives the perfect edge to any look. It's not a brush I would use everyday, but it's great for the occasional, formal get-together with your relatives, when you want to look as put together as possible!

The Blush Brush is another one of my favourites. It's just like the Complexion Brush, in a sense that it can do virtually everything; it bronzes, powders, highlights, contours and applies blush like nobody's business! The only difference between the two brushes is that this one is a bit smaller, making it easier to apply product in specific areas, rather than a general region. It's much better for more detailed applications. Such a wonderful brush!

Normally, I don't like using makeup brushes for eyeshadow. I find that my fingertips always prevail my best tools, but this go-round, I was pleasantly surprised by the Eyeshadow "C" Brush. I find it can be harder to tell whether your brush is doing its job when your using not-so-highly pigmented eyeshadows, so I had to go with something a little more bold to write a fair, honest review. After a few swipes across the lid, I noticed a nice, even application of colour. Not only is this brush capable of packing on eyeshadow, but it's also brilliant for blending and smoking out colours!

I absolutely LOVE the Small Angled Brush! It's bristles are very dense, which is exactly what you need from a brush like this. I use the Small Angled Brush for my eyebrows and with every stroke, I'm left with a strong, crisp line, every time. It's the perfect brush for creating anything from a defined arch to a super-natural brow. It's brilliant for filling in your brows as well. A+ from me!

It's hard to tell in this picture due to the odd angle, but this is e.l.f.'s flat top Powder Brush. The bristles of this brush are all the same length (hence the 'flat top') which gives it the ability to apply powder and liquid foundation evenly across your face in a sort of buffing motion. This brush works the makeup beautifully onto the skin and leaves you with a gorgeous, even, flawless coverage! It's extremely good quality for its scarily low price.

Did I mention the brushes come with this super convenient travelling case? Inside, you're able to fit all of your brushes for easy transport from place to place. It fits perfectly into your purse or suitcase, for on-the-go touch-ups or completing your everyday makeup look on holiday.

Overall, I would give the e.l.f. Studio 11 Piece Brush Collection an 8 out of 10. It's a wonderful collection, considering how inexpensive it is, but I wasn't completely sold on a couple of their brushes. Preferably the Contour and Fan Brush.

*Shameless Selfie*

This is the look I created using all of the brushes in the e.l.f. collection. I spent the day in downtown Milwaukee, testing out coffee shops and going out for dinner with my dad. I didn't want to go for anything too over the top, so I opted for a neutral eye, using brown eyeliner instead of black, a light pink blush with gold shimmer and a bright fuchsia lipstick, to brighten things up a little. I think it turned out okay!

You've made it to the bottom! Thank you heaps for spending a few minutes reading this terribly long review. I apologize for any mistakes I might have made along the way or if I didn't quite answer your questions about these products. I promise you these posts will get a lot better once I get the hang of this!

Please remember, everything I've written in this review is entirely based off my opinions, so you might feel differently about the collection than I do. Don't let me scare you off!

If you have any suggestions on products I should review next before going out and buying them yourselves, feel free to leave them in the comments below! I always love trying new things! Also, please leave me any comments or helpful suggestions on how I should improve my blog, or what you'd like to see in the future. I need all the help I can get!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Jordan x

Order the e.l.f. Studio 11 Piece Brush Collection here!