Four months down the line and I have had plenty of time to experiment with everything, working out what I love and loathe. Nanshy was a brand I had never heard of before, so I was particularly excited about trying their brushes. After doing some research, I was so pleased to find out Nanshy are 100% cruelty free, guaranteeing "no animal has been killed, tortured or harmed during the production". One of my goals is to have an entire vegan makeup kit so everyone can enjoy getting their makeup done without any worries-however this will take a lot of time and money to build one I'm super happy with. At least I know what brushes I can use in this kit - Nanshy obviously!
I would honestly recommend Nanshy to anyone wanting to buy some well priced and beautifully handmade makeup brushes. Their price ranges between £5-£12 per brush or you can get some amazing sets for only £50. I have a mixture of the Masterful Collection and the Eye Brush Set, in which I have Onyx Black and the Pearlescent White handles (the difference in handle colours doesn't signify anything). The Masterful Set retails for £49. The Eye Set retails at £29.95, or each brush is £5.95 when purchased individually, and comes with the following brushes:
Precise Bent Eyeliner
Exactly what it says on the tin, although I do find myself reaching for the angled detailer for eyeliner too.
Angled Detailer
One of my favourite brushes for filling in eyebrows, as well as creating the perfect winged eyeliner. The hairs on the Angled Detailer don't stray, meaning a really crisp line can be created. This brush is so little -so you can be really accurate and definitive.
Flat Definer
I did not know how much I was missing out on by not owning this brush- now I even have two of them and I highly recommend this gem. It is amazing at packing shadow into the lash line for a smokey liner effect, and even better for carving out eyebrows or concealing around winged eyeliner for the perfect line.
Large Shader
I love this brush for adding an intense colour wash to the lids. With just a splash of water or fixing spray, you can really pack colour onto the eye with this dense shader. Definitely a staple in my kit.
Blending Eyeshadow
This is one of those brushes that you just HAVE to have. There is nothing worse than a blending brush that isn't quite right, or takes too much time to achieve the desired look. The Nanshy Blending Eyeshadow Brush creates seamless eyeshadow, very efficiently.
Eye Crease
I adore this Eye Crease Brush, which like the brush above blends shadow seamlessly. Its the perfect size for, you guessed it, the eye crease. Just like all the other brushes there is no fall out, yay!
Tapered Crease.
I don't reach for this Tapered Crease Brush too much, however its perfect for bringing eyeshadow under the eye and packing colour into a particular area. I would definitely recommend as part of a kit or if you love creating intense eyeshadow looks.
I also have the following, mainly face, brushes:
Powder - £10.95
I have never been a big fan of huge powder brushes until I started my course, now I literally can't live without one. The Nanshy Powder Brush is soft and fluffy, making it perfect for dusting powder over the face. I also use it for powdering in between layers when making a bald cap, as its light bristles doesn't tear the cap and ensure an even layer.
Blush - £9.95
I don't often find myself reaching for this Blush Brush, but in all honesty I don't find myself reaching for blush often either. Definiltely one I want to try and use more in my kit.
Buffed Base - R01 £9.95
I adore this brush and its absolutely perfect for applying foundation. Its dense and slightly rounded at the top, allowing you to really buff the product in without the brush absorbing half of it. Not one hair sheds, ensuring the most flawless base, definitely a must have.
Blush & Bronze - A02 £9.95
The high density and large size of this brush is perfect for blending out sharp contour. Its also ideal for adding bronzer over the face, which I find can be applied with a bigger brush and a bit of a heavier hand.
Stippling - £8.95
This is one of the first stippling brushes I have used that doesn't shed hairs everywhere, finally. I use this brush for stippling moisturiser and primer on the face, I find it creates a smooth finish for the base.
Contouring - £8.95
Another one of my must haves, this brush is perfect for creating a natural contour ideal for an everyday makeup look. The brush hairs are really light and fluffy, but you can pack on the product to make the makeup waaaay stronger and more dramatic.
Foundation - £8.95
The Nanshy Foundation Brush is another one that I constantly find myself reaching for. I find the slight angle in the brush perfect for applying a rough layer of foundation, just to ensure you reach every nook and cranny of the face. I would then go in with the Nanshy Buffed Base Brush to perfect the foundation layer.
Fan - £8.95
I find fan brushes such a hit and miss depending on what you are using them for or with particular products in general. This is perfect for dusting off eyeshadow fall out from under the eye. Depending on what highlighter you use, I find chunky glitter ones apply better with a more dense brush, or what final effect your going for, this fan brush is also perfect for adding some natural highlight to the face.
Lip - £5.95
I looove these lip brushes so much I have two in my kit, one for nude lip colours and another for darker colours. Once opened properly this brush is such a perfect length and shape for creating the most precise lip stick application. I would definitely recommend you clean these straight away after using, to ensure the product doesn't stain and to keep the packaging that this brush sits in nice and hygienic.
As you might have just read above, one thing I have learnt about these brushes is to clean them straight away after they have been used. I know I have put them through their paces at uni with heavy oil based products, however I find that if they aren't cleaned straight away they can stain (like most brushes). To be honest, its quite a good way of getting into the habit of washing brushes after every use. These brushes are part of my kit therefore they are washed after every person, but none the less personal ones should be too. (I have found they stain less if cleaned with IPA straight after use and then washed with baby shampoo as soon as possible.)s
Anyway, sorry for the ridiculously long and chatty post but I hope this is helpful for anyone wanting to buy some of these brushes! x
