Cara Professional Brush Set Review

During the week I received this gorgeous brush set from Cara Pharmacy. Delivery time was really quick, it took about 3 days to arrive. The first thing I noticed was the packaging, everything was securely wrapped in bubble wrap and tissue paper, so if you were ordering perfume or other beauty products from CaraPharmacy.ie you can relax knowing all items are well protected during postage. Then I got a lovely smell of perfume, as well as my brushes the package included 2 perfume samples, Paco Rabanne Lady Million & Clavin Klein Eternity Now, Christmas Gift Guide and a lovely personalised thank you note. It was a lovely touch! 

This set included 12 must-have makeup brushes and a sleek black storage case. Retail price is €29.50, this is amazing value and perfect as a Christmas gift for the beginner or advanced makeup lover in your life. The brushes included are : 

C01 : Flat foundation brush - liquid and compact foundation

C02 : Stippler brush - liquid or compact foundation blending 

C03 : Large blush brush - contouring with bronzer or blush 

C04 : Kabuki foundation/powder brush - contouring with cream or liquid foundation 

C05 : Wide bristle eyeshadow brush - packing on eyeshadow 

C06 : Concealer brush - concealer application 

C07 : Angled eyeliner brush - perfect for brows or gel eyeliner application 

C08 : Large powder brush - setting foundation 

C09 : Lip brush 

C10 : Small compact bristle eyeshadow brush - buffing in eyeshadow

C11 : Round kabuki eyeshadow brush - blending eyeshadow

C12 : Pointed kabuki eyeshadow brush - blending eyeshadow 

Makeup brushes are very versatile and can be used in different ways and for different things but all of this information comes on the box as a guideline for what to use and where, perfect for a beginner into makeup. These brushes are animal friendly, they are made with soft, synthetic hair. 

I have used these brushes a couple of times and so far I'm delighted with them. The quality is really good, the bristles are soft which makes blending so much quicker and easier. I have spot cleaned them twice so far and they are still as soft as the first time I used them. When spot cleaning I use the MAC brush cleanser. There has been virtually no shedding from the brushes when I have used or cleaned them, which I am really pleased about. The case is also really easily cleaned, it can be just wiped down with a baby wipe or an antibacterial wipe and its spick and span again. 

Considering the quality of all 12 brushes and the gorgeous black case, which also comes in pink, along with the price point, I think this set is an amazing bargain making it a perfect Christmas gift or as a little treat for yourself. 

I have created a couple of looks using these brushes but this one below is my favourite so far. I'm going to run through what products and brushes I used to create this look. 

I started by priming my face with the Nivea Hydration primer. Then I used the C02 stipple brush to apply my L'oreal Lumi foundation in C1 Rose Pearl. This is my favourite type of brush to apply foundation on all skin types, particularly mature skin. It seemingly blends the product into the skin, leaving no marks or lines. Next I applied my ELF HD brightening concealer under my eyes, on my forehead, down my nose and just along my Cupid's bow, I blended that in with a damp beauty blender. I have an unhealthy addiction to using my new beauty blender, I love the effect it gives especially under the eyes. Alternatively you could use the C04 instead, as it is pointed it's perfect for getting into the under eye area and kabuki brushes are so densely packed they are brilliant for blending out product. I used the C05 with my ELF HD undereye setting powder to set that concealer in place. 

While I leave my foundation and concealer to set I love onto my eyes and come back to the rest of my face later. First I combed through my brows using a spoolie then I used the C07 angled brush to shape and fill in my brows using Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow pomade in Soft Brown and finished off the brows with a clear brow gel from Maybelline. 

I used my Urban Decay original primer potion as an eyeshadow base, I applied and blended it out with my pinky finger. I set that primer with Inglot eyeshadow no.318 with the C06 eyeshadow brush. I took Inglot no.368 (a peachy shade) on the C11 into the crease and blended upwards, then I took a mix on Inglot no. 341 (cool tone dusty pink shade) & 337 (cool tone grey brown shade) on the same brush into the crease to define it. I used the C10 to pack on my main lid/tear duct colour, Urban Decay Midnight Cowgirl. Lastly I took Inglot no.329 and MAC Wedge on the C12 to darken the outer corner, I blended these colours in a triangle shade to created that cat eye effect. 

The box said the C09 is a lip brush but to me it seemed perfect for gel eyeliner. I used the Inglot AMC gel liner in No.77 black with the C09 which worked phenomenally. I currently have semi permanent eyelashes on so I just applied a tiny coat of mascara to my top & bottom lashes to complete the eye look. 

Next I used the C03 to contour my cheek bones, around my hair line, down along my jaw and finally a little bit of product either side of my nose with an NYX blush in Taupe. Since I generally don't powder my face I used the C08 to highlight my face. This brush is quite large so it's just as well I like a strong highlight, with a light hand you could get away with using such a large brush but just be careful, build product as you go, remember it's easier to add product than to take it away.  I used my holy grail highlighter MAC Soft & Gentle MSF on the tops of my cheeks, down the centre of my nose and a touch just above my Cupid's bow.

Finally I lined my lips with MAC's Burgundy lipliner and topped it off with Diva lipstick also from MAC. I spritzed my face with Urban Decays All Nighter Setting spray to lock my makeup in place.

I hope you enjoyed this quick review and info on my makeup look details. 

Love, 

A x