Which brush is irreplaceable?

So, OK. So I've been going on for a while about how I've totally pared
down my makeup routine so that I don't have to use brushes. And, for
the most part, I've done that by using pencils, things with wands
(mascara, brow set), and cream/stick eye shadows. However, there is
one brush that I realize I can't do without: my Px Buff Brush, which I
use to blend stick blush. To my knowledge, there really isn't any
other brush like it--it's just the perfect brush for this very specific
makeup task.

So, ladies, here's the question: if you had to pare down to just one
makeup brush, which one would you find completely
indispensable/irreplaceable? Have you been able to find one brush

shinypenny...

I only have one make-up brush: an eye-liner brush. I don't wear blush
anymore, and haven't in years. I'm pretty simple with my make-up
routine. Even though the look this year is to play up the eyes instead
of lips, I won't be doing that. I'll continue concentrating on my lips
and keeping the rest ultra-simple. But since gloss is in right now, I
don't even bother lining my lips so I don't need a brush for that.

At 40 for some reason I just don't do eyeshadow well anymore. Looks
goofy on me!! So all I wear is mascara to make my blonde eyebrows
brown, and brown MAC powder eye liner, which is why I can't live
without the eye-liner brush.

that can "multi-task" for you? (I know it might be difficult to pick
just one but let's see how creative we can be!)

m~elizabeth...

I love my BB fine liner brush...but it can't really multi task.

kpr54...

Thus far, only Sonia Kashuk's Powder brush (or at least the one I
bought
5 or 6 years ago when the line was brand new. I don't know what
changes might've taken place in the line since then.) It has the
perfect shape to double for a blush brush. I use brushes to apply only
powder and blush. kpr54

ahmward...

This is one of the benefits of brushes; most seem to last a really long
time.

ami kio...

irreplaceable: kabuki brush for applying mineral foundation just b/c it's
the best way to apply mineral foundation.

2nd runner up irreplaceable: cargo eyeshadow brush, which is my go-to e/s
brush.

ahmward...

I am too much of a clutz to use big brushes for little areas so it would
have to be my Bobbi Brown eye liner brush. I guess I have gotten into
the routine of using brushes for all of the powdered products that I
don't know how to apply them as evenly with my fingers. I do know,
though, that there is no way I could draw a fine line with a gel product
without a brush.

AJ...

Can't do it. Have to have a a big powder brush, a push brush
for liner, and at least one brush for eyeshadow. That's as
far down as I can pare, and that would be for, like, a desert
island.

No one brush would do it.

Vicki in DC...

Hmm, in theory either a thin lip brush or eyeliner brush could do
double duty, line the eyes and apply lipstick finely while digging out
the last of the lipstick at the bottom of the tube. If you kept it
clean, it could be used for both. I'm sure MA's do this when they can't
take a huge makeup kit, are on location, etc.

But since my eyes are so fussy and I don't really wear liner, this is
just in theory. My actual "must have" brush is my big Chanel
blush/bronzer brush (waves to Michele H who enabled me to get it
several years ago). I also apply most of my m/u with wands, or it comes
in stick form, or I use my fingers. Also since my skin's drier now
creme blush and eyeshadow look better on me. But bronzer's another
story IMO. I still think loose powder looks more natural than creme
bronzer and the best application requires a big fluffy brush. The
Chanel brush is, without being *too* big and it's soft.

Vicki in DC

MicheleH...

Right back at ya, Miss Vicki. I've got way too many brushes (and by
extension, way too many powder brushes) but the one I keep returning to
is the Chanel kabuki powder brush (which may be the one you're talking
about above). These days, it's helping me get every last little tiny bit
left of the faboo Armani silk powder foundation I bought when we all went
shopping in Chevy Chase back in May (at the evil Saks store which
"stole" my LV bag [which I can finally laugh about now]). I'm trying to
figure out how to acquire more of this powder foundation without actually
setting foot in that store again (Tysons Saks doesn't have Armani
cosmetics, darn it).