Mary wrote:
I use nothing but the best Italian Badger hair.   Good tools are very important, more important then the brand of cosmetic you use in my opinion.

I compleatly agree with Mary. I am not a "name brand hore" and I actually cover up all of the name brands with a "deadly design make-up artistry" lable. this way my stuff is marked distictively and my "missmatched" array of products looks uniformed. This trick has stopped people from stealing my expensive products:)
I think brushes should be the most expensive and best quility item in your kit, these are your tools, but if you can't afford top of the line get what you can afford but get the best in that price range.