E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush & Pointed Foundation Brush Review!

E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush & Pointed Foundation Brush

There are so many new products by E.L.F. since the last time I placed an order a year ago. I've been meaning to purchase a MAC 130 Short Duo Fiber Brush ($42) and when I spotted this new E.L.F Studio Small Stipple Brush ($3), I had to get it.

It's much smaller than your average stippling brush (such as the MAC 187 or E.L.F. Studio Stipple Brush) and it's slightly more dense because of the shorter bristles. The bristles are synthetic, so it's ideal for liquid and cream products but can also work well with powder products.

It's a great brush for liquid foundation, and because of it's smaller brush head, it can maneuver around small areas such as under and around the eyes, around the brows and hairline. Whereas a large brush might not be able to blend small areas as well, and it's harder to avoid coating the brows in foundation, etc.

I also really like using it to apply cream blush. It's the perfect size to apply the blush precisely to the cheekbones and blend it in with the extra soft bristles. Also, because it's not super dense, it won't pick up too much product, so if you have an uber pigmented blush, a stippling brush always works the best. The same goes for applying highlighter. It picks up just the right amount of product and it's small enough so you won't apply too much. There are really so many uses for this brush!

I'm kind of kicking myself that I only purchased one, because I can see myself using it often for many different things.

The E.L.F Studio Pointed Foundation Brush ($3) is a great brush to have as well. I love pointed foundation brushes, especially for applying concealer, because again, it can reach small areas and blend the area around the eyes really well. You can also use it with a cream contour product, as the tapered tips allows you apply the product very precise under your cheekbones, or wherever you want it.

The bristles are super soft and it's dense, but also has a little "give" to it.

Both are fabulous brushes and I highly recommend both of them!

The quality of E.L.F Studio Brushes are very good for the price and they hold up fairly well. Some of my brushes have held up better than others. The ferrules have gotten loose on some of my Studio Brushes (which is expected with the price point) and with very frequent use, washes and being dinged around my bag, the glossy finish on the ferrules may start to chip.

You can't beat the price though! And they are great for those on a budget, or for those who want some "starter brushes" before investing in more expensive options. E.L.F often has sales on their website for 50% off all Studio Products. I got 50% off my order (bringing the brushes down to only $1.50 each) with the code: ECD2.

Here's the small stippling brush next to my cheek so you can get a better idea of the size.

The Round-Up
Pros:

• The stippling brush in particular has many uses - it's a very versatile brush that can be useful in anyone's daily makeup routine.
• Soft bristles.
• Both brushes apply the product well without being streaky.
• Easy to clean
• Very inexpensive - great value
• Cruelty-free

Cons:

• None!

Price: $3 each, Target & E.L.F. Get 50% off all E.L.F Studio Products with code ECD2.

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush Review!

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush ($48) is a large ultra-plush, dense synthetic brush that can be used in a variety of ways for an always-flawless application. Did I mention that it's OMG soft?

The benefit to using such a large brush is that it covers a larger surface area at once, so application goes by much quicker. The ultra, soft and luxurious bristles create a seamless finish, so not only does it apply product quicker, but completely even with less work than a standard size brush.

I've used this brush in a few different ways - to apply liquid and cream foundation, setting powder, liquid/cream body bronzer and as a finishing brush to help blend everything together.

I love using it for liquid and cream foundation, but because it is so large, you have to use a separate brush to get to the small areas (around the eyes, nose hairline, etc.) so my favorite use for this brush is using it as a finishing brush.

I'm often on-the-go, and when I don't have enough time to adequately blend in my foundation, I always grab my IT Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush and quickly run it across my face working the brush in circular motions. It ensures my foundation is seamless, free of any streaks or blotches.

It's also perfect for blending foundation down the neck, and for applying cream illuminator/bronzer down the neck and decollete.

Although it's intended to use as a powder brush, I rarely use it for that reason because I love it so much for blending in my foundation. BUT, it is an amazing powder brush. It feels so nice on the skin, and does a excellent job at diffusing powder into the skin. Also because it's fairly dense, it'd work good for powder foundations to provide a fuller coverage.

I've had this brush for several months, and after handfuls of washes, you can see that it still looks brand-spanking new from the photos. The brush handle is very sturdy and I haven't experienced any shedding. The brush is still in the same perfect condition it was when I first used it.

This is definitely one of my favorite brushes, and I think it's worth the investment if you like to splurge on pricey makeup brushes.

This brush is sold solo for $48, but it's also available in a few different value sets from QVC. Your best bet is to purchase a set, because the total cost of the sets are actually cheaper than the brush alone (Set #1, Set #2, Set #3). Figure that!

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Ultra soft bristles - feels dreamy on the skin
• Dense - blends liquid and powders very well
• Large size blends product quickly and efficiently
• Good quality - feels very sturdy, no shedding, discolorations, etc. 
• Comes completely clean when washed, and doesn't take forever to dry
• Vegan

Cons:

• The price point isn't for everyone - $48 is a lot to shell out for a brush
• Some may find that it's too large to be a practical everyday brush

Price: $48, QVC or itcosmetics.

Have you tried any makeup brushes from IT Cosmetics?

Sigma Mr. Bunny Travel Kit Review!

Sigma Mr. Bunny Black Travel Kit

The Sigma Mr. Bunny Brush Sets are Sigma's synthetic, or vegan version of their Make Me Up Brush (which I own and love) Collection.

If you're familiar with Sigma Brushes, this set uses the same "Sigmax HD Fibers" as the popular F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki. The bristles are super soft and fluffy, and although they are synthetic, the bristles higher quality than synthetic brushes you may find at the drugstore (Ecotools, etc).

This set includes:

Pencil E30 - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, upper and lower lash line.
Tapered Blending E40 - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease.
Eye Shading E55 - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments.
Small Angle E65 - Essential for the application of gel or cream eye liner on the upper and lower lash line.
Large Powder F30 - Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body.
Large Angled Contour F40 - The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades.
Foundation F60 - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. Recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas.

All of the brushes have the same name as the regular Sigma brushes, so it might be a little confusing, but you can't actually order these brushes separately, which may be the reason.

Sigma Mr. Bunny Black Travel Kit

Sigma Mr. Bunny Black Travel Kit

I've been using these brushes all week, and I'm excited to share my thoughts with you!

Firstly in most brush sets, I don't care what the brand is, there's always a dud in the brush set - meaning there's usually a brush in the set that doesn't perform as well as the others, the quality isn't as good or it's just a brush you wouldn't have much use for. I'm really pleased with this set as every single brush is useful and they are all of very good quality.

I've had lots of experience with Sigma Brushes and I'm really happy with the quality of the handles. With many lower-end brushes, the ferrules (metal part) will come loose, or come apart completely. I haven't experienced it with any of my Sigma brushes, and you can tell from holding these brushes that they will last a very long time.

My favorite brush of the set is the F30 Large Powder Brush. So far I've used it for setting powder and for liquid foundation, and I really like this brush for applying foundation. Although it's not very dense, it does a really good job blending in the foundation for a really soft, natural finish. 

I don't really like using synthetic bristle brushes for powder blushes and bronzers - my personal preference is natural bristles, as they typically apply the product lighter and disperse the product more evenly. I've been using the F30 Large Angled Brush for powder bronzer and blush, and it actually performs very well, applying the product evenly. 

I've been using the F60 Foundation Brush for applying liquid concealer and the bristles are very soft and remain soft even after the bristles are covered in product. I've also been using the E40 Tapered Blending Brush for concealer and I absolutely love it. I use to really love using my MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush for concealer, but after having the brush shed each time I used it, I stopped using it for liquid products and now only use it for powder. I'm so happy to have a good quality synthetic brush to use for concealer. The tapered tip works wonderfully for lightly buffing the product in and distributing product evenly on the skin.

As far as the other three brushes, I've been using the E55 Eye Shading brush to apply my eyeshadow base to my lids, or to pack color on the lids (I find synthetic brushes work best for heavy color application). It's also great for applying a wash of color to my lids or for applying my MAC Paint Pots.

The E30 Brush is a bit small and dense for a crease brush (but still works) and I actually really like using it to smudge eyeshadow across my lashline for a "smokey" look. 

The E65 Small Angle Brush is your typical angle brush, and works great for filling in the brows and applying eyeliner.

Here's a comparison of the regular F30 and F40 Brush to see the difference in the size of the brush head and the length of the handles. Because the Mr. Bunny Set is a travel brush kit, the handles are shorter and the brush heads are a bit smaller.

Here's a comparison to the regular Sigma Brush Cup. As you can see, it's about half the size.

The set retails for $59 for seven brushes and a brush cup. If you divide it by the number of brushes (minus the cup), it's about $8.43 a brush. Of course there are other options out there for inexpensive brushes (Coastal Scents, Ecotools, ELF, Forever 21, etc.) but there will definitely be a difference in the quality of the bristles. If you're looking for a basic synthetic brush set, I'd say this is a great set to look into.

Price: $59, Sigma.

Also, I placed an order for the Sigma Tapered Highlighter and Tapered Face Brush, so I should have reviews for those up soon. I used the code 'APRIL2012' for 10% off!

Real Techniques Stippling Brush Review!

 Real Techniques Stippling Brush

I've been meaning to literally buy this brush ever since it came out, but I rarely ever go to ULTA. I've had the Real Techniques Blush Brush for a while now, and use it often to apply my powder blush. I've always been interested in trying the stippling brush as well considering Nic and Sam, or "Pixiwoo" (Sam - the creator of Real Techniques and sister Nic) are always using it to apply their foundation in their YouTube tutorials and their skin always looks flawless! I swear, when I'm on the computer, I sometimes just play their vids and minimize the screen and go about my work, just because I love their voices. Weird?

Nicola applying foundation with Real Techniques Stippling Brush (Image Credit)

The head is much shorter than the MAC 187 Brush and smaller overall in comparison to the Sigma F80 Brush (which I lost.. boo!!!) and the Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush. The size is probably the most comparable to the Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Blusher Brush (I like this brush better).

The synthetic taklon bristles are super soft, and it's dense enough to stipple your foundation, but it's not super dense for those that like a somewhat dense (dense enough to provide good coverage), yet pliable brush. I think Sam did a fabulous job designing this brush as it's just perfect for applying foundation. The shorter bristles and smaller size make it perfect for covering small areas of the face.

You don't only have to use this brush for foundation - it's also useful for cream and powder blush, as well as bronzer. Because it is fairly small, you can apply color precisely to the apples of your cheeks.

 Real Techniques Stippling Brush

All of Real Techniques Brushes are cruelty-free!

This brush retails for around $9.99 at ULTA and it's worth every penny! (that's only my opinion, of course.)

For more information about Real Techniques Brushes, visit http://realtechniques.com.

What's your favorite brush for applying foundation?

Guest Post: Real Techniques Powder and Blush Brush!

 
Guest Post Written by Ashley
Today the beautiful Ashley of Lashes Anyone? shares her thoughts about some of her favorite Real Techniques makeup brushes!

Hello Beauties!

About two years ago I fell hard for the infamous Sigma brushes that had every beauty guru in beauty craze. I did adore the face brushes, until the bristles started shedding on a daily basis. I do love the Sigma eye brushes, as they have impeccable quality and have held up nicely.

I was in need of a serious powder and blush brush rescue, considering those are my primary brushes for everyday use. About a month ago, I was wandering through the lit up aisles of ULTA and came across the Real Techniques brush line created by Samantha Chapman of YouTube.

 Real Techniques Powder and Blush Brush

 Real Techniques Powder and Blush Brush

READ MORE!

The beautifully crafted brushes have feather soft bristles that glide gracefully across the skin. I've ran the brushes through many washes and dipped them in all sorts of powders, and they are still perfectly in tact.

They are affordably priced and deliver professional quality. The brushes distribute all powder products evenly to the skin with a natural finish. I also don't waste as much product as a densely packed brush.

The handles have a sturdy rubber grip that's easy to clean. The brush handle is normal length and easy to hold and maneuver for precise application. The bright chromatic handles are easy to find in the bottom of your make up bag and will glisten in your brush holder. Sigma has met their match but at an affordable price!

Bristle texture: Smooth, synthetic fiber blend.

Handle texture: Sturdy, sleek and easy to grip.

Appearance: Chromatic, colorful, professional and unique.

Price: Under $10.00 per individual brush.

Have you indulged in any of the Real Technique's brushes?

Love,
Ashley

Guest Post Written by Ashley

My name is Ashley Palms and I am 21 year old Seattle native that�s been dropped in the heart of sunny Arizona. My obsessionn with all things beautiful and fierce has hit an all time high. I believe the blogging world is a community of beautiful people that can openly share their intellectual passion for beauty. I am the director and owner of Lashes, Anyone on YouTube and love talking with my viewers on Twitter. I do freelance makeup for weddings and in the process of creating my own cosmetic line predicted to launch in early spring of 2013. I am always excited to help friends and followers with new innovative ways to do makeup, reviews and tutorials on all things beautiful.  

Where you can find me: 

Real Techniques Blush Brush + A Fav Lip Combo!

Real Techniques Blush Brush

PRODUCT DETAILS:
Ultra-plush, synthetic taklon bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free
Self-standing for easy storage
Extended aluminum handle is light and easy to use

If you're a fan of the Pixiwoo sisters on YouTube, Sam and Nic, you're probably already familiar with Sam's line of makeup brushes, Real Techniques.

Real Techniques Makeup Brushes can be found at ULTA stores (in-store and online) throughout the USA. There are also a few online retailers that cater to International users. (click here for a location list)

What really stands out about the brushes are the unique designs. They have a professional look and most of the brushes have a tapered tip, for a perfectly airbrushed finish. The fibers are also incredibly soft, and the brush seems very sturdy. I've had mine for three months now, and the brush doesn't show any signs of wear and tear. The best part of all, the brushes are very affordable. The blush brush retails for $8.99, and ULTA always has $3.50 off $10 coupons, which is always a plus.



CONTINUE READING FOR A SHORT REVIEW AND ADDITIONAL PHOTOS!


The reason I chose purchasing the blush brush over any of the other brushes, was that I didn't own any other brush like it. It has a really unique tapered egg shape, which deposits just the right amount of product on the cheeks and the fluffiness and softness of the brush diffuses the color, so there are no harsh edges.

All of the RT Brushes are synthetic, and although I prefer natural bristle brushes for powder blush, I really like this brush for blush and bronzer. It works specifically well for bronzer, as it gives such a natural finish. I'd assume it would work well with creme blushes, as the bristles don't shed.

If you're in the market for a new blush brush, I'd definitely recommend checking this brush out. I'm really interested in trying out the stippling brush next!

To view all of the Real Techniques Brushes, click here.

And, here are a couple photos with my little munchkin. Isn't he so goofy? He loves sitting on his bum. Any dog I've ever known would leap out of my arm in one second, but Rocky just goes along with whatever. haha!

And just for fun.. 

I'm loving this lip combo at the moment. It's MAC Morange mixed with Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Cha Cha. It looks a lot like MAC Vegas Volt, but slightly more orange. 

Hope you all are having a good weekend! 

I'm feeling a little down because it will be my Dad's birthday this Monday. I think my Mom, Brother and I will go out to dinner, and maybe still have a cake. Like others told me, it doesn't have to be a sad thing, it will be a celebration of his life and being happy and thankful for having him for as long as we did. I am remaining strong, but it is pretty depressing, especially during the holidays.