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Showing posts with label Brushes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brushes. Show all posts
T to B: MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brush 134 Large Powder Fan Brush

It's no secret that I'm a little obsessed with finding the perfect makeup brushes.  So I just can't resist in trying the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brushes out.  They said that it took 5 years to develop this range of brushes and 30 people to handcraft each brush.  And that their unique straight and wavy synthetic fibres are used to mimic natural hairs.  So the production of this brush is cruelty free and vegan friendly.  And you can really appreciate the craftsmanship of the each brush from the bristles to the handle.

Tip: use the end of the handle for pressing false lashes closer to your lash line, works every time!

The 134 Large Powder Fan Brush (CA $55 / US $48) is large fan brush that is mainly used for powder.  It  has wavy fibre and is very soft to touch.  It didn't shed (or bleed) when I wash it.  The build of this brush is very top heavy (brush head is a lot heavier than handle).  It works out, because it was tilted when lay flat and helps drawing water out from the hair after washing it.


The great thing about this Large Powder Fan Brush is that it's multipurpose:
  1. Sweeping fallouts of eyeshadow near my under eye area
  2. Applying setting powder under my eyes
  3. Contouring my cheeks with a matte bronzer
  4. Highlighting high points of my face
  5. Dusting blot powder all over the face
While it works pretty well on all 5 purpose, I find that it excels in #3 and #4 in particular.  If you struggles with contouring, you may want to give this a try.  It magically does the work for you.  But make sure to test it out in store before buying, just so you get the feel of it and learn how to use it from the MUAs, they're there to help!


But the most impressive brush from them, yet, has got to be the 242 Large Blender Brush (CA $35 / US $30) because it is by far the softest brush I have EVER tried.  It's softer than any MAC eye brushes I've used.  I think the secret of the softness is not only the high quality synthetic wavy fibres, it is also the right about of density.  It's not too flimsy, yet not too stiff so it helps to blend things out.


I've used it alone for the entire look and it works seamlessly.  I would pounce a shimmery nude over the lid and blend a contour colour along the crease.  And because it has enough stiffness, it allows me to intensify the look by darkening the outer corner out using a dark brown shade.  It's a minimal simple 5 minute look.

It's another great multi purpose brush that works great with cream products too.  But my favourite way to use it would be, as it name suggests, blending.  Even though it says it's a large brush, it's suitable for most eye shape (if you don't have much lid space, try the 218 Medium Blender Brush (CA $29 / US $25) instead).

I'm loving the handle of these MUFE Artisan Brushes
Overall, the two brushes I have tried from the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brushes range are incredible and are definitely worth your money (of course if you're a pro MUA, you can get the pro card to get the pro discount too). And from all the reviews I have read, there are so many other great brushes in the range too.  My next one would probably be either 110 Medium Foundation Kabuki or 102 Small Foundation Kabuki.  What about you?

Until next time,


x Rica

MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brush: 134 Large Powder Fan Brush & 242 Large Blender Brush | Softest Synthetic Brushes of allI

January 7, 2014 • , , , , • 13 comments
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Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Single Face Brushes
Who's a fan of Pixiwoo on YouTube?  (One hand up).  Who's a brushaholic?  (Both hands up).  So Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman brushes seem like must-tries for me.  Many people like to try their brush sets out, but I opted to try the single brushes out.  I have 5 single face brushes here to share with you.

First of all, let's talk about what they all have in common.  The make of the brushes are excellent.  The bristles are made with hand-cut synthetic taklon, which are 100% cruelty free.  They are quite soft, but not the softest that I have felt.  What I like the most about the bristles is that they don't shed.  The worst thing is when you have to pick hair out of your face when you're already in a hurry in the morning.  Each brush comes in an aluminum handle that covers about 2/3 of the whole handle, and the remaining 1/3 is plastic with flat bottom.  The flat bottom comes in handy because your brush can actually stand up on its own, so it's quite good for storage.

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Single Face Brushes | Review & Photos

May 22, 2013 • , , , , , , , • 14 comments
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I have always fancied MAC 217 (and yes, I'm feeling a wee bit British today).  It is a cult favourite in the beauty community.  Over time, since it has been so popular, other companies tried to create brushes that posses the similar shape, and try to achieve the similar results that MAC 217 will give to its users.  I couldn't help but acquire a few of these counterparts.  So it's only appropriate if I give my two cents on them and see which ones are worth getting, and which ones are not that great.

From top to bottom: bdellium #776, MAC 217, Sigma E25, Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow Brush, Sigma E25 (Travel)
Handle/length comparison


MAC 217 Blending Brush

MAC 217 Blending Brush
Of course, we must start with the original,  MAC 217.  It is my very first MAC brush.  I still remember I was so excited to get it from the MAC counter near my university.  I must say, over the past few years, although the numbering has worn off, the brush itself is still going strong.  One interesting fact about my  MAC 217, it is made in Japan, which is different when comparing it to other brushes company, where majority of them has factory in China.  By the way, I have also had MAC brushes that are made in France

MAC 217 Numbering (faded)
The  MAC 217 bristles are made out of white goat hair, which are not as white as they were few years ago, but they are still as soft, which makes it feels luxurious on the eyelids.  I guess most important part of this brush is its shape.  It does not have super long bristle, and it's flared out to the top into a dome shape.  It is quite stiff and full, but at the same time it is very soft, which makes blending very easy.

I love that it is multipurpose.  Although it is meant for eye shadows, you can also use it for your concealers.  I have done that before, but I have unless you want to pick some white hair out from your face and damage your brush, I would use other brushes for concealers.  For some strange reason, it doesn't shed when it's used to blend out cream eye shadow.  Anyhow, I prefer to use the  MAC 217 purely as an eye shadow (powder or cream) brush, which it excels at.  I like that it is a one-brush-does-it-all brush.  When I'm feeling lazy, I'll use it to apply lid colour and crease colour, use it for blending out the colours, and of course, apply a highlight colour as well.

MAC 217 Brush Head

Pros:

  • Soft bristles for your delicate eye lids
  • Long lifetime brush makes your investment worth it
  • Very very minimal shedding
  • Stiff dome shape that makes applying and blending out colour easy
  • Long handle provides you the options of the amount of control you want with the brush
  • Accessible where you can find it at any MAC stores, counters, or buy it online
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Cons:

  • Quite expensive as it costs US $22.50 / CA $27
  • The whiteness of the bristles is not as long lasting, it can get stained from, say, cream products
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Battle of the Brands: MAC 217 and its alike

February 20, 2012 • , , , , , , , • 18 comments
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