Sunday, August 5, 2012

Synthetic Makeup Brush Guide- About the Brands

Below is some additional information on brands mentioned on this site.  Most of the information is taken from the each company website.  I've only listed brands that I have personally used in the top section, with a list of other known brands at the bottom.  I hope you find this list helpful, and I'll continue to update it as I try more synthetic brushes from different brands.  I do not feel comfortable promoting brands that I have not tried, which is the only reason they are excluded from the main list. There are many poor quality synthetics that I do not recommend.  If you see a brand and you are unsure if it is good quality or not, drop me a comment in the box below, as I may have tried it and would love to help you before you spend your money.  All of the brushes I featured in the main section have been used repeatedly, and washed many times, so I feel comfortable about what I am recommending. 

*Please note most of the prices below are per brush as of Aug 2018.  These prices are for reference only, and reflect the cost of a single brush at the time of this post.  Many of these brushes are available in sets, or at a discount if you buy more than one. Sets tend to be cheaper on a per brush basis than if you were to buy them individually. For most brands, I indicate a price range.  Typically, the larger the brush, the more expensive it is.  Therefore, in most cases, the higher price is for something like a large powder brush, while the low end is a lip or eyeshadow brush.

Brushes I Personally Own and Recommend:

Aveda sells quality hair care products everyone knows and loves. Did you know that they also offer high quality makeup and makeup brushes?  I have owned their Flax Sticks Daily Effects Brush Set and Flax Sticks Special Effects Brush Set for years.  Their Inner Light Foundation Brush is a newer brush to my collection, but has become a staple in my daily routine. The only brush that I have not tried from the brand is their Uruku Bronzing Brush.
www.aveda.com  $40 for individual face brushes-$55-65 per set

Bdellium Tools (the B is silent) Green/Pink/Yellow/Purple Bambu Series brushes are a professional grade, eco-friendly brush line made of synthetic bristles with bamboo handles.  There are no animal products used in the making of these brushes.  They are hypo allergenic and 100% cruelty free. Bdellium Tools are designed by a group of brush experts in California.  All of their brushes are handmade and they design all of their own products, sometimes developing brand names and/or custom designs for larger clients. 
http://bdelliumtools.com $8.00-$20.00/brush

(The) Body Shop is a company focused on natural ingredients and products that are good for the planet.  They are against animal testing and for fair trade. The Body Shop was started by a human rights activist, opening the doors of its first store in 1976. Their brushes have ended up on Oprah's favorites list and with good reason. Recently Lily Cole created a cruelty-free makeup line that is 100% vegetarian in its ingredients (no bug shells, fish scales, etc).
www.thebodyshop-usa.com $2.00-$26.00/brush

Branded J Collections was created by Peggy J, who created the collection after years of working as a makeup artist in beauty, film and television. I own several brushes from the collection, and they are awesome. They have a long acrylic handle, nickle ferrule and luxurious taklon bristles. Branded J Collections is a cruelty-free company which proudly makes products that make a difference. The bristles of these brushes deliver antibacterial benefits, and the story behind them is amazing. Like myself, the founder of this company recognized that although attention has been drawn to the cruelty of cosmetic testing, many people were still using animal hair brushes. She created this high-end brush line for makeup artists to have the most professional tools possible without sacrificing animal lives or quality. 
http://www.brandedj.com $15.00-$56.00/brush

Cozzette is a great choice if you are a makeup artist. While these brushes are a bit more pricey, they are masterfully constructed, and the bristles are extremely soft. They have a wonderful selection of styles, some which I haven't found in other brands. I have The Divinity Collection as well as some singles.  I would also like to note that his company has excellent customer service. One of my packages got lost once, and they quickly found it, and made sure it got to me in a timely fashion. I would also like to mention their vessels, which are used for storing brushes, q tips or other makeup artist necessities while protecting them from dust, are a must have for makeup artists. One of my favorite brushes from this brand is the Diamond Blender, which is a unique tapered face brush. Purple is my favorite color, so the pointed purple handles are extra special to me.
https://www.roquecozzette.com/   $12.00-$30.00/brush

Crown Brush has offered affordable brushes to makeup artists for years. With a large assortment of brushes of every shape and style, they are sure to have something to meet your budget. The brand does carry animal hair brushes in addition to synthetic, so be sure to read the product description carefully. The brushes that I own from the brand are from their Syntho Series. However, I have also had my eye on some of the synthetic brushes in the Crown Pro Brush Series, which offers some unique shapes and sizes.
https://crownbrush.com (affiliate link)   $2.20-$22.95/brush

Earth Diva Cosmetics offers vegan and cruelty-free makeup and brushes online.  Their brushes are made of quality taklon bristles with sustainable bamboo handles. These brushes are quite affordable, yet work quite well. This is a great brand for those with sensitive skin because their mineral makeup is free of irritants such as bismuth, fragrance and oils.  They offer a full range of eco-friendly brushes for sale both individually or in a set. The bristles feel silky, yet they are firm enough to blend product.
http://www.earthdivacosmetics.com/Brushes.html  $2.75-$13.95/brush

EcoTools are probably the most widely available brush. They carry these at Walmart, Walgreens, drugstore.com, amazon.com, ulta.com, Target, the list goes on and on. Eco Tools is an earth-friendly brand that helps you get gorgeous and be green at the same time!  Their brushes are super soft and they even sell beauty sponges and organizers. Their best sellers include the Define And Highlight Duo ($11.99 for 2 brushes), Wonder Cover Complexion Brush ($8.99) and their Daily Defined Eye Kit ($8.99 for 5 brushes and a storage tray).
www.ecotools.com $5.99-$9.99/brush

E.L.F. stands for Eyes Lips Face and is a discount brand  that is known for their value brush sets and affordable cosmetics. Some of their products are carried at Target and the rest are available on their website. Since they are so affordable, they are a great starting out brand for a young budding makeup artist to practice technique with. In addition to their already low prices, they frequently have sales. They sell brush sets, single brushes, brush accessories and cases. Their tools are designed for everyday use and are some of the most affordable on the market. Their website is filled with customer reviews, so you can see which brushes might work best for your needs. Their Kabuki Face Brush ($6.00) is one of my favorites from the brand. It rivals similar shaped brushes from higher end brands on the market.
http://www.eyeslipsface.com $1.00-$12.00/brush

Enkore Makeup Online offers a couple of vegan brushes that are really great for use with cream products. These have a nice long black handle, and I love to use them with foundations, cream blushes, contour and cream highlighters. Each brush has synthetic and white fiber optic bristles, perfect for high definition makeup. This site was created by Koren Zander, makeup artist and makeup enthusiast. He has some great Sponge & Brush Soaps in his shop as well, so be sure to check out the other goodies he has to offer. Koren is a talented artist and a very nice person.
www.enkoremakeuponline.com $3.00-$5.00/brush

Everyday Minerals is a company that uses only the finest natural ingredients in their cosmetics. They are organic, vegan and Eco friendly. None of their products are tested on animals and their makeup brushes are among some of the softest I've used. All of their brushes are synthetic and made by hand with a sturdy bamboo handle. I have several of their brushes including personal favorites the long handled kabuki (great for applying face powders) and the eye kabuki which I love for blending out under eye concealer. They have some truly unique brush styles on their site, so if you want something a little bit more special to add to your brush collection, check them out here:
www.everydayminerals.com $10.00-$19.00/brush 

Furless Cosmetics USA offers cruelty-free makeup brushes and accessories. They have a very large selection of brushes available for personal and professional use. They are always adding to their product range, and recently launched a collab with Jordi Dreher. I love their pro angled foundation brush because it has a nice long handle, and super silky bristles. I use this brush a lot to apply foundation or primer to clients. Every brush and product on their site is cruelty-free and vegan, so you can shop with confidence. Their website allows you browse single brushes by type as well as offering different brush sets. It's hard to include a price range because they offer so many different brushes at various price points. I also recommend checking out their loose pigments.  You can shop Furless by clicking here: http://furlesscosmetics.com

Hourglass Brushes are a luxurious collection of metal handle brushes made from high grade Takelon.  Hourglass is a California based beauty brand. I have purchased my brushes from this brand from Sephora and Beautylish.com.
http://hourglasscosmetics.com $32.00-$46.00/brush

Illamasqua Brushes are hypoallergenic and completely cruelty-free. This is a British brand that I learned about from watching one too many YouTube videos by the Pixiwoos. They used to sell their brushes in the U.S.A. on Sephora.com, but sadly they no longer do. They are still available for purchase in the U.K.
www.illamasqua.com 19.50 GBP-40.00 GBP/brush

IT Cosmetics has created a new standard in luxury makeup bushes.  Their brushes are designed to prevent premature sagging of the skin, by offering super plush bristles.  All of their brushes are ideal for those who like an airbrushed look to their makeup. While the look of the bristles are somewhat similar to Sephora's airbrush line, the bristles are much softer, yet still blend product quite well. All of their brushes (as well as their makeup) is 100% cruelty-free.  I also recommend these for people with sensitive skin. These brushes are available at qvc.com , itcosmetics.com and internationally at The Shopping Channel. $24.00-$58.00/brush

Kelley Quan offers a professional grade vegan brush line. According to their site, these brushes are, "Tested on models not animals!"  Kelley Quan is a makeup artist, beauty editor and fashion publisher.  Her New York based company offers a nice variety of pro quality brushes including her unique patented wave brush which is great for filling in brows.  I also recommend checking out The Pocket Spa ($80) while you are shopping the site. 
http://kelleyquan.com/about/ $13.50-$65.00/brush
  
100% Pure Cosmetics is a brand that focuses on cruelty free cosmetics, which is what drew me to them in the first place.  Per their website, they "love animals and refuse to support anything that hurts animals which is why none of our formulas are ever tested on animals."  They sell cosmetics, skin care, and of course BRUSHES! They sell both short and long handled brushes made with their signature synthetic white bristles and white handles. If you are concerned about the white bristles staining, don't be, I tested them using some of my most pigmented beauty products, and they all washed completely clean with ease. These are affordably priced, so if you are a girl on a budget, who loves animals, these are the brushes for you.
http://www.100percentpure.com   $10-18/brush

Purely Pro Cosmetics  vegan brushes are ones that I came across on Amazon.com. I bought one to start (the Chubby Blender) and was really impressed. I now own about 5 brushes from this brand, and think they are really nice. The handles are a little bit shorter, so if you like to sit close to a mirror when you do your makeup, these are a good pick. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member, most of these are available for the two day free shipping! Favorites include the #56 Perfect Line brush and the Chubby Blender, which I love for applying liquid or cream foundation. While I have only purchased brushes individually, they do offer a 10 piece vegan set on their website, which is reasonably priced considering the quality of the brushes.
www.amazon.com  http://www.purelyprocosmetics.com//Tools-and-Film-Supplies/Vegan-Brush-Set.html  $11-33/brush

Real Techniques is the most impressive brush line for those on a budget.This line was created by YouTube makeup artist duo Pixiwoo. If you haven't watched their tutorials, I suggest you do. I always learn something new when I watch them. Even the most budget-friendly brushes they offer are made of good quality materials.  Real Techniques offers several different collections.  Their Original Collection is probably the most popular.  Brushes from their Original Collection are color coded so you know which part of the face they are meant for (orange is for bases, purple is for eyes and pink is for finishing).  The Original Collection Travel Essentials set comes with a case that doubles as a stand. Some of their single face brushes, such as the original Blush Brush ($9.00) from the brand, have a wide bottom so that they can stand on a table or desk. If you are looking for something a little higher-end than the original line, the Bold Metals Collection and PowderBleu Collection are a great choice for makeup artists. If you are ever unsure about how to use one of their brushes, simply pop on over to their website where you can see a demo.  This brand also carries innovative accessories, such as their Expert Organizer, Stick & Dry Brush Drying Rack (to dry your brushes bristle side down), and Stick & Store Sponge Keeper.  If you are looking for an inexpensive alternative to the BeautyBlender Sponge, try their Miracle Complexion Sponge ($11.00/2pack).
realtechniques.com   $5.99-$25.00/brush

Royal & Langnickel Revolution brushes are probably the most technologically advanced brushes in my kit.  These brushes were created by Kevin James Bennett, an award-winning makeup artist.  These are pro quality, with textured bristles that mimic real animal hair, a no-slip handle and an overall super durable brush. With 32 different brushes in the collection, these brushes are a must have for makeup artists. My personal favorite is the BX-66 brush, which is ideal for eyeshadow blending. http://www.royalbrush.com/beauty/pro/perks.php $4.79-$39.99/brush

Royal & Langnickel Silk Green Line brushes are an eco friendly professional grade brush. They come with a wooden handle and silky synthetic bristles. I personally own the set, which comes in a really cool cork-like case for travel. The set comes with 12 pieces and is eligible for a pro discount to qualified individuals. I would say the bristles on these are comparable to Cozzette brushes in terms of the silkiness of the bristles. I think anyone would have a very hard time distinguishing these from a high end set of animal hair brushes. While the handles are wooden, they are very smooth as though they have some type of a clear coating over them. The smudger brush and powder brush are my favorites from the set. The price of these is really reasonable considering the very high quality of these brushes.
http://www.royalbrush.com/welcome/intro.php   $2.99-24.99/brush

Sedona Lace synthetic brushes come with fun pink and black bristles. Their 12 piece synthetic set is very similar in quality to Sigma's Mr. Bunny set, yet the price is lower.  Their synthetic angled flat top brush is a great way to apply foundation for a flawless finish. The quality is high end and I think these would work well for both makeup lovers and makeup artists. If you want something outside of the traditional brush, that is a little bit more fun, these are a good pick. Please note that they do also offer animal hair brushes on their site, so it is important to read the description. The Sedona Lace site does a great job of clearly labeling which brushes are synthetic and which are not.
http://www.sedonalace.com/Makeup/2/Brushes.aspx $12.95-$14.95/brush

Sephora Collection Pro Airbrush brushes work great for both liquid & powder makeup products. Their #55 brush has been a cult favorite among makeup lovers.  These brushes are made of Taklon hairs (high grade nylon fibers). Sephora is my favorite beauty store because I can find so many brands in one place.  Sephora launched in the United States in 1999 and most can hardly imagine a world without it.
www.sephora.com $24.00-34.00/brush

Sigma develops revolutionary beauty tools.  While the brand always had a large selection of vegan brushes, I am happy to report that all of the brushes on their website are now cruelty-free and made with synthetic hair.  These brushes are professional quality and are available both through their website and on Amazon.com.  If you want to see them in person, Riley Rose carries a nice selection from the brand as well. I was first introduced to this line with their amazing kabuki brushes. These are the most dense, soft, unique brushes I have ever used. They have every shape and size of long handled kabuki you could ever imagine. They also offer a nice selection of tools to clean, shape and dry your brushes such as the Sigma Dry'n Shape Tower. They recently launched the F80 Air Flat Kabuki (which I have not tried yet), which is intended to provide sheer, natural coverage.
www.sigmabeauty.com $9.00-16.00/brush

Too Faced was one of the first high end companies that offered synthetic brushes. Their famous "teddy bear hair" bristles are super soft and loved by many. I prefer their face brushes to their eye brushes to be honest, but regardless of which brush you pick up by the brand, you can't deny the uber-cute design of them. My favorite among the line is their Powder Pouf Brush.
https://www.toofaced.com/p-530-powder-pouf-brush.aspx $13.50-$34.00/brush

Urban Decay is the first brand that I decided to purchase every brush from because of their cruelty free stance. They sell a large variety of cruelty-free makeup with many vegan options. All of their brushes have always been vegan, and they are one of the few makeup brands that includes high quality brushes with their eyeshadow palettes. I own their older brushes that were known as "Good Karma Brushes," as well as some of the newer brushes from the UD Pro Collection. Their Optical Blurring Brush ($32) is one of my favorites.
http://www.urbandecay.com $18.00-$39.00/brush

*Please note some of the brushes listed here may have been sent for consideration by the company. This in no way alters my review. Above listed brushes, are brushes that I actually use and love.I do not get paid to write reviews. Any links provided in this guide are for the reader's convenience only.  I do not get a commission if you buy any of these brushes. This is not a sponsored post.


Other Brush Companies

I have not personally tried brushes from any of the brands listed below, but they do carry a selection of synthetic brushes.

  • Luxie
  • Spectrum
  • M.O.T.D.
  • Morphe
  • Linda Halberg
  • Honest Beauty
  • Dose of Color
  • ColourPop
  • Docolor
  • Sara Hill 

As I continue to try new brands, I will add those that I recommend to the top section along with links and prices.

12 comments:

  1. need to know if ELIANTO brand(makeup brushes) using animal hair or synthetic. Hope you can help me because I'm using it and I want to use cruelty-free product. This is my email activate27@yahoo.com (kindly post your answer there...thank you very much)

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    Replies
    1. i think elianto have synthetic make up brushes, i also buy them but of course i ask first which makeup brushes are made u from synthetic hair

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    2. Thanks F3erah, I wasn't familiar with this brand. I looked online and could not find much information on them. Do they sell them online? I would be curious to learn more about the brand. Thanks.

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    3. Check this website out www.elianto.biz i have just learned that products of this brand are made from pure Natural ingredients. Im staying in malaysia so it is so easy to get this brand. I buy a lot of their makeup brushes because they are synthetic and very soft too at very affordable price. I dont know u can get this brand

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  2. Hi Liza,

    I love your blog and your posts about brushes have been so helpful for me. I have purchased quite a few brushes based on your recommendations and have been very happy with them! Just wondering if you have tried any of the below synthetic brushes?

    Zoeva, Sunday Riley, Liz Earle

    I’m thinking about trying these brands but want to make sure you haven’t tried them and don’t find them very useful. Also, I have very sensitive skin and believe it or not I even find the Hourglass No. 2 brush slightly scratchy. Which brands would you recommend for me? I’m thinking IT Cosmetics and Illamasqua would be the best but let me know if you have any other recommendations for extremely soft but still effective brushes for both the face and eyes. Many thanks!

    Kind Regards,
    Lisa

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  3. hi Lisa. thanks for reading. I'm so happy you find my posts helpful. I haven't tried those 3 brands you mentioned believe it or not but I will surely look into them. if you have sensitive skin I recommend IT Cosmetics hands down. they are the softest brushes I have. they are made specifically to be delicate on the skin. I recently bought their limited edition set from QVC and it is amazing. the brushes are extremely soft. I would recommend them over Illamasqua for sensitive skin as they are much softer. they are also a sturdier brush in my opinion.

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  4. Hi Liza,
    Thanks for your quick reply. Great, thanks for that I will place an order with IT Cosmetics and try them out. Thanks again.

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  5. Branded J brushes are also very soft but they are more for professional use because the handles are quite long. another brand not mentioned here is ABT. They are super soft but oddly weighted so you have to get used to the handle. but they are very inexpensive for the quality of bristle.

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  6. Yes I was about to order some Branded J eye brushes the other day but was put off by the long handles. I don't like short handles but I'm not keen on extra long handles either. I will check out ABT thanks. What would be an alternative to Branded J for eye brushes? Are Cozzette and OCC eye brushes soft?

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  7. yes Cozzette eye brushes are phenomenal. they have a larger selection than OCC. I Also loke Royal & langnickel silk green line, bdellium tools green/pink/yellow bambu 776 & 785 are must have blending brushes for me. Kelley Quan eyeshadow brushes are very soft & silky, also Furless just made their brown blending brush available for sale. it used to only be a gift with purchase. great for blending a little larger than the bdellium tools 776 which is a perfect cf dupe for mac 217. for bdellium pink brushes have longer handles than green bambu. you can't go wrong with Cozzette

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  8. I have both Bdellium tools pink 776 & 785 based on your blog and love them also. I will try out Cozzette and also look into the other brands you mentioned. Be sure to let us know if you come across any other amazing brushes :) Thanks for your help!

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  9. Have you tried Wayne Goss brushes? What do you think about?

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Comments/Questions are highly encouraged. However please refrain from posting links to other sites. I cannot always respond personally to every post, but appreciate and read them all.