My Top 5 Makeup Brushes - Collab

My Top Five Makeup Brushes (Collab)

I am very excited to share with you my five favorite makeup brushes! This post is actually a collaboration with two other cruelty-free beauty bloggers; Catherine of Buying Cruelty Free and Christine from Makeup Guinea Pig. As always, all brushes in this post are cruelty-free, and made only of synthetic "hair."

Catherine and Christine will also be sharing their top 5 makeup brushes here: 

http://buyingcrueltyfree.com/top-5-synthetic-makeup-brushes/

http://makeupguineapig.blogspot.com/2013/03/5-favorite-brushes-collab-with-buying.html

 *Don't Forget To Follow Us on Twitter!*

@MakeupMatters1    @bcrueltyfree   and   @MakeUpGuineaPig 

While I am very excited about this post, it was also extremely hard to narrow my favorites down to five. However, that's also what made this post really fun!  It was a challenge to really sit down and go through my brushes and decide, which are my favorites. To help me decide, I set some rules for myself. First, I chose brushes that are favorites for my personal use, not necessarily ones that I use on others.  I assume most of you reading this will be looking for makeup brushes for your own personal stash, so I thought it would be most helpful to go with ones that I personally use on a daily basis. For my daily makeup, I use about 12 brushes. Whenever I want to know which makeup products are my favorite, I think about which ones I repurchase over and over. To choose my favorite brushes, I kept track over a few days to see which ones I reached for more than others. 

FTC: Please note, some of the brushes in this post were sent to me for consideration, some were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. I do not get paid to write reviews. I do not get any compensation if someone purchases one of these brushes. I simply write reviews and make recommendations in hopes of helping others make good purchasing decisions. 

These are the five I narrowed it down to (in no particular order):

1. IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Brush 
2. 100% Pure Cruelty Free Blush Brush 
3. Earth Diva Cosmetics Multi-Purpose Brush 
4. Bdellium Tools Professional Makeup Brush Bambu Series Blending Brush #776 
5. Kelley Quan Synthetic Red Sable Patented Wave Brush, Vegan Beauty Brush #17

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Brush: This is my HG bronzing brush. I absolutely adore this for applying bronzer to the face and neck because the bristles are just so super soft that you can buff on your bronzer without disturbing your foundation or powder underneath. Like all my brushes, this does serve multiple purposes. I also like using this brush for setting powder.  I often like to powder just the T-zone and leave my cheeks a bit more dewy. The rounded tip to this really lets you precisely powder just the areas you want to.  This is also a great one for blush for the same reason it's good for bronzer; it simply does not disturb your foundation underneath. The rubber handle makes it very comfortable in the hand. This brush is luxurious in every way and it's a favorite in my collection for sure. 

100% Pure Cruelty Free Blush Brush: Of the brushes mentioned in this post, I've had this one the longest. This is a tried and true brush for me. Again, I use this brush for multiple things; blush, bronzing and contouring, and buffing in foundation. However, I really find I use this mostly for blush application. I know most of you don't think of a flat top brush when you think of a blush brush. However, due to the size of the brush head, and softness of the bristles, this really allows me to perfectly place the bristles on my cheekbone and stipple on the color. The flat top head allows me to angle the head into the contour of my cheekbone, allowing for perfect placement every time. This brush just gives the most natural appearance and it is super affordable. The white bristles make it easy to know when your brush is dirty without them staining. I've had this brush for a while now, and it still looks as new as the day I got it. While many companies make a brush in this shape, the length and softness of the bristles are what make this one a favorite.

The above picture really captures how soft the bristles are on this brush. It just feels so good against the skin.

Earth Diva Cosmetics Multi-Purpose Brush: While this may just look like a standard flat paddle foundation brush, I assure you it's so much more. This brush is just perfectly constructed. When I compare it against other flat paddle brushes in my collection, I can really see the difference in craftsmanship. It just seems like a lot more thought and effort went into making this brush. First of all, the head is much fuller than a traditional flat paddle foundation brush, which is what makes it so multi-purpose. This brush was created with mineral makeup in mind, so if you are a  mineral makeup wearer, this is a good pick. However, even if you don't wear mineral makeup, this brush is still a must have in my book. It works with mineral & liquid foundation, primer, blush and bronzer. What I often use it for is to apply my powder highlighter. The soft domed tip allows you to perfectly sweep on shimmer to the tops of the cheekbones, then blend it out by simply turning the brush. Since the head is fuller, it not only applies well, but picks up powder products with ease. This brush has a smooth bamboo handle and is made with synthetic taklon hair. The size and fullness of this brush head is what makes it a favorite for me for highlighter application.

 When viewed from the side, you can really see how full the brush head is compared to others like it.

Bdellium Tools Professional Makeup Brush Bambu Series Blending Brush #776: This is my holy grail eyeshadow blending brush. I will never again go searching for another eyeshadow blending brush, because this one is pure perfection. If I were to design my perfect eyeshadow blending brush, this would be it. This shape of this brush is something I have been searching for for a very long time. For some odd reason, all of the companies that make great synthetic brushes, don't seem to make eyeshadow blending brushes in this shape and I just don't understand why. Anyone who loves makeup has heard of the M.A.C. #217 Blending Brush. It's a staple in most makeup artist kits. However, that brush is made out of animal hair, so I simply refuse to buy it. I requested this type of brush from so many companies, and Bdellium Tools is the only one who listened. I'm sure I'm not the only person that requested this type of brush, but kudos to Bdellium tools for listening to their customers. This is the best eyeshadow blending brush hands down. You absolutely need this brush in your kit! I have one or two that are somewhat similar, but I found either the handle was too thin, or the bristles weren't fluffy enough when looking at the other brands. This brush is seriously perfect. The handle is just a little thicker, making it very comfortable to hold, and the stiff domed brush head is the perfect amount of fluffiness versus stiffness to blend. This brush is available in their Green Bambu and Pink Bambu series. The difference between the two (other than color), is that the Green Bambu brushes have a shorter handle. This is simply a matter of personal preference. If you like to sit closer to a mirror when you do your makeup, you may prefer a shorter handle. If you are prefer a longer handled brush, or are looking to use this for professional use, go with the Pink Bambu. I own multiples of this brush, as it's the brush that I use with every single eyeshadow application. These are also great for blending out cream eyeshadow, and even under eye concealer. I did notice that the Pink Bambu version seems a little bit fluffier than the Green Bambu version for some reason, but in practice, they both seem to work equally as well. 

 Note the difference in handle lengths between the Green & Pink Bambu lines.

 The Pink Bambu version does seem to be a bit more fluffy, but they both work equally well.

Kelley Quan Synthetic Red Sable Patented Wave Brush, Vegan Beauty Brush #17: This is my go-to brow brush. In fact the wave design of this brush head is so unique that it's patented, so you won't find another like it from any other brand. This brush was designed specifically for eyebrows. While a traditional angled brush works fine, the wave pattern of this brush gives the most realistic natural "hair like" strokes when applying brow powder.  Since the bristles are synthetic, you can use this same brush for applying your brow wax, and then dip it straight into your brow powder. I also like this with the Tarte Waterproof Brow Mousse for a very natural, but defined brow. This brush is handcrafted in the U.S.A. using premium synthetic blends for the bristles. While this brush may be a little bit more pricey, to me it's worth it because it is so unique, and it gives the most natural looking appearance to brows compared to any other brush I've tried. I have a few brushes that I've purchased from this brand, and they all come in these pretty hot pink boxes. The boxes, are so nice, that even though I've had this brush for a while, I just had to save one of the boxes!  For those of you not familiar with this brand, Kelley Quan is a makeup artist who designed a range of vegan beauty brushes that are hypo-allergenic and easy to clean, without causing any cruelty to animals. Unlike most synthetics on the market, her brushes are made with multiple types of synthetic fibers to help more closely mimic the texture of various animal furs such as Sable, Mink, Blue Squirrel and Goat.

 Each brush comes packaged in the signature Kelley Quan pink box.

I hope you enjoyed this look at my top 5 makeup brushes. I would love to hear what your favorites are! 

Don't forget to check out the 5 favorites from Catherine & Christine:

http://buyingcrueltyfree.com/top-5-synthetic-makeup-brushes/

http://makeupguineapig.blogspot.com/2013/03/5-favorite-brushes-collab-with-buying.html

A big thank you to these ladies for including me in their collaboration!

Please share your 5 favorites in the comments below.

Remember, all comments are approved individually, so don't worry if you don't see your comment right away. As always, thanks for reading. I appreciate you all! 

Vegan Lip Color by Koren Zander

Hot Pink Lips For Spring

Last month, the very sweet Koren Zander of Enkore Makeup sent me a new product to try. I held back writing about it, because it won't be available until next month. I have to tell you, it was super hard not to scream from the rooftops how much I love this vegan friendly lippie!  I'm sure you know who Koren is, but for those of you who don't he's a makeup artist, and beauty enthusiast, who shares his tips on YouTube and also has his own online store which is located here: http://www.enkoremakeuponline.com/SHOP.html

FTC: Please note the following product was sent for consideration. This in no way alters my review or opinion of the product, and I do not get paid to write reviews. I do not get any compensation if anyone buys this product. 

 

Prior to launch, Koren asked me to test out this product and give him feedback on what I think. I didn't really have any expectations, as this is a new product, so I went in with a totally open mind, ready to give both good and bad feedback. 

 

The product, which Koren was considering naming "Layered Shots" is a highly pigmented vegan lip gloss that contains lots of good-for-you ingredients such as antioxidants.  The color I tested is the Marbled Pink Shot which appears in a marbled pattern in the container due to it's layers of berry and pink color.Enkore Makeup has been selling their Shots lippies since January, but these "layered shots" have been in the testing phase until they officially launch in April. They are a similar product to the Shot Glaze lippies available on enkoremakeuponline.com just with layers of color in each tube, rather than one shade. If you are interested in single colors, you can check out his Shot Glazes which are only $10 and provide super high shine, moisturizing lip color.

Here is a look at the product as it was sent to me:

This tube came with a traditional doe foot applicator. The original Shot Glaze lippies come with a lip brush twist up type applicator, so I am unsure how the final product will be sold. 

Why am I so excited about this product?  This almost wears like a high shine liquid lipstick. Yet it feels completely weightless on the lips. It's so super pigmented, and just one swipe provides an uber-moisturizing high shine gloss, that makes your lips just look sexy as hell!  If you are a fan of OCC Lip tars, but prefer something you can carry with you in your purse, these are a good solution. They are high shine, rather than matte, but the pigmentation is very similar, and the color of the lippie I tried is very bold. The formula is nice and light, so much so that I forgot I was wearing it, until I looked in the mirror! 

 Kisses!

 Note the high shine! It almost looks like I used a lip liner, lipstick and a gloss, but I got this effect with just the one product!

The last pic above was from February, when it was super cold here in Connecticut. While red was my lip color of choice for the winter months, I can guarantee you this hot pink will be my shade for Spring. The color reminds me somewhat of Lime Crime's Centrifuschia. It just brightens up the whole face, while keeping my lips moist and supple all day. This product is also surprisingly long wearing. It lasts even through a day of eating and drinking with minimal touch ups needed. The texture initially reminded me of the Lime Crime Velvetines, but more moisturizing. As I've worn this more, I think it's a bit more unique. It's long wearing, light, and moisturizing, plus it's jam packed with antioxidants.  

I hope you enjoyed this peek at Enkore Makeup's latest addition to the Shot Glaze family. They will be available for purchase in April, so keep an eye out! 

As always, thank you for reading. If you like what you see, please subscribe. It's free and helps support the site.

 

 

Sneak Peek: IT Cosmetics Hello Beautiful!

IT Cosmetics: Hello Beautiful!

Grab your smart phone and pull up your calendar. Type in QVC under March 18th, because this upcoming Monday, IT Cosmetics will be offering this cruelty-free kit at a "special" price for ONE DAY ONLY! IT Cosmetics, which stands, for Innovative Technology has packaged a 5-Piece Anti-Aging Color Collection filled with everything you need for a full face.  Luckily, I have the inside scoop, so you can see if this is the kit for you.  This collection which is called, "Hello Beautiful!"  was developed with leading plastic surgeons to infuse the products with ingredients that are actually good for your skin. Rather than just masking imperfections, these products will actually help to improve your skin over time. Over the past few months, this brand has really become a go-to brand for me. I'm in my 30s, and the fine lines are starting to show. Also, winters in Connecticut, really lead to drier skin. While I have a good skincare routine, using makeup products that are good for your skin and provide extra anti-aging benefits is something that really appeals to me personally.

The total retail value of this kit is $155. However if you tune in to QVC or visit QVC.com on Monday, March 18th, this will be offered at a "special" price for 1 day only. When you are thinking about purchasing some higher quality items, it's really nice to be able to do it in value set, this way you really get the most bang for your buck while being able to try a nice variety of products from the brand.

What's Inside:

Celebration Foundation- I am amazed with how pigmented this powder is! Also, if you have drier skin, this is the powder foundation for you. I find it extremely hydrating for a powder product.  While many powder foundations can accentuate any dry patches or flakiness, this one doesn't. It glides on smoothly leaving a fresh even looking canvas for the rest of your makeup. You really only need a tiny bit to get good coverage out of this product. Initially, when I first opened this kit, I thought if they included a concealer it would be a full face kit. However, wanting to really put this foundation to the test, I used it without any concealer. Instead, on areas where I needed extra coverage such as blemishes, or under the eyes I took a little bit on my finger and patted it on.  This provided me with enough coverage that I was able to skip concealer completely!  However, if you are a liquid foundation wearer, you can still use this as a setting powder for added coverage.

 The Celebration Foundation will be available in 5 shades: Fair (pictured), Light, Medium, Tan or Rich

The compact includes a mirror, and a puff for touch ups on the go. However, to start my day, I applied the foundation with the included brush. There is no question about it, this is a full coverage foundation.

Heavenly Luxe Buffing Airbrush Foundation Brush- This is a flat top buffing brush that contains more than 80,000 hairs packed tightly into one brush for the perfect airbrush application. I really find this style of brush is best to apply mineral foundation. However, if you do tend to wear liquid foundation, you can use this brush for that as well since the bristles are synthetic. Like other brushes from IT Cosmetics, the brush comes with a rubberized handle, making it very comfortable to hold.

The foundation itself is full coverage, but when applied with this brush, it really helps maximize the amount of coverage you get as well as providing that airbrushed look so many of us strive for with our foundation routine. 

Tightline Full Lash Length Black Mascara Primer-I have never seen a product like this before! This is a newer offering from IT Cosmetics.  It's actually very innovative as it lets you tightline so easily.  For those of you unfamiliar with tightlining, it's applying eyeliner to your upper waterline or the lash line right at the very root of your top lash line.  This gives the illusion of thicker, longer lashes. However, for many people, the idea of taking a pencil to that area is quite troublesome. Problem solved. IT Cosmetics created this mascara primer with super fine brush that lets you gently press the brush right where your lashes hit your eye lid and it creates that effect for you, no pencil required.  I also pulled the product through my lashes as I would any mascara to prime my lashes and give them a nice black base. This product is ideal for those with smaller eyes, or anyone who struggles with eyeliner. 

I really love this product, because it's just such a great idea! I am always looking for products that make my life easier, or cut down on the time it takes to get ready in the morning. Although I don't have a problem with tightlining the traditional way, I find this method quicker and more effective. Plus it's a 2 in 1. In addition to tightlining it also primes my lashes. I do normally use an eyelash primer, so this saves me the added step.

Hello Lashes 5-in-1 Mascara- This mascara is clinically proven to quadruple the volume of your lashes, using IT Cosmetics' proprietary blend of lash-enhancing and conditioning ingredients. Due to the unique wand shape, you can use this brush both horizontally and vertically to get more volume and lift. What I really love about this wand, is the ball end of the brush makes it super easy to get the inner lashes as well as coat the bottom lashes. I've actually been looking for a good cruelty-free bottom lash mascara as the wand I use for my regular mascara is just too big to coat the bottom lashes. This the perfect solution. 

 Above: The Tightline wand compared to the Mascara wand to show size difference.

Vitality Flush 4-in-1 Reviver Lip & Cheek Stain Stick- When I saw this product in the kit I already knew I was going to like it as I already own the Vitality Lip Flush from IT Cosmetics in the same shade.  This is very similar to the lip flush, but rather than coming in a lipstick type format, it comes in a chubby flat stick, making it easy to apply to both cheeks and lips. If  you are not familiar with this product, it's a natural looking stain that is extremely hydrating. The color is called Je Ne Sais Quoi which in the tube appears to be a clear light pink, but once applied warms up to a nice pop of youthful color. This product in lipstick shape form has made my monthly favorites list (as you may have seen on my Pinterest boards) in past months. I purchased the lipstick shaped version of this a few months back, and was amazed at how it didn't bleed up past my lip line and lasted all day without drying out my lips. The same goes for the product in this format.  It's a really long wearing flush of color, that provides pretty color without drying your skin. What I didn't expect was how much I was going to love this as a cheek color. It gives a lovely dewy finish to the cheek, which makes it double as a highlighter. You can apply this straight from the tube or with a brush. Many of you may be wondering if it is OK to apply a cream product after you've applied a powder foundation. The answer is yes. Because the powder is so "creamy," it actually works quite well. You can apply this to your cheeks with your fingers, or straight from the tube, but I liked it applied with a small stippling brush, just pushing the product over the foundation onto my cheekbones, then blend edges with the included buffing brush. For the lips, I used my finger and lightly patted the color on where I wanted it. 

 Overall, I am very impressed with this kit. The products are high quality and ideal for those

 concerned with aging. I would say this kit is great for those who favor a natural look, which is going to be a prevalent look this spring. This kit is everything you need for a full face. To really show you how the kit works solo, I photographed myself wearing nothing else other than what is in the kit. I did not bring in any outside concealers, primers or setting sprays. This is just everything in the kit, and the foundation was applied with the included brush.  It is important to note, that I do have blemishes and acne scars. I mention this because, while I didn't feel comfortable showing a before photo, I do want you to understand the full coverage nature of the foundation included in this kit.  The below photos are unretouched.

 I hope you enjoyed this early look at the IT Cosmetics Hello Beautiful Anti-Aging Color Collection.

To order you can call 1-800-345-1515 or visit www.qvc.com 

*The products seen in this review were sent to me for consideration by the company. This in no way alters my review. I do not accept money in exchange for writing reviews. I do not get any money if you buy this kit. I write reviews in hopes of helping you make good purchasing decisions. While I did not purchase this specific kit, I have purchased products from IT Cosmetics in the past with my own money, and will continue to buy and use their products as I enjoy the brand.

 

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush 

Today, I want to share with you a look at my new IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush.  This is a newer brush to my collection, but it has become a fast favorite. Since, I got this brush, I've been using it every single day to apply my powder products. It works great with both pressed and loose powders, and even buffing on bronzer. 

What makes it so special?

This brush is just so soft, and the bristles are so extremely dense, that you get a perfect airbrushed application with every use!  It even works with liquid foundation if you prefer to buff on  your base, this brush will do it with ease.  Due to the large head of bristles, this brush also cuts down on the time it takes for your foundation and setting powder routine. When I first got this brush, I just couldn't stop rubbing my hand over the bristles! Yes, it feels that amazing. The rubber handle provides the perfect grip.   The best news? This super plush brush is 100% cruelty free!  There are so many bristles in this brush, that it really helps with an even distribution of product, no matter what medium you are working with. 

Here is a closer look at the brush:

As you can see from the above photo, it fits perfectly in my hand. The shorter handle is nice, if you like to sit close to a mirror when applying your makeup, as you don't have to worry about the handle bumping up against your reflection.

I read once that if your makeup skills are average, but you add in a superior quality brush to your routine, that alone will step up your makeup game. I am always looking for ways to make my makeup application easier, and save me time in the morning. This brush really helps with that for sure.

I hope you can really see from the above picture just how dense these synthetic bristles are. They pick up the perfect amount of product every time, and blend like a dream. I would certainly say "Heavenly Luxe" is an appropriate name for this luxurious powder brush.

If you are interested in purchasing this brush, you can do so at QVC or QVC.com for $48 in the United States. If you are in Canada, this brush is available at The Shopping Channel & theshoppingchannel.com

I hope you enjoyed this look at my new favorite powder brush!  Do you own this one? If not, will you be picking it up?


*Note: This brush was sent for consideration by the company. This in no way alters my review. I do not get paid to write reviews. I promise my readers that all opinions are my own. I am recommending this product because I truly love it, and I hope you do too!