Review : Charm Retractable Kabuki Brush

Product Info from Beauty & Minerals:

For girls on the go who love stuffing their stuffs in their bag, the Charm Luxe Retractable Kabuki is the perfect travel companion, and perfect trophy makeup item in your bag! Like the Charm Luxe Kabuki, the Luxe Retractable Kabuki is made of synthetic, vegan hair, that glides like velvet no matter how much you buff it on your skin!

RETAIL PRICE: Php 500.00


PROS:
* its pink! =)
* easily fits in my makeup bag

* did not bleed during the first wash.
* minimal shedding
* synthetic hair - good for people with sensitive skin.
* hair is soft and fluffy!

CONS:

* NONE

TIPS:
* Brush is good for sheer application of loose powder and powder foundation.
* I recommend washing/deep cleaning your powder brushes once a week.
* After washing your brushes, lay them on a towel to air dry. Never use a blow dryer coz it may damage the hair.

ADDICTION FACTOR:
This brush is a staple in my kikay kit.

RATING : 5/5

More Pics
(click to enlarge)

Close-up shot

Charm Retractable Kabuki and Kabuki brush

Another shot

I got the Charm Kabuki brush last October during the Beauty & Minerals' sale while the Retractable Kabuki brush was a birthday gift from my dear friend Yerra. =)

Till next time,

Review : ELF Eyeshadow Brushes

Top: ELF Eyeshadow Brush
Bottom: ELF Blending Brush

* Photo from ELF website*

ELF Eyeshadow Brush
Price: Php 125.00

Product Info:
Specially sheered brush tip absorbs the perfect amount of eye shadow and provides long lasting color saturation. The comfort curved brush contours the eye with natural gliding strokes for easy and accurate eye shadow application.

Pros:

> not scratchy
> perfect for packing eyeshadow on the lid
> can also be used to define the lower lashline (using dark eyeshadow colors)

> I prefer short handled brushes
> available locally

Cons:
> sheds 1-2 hairs during the first wash
> the white handle turns yellowish over time

******************

* Photo from ELF website*

ELF Blending Brush
Price: Php 125.00

Product Info:
Expertly blends multiple eye shades while softening dramatic edges and fine lines. Brush can also multitask – use it to set powder or liquid concealer.

Pros:
> made of soft hair
> perfect as crease brush or for blending eyeshadow colors and harsh lines
> use with loose powder to set undereye concealer
> can also be used to apply highlighter under the brows and on the nose bridge
> available locally

Cons:
> sheds 1-2 hairs during the first wash


OVERALL: Inexpensive yet does the job! I've had the Eyeshadow Brush for over a year now and the hair quality is still the same. The Blending brush on the other hand, I just bought it last month... loving it so far!

Till next time,

Review : Marionnaud Brushes

After reading a lot of reviews, I decided to try some brushes for myself.

I bought the ff:

Marionnaud Angled Blush Brush Price: Php 169.00
Pros:

> soft hair (sythethic)
> perfect for blush or bronzer application

> can also be used to contour or define the cheek bones

> i love the short handle

> no shedding/bleeding during the first wash

Cons:
> nothing

Marrionnaud Retractable Brush Price: Php 249.00
Pros:
> love the slim case - easily fits in my makeup bag

> packaging is not cheap looking

> good for loose powder application

Cons:
> hair is scratchy compared to the other brushes =P

Marionnaud Concealer Brush Php 89.00
Pros:

> has firm bristles/hair perfect for cream concealers
> curved shape is perfect for the undereye area and the sides of the nose

> no shedding/bleeding during the first wash

Cons:
> none!

Edit:
Try removing the concealer residue with makeup remover before washing the brush.

Marionnaud Pointed Eye Brush Price : Php 69.00
Pros:
> perfect as crease brush or the outer-v

> soft hair

> i love the short handle

> can also be used to apply eyeshadow on the lower lashline

> some say this is similar to MAC's 219 Pencil brush

> no shedding/bleeding during the first wash

Cons:
> nothing!

OVERALL:

If you're looking for inexpensive brushes that works I definitely recommend this brand! I really love them except for the Retractable brush =P

Till next time,

Review : Loew Cornell Maxine 270 Mop Brush

*click photo to enlarge*

PRODUCT INFO:

Flat oval white hair mops with short purple handles. All natural hair brushes in timeless, popular shapes with incredibly soft bristles. Affordably priced. These brushes hold lots of color for artists and can also be easily used as substitutes for MAC makeup brushes! These brushes apply makeup evenly and are great for blending harsh lines. - from Hofcraft.com

RETAIL PRICE: Php 300 or about $6.

PROS:
* soft! this is made of goat hair.
* affordable
* inexpensive compared to the MAC 239 brush
* looks sturdy, this is a painter's brush btw.
* does a good job of picking up pigments
* packs eyeshadow on the lid to make the color more vibrant
* not scratchy
* did not shed on the first wash
* dries quickly

CONS:
* not all sizes are available locally.

TIPS:
I just wash this with dishwashing liquid diluted with a bit of water.

ADDICTION FACTOR:
So happy I bought this brush! I find the MAC 239 expensive LOL

RATING :
5 / 5

More pics
Close up of the Loew Cornell brush aka MAC 239 dupe brush.

*photo from www.loew-cornell.com*

Loew Cornell 3/8 brush vs. MAC 239

*Photos from www.digitaltraincase.multiply.com*

Thanks Sol for letting me borrow the pics.

Please visit her shop at www.digitaltraincase.multiply.com if you want to purchase this brush. She's also selling inexpensive NYX Products =)


Till next time,

Review : Bare Naturals Deluxe Brush set

Got this set last September and I totally forgot about it til my reader Mae requested for a review.

click to enlarge

Comes with a washable, eco-friendly jute brown pouch (not shown).

Got all of the brushes for Php 998!
Its cheaper because I availed of their pre-buy promo last July.
Thanks Ms. Lami for the freebies! Click here to read my first post.

PRICE (if bought individually):
Duo fiber / Stippling - Php 648
Eyeshadow brush - Php 208
Face/ foundation brush - Php 328
Concealer brush - Php 178

WHAT I LIKE:
* all of the brushes are uber soft
* doesn't bleed when washed
* minimal shedding
* locally available
* not expensive
* brush hair & handle are made of good quality

* good for sensitive skins coz its made of synthetic hair
* can be used with traditional or mineral makeup

WHAT I DON'T LIKE:
* nothing!

RATING:
5/5

WHAT I THINK OF THE BRUSHES:
Duo Fiber/ Stippling Brush
> The black hair doesn't bleed and super soft! I use this for liquid foundation..

Eyeshadow Brush
> I think this brush is similar to MAC 222 Tapered Blending brush based on MAC's website. I really can't compare coz I don't own that brush. I find this brush a bit large for my eye area if used for contouring. I only use it as a highlighter brush (browbone) or to sweep eyeshadow fall outs. This is also nice for blending harsh eyeshadow lines.

Face / Foundation brush
> the name says it all. Best for applying liquid foundation or powder foundation if you want more coverage.

Concealer brush
> The size is kinda big for a concealer brush (see photo below). Can also be used for applying cream eyeshadows.

MAC Limited Edition brushes vs. Bare Naturals Deluxe Set
click to enlarge

**Pic taken from Bare Natural's website**
Note : BN Eyeshadow brush not included in the pic

************

For reference, here's a pic of MAC Adoring Carmine Set
click to enlarge
Will post side by side pic of the BN Deluxe set and MAC's Adoring Carmine Set as requested by Mae soon..

Just for fun..

Hubby took pics of the following while baby is asleep. He's a newbie photographer, still practicing with angles and different lightings..

Jessie Glova 15 pc. Concealer Palette

Click here for my review.

My Brush Collection

MAC Adoring Carmine Set
This is a replica, but its still soft & doesn't bleed.

Random Face Brushes for powder, blush & foundation

From Ellana, Bare Naturals, Ecotools, Everyday Minerals etc..

He forgot to take pics of my other brushes =)

******************
Click here for my Ecotools brush set review
and here for Everyday Minerals brush review.

Bare Naturals Brush set review coming soon..

Eyeshadow, eyeliner & concealer brushes

From Ecotools, Lancome, Bare Naturals, ELF, Life & Companion etc..

My Lippies Collection

Mostly from MAC, NYX, Lancome, Maybelline, Revlon, etc..

********************

Reviews coming soon..

Bare Naturals deluxe brush set
Maybelline Clear smooth gel foundation
Premium Gold Caviar BB Cream

Happy day!

At last, got my Bare Naturals brush set today. Been waiting for this baby for almost 2 months, since the pouches got delayed.. I'm so glad they're here already!

Here's my babies

Ms. Lami included freebies such as 4 eyeshadow samples, a BB cream sample (can't wait to try this since the only brand I tried is Skinfood), and a Velveteen Bar (Emu oil perfecting soap) sample.


Tadaa...

What's inside the pouch

Bare Naturals Deluxe Brush set
Php 998.00


Been purchasing a lot of brushes lately, will post my brush collection soon.

**************

And also, I'm excited to try this new product:

Magic Hair Removal Wand

Reviews coming soon.. Bye for now!

Natural vs. Synthetic Makeup Brushes

**image from Shu Uemura**

Based on my research here's a quick rundown :

SYNTHETIC BRUSHES - they are usually made of Taklon and Nylon.

PRO's:
* very soft
* doesn't smell bad
* good for sensitive skin
* cheaper compared to natural hair

CON's:
* there's pigment fall outs <- is this the correct term?! =P
- i noticed this when applying powder eyeshadow

* they can harden especially when often used with cream products.


NATURAL BRUSHES - made of goat hair, squirrel hair, horse hair, sable, pony, etc..

PRO's:
* really good in picking up pigments
* the older the better (the hair becomes soft with age)

CON's:
* has a weird smell <- hey, they're made of animal hair =P
* don't get me wrong, these are soft but not AS soft compared to the synthetic ones
* much expensive
* not advisable for sensitive skin or people allergic to animal hair

According to GoArticles.com:

Natural Hair Makeup Brushes are good for applying Powder based products like loose / pressed powders and blushes.

Synthetic Hair Makeup Brushes are best for Creamy products such as concealers (liquid/cream), liquid foundations, lipstick (for lipbrushes).


HOW I CLEAN MY BRUSHES:
* I wash my face/ powder brushes once a week (deep cleaning). After each use I wipe them clean with baby wipes.

* For foundation brushes, I wash them every day.

* I use a drop of dishwashing liquid/ baby shampoo, then gently swirl the brush hair on my palm.

* Wash throughly with running water (swirling motion) with the head facing down, so that water will not enter the ferrule (metal part that separates the brushes from the handle).

* I lay them down to dry using a small towel. I prefer to elevate my brushes so that it will dry faster and again, the water will not drip inside and moisten the glue that binds the hair.

* NEVER attempt to blowdry brushes! It will ruin the hair..


References : Greendivamom & GoAsk.com


What Brush hair do you prefer? Let me know! =)

Mini Haul

At last, got my 3rd package from MakeupMasala! Was afraid it got lost.. Bought some random stuff too at White Gold store here in Cebu.

Ecotools 6 mini bamboo brushes
Life and Companion Angled Eyeliner brush
Life and Companion Crease brush
Unbranded Fan brush from China

Will post reviews soon on the Ecotools brush since I haven't washed and used it yet. On the other hand, I got the Life and Companion brushes for less than php 80 each. I read so many good reviews about this brand from Girltalk.

Life and Companion Angled Eyeliner Brush

I like this compared to my Fanny Serrano angled liner brush (php 150) and Elianto rounded liner brush (php 180). The bristles are perfect! Not too stiff, not so soft! Delivers a thin line and very easy to use since the head is wide..

Life and Companion Crease Brush
Doesn't shed.. Soft for a cheap brush.. Use it for dark colors since it hardly picks up eyeshadow pigments.

Unbranded Fan Brush from China
Love it! Its soft and shed's only a single hair upon washing.

NYX round lipsticks in Gardenia and Tea Rose
NYX Megashine Gloss in Plush Red and Sunrise
L.A. Colors Metallic Eyeshadow in Serenade


Got the round lipsticks from White Gold and the rest from Makeupmasala. NYX swatches to follow on my next post.

Bye for now since I got a terrible headache.. See ya soon ladies!

Ecotools 5 pc Brush set

Got this from Makeupmasala and I'm not disappointed! =)

Ecotools 5 pc Brush set

From Ecotools site:

• 4 high-quality brushes inside a natural cotton & hemp linen bag
• Soft, cruelty-free bristles
• Natural & recycled materials

This earth-friendly brush set is packed with the 4 high-quality brushes you need to look beautiful. And, it shows respect for the planet:
• Bamboo handle has a low impact on the earth’s resources as it is a highly sustainable plant.
• Synthetic taklon bristles are 100% cruelty free.
• Sleek ferrule is made from recycled aluminum.
• Cosmetic case is made from natural cotton and hemp

HOW TO USE:

Mineral Powder Brush
• Apply powder or mineral foundation all over face in a circular, buffing motion and work inward towards nose.

Concealer Brush

• Use with liquid or mineral powder concealer for more coverage on blemishes and under eyes.

Eye Shading Brush

• Expertly cut to apply and blend powder eye shadows.

Baby Kabuki

• Buff powder over areas that need more coverage.

Powder brush & Kabuki brush

Eyeshadow brush and Concealer brush

************

I really love looking and touching these brushes! Sooo soft!

My thoughts :

Powder Brush - perfect for highlighters and loose/pressed powders. The hair is soft and dense.

Kabuki Brush - so cute! You can use this for blush or loose powders for a sheer finish.

Eyeshadow Brush - the hair is fluffy, its to big for a crease brush. I use this for eyeshadow base and highlight color under brows.

Concealer brush - firm yet soft! I use this for cream concealer for the undereyes.

Overall:

I love them! A must have set.. Not that expensive too! And its kinder to the planet coz they use recycled materials. The brushes are 100% Vegan.

More pics (for comparison)

Ecotools powder brush and EDM Long Handled Kabuki

Ecotools Kabuki brush and Ellana Minerals baby buki

The Ecotools Kabuki brush hair are fluffier compared to Ellana Buki therefore, it gives sheerer coverage. =) I use my Ellana buki for blush application.

Hope you find this post useful. Thanks for reading! =)
I'm still waiting for my other brushes to arrive. Will post it soon..

Review : Everyday Minerals Brushes

Here's my Everyday Mineral's Brushes that arrived last week (right side), while my old brushes on the left side for reference..

From Left :

Super Full Angled Brush
Flat top brush
Long Handled Kabuki
Foptic Brush

Description on EDM's Site:

EDM Angled (Super Full) Blush Brush - $8

"The Angled Blush Brush has plush silky bristles angled to flawlessly apply your blush or easily contour your face, and the 2.5” bamboo handle fits comfortably into your hand to give you optimal control."

Tip : I use this brush for bronzer to contour my cheekbones. The hair is firm but soft.

EDM Flat Top Brush - $10

"Unbelievably soft and incredibly dense, this flat top brush is the ultimate multi-tasker. From foundation to finishing powder, its plush and luxurious synthetic fibers provide the perfect coverage, resulting in a flawless finish every time."

Tip: I use this brush for powder foundation & mineral foundies for medium coverage. I really like this brush coz it cuts my prepping time in half.

EDM Long Handled Kabuki - $10

"Pamper your face with the luxuriously soft Long Handled Kabuki brush, while the densely packed synthetic bristles give you flawless coverage of your foundation, blush, and finishing powder. Vegan with eco-friendly 100% renewable bamboo handles!"

Tip: I plan to use this for Loose powders or higlighters for a sheer finish.

EDM Skunkless Foptic Brush - $10 (Discontinued)

"Your new bamboo "foptic" brush is perfect for blending application of all your EDM Minerals Face & base products. "Skunkless" means it is cruelty free! Made of super super super soft synthetic bristles!"

Tip: I think this is great for stippling liquid foundation. The hair is kinda long & flimsy but this can be fixed using an elastic band wrapped near the ferrule.

EDM'S Foptic vs. MAC 187 Dupe
See how long the hairs are?! =)

****************

My thoughts:

I really love them! EDM's brushes are uber soft.. so addicting! =P
Shed's 1-2 hairs on the first wash. No shedding on the 2nd wash.
Their brush hair doesn't have a weird smell coz its 100% Vegan, meaning No Animal Hair!
Their Brushes are made of Bamboo handles that's kinder to the planet (same with Ecotools).

I prefer Synthetic Hair coz:
> i read its best for sensitive skin. Animal hair can sometimes cause allergies.
> its much cheaper.
> no weird smell.
> cruelty free hair.

Next Brush review coming soon: Ecotools 5 pc Brush set
Bye for now ladies..

Makeup Masala mini haul

Good morning everyone! I got my 2nd package from Toma of MakeupMasala a few days ago. Still expecting my 3rd package around next week.

Here's what I got:

Ecotools 5 pc Brush set
LA Colors 5 pc Metallic Eyeshadow Palette in Wildflowers, Enchanted, Soiree
LA Colors Dual Blusher in Blushing Pink/Pink Mauve as freebie
MakeupMasala Mineral eyeshadow sample (i forgot what shade)


I'll be posting my review soon! Bye for now ladies! =)

Charm Holiday Set Prebuy..

Thanks Nikki for posting! Its been a long time since I want to own a brush set from Charm but the Professional Brush Set is kinda expensive for me..

Thanks to Beauty and Minerals for having a Prebuy! This set is priced at Php 850 with free shipping nationwide! Its more affordable than their Professional set which costs Php 1,800! Yey!

** images taken from Beauty and Minerals site**

Want one? Just click here.
Hurry! Prebuy period is from June 2 - July 1, 2009!

Weekend mini haul

I bought these stuff last week from an online seller in Mutiply whom I met in a local forum.

Left to Right:

Cover Girl Tru Blend Foundation in Natural Ivory
> tested it first on my jawline to check whether am allergic to the product (thank goodness i'm not). I'm NC20-25 in MAC, the color matches my skin but has a little pink in it. I dunno if this will work.. Still have to test this on my entire face.. **crossing my fingers**

Cover Girl Advanced Radiance Age defying Concealer in Light Beige
> used this on my undereyes.. I just love the consistency of this concealer! It feels so light and very easy to blend. The shade is almost similar to MAC Select cover up in NC20. When I checked Cover Girl's site, this product is discountinued na pala! =(

Cover Girl Wetslicks Crystal Lipgloss in Hottie
> a no fuss, non-sticky, shiny lipgloss with sparkles! Not that long lasting though..

Wet n Wild "Wet Shine" Lipstick in Pink Shine
> love the color! Its a shiny light pink, my MLBB shade! (my lips but better shade). When applied on my lips, it doesn't feel heavy at all..

Bottom:

Avon Daring Curves Mascara in Black
> I asked my friend who's an Avon member to buy it for me. The brush looks new to me coz it has curves too! I'm dissapointed coz it didn't thicken my lashes. I'm still learning on how to apply this properly.

Eyemake Mirror

I'm clueless on how to use this one.. hehe. Bought it at a local department store..

What's in my makeup kit..

This week, take a peek on what's inside my kikay kit . This is what I carry around inside my bag (changes from time to time depending on my mood)..

Tadaa... =)

For the brushes and blushes, I prefer a closed zipped plastic mini bag so that my brushes will be free from dust.. and for the lippies, a mesh wide open bag ( i don't know what to call this =P)
so that it will be easy for me to retouch and find my desired lippie.

I forgot to include my Maybelline powder foundation & Skinfood Lemon pressed powder =)

What's inside :

From left to right..

Ever bilena brush used as mineral concealer brush
Sembem eyeshadow brush ( so soft for a cheap brush! hehe)
Ellana Baby Buki (case not shown)
Everyday Minerals Super full Angled brush for blush & bronzers
Everyday Minerals Flat Top brush for powder foundation / powder

Counter clockwise:

Elianto Baked eyeshadow duo in Gold
MAC Blush in Dollymix
Ellana Mineral concealer in Awake ( really love this for my undereyes! )
E.L.F. Radiance Blush in Glow (now on my 3rd pan)
Elianto Baked Blush in #3 Natural purple (pink when applied w/ shimmers)

Left to right:

MAC Satin Lipstick in Mac Red
NYX Round Lipstick in Femme
Carmex Strawberry Lipbalm (love this stuff!)
MAC Lustreglass in Venetian ( i use this on top of any Red lippie)
NYX Megashine lipgloss in Beige (its actually baby pink.. hehe)
Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Empire Rouge
NYX Round lipstick in Louisiana (the perfect pink for me)
Lancome Juicy Tubes in Peche

Bottom:
Lancome Juicy Tubes in Cherry Burst

How about you? What's inside your bag or kikay kit?
Xiao for now! =)