The Clarisonic Experience: Week 1

I bought the Clarisonic Mia 2 on the recommendation of my BFF Ashli, a coworker, my sister's begging and the Sephora rep who was helping me the other week. At first, i totally regretted my purchase but after watching countless YouTube videos and pouring over hundreds of reviews, i decided to stick with my new purchase. I waited until Christmas to open up my Clarisonic and tonight I used it for the very first time.

For starters, the Clarisonic is insanely easy to use. It is portable, lightweight, waterproof and rechargeable. If you're ready to get cleaner, healthier skin, then the Clarisonic is for you. I chose the Mia 2 for its automatic timer and travel case. I purchased the acne brush set for my sister as we intend to share the Clarisonic. I am using the sensitive brush head that comes with the unit. The instructions recommend using a normal cleansing facial wash or an exfoliating wash with round beads, any jagged particles in the sugary scrubs could damage the brush head and cause buildup within the head attachment. The timed cycle pauses briefly to allow users a chance to move to the next area of their face. The recommended time for each part of your face is: 20 seconds each for your forehead/nose and chin and 10 seconds per cheek. I did not work fast enough and had to run the cycle again (which I totally didn't mind doing). The Clarisonic is insanely soft and doesn't even feel as harsh as a washcloth. I will be providing weekly status updates over the next eight weeks so stay tuned!

Terressentials

I didn't jump on the Terressentials bandwagon just to say that I'd tried "yet another" natural hair product that does or doesn't work. Rather, I tried Terressentials because it was finally a natural product for my natural hair. I liked the results but the process of getting there were a little less than desirable to say the least...

For starters, Terressentials is messy! It is mud after all but I didn't expect the splatter and residue it would leave on the walls of my shower and on my shower liner. It's a good thing I'll only be using the product once or twice a month to cleanse my hair and scalp! This product required that I thoroughly wipe down the shower and tub when I was done rinsing it out of my hair. I sectioned my hair into four sections and applied the product using my fingertips only and massaging it into my scalp. I worked my way from root to end of each section, twisting each section and leaving the product in as I moved to the next section. When I finished applying the mud wash I went about my shower business leaving it on my hair for about 5-7 minutes. I then rinsed out the mud section by section until the water ran clear. This took about another 3-4 minutes.

My hair felt clean and light. My curls were extremely springy and very tightly coiled. I guess not having the mineral oil to weigh it down caused my hair to shrink up but I didn't mind knowing that I had rid my hair of the parabens and sulfates found in other products. I finished off w/ some Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner for dry hair and styled w/ my Denman brush.

It was a quick process that I will make a few adjustments to next time. I will no longer apply the Terressentials with just my fingers but rather slightly diluted with water in an applicator bottle which insured full coverage and no product waste. This is a product I will continue to use.

Terressentials can be purchased at: www.terressentials.com -- Remember, it is USDA Certified Organic!

What's Been Up w/ My Nails?

Gel manicures! With summer halfway over and in full swing (in terms of my schedule) I've opted to protect my nails w/ the bi-weekly gel manicures I've been getting done at my regular nail spa.

So far, I've had neon orange, white, and pink gel manicures in conjunction w/ regular pedicures that my feet love. My nail spa, which is located on Long Island, charges $20.00 for a gel manicure and $13.00 for a regular pedicure, I always get the $5.00 upgrade which includes a better salt scrub and a five minute foot massage. It's heaven for the twenty-something minutes I spend getting my in-chair Shiatsu massage and soaking off the old gel in anticipation of the next application.

I have about another 4 gel manicures to go before its Wicked polish fall/winter color time...I love the fall months, from the fashion to the weather, it's all good. Did I mention the fall fashions?! :)

Let's Talk Natural Hair...

So let’s talk natural hair…

For starters, I thought I should let you know that I’ve become a total natural hair geek and I refuse to ever use non-natural products in or on my hair, ever again. What brought this about? Well, for about two months I’ve been really working on getting my hair healthy – it gives me something besides length to focus on. In so doing, I’ve been diligent in deep conditioning my hair weekly, not using any products containing sulfates and only co-washing when needed. I’ve been moisturizing my hair w/ a spray bottle mixture of water, tea tree oil, Giovanni leave-in and EVOO. My curls have never popped more, I have ZERO frizz, crazy thickness and mega shine.

What ultimately made me decide to leave all non-organic / non 100% natural products alone was a combination of two things:

1) Naptural85’s YouTube vlog, and
2) The fact that I was using a highly recommended deep conditioning treatment alleged to be “all-natural, 100% organic, amazing, blah, blah…”

Ok so I use it, over half of a 20 oz. jar of it, deep conditioning my hair over the past several weeks and all the while, believing the hype. My hair was softer, shinier and in a way my curls were more manageable. Last week I had some downtime and decided to start at the beginning of Naptural85’s hair journey on YouTube and watch every single video she’s ever posted. Fast forward a year into her journey…she was really getting going at that point and came across the ingredients to the allegedly 100% organic Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Conditioner she had been using since big chopping. She found out that there were parabens in her “organic” CONDITIONER. Now, for obvious reasons she was furious and anyone making that discovery would be as well. Her on camera revelation prompted me to go home and check out my deep conditioner ingredients. The topic of this blog should tell you what I found…

Well, the worst of the ingredients are the bulk of the product, content wise. The worst of them are Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, and Cetearyl Alcohol – That’s right, Mineral Oil, Sulfates and Alcohol.

I honestly wanted to cry. No, I’m serious – I wanted to cry! I cannot begin to describe to you the love and care I’ve been giving my hair only to realize that my deep conditioning hair mayonnaise contained products that were COATING my strands and giving off the APPEARANCE of healthy hair... It is a disguise and I encourage you to read all of you product ingredients carefully and if you don’t know what something means, Google it.

I was so bothered by what I found my deep conditioner to contain that I have decided to retire all shampoos and use the only USDA certified hair cleanser on the market, which isn’t a shampoo or conditioner but actually a mud/clay that you use to clean you hair and scalp. I will be doing the Terressentials detoxification beginning this weekend (posts to follow) and then once my hair is completely detoxified in a week or so, I will be continuing to do the Terressentials once a month along w/ my weekly co-washes, hot oil treatments and homemade ALL-NATURAL products. A lot more to follow so stay tuned!

I'm Back!

Florida was great and I'm tanned and feeling so rested and relaxed. Sorry for the hiatus but I have a lot of awesome new content coming soon! In the meantime, I'll be reviewing the June Birchbox that arrived today! Until later, stay pretty!

curlBox Photo Inspirations, Part I

I follow curlBox on Instagram and recently I have been screen snapping all of the photos that continue to inspire my natural hair journey. Please enjoy them...

My Super Chunky Twist Out

I've always had much appreciation for the natural hair twist out but I never quite "loved" it until I tried 'Mae's Super Chunky Twist Out' on my my own natural hair. To achieve the look, it is necessary to blow dry your hair straight and start with mostly dry, straight hair. For my best look using Mae's technique, I don't apply any leave-in conditioners or styling products prior to drying my hair.

To begin, you will need the following products or your favorite similar products. Note: I've tried this style with one of my absolute favorite products, Cantu Shea Butter, but I found that it didn't work as well as a creamy gel/pudding like Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding.

Step  1:
Blow dry your hair using a comb attachment nozzle from its naturally wet state until it is mostly dry. I use my Yellow Bird dryer that came highly recommended by stylists at my local Beauty Supply store.

Step 2:
Part your hair where you normally wear it and section it into large sections that will be your chunky twists.

Step 3:
Apply the Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding to each section, root to end, prior to twisting and then twist and if needed, secure your twist at the end w/ a Goody rubber band. Some people won't need to do this but my hair never stays twisted in the front without first securing the ends.

Step 4:
Work your way around your entire head, twisting the large sections and securing them as necessary. Apply your scarf and remove after several hours, usually overnight.

That's all folks! Four simple steps for an amazing style that gave me three full days of wear before I repeated the process. Hope it works for you! As always, leave you questions and comments below.

May 2012 Birchbox

I received my very first Birchbox in the mail over a week ago so this post is a bit late, sorry! I was super excited to become a Birchbox subscriber and even more excited to open my first box. So without further ado, let’s get started…

The first item I tried was the FusionBeauty Lip Fusion Lip Balm Conditioning Stick which smells great and goes on amazingly smooth. I tried this product before reading up on it and couldn’t believe how nourished and hydrated my normally dry, cracked lips were after one use. I used the product a few more times over the next three days before finally deciding to Google it. I found it online where it normally retails for $22.00 which is pretty steep for a lip balm. It claims to increase the water content of the skin by 6000% in four weeks with daily use. Despite how much I love this product, I can’t say for sure that I’d purchase a $22.00 lip balm without at least a 20% discount. I’d love to try the pink tinted butterscotch flavor choice they make!

The second item I tried and can’t help but use everyday since is the Arquiste Flor y Canto perfume which is the best perfume I have ever smelled. Prior to trying this perfume last week, I wore Gucci Guilty on every weekday and anytime I went out. I don’t know much about scents and undertones but I know what I like and Flor y Canto has everything I like.

Besides making love to my senses, this perfume speaks to the history buff in me because it is a unique “concept scent” developed by Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Carlos Huber that is said to evoke the scent of an Aztec summer festival in Tenochtitlan circa 1400. The fact that this perfume gently stays with me over the course of an entire day is a huge selling factor for me as usually my scents wear off in a matter of hours. This perfume retails for $165.00 and can be purchased through Birchbox, online at http://arquiste.com/shop/online.html and also at Barney’s. Having premiered this year it is likely to become more widely available in the summer and fall. I look forward to purchasing this perfume in the future.

The final two items in this month’s Birchbox were a hand cream and hair conditioner. I’ve been using the Caudalie Hand and Nail cream and threw it in purse for on the go purposes. To me it’s your standard run of the mill hand cream and didn’t particularly stand out. I liked that it had a light fragrance that doesn’t claim or overpower anything else you might be wearing when you use it. The Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner will be put to the test on my vacation next week. When there’s sand, salt and chlorine all working on my hair, I’m sure I’ll need a good conditioner and since I’m not checking my luggage the sample size will be perfect for traveling. Check back for that review soon.

New Shampoo & Conditioner Staple Products

It doesn’t get any better than Creme of Nature’s Argan Oil hair product line. I don’t have the words to describe how amazing my experience with their Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment and Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo was when I used them for the first time last night. I have never, ever had a shampoo leave my hair feeling as though it’d been deep conditioned for hours. I thought the Curls Line shampoo was the holy grail of sulfate-free poos until my sister bought these products for me yesterday.

The shampoo moisturizes, detangles and promotes shine. I couldn’t believe how well the product detangled nor how soft it left my hair feeling before adding a single drop of conditioner. I washed my hair exactly as the label instructed me to and got better results than with the products that cost three times as much. The shampoo retails for about $5.99 for a 12 oz. bottle and the same goes for the conditioner. My sister purchased both for $10.00 at the salon she goes to which specializes in natural and transitioning hair. They recommended the Creme of Nature Argan Oil line to her as it is their featured product of the month. It also happens to be what they use on their natural hair clients.The conditioner worked well with the shampoo and being that my hair was already detangled by the shampoo, the conditioner added to my hair’s moisture and in my opinion, helped to lock it in.

There are several other products in the Creme of Nature Argan Oil line that I’m now dying to try like the Argan Oil Perfect Edges :) Stay tuned for that review! Remember to post comments on your experiences on Creme of Nature’s new Argan Oil line.

DYI: Gradient Polish Design

I am loving the gradient polish design that is all the rage! Tonight, I decided to try it on myself and I got great results. To attempt this design, you'll need the following items: two contrasting nail polish colors, a base coat (I recommend Seche), and a makeup sponge (the disposable kind is fine).

Step 1: Apply your base coat and two coats of your primary color; let dry.

Step 2: Paint a strip of your secondary color onto the edge of your makeup sponge and dab onto the very tip of your nails.

Step 3: Dab side to side and work your way upwards to the center of your nail bed. Always dab from the bottom up so that the tips are the darkest. This is what creates the gradient effect.

Step 4: Repeat on all nails, let dry and use a cotton swab to clean up around your nail beds. Apply top coat and admire your DYI Gradient Design at home manicure.

Tip: This is also a cool way to accent your big toe for a funky and unique pedicure design.

I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear nail color in White On as my primary shade and Orly's Mirror Mirror color as my secondary gradient color. I completed the look with Orly's high gloss top coat.

Post comments on how this look worked for you. What are some of your favorite colors when wearing the gradient design?

Enjoy the photos that inspired me!

What is Birchbox?

Birchbox is a high-end, invitation only beauty and lifestyle product sample membership club. Birchbox is an internet based company that charges a very low, $10.00 monthly membership fee to receive a monthly box of beauty and lifestyle goodies. Birchbox now features women and men’s boxes! The boxes come loaded with a variety of moderate to high-end products in the full sized or large sample sized version of the products. Birchbox is perfect for those of us who love to try new products ranging from skincare to makeup and body products to hair care, including some non-beauty lifestyle products. The samples included in each box vary and are from both well-known and emerging brands.

I was recently invited to join Birchbox after maybe a two week waiting period. Once invited, you have 96 hours to complete your membership registration and then you sit back and await your first box. After your first box, boxes are shipped on the 10th of each month and your membership automatically renews until you cancel.

Birchbox is a wonderful gifting idea as it lets you gift subscriptions in three, six or one year intervals. It’s a wonderful idea for your bridesmaids or friends. If you have a special man in your life who might enjoy sampling men’s products why not gift a subscription? Father’s Day is next month! For more information or to request an invitation, please visit, www.birchbox.com

Stay tuned for my review of the products included in next month’s Birchbox!

Devachan Salon Review

Out of five possible stars, I give the Devachan Salon (425 Broome St., NYC) ten stars. Yes, they were that good. Everything about Devachan is professional and on point. After seeing and reading a million other blog/vlog reviews, I decided to schedule an appointment. I booked my appointment online where you specify three different dates and six time slots (two for each day) that work for you. They email you back confirming your appointment date and time. Your confirmation email requires that you fill out a credit card authorization form to guarantee your appointment. Fancy stuff. I sent it back and they called one or two days prior to remind me of my appointment.

My appointment was w/ Keith, a senior stylist for a cut and style appointment. I arrived early to my appointment where I checked my coat in exchange for a satin robe. I was offered my choice of beverages but before I could take a seat, Keith was out to get me and take me back. He consulted w/ me for about five minutes, during which I explained my “hair history” in a nutshell. He’d heard it before and knew exactly what I wanted, to be completely natural w/o shaving my head. He sympathized w/ my painful nine month transitioning period and reminded me that chemicals had straightened my hair over and over again for *gasps* thirteen years! Going natural w/o shaving my head wasn’t something that would happen overnight. Although I knew this, it helped to hear it again.

The cutting began. Keith cut each curly chunk one by one which looked odd while he was doing it bc he was moving place to place in no particular order. When we both thought he’d cut enough, I was walked to the (dare I say it) shampoo area where Ashley Devapoo’d my hair w/ the No Poo. It was the consistency of lotion and didn’t sud up. If it weren’t for the yummy minty scent and tingling on my scalp, I wouldn’t have thought my hair or scalp was clean at all. While at the sink, Ashley gave me a mirror so I could watch her wash my hair. I wasn’t actually interested in watching (or talking) but she was a talker and insisted that I watch her work. It was there that she explained how important CLEANSING the scalp really is. She said that healthy hair grows from a healthy scalp and compared a healthy scalp to a healthy face. I totally understood that your scalp is an extension of your face and should be treated just as gently, even in terms of the products you use. She used the Deva One Condition conditioner and she left A LOT in my hair before returning me to Keith’s chair. Both Ashley and Keith commented on how good my scalp felt and moisturized my hair was (I walked in w/ a three day old twist out) and bc my hair is healthy and moisture-rich, they did not try to sell me a single product, which a lot of other girls claim was one of the negative aspects of visiting the salon.

I don’t have a clue as to what products Keith applied before putting the hooded drier over my hair. He had me flip my head upside down and he scrunched it and put product in it. He then used a regular paper towel to scrunch off the excess moisture. I sat under the dryer for 30-40 minutes and my hair was about all the way dry. It looked cute and had a great shape. We both kind of looked at my hair in the mirror knowing that something was still off. I gave Keith permission to get “scissor happy” and he started chopping and hair was flying. I was in love. I do wish that we would have taken more off before the wash and styling portion bc all the tugging he did while cutting the second time around straightened a couple sections out more that I liked but hey, I have a fantastic hair cut to show for it.

Keith recommended that I trim my hair monthly. He stressed the importance of trimming curly hair more often than straight hair bc it opens up the shaft and allows for all these wonderful products we use to travel up the shaft and to the root. The longer you wait between trims, the harder it is for nutrients to reach the scalp and top portions of your hair. He equated it to trimming the stems of freshly cut flowers, the water and nutrients travel up the stem to make the bloom pop – the same goes for curly hair.

As the day wore on and the little bit of remaining damp sections dried, I fell more and more in love w/ my hair. Whatever product they used was bit sticky but that isn’t a complaint as much as it is a simple observation. My appointment ended w/ Keith recommending I return for a cut and style again in 5-6 months. This is a treat I definitely look forward to affording myself two to three times a year from now on. I highly, highly recommend the Devachan Salon.

My One Year Natural Hair Anniversary!

My last relaxer was in May 2011 and I've been transitioning for one year this month! I never thought I'd actually make it, yet here I am! The amount of time, conversation and research I've put into my natural hair is remarkable, even for me. Tonight, I let my mama chop what I am pretty sure are the LAST of my relaxed ends! (I'll know for sure when I wash my hair in the morning...)

For anyone thinking about going natural, it is an amazing journey -- difficult, but amazing! I am an extreme length whore and maintaining the length of my hair is very important to me so over the last year I did two semi-big chops and trimmed my ends about every six to seven weeks. My mama semi-big chopped me the first time which was about six months into my journey. The second big chop was in February at the Devachan Salon & Spa in SoHO, NYC. I will review my Devachan experience in a separate post.

Transitioning for me was time consuming and at times beyond frustrating. I remember getting Senegalese twists for about eight weeks of my journey and crying real tears when I washed and had to detangle my hair after removing them. I remember calling my friends and sobbing that I would be a natural hair failure. Despite the hopelessness I felt, I forged on and made it through the six, seventh and eighth months which were by far the most difficult in terms of matching and managing the two textures. The last three months since I had my second semi-big chop done at Devachan have been a breeze compared to the beginning.

If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't have it any other way. I had a amazing transitioning support system and one of my best friends transitioned with me. Above all else, going natural gave me patience and a sense of appreciation and respect for my hair that I never thought I'd have and I love my hair so much more having gone through this process! I LOVE MY HAIR!

Target Tuesday: Today’s Cosmetics Haul

Today I went into Target with the intent to purchase my everyday foundation and sun tanning oil for my Florida trip at the end of this month. I made my way to the L’Oreal section only to find that they didn’t carry the cream version of the True Match line. Disappointed, I opted instead for the liquid version in my winter color, W6. Look for my application tutorial soon! One aisle over I found the wide array of sun block and tanning lotions. I chose Banana Boat’s deep tanning oil which is a spray-on sun block w/ sun protection factors ranging from 4-15. I won’t embarrass myself by divulging exactly which SPF level I selected. After getting the two products that I went for, I found myself w/ a lot of extra time to browse the cosmetics section, which for me, is never a good thing…

I also purchased what I think will be an uber amazing new sculpting blush duo by L’Oreal, in a shade called Nectar (825). It is called The One Sweep Sculpting Blush Duo and it claims to both color and sculpt in one felt swoop. We’ll see about that! What attracted me most to this product was the pretty shade of subdued tangerine and the fact that I will only need to travel w/ one blush compact and no additional contouring shade. I was sold and I can’t wait to review this sculpting blush duo.

My haul didn’t stop there. My brand loyalty to L’Oreal prompted me to pick up a lip gloss from their new ‘8 hour infallible’ lip gloss line and I bought it in Coral Sands (405). I tried it out in the car and I like it a lot. It is very subdued and perfect for everyday wear as there is nothing about the shade I chose that pops or begs much attention.

Last but not least, my least expensive purchase was a Sinful Colors nail polish in a bright pink color called Timbleberry. It looks pretty in the bottle and because I so badly need a manicure, I’ll be using it this evening. 

That’s all for now folks, stay tuned for my upcoming reviews!

A Review of Seche Base Ridge Filling Base Coat

I first learned of Seche Base during a conversation w/ two of my coworkers about the pains of nail polish that chips or peels way too soon. For starters, before using Seche Base, my nail polish would literally disappear by way of chipping or peeling. I had begun to think that my nails were rejecting nail polishes because nothing would make the polish stick! Then I tried Seche Base.

The Seche Base product I use is the ridge filling base coat which is now sold in stores and retails for about $6.99 and up. The product paints on a pearly white color and literally seals and shields your entire nail. It dries quickly and primes the nail for any shade of polish. To me, Seche Base feels a bit rubbery when it dries which is what I feel makes whatever polish you choose really bond to your nail for a long lasting wear.

Besides providing a smooth base on which to apply your polish of choice, Seche Base helps prevent the color staining and yellowing that often occurs after wearing dark shades of polish. For a base coat, I couldn't ask for better than Seche Base.

Veet High Precision Facial Wax Hair Remover

I purchased the Veet High Precision Facial Wax Hair Remover after seeing a pretty convincing commercial. I purchased the hair remover from CVS Pharmacy for $10.99. I had the product for about a week or so before I decided to test it out. This product worked like a charm!

For starters, the directions are simple and direct enough for any beginner to follow with ease. I read the directions and followed them exactly. Besides the ease of application, the best thing about this product is its water solubility. That's right, if you mess up, just wipe away with warm water and start over. The second best thing about the product are the reusable strips. I washed the strip I used to wax my eyebrows in the same cup of hot water I'd used to heat the wax. It was simple and took five minutes to get salon quality results without the salon price tag.

I highly recommend this product and I would definitely purchase it again. To complete my now perfectly arched brows, I followed up the waxing with my Tweezerman precision tip tweezers that I've owned for a while and also highly recommend to shape and maintain your eyebrows. Have any of you tried this product? What are your thoughts, comments, experiences?

What's Next in A Pretty, Pretty World? Upcoming Posts

The posts to follow my introductory makeup brush discussion will include: describing the brushes, what their made of, the purpose each brush serves, how to use the brushes, best uses/techniques for each brush, how to clean/maintain the brushes and advanced techniques for working w/ the brushes. 


In addition, A Pretty, Pretty World will include tutorials, lots and lots of beauty/hair/cosmetic reviews, videos (coming summer 2012) and discussions on all things pretty! Stay tuned pretty girls!!!!

Makeup Brushes: A Basic Introduction

So today I am beginning a discussion on makeup brushes. I experimented w/ makeup brushes years ago but a combination of not getting the hang of it, poor brush maintenance and lack of really trying turned be right back on to the sponges and poufs I was used to. Last summer (July), I was in Sephora and walking around w/ one of the sales people who couldn't believe that w/ my knowledge of their product line and makeup in general, I wasn't using face brushes. I explained that the brushes are expensive and there are so many to choose from I never used them bc I didn't know what to buy or what brush to use for what. He ended up selling me a travel brush set that was on sale for $30 (orig. $50).

The set I bought included many of the essentials, came packaged in a little pouch that closes magnetically, and are shorter than full-sized brushes. I immediately started using the brushes for my powder foundation application and I fell in love! (Btw, not sure if you guys know that I've been a fan of powder and cream foundations for years bc I find that liquids are heavy and oily on my skin so I tend to only use them for special occasions and what not.)

Fast forward, I've been using that brush set everyday since I got it last July. So for the past couple of weeks (since my friend Ashli's Benefit Cosmetics House Party), I've been researching makeup brushes to find out which brands offer the best quality brushes for a budget conscious gal who wants the flawless, airbrushed look of a $100+ brush set.

I've gone on YouTube, Amazon and a bunch of beauty sites and resources comparing prices and reading hundreds of reviews from real girls who look AMAZING bc they use brushes to apply their foundation, blush, bronzer, highlighter and for contouring. Based on my market research, I’ve narrowed down the top three brush brands.

Highest Price / Professional Use / All Natural Hair/Fibers: Sigma Beauty

Sigma makes 12 essential brushes that when purchased together cost $89 (Amazon). This set does not include a case, carrier or any brush protection whatsoever. It is intended for professionals who already possess a brush belt. They also make “eyes only” and “face only” brush sets which retail for $60.50 and $66.50 respectively on Amazon. The “eyes only” kit includes seven brushes and the “face only” kit includes five brushes. The twelve brushes together are what comprise the $89 Essential Brush Kit so buying together is already a huge savings. They also make a very cool cylinder set that house and protect all of their essential brushes and comes in four different colors (black, purple, aqua and coral). In the cylinder set, which is called “Make Me Crazy” the brush handles are all colored to match their container. The set retails for $126.50 on Amazon. Sigma Beauty also makes synthetic brushes which are priced slightly less and not all of their brushes are available in synthetic fibers.

Medium Price / Natural/Synthetic Blend: Sedona Lace

The Sedona Lace line is available only on their website SedonaLace.com. They retail a twelve-piece brush set w/ protective case for $59.95 which from my understanding is a lower price than what their brushes used to retail for. They have higher prices kits that include belts and better brushes that ranges from $79.95 and up from there. They have been gaining in popularity thanks to pretty girls YouTubing about the brushes which most were gifted by the company. I don’t mind someone who reviews freebies but when your review is based on only having used that one brand of the product you’re reviewing I made to question how valid your claims actually are. With this product only available on their website, it is pretty hard to find unbiased reviewers.

Lowest Price / Best Value / Most for Your Money: Coastal Scents

Coastal Scents debuted their leather (maybe pleather) brush set back in September 2011 and the set sold out by the end of the Labor Day weekend. They restocked and sold out again on Black Friday when they dropped the price by 50%. YouTubers who self-purchased and own Sigma Brushes have said that Coastal Scents brushes are the only other brushes that compare to the quality and durability of Sigma’s brushes. That statement alone goes a very long way when you’re talking about getting twenty-two brushes (w/ a protective case) for $34.95 (available on Amazon and at CoastalScents.com). I searched and searched but failed to find one bad review of the Coastal Scents product either online or on YouTube.

I could go on and on about getting twenty-two brushes for under $35 but I’ll save it for my own review which will be coming soon. I ordered the Coastal Scents twenty-two piece set on Monday w/ free super saver shipping from Amazon and it is “out for delivery” to my house as I type. I am so excited to experiment w/ this brush line!