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!
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