Review + Comparison: Bdellium Tools BDHD Brushes and Morphe Elite II E58 (Marc Jacobs #2 Dupe?)

I've talked about the Marc Jacobs #2 brush (review) countless times on my blog because it really is one of my favorite brushes for applying thick and full coverage foundations. I love that (1) the bristles are densely packed, which makes blending a breeze, (2) it absorbs some of the product and prevents foundation from looking heavy & cakey, while still offering the coverage that I need, and (3) it's big enough to cover my entire face quickly, but not too big where it will be difficult to reach certain areas of the face. 

I'm constantly on the hunt for something that's comparable, so I can have a backup when the Marc Jacobs one is dirty. The Bdellium Tools BDHD brushes and Morphe Elite II E58 have an angled curved shape that's similar to the Marc Jacobs #2, but do they perform the same?

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Review + Comparisons: Sephora Mara Hoffman Kaleidescape Charcoal Brush Set, Pro Flawless Airbrush 56 + Kat Von D Lock-It Edge Foundation Brush

Sephora x Mara Hoffman Kaleidescape Charcoal Brush Set ($64, Limited Edition) - This set contains 5 brushes and a reusable gift box. Each brush features a rose gold ferrule and a wooden handle in a custom Mara Hoffman print. They also feel very lightweight in the hand. As for the bristles, they're all made of cruelty-free synthetic fibers that are infused with bamboo charcoal and feel very soft. (Bamboo charcoal supposedly keeps bacteria at bay and are environmentally friendly.)

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Review + Comparisons: MAC Prep + Prime, Pro Longwear and Becca Blotting Powder Perfector

Powders work well for setting your makeup and prevent your foundation, concealer & cream blushers/bronzers from fading throughout the day. The ones that layer well not only locks your makeup in place, but they are also suitable for mid-day touchups. The ones that go on sheer work best as a finishing powder and for those who don't want additional coverage as they can make your foundation look separated the more you pack on the product. There are also some powders that mattify the skin, while others provide a more natural finish. Continue reading to find out which one works best for your needs!

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Review + Comparisons: Sonia Kashuk Tapered Powder and Domed Multi-Purpose Brush (2016 Collection)

Long time readers know that Sonia Kashuk is one of my go-to brands for quality brushes. The black handle brushes are very well made and are reasonably priced. When I found out that new brushes were being launch for her 2016 collection, I knew that I had to get my hands on them. 

Both the Sonia Kashuk Tapered Powder No.19 brush and Domed Multi-Purpose No.18 brush are made of natural goat hair and feel very soft, just like the other black handle brushes from her line. They also have the same type of handle with an ergonomic design and are even weighted, which feels very comfortable in the hand. The only difference is that they no longer come with a black ferrule and have been recently revamped with a gold one. (The #24 Dense Blush Powder brush and #29 Domed Blusher brush that are mentioned in this post are now available with a gold ferrule. Both versions have the same brush head.) They did shed a few hairs during the first week, which is normal, but haven't shedded since.

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Review + Comparisons: Sephora Collection Pro Featherweight Brushes

Sephora Collection Pro Featherweight Line

All of the brushes mentioned in this post are vegan, 100% synthetic, and not tested on animals. They all have bristles that feel very soft and do not shed. (These feel just as soft as the Real Techniques Buffing brush and the ELF Selfie Ready Foundation brush, which are also made of synthetic bristles. However, they all feel like they're made from different types of synthetic bristles. I wish companies would be more transparent/specific about the bristle type because just like natural hair (pony, goat, squirrel, etc), not all synthetic bristles are made equal.)

The names and numbers of the brushes are conveniently written on the handles. They also each come with a plastic brush cap that prevents the bristles from getting dirty and damaged during travel.

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Review + Comparisons: Real Techniques Cheek and Lip Brush Set (Limited Edition)

I usually don't buy sets because there's always a few brushes that I don't need and I already have a huge brush collection that I'm trying to declutter. Real Techniques is one of the few brands that I find myself purchasing sets from because there's usually one brush in there that's worth the price alone, which is why I bought the Cheek and Lip Set. I'm sure you guys can figure out which brush that I'm talking about.

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Swatches + Review: NARS Laguna Tiare Bronzer, Mie Kabuki Brush + Goulue Blush

After trying out the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint (review), I decided to check out more products from the brand. Besides the items mentioned in this post, I also purchased some of their loose and pressed powders, which I will review later. 

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Swatches + Comparisons: Matte Contouring and Bronzing Powders

All of the products mentioned in this post have a matte finish. Some shades are more suitable for contouring, while others work better for bronzing. Even though I have a warm NC30/35 skintone, I prefer to use cooler shades to contour my face because it creates a more natural looking shadow. When bronzing my face, I prefer to use warmer shades because cooler shades can make me look dirty or sick.

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Review + Comparisons - Nordstrom Brush Haul (Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, and Sigma)

It's difficult to review eye brushes and recommend the "best" one because some work better than others, depending on your eye shape and lid space. So hopefully, these pictures will help you figure out the one that's most suitable for you!

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Swatches + Comparisons - Nars Velvet Matte Skin Tint and Brushes

I tend to gravitate towards foundations that provide medium coverage with a matte finish. Therefore, I usually stay away from tinted moisturizers, which often provide a luminous finish and minimal coverage. However, the Nars Velvet Matte Skin Tint is not your traditional tinted moisturizer, which is why I decided to give it a try. 

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Review + Swatches - Becca Under Eye Brightening and Backlight Targeted Colour Corrector

Most concealers work well for covering minor blemishes, but finding one that covers dark circles is more of a challenge. Peachy concealers are suitable for counteracting the bluish and purplish undertones of dark circles, while pink concealers work best for those with grey undertones. Make sure you understand the undertone of your dark circles because pink concealers can accentuate the bluish undertones of dark circles (in color theory, pink + blue = purple). 

MAC Pro Longwear concealer in NW20 and MUFE HD concealer in R30 work best for counteracting my dark circles. They both have a pink undertone, but it's not too strong where it would accentuate the bluish undertones of dark circles. They also can be worn alone without having to layer a yellow based concealer on top, even for those who have a warm complexion like myself. They are also one shade lighter than my skintone because I like the brightening effect. I just set it with a powder and they last all day without creasing or looking cakey. R22 has a stronger pink undertone and is lighter than R30. (For reference, I'm a MAC NC30/35, MUFE HD Y345, L'oreal True Match W4, and Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031.)

For those who find that peachy or pink concealers are still not enough to diminish the appearance of dark circles, then I recommend using color correctors. They are not concealers, and instead are intended to correct discoloration. Therefore, they must be used in conjunction with concealers.

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Review + Comparisons - Sephora Pro Collection Brushes

Sephora brushes are not as budget friendly as drugstore brands, but not as wallet weeping as luxury brands. They fall somewhere in between and are well worth their price due to their quality, performance and functionality. The only gripe that I have about their pro line (the ones with the silver ferrule) is the length of the handles. I prefer brushes to be no shorter than 6 inches and no longer than 7 inches. The brushes from Sephora's pro line are at least 7 inches long and some are even 8 inches, which can be a nuance and poke my mirror when I get too close. You can prevent this from happening by holding it at the end of the handle, but this will give you less control and a lighter application. 

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Review + Swatches - Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blushes

The drugstore is always having a "buy one, get one off" sale and since brands usually come out with products in multiple shades, it's difficult to not want to collect them all. ^_^

You can check out my review on the Milani Baked blushes here.

I decided to separate the posts because it was becoming too long and "picture heavy."

Physicians Formula Happy Booster
Glow & Mood Boosting Blush ($11.95 for 7g/0.24oz)

Although these blushes are on the "expensive" side for a drugstore brand, the quality is well worth the price point. The formula is very easy to work and lasts at least 8 hours on the cheeks when worn over foundation and setting powder. They're suppose to smell like sweet violet, but I couldn't detect any scent during application. As for the pigmentation, they're all sheer, but easily buildable for an opaque finish. They also leave a subtle glow to the skin without being too frosty. 

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Swatches + Comparison - Collective Haul of Cheek Products

I've been really enjoying products that leave a nice sheen to my skin without the glittery mess. 

The ones mentioned in this post have been great at perking up my dull winter skin.

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Swatches + Review: Dior Spring 2016 Forever Foundation + Powder

The Dior Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup SPF 25 has been one of my favorite foundations for the past few years and I'm so sad that's it's being discontinued; however, it's being replaced with the Forever Everlasting Wear Pore-Refining Effect Foundation SPF 35, which sounds promising (and a mouth full).

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Review: Tapered Crease Blending Brushes for the Eyes

4. Sonia Kashuk #109 Pointed Blending Brush
5. Sigma E35 Tapered Blending Brush

I already made a post about tapered crease blending brushes in a previous post. Those brushes are intended for the eyes, but I personally use them for face application. Most of the brushes mentioned in this post are smaller and more suitable for eye application.

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Review + Swatches: Sigma Synthetic Eye Brushes for Cream Products

Sigma's synthetic eye brushes stand out from their competition because they come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. You're bound to find one that's perfect for you. The ones mentioned in this post are all made of synthetic material and animal cruelty-free. I love using them to work with cream eyeshadows and concealer because they glide product onto the skin smoothly and evenly.

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Swatches + Comparisons - Collective Haul (Guerlain, Nars, Urban Decay, MUFE)

I had some of these products for a few months and others for a few years. -_-
I decided to group them together in one big post with mini reviews instead of making separate posts.

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Overview: Synthetic Buffing Foundation Brushes

A few of my favorite buffing brushes for liquid and cream application are actually from ELF. I didn't include them in this post because I already reviewed them here. (I definitely recommend checking them out because they created the same type of brush in 3 different size and density, which allows them to cater towards a wider audience and different types of preferences. So, I'm sure you'll find the one that's suitable for you.) Also, I reviewed the Real Techniques brushes already, so I won't go into detail about them in this post.

Synthetic buffing brushes are far superior than those made with natural bristles, when using liquid and cream-based products because they don't absorb as much product and blends it into the skin alot easier without streaking. There are so many in the market, ranging in different sizes, shapes, and density. My preference is for those that are not too big or too small so that it can be multi-functional. Also, I like them to be not too dense so it doesn't tug my skin and cause premature wrinkles. Continue reading to find out how these brushes compare to one another!

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Overview: Pointed Tapered Brushes for Contouring & Highlighting

1. Sephora Pro Contour #79 Brush

2. Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush

3. Sigma Tapered Highlighter F35 Brush

4. Hakuhodo G5521BkSL Brush

5. Hakuhodo G5518BkSL Brush

6. Trish McEvoy 86 Petite Kabuki

Tapered brushes are one of the most important tools in my arsenal. They are designed to fit perfectly in areas of the face that are not too big or too small, including the under eye, top of the cheeks, hollows of the cheeks and border of the face. They're suppose to offer control, while still being flexible enough to blend out product effortlessly. Also, the ideal one would allow you to apply & blend product on the same area without having to reach for another brush. Continue reading to find out how the following six brushes stack up to the "ideal" tapered brush.

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