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Well – well… today we are going to chit chat about brushes.  It’s no secret that it is one of the many things I collect when it comes to beauty.  Let’s face it, an artist needs their tools and a great set of tools is essential.  I have tried them all and with a collection of over 250 makeup brushes, I’m always interested in trying out new ones.  With the cost of a cosmetic brush ranging anywhere from $4.00 to $40.00 in price and in some cases more, I always appreciate a referral on a good one that I can not only utilize but enjoy using.  Today I’m going to share with you my thoughts on Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets.  These affordable beauties have been a new favorite in my makeup arsenal and I think I should share them with you.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

I’m not gonna lie, affordable and good quality are hard to come by these days and today I’m sharing with you a company and brand that offers both.   With a mission to “be a testing ground for all things beauty so that you can get honest reviews from real women before spending your hard earned money on the next miracle”, Beauty Junkees is a hub for all things beauty accessories and a place you can find some of your favorite products.  Today I share with you two Makeup Brush sets that I think would make wonderful tools for anyone whether a beginner or someone in the industry.

Also – it’s still technically the holidays, so you could snag some for that loved one or as a treat to yourself before Christmas.

Holiday Gift Guide - Fun Stocking Stuffers

The first set I am going to talk about is my favorite.  The 8 Piece Pro Series Brush Set comes with everything you need to create the perfect eye look.  Retailing for $39.97 (currently on sale for $24.97 – not sure how long the sale will last) you receive 8 gorgeous and well made eye brushes and a great quality zip top brush case.

You receive the following brushes:

  1. Pro Pencil – used for smudging eye liner or apply shadow for a more defined and precision application.
  2. Pro Tapered Blending – used for applying and blending shadow on the eye or use to apply transition shade to the crease.
  3. Pro All Over Shader – with dense bristles this is used to pack shadow on the entire lid but still can be used to blend some.
  4. Pro Precision Eye liner – perfect for tight lining the upper and lower lash lines using liquid, gel or cream (powders too).  I especially like to use this brush to smudge out the lower lash line and smoke it out.
  5. Pro Angled Shading – this is a great brush to apply to shadow to the brow bone or to blend color into the crease.
  6. Pro Flat Definer – use this brush to create a sharp and precise line o nthe upper and lower lash line with your liner or product of choice – cream, gel, powder.
  7. Pro Blending – This great brush is used to blend powder shadows and buff harsh lines to give a gorgeous and diffused effect.
  8. Pro Crease – use this brush to apply shadow in the crease for a soft and diffused effect.

Each brush comes with a solid wood handle – sturdy and well made and a double crimped copper ferrule.  The ferrule is positioned well and holds the brush hair in place perfectly.  I haven’t had any issues with shedding and love that each brush can be used with a variety of mediums – powders, creams and liquids.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

I love that this eye set includes all the brushes I need to create a great eye look and more so it has brushes that are essential for any makeup brush arsenal.  Each one is well made and well put together and after much washing, I haven’t noticed any shedding (with exception to tiny hair during initial wash – which is normal) after many uses.  The brushes are soft and well made and the blending brushes remind me of some of my favorites from well known high-end brands.  I’m absolutely loving them.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

Next is the Mini 5 Piece Kabuki Makeup Brush Set with brush case.  This set retails for $39.97 (on sale right now for $18.97) and includes 5 brushes in the set.  The name “mini” does not refer to the size of the brush handle, but the size of the actual brushes as this is a smaller size to the actual Kabuki brushes you would use to apply foundation.  These little brushes are so fun and perfect for people like me who contour and apply highlight.  Each brush is dense but soft and made specifically so that they will not soak up excess amounts of product.  This is particularly awesome for those that like to use cream based products as these brushes will allow you to get the right amount of product with an easy application.

Included in this brush set:

  1. Mini Flat Makeup Brush – this brush is my favorite for buffing out my contour along the sides of my nose for a more chiseled and defined look without looking harsh.  It’s perfect for stippling concealer onto sun spots, blemishes and other small imperfections as well.
  2. Mini Angled Makeup Brush – this brush is a favorite because it can be used on the eyes for blending, I love to use it to apply my ColourPop eye shadows into the crease or apply as transition.  This brush is also dense enough to use as a foundation brush or to contour your cheekbones.
  3. Mini Flat Angled Makeup Brush – this brush combines the blending application of the flat kabuki with the contouring application of the angled kabuki – packed into a mini for precision contouring anywhere on the face.  I especially love this brush for also contouring down the sides of my nose and to really provide a chiseled and defined contour below my cheekbones.
  4. Mini Tapered Makeup Brush – this brush was designed to provide coverage in hard to reach areas such as the eyelid, corner of the eye and under eye for a flawless finish.  I love using this brush to blend out my cream or liquid highlight or to also contour since the tip allows you to really define the areas.
  5. Mini Round Makeup Brush – this brush has a variety of uses but is perfect for mineral makeup concealer to buff the product on and blend or to just apply as an all over contour brush for detail and precision.

Each brush is made of high density synthetic bristles and is vegan friendly.  They each come with a solid wood handle that includes a double crimped copper ferrule and I haven’t noticed any shedding with this product.  They can be used with liquid,  powder or creams and I find these work especially well with my ColourPop shadows.  Due to the size of these minis (the bristle size) they are not intended for full face coverage when applying foundation, but great for detail work.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

After years of spending lots and lots of money on makeup brushes – I’m beyond impressed with Beauty Junkees not only for the price point, but the quality.  Each brush comes with a sturdy wooden handle that is long making application easy for me when using them.  I’m very particular with the weight of my brushes, especially because of my Carpel Tunnel and find that these are well weighted but not too heavy that it will hurt me when using them for long periods of time.  That is especially important when you’re a makeup artist because after a while of doing several clients in a row, your hands and arms can get very tired and sore if the brush is too heavy.  Even if they are light weight, they still have a good balance making application and blending a breeze.  It’s all about that balance and movement in the wrist that really helps with the blending technique.  The cinching in the ferrules for each brush is absolutely well made and done to perfection which means your brushes will last longer with proper cleaning and care.  I found that cleaning each brush is easy.  I use my Parian Spirt or regular brush cleaner as well as soap and water without any issues and after several cleaning with using these brushes they kept their shape well, dried nicely and I didn’t experience any shedding.

I didn’t discuss the brow brush but know that for $10 – the Pro Brow Brush has a great spoolie on the end and an awesome angle brush which works well with gel or powder.  It’s pretty fabulous too.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

 

*In the look above I used Beauty Junkees to apply all of my products from eyes to face – even my brows and eye liner!

So – what do you think?  Could you see yourself using any of these brushes I discussed here today.  You can use code: HONEYGW1 for 25% off your order (from now till January 15, 2016) which would make these prices even better and you could pick something up for yourself this Holiday season.  Also – if you have Amazon Prime – shipping is FREE.  Click here to check out other products that Beauty Junkees has to offer.  I know I have my eyes set on more brushes as well as some of their beauty sponges, so you may see many more reviews or features here later.

Beauty Junkees has definitely impressed me, so much so that I featured them in my Holiday Gift Guide – Stocking Stuffers because the price point is fab and the product great.  I definitely suggest you checking them out for yourself.  We all know I keep it real here and if they didn’t work well, well… we know I would be the one to lay it all out there.  I’m quite impressed and really enjoy what I tried, so I figured I would share it all with you.

Smooches!

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  Products mentioned in this post were sent to me for review/feature consideration.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased.  I was not paid to provide my thoughts on these products or to feature them, but affiliate links are posted through out.

SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

Have you ever purchased a cosmetic item because you thought it was love at first sight?  I think much of what I buy when it comes to makeup fits that description… though I have been very lucky to have purchased products that I do enjoy.  Right after ColourPop’s release of their Creme Gel Liners, I decided I would pick up a few of them to try.  Come on now… we all know that there is absolutely no way I was going to ignore it and I knew that I just had to have it.  With over 80 eye shadows in my collection and a ton of lippies, I had hoped that these liners would make a great addition to my collection… but did they?  I love the eye shadows and the lippies and had expected that these liners would really hit the spot when I ordered them… but since we all know I like to keep it absolutely real, here’s my break down and low down on the ColourPop Creme Gel Liners.  Are you ready for this?

ColourPop Creme Gel Liners - Fab or Fail?

I picked up a small selection of the pencil Creme Gel Liners and the Creme Gel Colour liners in the pot.  The potted liners retail for $6.00 and the pencils are just $5.00.  Considering the price point I really think these are not bad in cost.  The pencil liners are twist up types but honestly, I think the formulation of the liner itself is just too soft and creamy for the packaging it has come in.  I have broken several tips while using and testing these and I find that the formula of the pencil is so soft, with a little warmth, they can easily bend and break with ease.  The packaging for the Gel liners in the pot is quite nice.  I love that sturdy glass feel and the weight of the packaging itself makes for ease of use.  The pot has a great shape to it which makes storing a breeze and I’m quite impressed with the packaging overall.  I decided when I placed my order that I would get colors I knew I would make use out of so besides the bright purple (Piggy Bank), all of the shades I got were ones I know would be wearable for every day or otherwise.

ColourPop Creme Gel Liners - Fab or Fail?

I only purchased three shades out of the many that ColourPop offers.  It’s obvious that with my love of purple, I needed to get a purple liner and I figured a brown-like and black would be ideal since those are colors I use often and could really be the judge of whether they were a fit for me.

Piggy Bank (purple) is a gorgeous purple shade and I would have loved to be able to use this more as not only a liner but also as a base.  The liner is kind of odd in texture and has a weird sticky feel to it that reminds me of glue.  When glue is just about to dry and still has a bit of tackiness to it.  It doesn’t smooth onto the eye lid easily and creating a precise line even with the skinniest of liner brushes is a struggle.  I’ve been doing makeup for years and still found that my line became too thick for me because working with this particular liner was not easy.

Best O (blackened burgundy / deep burgundy shade) is another gorgeous color.  It has a matte finish and would make a great liner for every day if it didn’t have the same type of texture as Piggy Bank does.  That sticky glue like formula makes for creating a precise line quite a challenge and I found that this shade is best used to draw along the lash line but not to create a wing.  It takes a little more time and effort to apply than what I am used to.

Swerve (black) is your basic matte black shade.  This liner is super creamy and applies okay.  It feels like it has somewhat of a mousse like texture, which can make application a challenge depending on the brush.  I find with a thin liner brush it applies much better than with a flat liner brush.  While I think this one applies the best out of the three I got, I still expected a lot from these and was a bit let down.

The swatches below were taken immediately after the liners were applied and before they had dried and set.  I wanted to show how each one applied specifically with each type of brush I used to test as well as how they skipped when applying.  As you can see – the black is the best in application, but if you don’t let it set and you touch it before it does, it can smear.  Once set – it seems to be quite smudge proof.

ColourPop Creme Gel Liners - Fab or Fail?

These liners dry very quickly, which made them difficult to use as a base for eye shadows – I tried and it just turned out to be a mess.  While they dry and set well and I noticed little to no smudging, if I were to drop water on these liners (swatches) or my eyes were to tear up as they often do due to my allergies, these became a mess to look at.  One day I had used the liners to create a wing liner and as my eyes teared I noticed that it started to drip down the sides of my eyes, causing havoc on the rest of my makeup.  While these may work just fine for others, I can’t get away with it if I’m having a sensitive eye day.  When I used these on days my eyes were fine, I got several hours of wear without any issues so long as I didn’t wash my face.  I cannot use these on my waterline at all as they will run.

ColourPop Creme Gel Liners - Fab or Fail?

Since I had high hopes for the Gel liners in the pot, I had hoped that the pencil liners would work as well as some of my favorite drugstore brands.  These are nice in that they have a twist up top which allows for dispensing the product.  Each shade color is displayed on the end of the pencil as well as at the tip so you know which color you are using at any given time.

Stomper (cool toned brown) is a great every day liner.  This is the liner I have gotten the most use out of since I started using these.

No Shame (blackened violet)  is a gorgeous liner that would be a great alternative to using black.  I use this liner right at the base of my lash line (not on my waterline) and it will make my brown eyes really pop and sparkle.

Get Paid (metallic rose gold)  Who doesn’t love a great rose gold – if you know me, you know this is one of my favorite colors.  The liner is gorgeous and has a metallic sheen to it – not matte like the others I have.  It applies nicely and makes a great pop of color for every day or for something special.

Call Me (deep plum brown)  This is a great brown shade and brings out my eye color, however… this pencil consistently breaks on me… even in the pencil itself it seems to break before I even twist it up.  It arrived bent and hasn’t been good since the first use.

So – these liners apply like most pencil liners do.  They have a slight creamy texture and smooth onto the lid pretty nicely.  They do seem to take a lot longer to set than the pot liners and smudge very easily if they are not dry.  These are a little more workable than the pot liners which would allow them to make pretty okay bases for your shadows.  I cannot use these liners on my waterline AT ALL because they will create a mess and I’ll literally look like a done up raccoon.  They are not waterproof in my opinion, but so long as you are not tearing up a lot (as I can do sometimes) they will have some pretty good staying power, lasting my eye looks quite a few hours in my day.  Again, once these set, they don’t seem to smudge much, but I would not pull for these on a day where my allergies are bad because they won’t last.

ColourPop Creme Gel Liners - Fab or Fail?

I think the pencil liners definitely have some ease of use to them, but if you are looking for a really precise and sharp line with these, once you use them, the actual pencil starts to dull down some.  The twist up function of these make it easy to use and replenish the pencil, but it doesn’t have that point that I tend to look for in a pencil liner.  While some of these seem to do pretty well, I’m disappointed that the liner breaks so easily within the pencil chamber.  If you lightly shake the pencil you can hear the actual liner moving around on the inside, which makes me think that that is the reason why they break so easily… it’s loose in the casing.  I think the packaging itself could use some fixing so that the pencils do not break as easily.  Each pencil I have (4) has broken in some form and once it does, you can’t fix it.  The actual pencil itself is also very skinny and the formulation a bit soft so I have noticed quite a bit of warping in the pencil itself from a change in temperature and I stash these in a room with air conditioning consistently.

Check out the video below for all the details and a chit chat review or click here to watch directly on YouTube.

ColourPop Creme Gel Liners - Fab or Fail?

While I’m a fan of ColourPop’s shadows and lippies and I can make use of these liners if I have the time, I do not think I will be repurchasing or purchasing anymore of these.  I think if they made a change in the formulation for the Gel liners in the pot and switched up the packaging some in the pencil liners, I may try a few other colors I had my sights on but at this time, I think that while these are affordable, I will not get much use out of them if I decided to invest in more.  Don’t get me wrong, I will surely try my best to make the ones I own workable for me… I hate wasting my money and on days when I know I’ll be able to make use of them, I’ll definitely be doing so.  But, I was very underwhelmed and unimpressed with the liners this time around.  Since ColourPop is only about a year old or so – I would expect that there had to be something in their creations that I wasn’t a fan of as they slowly work to create perfection, but that doesn’t mean I would enjoy the brand’s products nonetheless.  ColourPop still has a piece of my cosmetic heart – even if these were a fail for me.

What about you?  Are you a ColourPop fan and if so, have you tried these yet?  If not, do you have anything on your list you plan to check out soon?

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  All products discussed and mentioned in this post were purchased by me with my own money.  I was not paid to feature these products.  All opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased and affiliate links are posted through out.


PRESS SAMPLE / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

Sometime last year I posted here on the blog about the Michael Todd Soniclear and recently Michael Todd Soniclear Elite was released.  Available in fun colors and designs, the Soniclear Elite is the “Game Changer” for sensitive skin.  I have been using the original Soniclear cleansing brush on my body and was super excited to have been given the opportunity to review the newer version.  Today I will share my thoughts with you on the Lavender Lust Soniclear Elite from Michael Todd.

Michael Todd Soniclear Elite

Let’s face it – cleaner skin begins with a cleaner brush and one of the reasons why I enjoy the Soniclear Elite.  With my sensitive skin and Eczema flare ups – I need to ensure that I am using an exfoliating and cleansing tool that is not only gentle, but also helps protect against microbial contamination.  While my skin is too sensitive to use the Soniclear Elite daily – I still know that I will get a good clean and scrub-a-dub when I need it and once a week works well in combination with my favorite skin care products.  The complete sonic powered cleansing system has a built in protection against microbial contamination and a C-Boost Collagen Technology.  The optional collagen boosting operating mode helps to deliver pulsating massage to assist in stimulating collagen & elastin production for a more youthful looking skin.

What I love about the Michael Todd Soniclears (Elite included) is that they can be used for the body or face with interchangeable heads that you can use for different sections whether you choose for body or face.   Each kit comes with a Soniclear Elite Device with C-Boost, Charging Cradle, 1 Facial Brush head with cover, 1 body brush head with cover and your charging cord so you have everything you need to get started.  The Soniclear Elite can be used on all skin types, though I will say that your usage depends on your sensitivities.

Benefits & Features

Soniclear Elite™ 

  • Clinically proven to reduce 99.9% of bacteria after 24 hours compared to untreated control
  • Water proof with 6 speed settings & 2 brush heads for customizable experience
  • Automatic timer standardizes cleansing experience for consistent results
  • Sonic powered sweeping motion stays within safe range of natural elasticity
  • Clinically validated to be up to 6 times more effective than cleansing with hands alone
  • Replace antimicrobial brushes ever 6 month verse competitor’s every 3 months
  • 5 year warranty

C-Boost™ Collagen Technology

  • Clinically validated to improve the appearance of fine lines by 84% in 8 weeks
  • Clinically validated to improve skin firmness by 70% in 8 weeks
  • Clinically validated to improve skin texture by 91% in 8 weeks

Michael Todd Soniclear Elite

The Soniclear has a built in LIFE antimicrobial product protection that helps to keep the brushes cleaner and longer – the first brush of its kind in the industry.  Other traditional sonic cleansing systems don’t provide this level of protection which is why I’m a huge supporter of the product and brand.  I use my Soniclear Elite a few times a week on my body and face (switching out the brush heads as needed) and my Foreo Luna in the interim.  Each work well in my skin care regimen and work together to help keep my skin clean and clear.  Soniclear has an advanced sonic wave technology that cleanses the skin gently yet thoroughly with more than 18,000 micro-massage movements per minute, offering six cleansing speeds and two operating modes that let you customize your cleansing experience to your skin’s specific concerns.

Michael Todd Soniclear Elite

Each Soniclear has set in its handle soft touch buttons that make control and power on/off functions easy.  The unit itself is completely waterproof so I love that I can use it in the shower or tub without worrying about issues of it damaging or otherwise and I especially love that when using on my body, I don’t have to worry about it breaking down on me.  The unit has soft, rubberized hand grips with make it easy to hold – even with soapy/slippery hands and the large body brush works so well in getting in all the places to scrub my body clean.

Like with any type of electrical unit or device, you will need to charge your unit completely for the first 24 hours prior to use.  After using the brush heads, be sure to store them in their included cover to keep them clean while not in use.

If you use cleansing tools to remove your makeup for that “squeaky clean” you will enjoy this particular product.  I hardly use face or foundation products, but I have used this to remove face makeup when I was wearing it and it removed the product easily and left my skin feeling really clean and exfoliated.  What I love is that when cleaning the brush head after removing dark face products or makeup – the brush head gets really clean.  With a little bit of my face cleanser, I clean the brush head with ease leaving it white and pretty again – unlike other products similar that leave that funky yuck of a residue behind.  Of course, if you are someone that uses foundation daily – I’m not sure if it will clean just as well… but I always feel like my brush head is very clean for my next use – which is a huge plus for me.  Who wants to put funky grime on their face anyway?  Certainly not me!

Michael Todd Soniclear Elite

I love the Soniclear Elite as much as I did the original Soniclear – but just as the first, I am unable to use it daily due to my sensitive skin or my Eczema will flare up or my skin will have a bad reaction.  I don’t necessarily attest this to the product itself as any of my cleansing tools cannot be used daily even if meant specifically for skin sensitivity.  It is an added bonus that it has a great antimicrobial benefits as other cleansing brushes did not and because of this, the germ-a-phobe in me didn’t like those.  I particularly like to use this product on my body because it works well for what I need and after shopping the Michael Todd site, I’m looking forward to picking up all kinds of attachments and add-ons to make this product more useful and beneficial for my needs.

I have tried many cleansing brushes over the last few years and this is still one of my favorites.  What about you?  What do you currently use to scrub-a-dub for a squeaky clean?  To find out more about the Soniclear Elite or other Michael Todd products – visit: http://www.michaeltoddusa.com/

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The product(s) mentioned in this post were sent to me for review and consideration.  As with anything on this site, all opinions are 100% honest, unbiased and truthful.  I was not paid to provide my thoughts in exchange for a feature but affiliate links are posted through out.

PRESS SAMPLE / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year because it allows things to cool off here in Hawaii and I can wear my cozy and warm fashion favorites that I love so much.  Besides scarves and slouchy sweaters, another favorite for me is hats or beanies.  Let’s face it – anything that will keep my full head of hair in place without sacrificing style is a plus and I’m all about keeping the ears warm as the months get colder.  Today I share with you a simple plus sized outfit featuring a beret from Scala Pronto.  If you love Fall fashion as much as I do, hopefully I can introduce you to some really cool ideas for this season’s wardrobe.

Fashion Friday - Plus Size Casual Fall Outfit

This slouchy beret from Scala Pronto is fashionable, chic and totally flattering.  I have a larger head size than most people and found that this beret fits easy and comfortably as well.  The collection is affordable, retailing for $32 and available in grey or oatmeal (what I’m wearing).  Slouchy hats just scream Fall and Winter and are so fashion forward.  It’s one of those accessories that has literally stood the changes in trend and attire over the years and paired with your favorite Fall outfit, you will be ready to take on your day.

Fashion Friday - Plus Size Casual Fall Outfit

What am I wearing

Beret – Scala Pronto Beret in Oatmeal

Scarf – Plaid Tartan Scarf / Wrap from Amazon

Top – Black Plus Size Scoop Neck Tee from Torrid

Pants – YMI Jeans Plus Luxe Skinny

Footwear – Steve Madden Heaven Leopard Ballet Flats

Sunglasses – Kenneth Cole New York Metal Frame Rectangular Frame Aviators

Watch – Invicta Silver & Gold Divers

I chose to wear my Tartan Scarf like a wrap – but they go wear if wrapped around the neck like an infinity scarf or swooped around once and hanging long.  While I chose to wear flats today (it’s still too warm for boots), my normal choice in footwear would be a pair of boots – it’s a staple for me this time of year.  Pair this look with fun accessories like your favorite bracelets or necklaces and you have a showstopping outfit.  There is nothing wrong with a casual look – this is mine.

Fashion Friday - Plus Size Casual Fall Outfit

Makeup of the day

Eye shadow – ColourPop Desert, Strength, XO and Bravery

Eye liner – Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper and Mally Evercolor Eyeliner in Midnight

Lashes/Mascara – Ardell Demi Whispies 120 and Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

Lips – ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Tulle

Fashion Friday - Plus Size Casual Fall Outfit

When it comes to Fall fashion – I literally live in cozy and comfy.  Let’s face it, I live in Hawaii where the weather is warm year round, so I look forward to the cool, crisp Fall air.  I practically live in Skinny Jeans and slouchy sweaters and I love pairing those key elements in my wardrobe with fun accessories that make a statement.  Slouchy looks are so on trend for Fall and Winter and Scala Pronto has satisfied that with their well made Beret.  I can’t wait to get my hands on the grey one and rock that out too.

Scala Pronto berets come in a wide assortment of colors and knit stitches.  Find your favorite in a variety of highly decorated versions.  

Purchase your Scala Pronto beret here at villagehatshop.com and check out the other products available for purchase to add to your fall looks.  Pack your beach wear away and pull out your favorite knits, plaid and all the fun warm and cozies you have hiding in your closet and enjoy the season.

What are your favorite digs for Fall season?

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  Some of the products featured in this post were sent to me for review and consideration and some products were purchased by me with my own money.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased.  Affiliate links are posted through out.

SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

After years of being a makeup artist, I have accumulated quite a huge collection of makeup brushes.  Over 200 and still counting, when I see a great deal on brushes that look like they will work – I will buy them in a heartbeat.  A couple of weeks ago while cruising through our local TJ Maxx, I stumbled upon a display with eye and face brushes from BH Cosmetics.  I didn’t know that the brand sold in select stores, so I was intrigued and decided to pick the eye set up.  Just a few days prior, I had seen an advertisement through the brand on their site for this particular set so I couldn’t resist seeing that it was not only a bit cheaper but I also didn’t have to pay for shipping.  Picking up the BH Cosmetics 7 Piece Eye Essential Brush Set was a no brainer and after using it a few weeks, I figured I would share it with you today.

BH Cosmetics 7 Piece Eye Essential Brush Set

The BH Cosmetics 7 Piece Eye Essential Brush Set retails on bhcosmetics.com for $18.00 (though currently on sale for $12).  While that is already a pretty good deal for a set of 7 brushes, I found it at my local TJ Maxx for $9.99.  The set includes 7 brushes that will help you line, define, shade and blend your shadow for a complete eye look.  The set is made up of synthetic and natural hair brushes which give you a range of brushes to create your looks.

BH Cosmetics Halloween Makeup

Right out of the box, these brushes are all sleeved individually in plastic.  Each of the brushes are really nice and soft which is a huge plus.  The handle and ferrule seem to be nicely made and the ferrules on each of the brushes are in place, no wiggling or shaking so they are set in nicely.  This set comes with gold ferrules and gold labeling which is also really pretty and the number of each brush is printed on the handle.  After cleaning the brushes twice over the last couple of weeks, I noticed minimal shading to none – they held up well to aggressive washing and scrubbing and drying time with these were reasonable.

BH Cosmetics 7 Piece Eye Essential Brush Set

Some of the brushes – specifically for the eye shadow are a little softer than I would like and not as dense which can be beneficial for blending but may take some time to actually pack the color on.  I had wished this set had a dense, round eye shadow brush that would allow me to apply the shadow much more precisely – but considering the price point, I can make it work.

This set includes the following brushes:

101 – Blending Brush:  This brush is perfect for blending shadows in the crease, blowing out your colors so you have a soft and blended look.  This brush can also be used as an all over color applicator and to apply your highlight shade.  It’s very fluffy and has a lot of movement, but due to the tapered tip – you can still get precision in your crease if you desire.

102 – Large Shader Brush:  This brush is synthetic so you can use it to apply your favorite cream products, bases or what I’ve been using it for is my ColourPop shadows.  It also works as an all over shader brush to pack color onto the lid.

103 – Small Shader Brush:  This is a natural hair brush which is very soft and fluffy for a shadow brush.  This will work double duty to apply color but also blend.  While I can make it work and do enjoy it – I wish there was a brush similar to this – but more dense and less fluffy.

104 – Angled Blending Brush:  This soft and fluffy natural hair brush is perfect for applying color to the outer v and blending effortlessly.  This brush is very fluffy so it takes a light hand to apply color precisely but works well for blending.  Using the very tip of the brush to apply color on the lower lash line works well too.

105 – Pencil Brush:  This brush is one of my favorites from the set.  It’s soft enough to run near your eyes or on the sensitive parts of your eyes to smoke out a look, but still dense enough to pack the color on your lids or to apply precision color in the crease, etc.  This brush has easily replaced my MAC 219 for my smudged looks.

106 – Fine Liner Brush:  This brush is a bit thicker than what I would like for a liner brush but it works really nice with my gel liners and works well for smudging liner on the lash line.  I wish it was a little more dense to allow for better precision, but at the end of the day – I can still use it to get the job done.

107 – Small Angled Brush:  This angled brush is a little softer than what I’m used to when working with similar brushes, but it works.  A synthetic brush, this works pretty good with my gel liner or with gel products for brows, though it is a bit soft and can lack a little precision.  At the end of the day – it works, though it may take a little finesse when using since the bristles are soft.

BH Cosmetics 7 Piece Eye Essential Brush Set

I’m not gonna lie, I’m a lot more impressed with these brushes than I thought I would be.  Like I mentioned several times, you can’t beat the price point… it’s affordable and you get most of the brushes you will need to create an eye look.  While these are not “high end” quality – they would definitely be perfect for someone who is a beginner with makeup or even a veteran as myself, because at the end of the day – they work.

The eye makeup for this look was done using the BH Cosmetics brushes
The eye makeup for this look was done using the BH Cosmetics brushes

 

Have you tried any brushes from BH Cosmetics before?  If so – what are your thoughts on them and if not, do you see these in your future of brush hoarding? lol

 

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  I purchased this product.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased.  Affiliate links are posted through out.