Saturday, July 19, 2014

Review: MyMakeupBrushSet.com







This will be much more than a review. I will also be telling you the names and purposes of each brush included in the set. 

I purchased this kit from mymakeupbrushset.com while on sale for $19.99. However, this set is well worth a lot more. I got the Jet Black Makeup Brush Set. It is 24 pieces plus the brush roll. This set is great for makeup artists just starting out, trying to build a kit, simply because there are different sized eyeshadow brushes for every eye shape and technique. They also have synthetic bristles and they are easy to clean. And because it comes in a brush roll, it is convenient to store and lay out to see all of your brushes in one space. (The brushes will not be listed according to the order they arrive in the brush roll. They will be listed according to type and purpose.)

Vegan Leather Brush Roll. I want to start off by talking about the fact that the brushes are conveniently stored in this vegan leather case. That means it is a cruelty-free, animal-friendly brush roll made out of alternative materials to animal leather. A lot of people are into that, so I feel it’s important to mention it. If you are unsure if you use vegan or cruelty free makeup, make sure you look it up or e-mail me and I can send you a list of companies that comply.

Disclaimer: Brushes do not have to be used according to their purpose. It's your face and your makeup. These are just the names and their suggested use determined by what they were designed to be used for.

Face Brushes
Large Fan-Shaped Brush. Fan brushes are more of an expert tool. They are finishing brushes used to add the finishing touches to your look. They dust, wipe, and redistribute powders all over the face. The flat shape allows even and soft definition. This brush is best for sweeping on bronzer, illuminators, highlighters, and maybe even blush or tinted moisturizer.

Small Fan-Shaped Brush. This brush is much like the large fan brush, but it’s more of a must-have for clean-up. I’m sure you could use this brush to apply products, but it is best for fanning away excess product like fallout from your eye shadow on your cheeks.

Powder Brush. This brush is big and full, however, the bristles aren’t as dense and are long. This makes achieving coverage difficult, and would work best for finishing off a look with setting or translucent powder.

Blush Brush. A blush brush is self explanatory. You use it to add a pop of color to your cheeks. You could also use a blush brush for bronzer, but you don’t need to with this kit. It comes with a brush specifically for bronzer. 

Contour Blending Brush. The contour brush is pretty large, but angled to fit perfectly into the hollows of your cheeks and the curves around  your forehead. 

Concealer Brush. Concealer brushes are used for covering imperfections and dark circles under your eyes. A lot of people steer clear of a concealer brush because it can leave streaks. But you want to avoid using your fingers as less as possible when applying even your own makeup unless you are cleaning your hands constantly in between products. Applying foundation and concealer with a brush will give you a more even coverage. The trick is to clean your brushes right after evenly applying the product and use the clean brush to blend it in.

Foundation Brush. Foundation brushes are designed to help you achieve a smooth, flawless finish. These bristles are packed in tightly and tapered on the tip for a fluid application. Foundation brushes do tend to leave streaks depending on the formula of the foundation, however, don’t toss out your brush, try getting it damp before applying. Make sure you firmly squeeze out as much excess water as possible or blot it on a paper towel. You don’t want to water down the foundation formula and apply it unevenly.

Eye Brushes
One thing that you want to do when it comes to eye shadow brushes is to pay attention to the length of the bristles. The longer the bristles, the softer the application and lighter the coverage. The shorter bristles give you a heavier application to pat the color on more intensely and provide a matte coverage.

Large Flat Shadow Brush. You would want to use this brush to apply color all over the lid. If you have larger eyes, you may find more uses.

Medium Angled Shading Brush. A full, angled eye brush designed for applying & blending eye shadow.

Fluff Brush. This brush is ideal for shading and blending like a professional. The soft, round shaped, bristles allow you to soften the look of powder or cream shadows by blending harsh lines.

Eye Contour Brush. This brush allows you to apply eye color with medium intensity to add a nice pop of color in the crease contour or outer corners of the eye. The flat, stiff bristles place the color exactly where it's needed and give an even, smooth finish.


Large Eye Shadow Brush. This is a flat, dense brush. It’s not as fluffy as the other large brushes. It’s more idea for smoothing on color, powder or cream.

Medium Eye Shadow Brush. This is just a smaller version or the large eye shadow brush. It’s flat and dense. It can be more precise and accurate than the large one, or may service you better depending on the size of your eyes.
  
Smudge Brush. A smudge brush is perfect for applying and smudging, dense color. You can use it to blend in a kohl liner or heavily pigmented shadows.

Short Eye Shadow Brush. This brush is, once again, a smaller version of the large and medium eye shadow brush for smaller eyes.

·         Angled Eye Shadow Brush. The angled brush is good for carving out your crease and applying eye shadow in a “v shape” in the corners of your eyes.

Sponge Applicator Brush. Sponge applicators are very hard, if not impossible, to clean properly. I don’t really recommend you using this for eye shadow, unless it’s a cream or an eye shadow base.

·         Sponge Eye Shadow Brush
Once again, I don’t think I would use this for actually applying eyeshadow, however, it will be perfect for smoking out a kohl liner pencil or brown/black eye shadow as a liner on your upper and lower lash line.

·         Eyeliner Brush & Precise Eyeliner Brush. It is wise to use an eyeliner brush instead of a pencil liner, even if the pencil is mechanical. Wooden brushes can actually splinter with sharpening and deposit tiny, microscopic splinters into your water line, inner tear duct, or even your eyeball itself. Your eye could get infected or irritated and you have no idea why. Or even worse, fragments can break off large enough to feel or cause cuts. Ouch! Mechanical liners can be bad, too unless you spray them with alcohol after each use. Bacteria can not only settle in the product, but down in the tubing as well. If you have clients, you could put them in danger of some serious pain and infection, or putting yourself at risk with your own germs. Use an eyeliner brush dipped in an eyeliner gel, or even a liquid liner, just make sure you keep the brush clean. If you like a softer look without the harsh lines, use the eyeliner brush in some black or dark brown eye shadow to line your lid and lower lash line.

Eyebrows
Brow Comb & Brush, Eyelash & Brow Wand, and Angled Eyebrow Brush. Next we have brushes just for your eyebrows. There’s a brow comb and brush duo, a spoolie, and a eyebrow brush for filling in your eyebrows. In my opinion, whether you should use the spoolie or the brow brush/comb duo depends on the coarseness and thickness of your eyebrows.  The spoolie really grabs on to your hairs and stretches them out, making them easier to trim with either a razor or eyebrow scissors. If you have soft, manageable brows, grooming will be easier with the brow comb/brush. By all means, either texture can use both. With this kit, you’re granted the opportunity to have both on hand to meet your or your client’s needs.
 
Lips  
Lip Brush. This lip brush has a sculpted tip that will help you achieve a flawless line. If you don’t use lipliner, you can line your lips with your lipstick using this brush first then fill them in with the stick. Or if you work with clients, you’ll want to paint their lips using the brush, cleaning it frequently, of course.


The only con I had was the waiting period. I placed my order on Thursday, July 3 and didn’t receive them until Monday, July 14. They were shipped out on the 9th, not within 24 hours, but it could have very well been because of the holiday followed by the weekend. I started reading comments and tweets from other people that ordered recently and many said they received theirs in just 2 days! It could be my location, I’m unsure. I never asked any questions, therefore I never received any answers. It does not in any way influence my review or opinion on the quality of the product.

2 comments:

  1. Elle,
    I appreciate your thoroughness and all of your tips along with the review. I was just checking for a standard review on the makeup set, and stumbled upon yours. I will now be suck on your blog for the remainder of the day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Are these brushes labeled? And do they have the company name on them as pictured on the website?
    http://www.mymakeupbrushset.com/products/jet-black-make-up-brush-set

    ReplyDelete