Why You Need The Brush Guard For Your Makeup Brushes

Why You Need The Brush Guard For Your Makeup Brushes

Wayne Goss Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, October 10, 2016

Last year, I invested in some Wayne Goss, Koyudo, Hakuhodo and Chikuhodo makeup brushes - see here for the Wayne Goss brushes and my thoughts on them. All of these are handcrafted in Kumano, Japan, and the bristles, made of natural goat or squirrel hair, is never cut at the tips, so the brushes are the softest and most delicate.
Being the rough handler and klutz that I am, I knew it was only a matter of time before I ended up mutilating the bristles. After all, we are talking about someone who once stepped on a glass nail file.
The Brush Guard protects your makeup brushes from rough handling, travel, dust, accidents and even the rigours of washing and drying. It keeps the bristles even and in shape. 

Scroll down for more on how Brush Guards protect makeup brushes.

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Why You Need The Best Of Sigma Makeup Brush Set

Why You Need The Best Of Sigma Makeup Brush Set

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Is there any makeup user who does not love Sigma's makeup brushes? Luxuriously crafted, cruelty-free, soft, dense Sigmax bristles in heavy wooden handles and chrome ferrules, with a two-year warranty - what's not to love?
Choosing the right Sigma brushes can be confusing. There are six different eyeliner brushes. Ten blending brushes for eyeshadows. Which do you pick - where do you start?
Thankfully, Sigma themselves have provided the answer. A comprehensive, seven-brush set of four eye makeup brushes and three face makeup brushes - their seven bestselling brushes.

Scroll down for more on the Best of Sigma makeup brush set.

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Why You Need Wayne Goss Makeup Brushes

Why You Need Wayne Goss Makeup Brushes

Wayne Goss Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, February 09, 2016

Ever since I bought my first Wayne Goss brush last November - see here - my older makeup brushes have been languishing in oblivion while the WG brushes have not left the top of my vanity.
Believe me, the hype is real. Every bit of it. All my other brushes are just knocked out of the ball park with these.
Before we go any further - I bought these. Wayne Goss has no idea I exist. I gain nothing except maybe lose a few hours taking photos, writing, cropping and so on.

Scroll down for deets on all the Wayne Goss makeup brushes and how I use them.

Tarte Stroke of Midnight Brush Set for Holiday 2015 Review

Tarte Stroke of Midnight Brush Set for Holiday 2015 Review

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, November 19, 2015

I wanted something from the Tarte Holiday 2015 collection because of the sequinned packaging, but not much remained except for the limited edition Stroke of Midnight Brush Set and Travel Case.
The sequinned travel case is spacious and ideal for holding makeup brushes or for jars or bottles of skincare and liquid foundation and other makeup securely during air or road travel. They certainly have paid a lot of attention to detail when it comes to the packaging, even the external box. There are five makeup brushes in this set.

Scroll down for my thoughts on the Tarte Holidaze Stroke of Midnight LE Brush Set for Holiday 2015.

Eyeshadow Blending Brush Haul From Beautylish

Eyeshadow Blending Brush Haul From Beautylish

Wayne Goss Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Last weekend, Beautylish had a gift card event - if you shopped for $100, you would get a $20 gift card, which only expires in December 2016. I love shopping at Beautylish because of excellent customer care including handwritten thank-you notes, four- (five at the most) day international delivery with Fedex, and free international shipping above $100. This is not quite a haul; I only bought four brushes without really thinking.
I was somewhat makeupped-out after hauling Advent Calendars and Holiday gift sets wily-nily, so I did not really have a must-buy list. Hemmed and hawed my way through their inventory for a while, and finally decided that I would buy some blending brushes from brands I had not tried before, just to reach $100 and get the gift card. Had I only known I would fall in love....
Here are the brushes I got.

Sonia Kashuk Ombre Obsessed LE Makeup Brush Set for Fall 2015

Sonia Kashuk Ombre Obsessed LE Makeup Brush Set for Fall 2015

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, October 28, 2015

I have an early Holiday haul to show you, but before I sit down to take photos of everything together, take a gander at the Sonia Kashuk Ombre Brushes - one of three sets from the brand for Fall 2015. Stunners, aren't they? Ombre brushes in Fall colours. What's not to love?

Scroll down for the lowdown on the Sonia Kashuk Ombre Obsessed LE Makeup Brush Set for Fall 2015.

Mix or Apply Makeup With the Paw Palette

Mix or Apply Makeup With the Paw Palette

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Do you apply foundation on the back of your hand before dipping in your favourite brush or Beautyblender? Or, do you mix your foundation - such as the Custom Cover Drops - with something else to customise coverage or shade? Or do you mix cream blushes or lip pigments or eyeshadows? If so, then this is a must-have.
I have lost count of the number of times I saw faint foundation marks on my left hand, when I was at the steering wheel, or worse, much later. The morning rush can often mean we forget to wipe the fiddly things.
Enter the Paw Palette. It is one of those little things that matter much. The hygienic way to mix and apply your makeup, be it foundation, lip tars, eyeshadow or concealer. With no wastage.

Scroll down for more details about the Paw Palette.

Look Good Feel Better Makeup Brushes

Look Good Feel Better Makeup Brushes

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, October 15, 2015

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Although spared (thus far) dealing with breast cancer in particular, my Gramps - known as the "godfather" of the shipping industry in my city - was diagnosed with cancer last year so I know at first-hand the turmoil the disease, its diagnosis and treatment can cause in the lives of the patient and their family.
Look Good Feel Better is an organisation that supports women and teens who are struggling with visible side-effects of cancer treatment. Some of these side-effects can be damaging to self-esteem and confidence and I know some extrovert ladies who completely stopped venturing out after they started chemo. The organisation provides free hair, skincare and makeup services and workshops to women and teens, and thereby gives them a sense of normalcy. When I found Look Good Feel Better makeup brushes on FeelUnique, I bought some at once.

Scroll down for my thoughts on the Look Good Feel Better Makeup Brushes.

Etude House My Beauty Tool Secret Face Makeup Brush 121 Review

Etude House My Beauty Tool Secret Face Makeup Brush 121 Review

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, September 17, 2015

Ever wanted to try out an oval makeup brush, but hesitated to spend on those gorgeous-looking Artis Elite brushes? Korean cult brand Etude House has an affordable solution.
The Etude House My Beauty Tool Face Makeup Brush 121 is a small toothbrush-like, oval-head brush with a gold plastic body. It comes with a removable head and comes with a sponge attachment as well. The only makeup sponge I swear by is the Beautyblender. Everything else is latex-y, and the sponge attachment of this brush is no exception. So I will be concentrating on the brush attachment.

Scroll down for my experience with the Etude House My Beauty Tool Secret Skin Face Makeup Brush 121.

Sigma 3DHD Kabuki and Precision face makeup brushes review

Sigma 3DHD Kabuki and Precision face makeup brushes review

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Ridged brushes for flawless application and blending.

When it comes to face makeup, it is not easy to find a brush that gives a smooth, flawless finish without leaving brush marks. Sigma's 3DHD makeup brush range (PR Sample), however, promises to cover pores and smooth out the skin, without streaky marks. That sounds like any girl's dream. Best of all, unlike other makeup brush ranges, there are just two brushes in the 3DHD range - one for concealing and precision work and the other for foundation and setting powder.

Scroll down for my review of the Sigma 3DHD Kabuki and Precision face makeup brushes.

Missamé 10pc Bamboo Makeup Brush Set review

Missamé 10pc Bamboo Makeup Brush Set review

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, April 10, 2015

A cruelty-free, soft and lightweight makeup brush set in a compact case.

What qualities do you look for in a makeup brush? For me, bristles must be soft and well-packed, the brush must not be too long or heavy and it must not look or feel cheap. Plus, I must be able to find some use for it in my makeup routine, even if it may not be the use the company intends.
With lightweight bamboo handles, aluminium ferrules and synthetic taklon brushes, the 10-piece cruelty-free bamboo makeup brush set from Missamé (PR sample*) pretty much ticks every box in my checklist. They are 'pettably' soft, and come with a travel-friendly pouch. They look and feel sturdy - I've sat on two of the eye brushes (don't ask; blame my niece) and nothing happened.
Missamé, founded by animal lover Amy Ng, is a California-based brand that launched their cruelty-free makeup brushes last year. Their aim is to make professional-quality brushes at affordable prices and they offer a satisfaction guarantee.
How much do you think this set costs? Guess! You will know the answer towards the end of the post.

Check out my thoughts on the 10 bamboo makeup brushes from Missamé.

Beautyblender Micro.Mini sponge review

Beautyblender Micro.Mini sponge review

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, January 06, 2015

The Micro.Mini Beautyblender eliminates brush marks and gives concealer an airbrushed, flawless finish. 

I am a huge fan of the Original Beautyblender, reviewed here, and consider it my HG makeup applicator for liquid and powder foundations. Both the Black and Pink versions, compared here, give a flawless, cake- and mark-free finish. However, I used to reach for a brush for applying concealer and, on busy mornings, I have wished for a brush-mark-free, easily blendable application method, particularly with thick concealers. Recently, the Beautyblender brand released a Micro.Mini version of the cult sponge, for precision application of foundation, concealer and other makeup.
The fluorescent green Micro.Mini sponges are cute and "squeezable" - at the risk of being labelled weird(er than I already am), squeezing these is as stress-busting as bursting bubblewrap.

Read on for the full review of the Beautyblender Micro.Mini sponges.

Original Pink vs Pro Black Beautyblender Makeup Sponge Comparison, Results

Original Pink vs Pro Black Beautyblender Makeup Sponge Comparison, Results

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 12, 2014

If you have read my review of the Original Beautyblender Pro posted more than a year ago here, you would know how obsessed I am with this amazing sponge, which has made all the difference in my makeup application. Since then I have bought four Beautyblenders in all - two black and two pink sponges. A number of you have asked me what difference there is between the two, so I thought I would address that.
I am not going to talk about the same old things I said before, including packaging, results, usage, benefits and purchasing details. This post is just for comparing the Original pink and Pro black Beautyblenders.

Scroll down for the comparison of the Original Pink and Black Pro Beautyblender Makeup Sponges.

Bdellium Tools and EcoTools makeup brushes haul

Bdellium Tools and EcoTools makeup brushes haul

Tools Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, July 18, 2014

Recently, iHerb offered free worldwide shipping for orders above $40. I was looking to get myself some new makeup brushes anyway, so I went on board rightaway.
Makeup artist and blogger Norah Salazar of Norah Loves Makeup had recommended the Bdellium Tools brushes to me and those were at the top of my wishlist. 
For those who are new, iHerb sells natural and eco-friendly brands and they ship worldwide. They have regular offers where non-DHL shipping is used, so it does not always fall under the customs radar. You can sign up here and get up to $10 off your first order with my referral code WZJ030.

But first, check out the Bdellium Tools and Eco Tools makeup brushes I bought.

Lip Factory February 2014 unboxing, review, contents: International Beauty Box

Lip Factory February 2014 unboxing, review, contents: International Beauty Box

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, March 02, 2014

The February 2014 Lip Factory Box is the best they have sent out so far. I know I say this each month. For sheer consistency, value for money, customer care and range, this is my favourite beauty box.
Lip Factory is a US-based makeup-centric beauty box that ships worldwide. You get full-sized makeup products and maybe a sample or two and the value always exceeds the $22 that the box costs ($32 if you're outside the US). They bring in some amazing brands and, every four months, there is an all-lips box. To subscribe, hit their website here. Do mention my reference number 384919 and we'll both get 50 points apiece (can be redeemed for products or boxes).

Here is the unboxing and review of my Valentine's Day Edition Lip Factory Box for February 2014.

Makeup and skin care haul from Sephora Middle East: Part I

Makeup and skin care haul from Sephora Middle East: Part I

Urban Decay Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, January 05, 2014

You're thinking, "That is all she bought, after all her claims?" This is the first of the makeup and skin care hauls made over the Holiday season from Sephora Middle East. I've got separate haul posts for lipsticks, nail polishes, Soap & Glory, Benefit and Boots No7. Detailed reviews and swatches will be posted later. And yes, I did buy 25 nail polishes and quite a few lipsticks, but this post will become longer than The Iliad unless I split up my haul!
There are eight countries in the Persian Gulf with Sephora stores, with eight Sephora outlets in the UAE alone. You can sign up for the Sephora White Card, which is the Middle East's equivalent of the Beauty Insider loyalty card programme and earn points and get gifts. And once you have 2,000 points like I do now, you can trade it in for a black card. I'm now going to show you the palettes, eye creams, blush and brushes I hauled across brands from Sephora.

Beautyblender Detailers makeup brushes review, usage and photos

Beautyblender Detailers makeup brushes review, usage and photos

Reviews Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, December 29, 2013

My Beauty Junction is the first to try out the Detailers eye and makeup brush set from the Beautyblender. As you have seen in the teasers and preview, the Detailers brushes are six in number and all of them are cruelty-free.

The bristles are synthetic and the handles look like light aluminium and the ferrules like plastic, I think - yes, that's the extent of my ignorance about these things. Each brush measures 5'' in length - just right for the natural curve of the palm. The bristles are pure white in colour and the ferrule is a pale blueish grey. The handles are also white.
I have been using no other applicators but the Detailers brush set and the Original Beautyblender Pro, reviewed here, for a whole month now, and it is time to share my findings. Each of these brushes deserves a separate review, but I wanted to showcase the whole set at once, so it is a rather long post.

Here is the detailed review along with usage tips for each of the six Beautyblender Detailers makeup brushes.

Beautyblender Detailers makeup brush set preview and teaser photos

Beautyblender Detailers makeup brush set preview and teaser photos

Preview Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, December 04, 2013

My Beauty Junction is the first to try out the Detailers makeup brushes from the Beautyblender and here is an exclusive preview (premiere, if you like) of these amazing brushes, which are due to launch in January 2014. I will post a detailed review of the Detailers set including structure and material of the brushes, purchasing details, cleansing, user experience and usage tips in a week or two.
I had reviewed the black Beautyblender Pro sponge in June and posted a teaser about the launch of the Detailers brushes in September.
These brushes are not as good as I expected - they are FAR, FAR BETTER. And they - at least two of them - have changed the way I apply makeup and have already acquired Holy Grail brush status.

Lip Factory Box all-lips November review, unboxing, photos: International beauty box

Lip Factory Box all-lips November review, unboxing, photos: International beauty box

Unboxing Cosmetopia Digest   Saturday, November 23, 2013

The November 2013 box is exactly why Lip Factory is my international beauty box. Every four months, they do an all-lips box. They do NOT carry drugstore brands. They send six full-size exclusive makeup products every month. No samples. No sachets. What's not to like?

Lip Factory is a US-based beauty box but they ship worldwide. To subscribe, hit their website here. Do mention my reference number 384919 and we'll both get 50 points apiece (used to redeem for products or boxes).

To subscribe, hit their website (make-up centric beauty box with no foil sachets or samples but around six full-size products). Do mention my reference number 384919 and we'll both get 50 points apiece (used to redeem for products or boxes). - See more at: http://www.mybeautyjunction.com/2013/10/international-beauty-box-my-lip-factory.html#sthash.75W7A6iS.dpuf

To subscribe, hit their website (make-up centric beauty box with no foil sachets or samples but around six full-size products). Do mention my reference number 384919 and we'll both get 50 points apiece (used to redeem for products or boxes). - See more at: http://www.mybeautyjunction.com/2013/10/international-beauty-box-my-lip-factory.html#sthash.75W7A6iS.dpuf

To subscribe, hit their website (make-up centric beauty box with no foil sachets or samples but around six full-size products). Do mention my reference number 384919 and we'll both get 50 points apiece (used to redeem for products or boxes). - See more at: http://www.mybeautyjunction.com/2013/10/international-beauty-box-my-lip-factory.html#sthash.75W7A6iS.dpuf

Here are the contents of my November 2013 Lip Factory Box:

TheBalm Powder To The People eye brushes review, photos: Best eye makeup brushes!

TheBalm Powder To The People eye brushes review, photos: Best eye makeup brushes!

TheBalm Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, October 14, 2013

If you think Real Techniques and MAC 217 are the be-all and end-all of eye makeup brushes, I can tell you I've dumped both in favour of these marvels, which were released late last year. Like their eyeshadow palettes and other makeup, theBalm's brushes combine stellar performance with cute packaging and looks. And I'm not exaggerating.
TheBalm's brush collection is named Powder To The People. The collection includes three eye brushes, all of them dual-ended and cruelty-free. They are: