Review of Sigma Brushes

As you know, I recently posted a haul of Sigma brushes.  I'm going to review them today not comparing them to their MAC counterparts but instead I'm looking at them on their own.  I'm going to tell you what I like, what I rarely reach for, and what I think really need improvement.

Must Haves:

F30 - Large Powder Brush
This brush is dense but still fluffy at the same time.  This is wonderful for applying loose powder because it evenly distributes the product and blends at the same time.  I have not had issues with it shedding or bleeding color.

$16 Sigmabeauty.com

F60 - Traditional Foundation Brush
I don't usually use the traditional foundation brushes because I feel like they eat up a lot of product and can look streaky.  I do not find that to be true with the sigma one.  It's a smaller brush but thicker and had synthetic hairs.  The smaller size is perfect for getting right under your eyes and blending out concealer.  I have a pretty large under eye area and it does fit in there perfectly.

$14 Sigmabeauty.com

F82 -  Round Top Kabuki Brush
I find myself reaching for this brush more than my F80 now.  It's made from the same Sigmax HD brush hairs but is smaller and somehow denser.  I love applying liquid foundation with the F60 and then blending it out with the F82 because it can get in smaller places like around your nose and under your eyes better.  If I need a little more coverage somewhere, I stipple it on using this brush.  No more streaks, no more unevenness, and best of all no shedding.  This brush is absolutely perfect.

$16 Sigmabeauty.com

E40 -  Tapered Blending Brush
I love love love this brush.  It's fluffy and dense at the same time - like a little F30.  I have found so many uses for this brush and use it every day.  It's great for applying under eye concealer and blending it out, great for blending crease color, great for applying my Bare Minerals Well Rested.  I'm considering buying a back up.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

E35 - Tapered Blending Brush
I know I said I wasn't going to compare the Sigma Brushes to the MAC ones but I will make an exception for this one because I bought it as a replacement for the 222.  I like this brush a lot but find that it is not much like the 222 and more like the 224.  It is fluffier than the 222 but still good for placing color in the crease.  Fortunately I have a large eye area and so a larger brush actually works well for me.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

E25 - Blending Brush
This brush does exactly what I wanted it to.  I like using this to apply liquid concealer under my eyes as well as for paint pots.  It blends them out in one easy step.  The fact that it is a travel brush has nothing to do with the quality of it which is rarely the case.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

E60 - Large Shader Brush
I like this brush.  As I said, I have a large eye space and if I want to do a wash of color on my eye, this is the right brush for the job.  It places color and blends out edges easily.  It can also pack on color so if you're using a harder to work with color (luster eyeshadows) it will still get the job done easily.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

Worth Checking Out:

F84 - Angled Top Kabuki Brush
I haven't really used this brush much.  I don't know if it's because I'm so happy with the F82 or if it's something else.  I tried using this to apply contour color and just wasn't impressed.  It didn't really pack on the color how I like and used a lot of product in the process.  It probably works amazingly well for liquid foundation but I just don't know yet.  I'll probably give this another go later today.

$16 Sigmabeauty.com

F70 - Concealer Brush
This brush is supposed to be used for under eye concealer but I don't think it's great.  It seems to be too firm and may pull at your under eye area during application.  I don't think it's particularly great for applying concealer on the face either...I'm kind of a fingers girl when it comes to concealer.  It's not a bad brush I just don't really use it.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

F50 - Duo Fiber Brush
I'm not crazy about this brush because it's kind of flimsy.  Duo Fiber brushes are great for stippling on liquid foundation but this one kind of folds under the pressure and doesn't give you enough control.  The only reason this didn't make it onto my needs improvement list is because it is good for applying blush or blending out blush.  It is incredibly soft and I've had no problems with shedding.

$16 Sigmabeauty.com

E70 - Angled Shader Brush
This brush is ok but I don't find myself reaching for it often.  It's a little flimsy so I don't like to use this for brow highlight.  I don't think there's anything wrong with it exactly and I'm sure I'll find a use for it at some point but I'm not in love with it and I don't think it's necessary in a collection.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

E55 - Eye Shading Brush
It's not that this is poorly made or anything but it's just sort of generic.  It is exactly like every other lower brand eye shadow brush.  It puts color on your eyes but it's not dense enough to really pack it on.  I think there's other shadow brushes out there that are better.  I will say that it's a good brush for applying brow highlight.  It's like a baby 227.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

E30 - Pencil Brush
This brush is nice but it has a lot of give to it and it does not come to a point as much as I would like.  It's good for blending out eye shadow along your upper lash line and applying color to your outer V.  I don't really think it should be considered a pencil brush, more of a precise crease brush.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

E65 - Angled Liner Brush
This is not a liner brush.  It is way too thick to do any sort of thin lines.  It is good for eyebrows though so I don't hate it.  It's not essential but it's not a complete waste either.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

Needs Serious Improvement:

F40 - Angled Contour Brush
I have the same issues with this brush that I do for the F50; it is to flimsy.  I haven't found anything that I can use this brush for.  It is too flimsy for blush and defiantly too flimsy for contour.  It's not good for blending or placing color.  Maybe it works for some people but I just don't have a use for it.

**I'm thinking that maybe I was being biased about the F40 because I love my MAC 168 so much and they are such different brushes.  I was getting ready to apply cream blush today which I rarely do (oily skin) and grabbed for my 188 when it occurred to me to try the F40.  It actually worked out because it's less dense so it applied the color more sparingly than if I were to use a denser brush.  Sorry F40 - I spoke too soon**

$14 Sigmabeauty.com

E05 - Liner Brush
Like the E65 this brush is way too big to be a liner brush for your eyes.  It might work well for lips but I think that if you're going to designate a brush for something it should at least work to do that.  I don't think I'll ever use this except for fantasy makeup.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

Well that was my review.  Overall I'm happy with my brushes and would repurchase most of them given the chance.  They are very well made brushes and I look forward to many years of use.

My Experience With Water Manicure

XSparkage posted a link to a video on twitter today for a manicure that was done with a technique where you add little drops of nail polish to water and swirl them around to create a design.  You then dip your finger in the water and you're left with that beautiful design on your nails.  It truly was gorgeous and so I decided to try it out.  Check out the video below.  This is amazing!!

Work wasn't particularly busy today because of presidents day so I decided to try it out.  I was in need of a new manicure anyway.  I started out painting my nails with black nail polish (OPI Black Onyx) and waited for it to dry completely. Then I taped off my finger leaving only the nail exposed.  Next I filled a small cup with luke warm water and added a few drops of a metallic purple nail polish (MAC Lucky Number) and quickly added my second color, a sparkly green (Orly Halley's Comet).  I then took a tooth pick and swirled the colors together to create a design.  Once I was happy with the design, I dipped my finger in to apply the polish to my nail.  Tear away the tape and you have a beautiful swirl design on your nails.  Simple enough, right?

Left Hand

Right Hand

WRONG!  Maybe it's because the girl in the video made it look so easy and I had expectations that it would be just as simple and come out looking as good as hers did every time but this was truly a pain in the butt.  After several cotton balls and nearly a quarter of a bottle of nail polish remover, I learned some tips that might make this easier.  

1.  You have to work on a paper towel.  It is so messy and you will ruin your work space if you do not.

2.  The nail polish used for the design must be thin.  I tried with several different nail polishes and the heavier ones just sank to the bottom and did not disperse like they do in the video.  If you're dead set on using a polish that happens to be thicker, add some nail polish remover to thin it down.

3.  That being said, make sure to use colors that will show up on your base color.  When I first started it, I used a lilac color as my base and a light pink and purple glitter as my swirl colors.  It did not show up at all and I had to start all over again. 

4.  Dripping the polish off the brush is nearly impossible.  As soon as the polish hits the air, it starts to dry and becomes very tacky.  If it does eventually fall off the brush, it will most likely sink to the bottom as opposed to spreading out nicely.  I recommend dripping it from the bottle using the brush to help scoop it out. 

5.  You have to work FAST!  The nail polish starts to dry and clump as soon as it leaves the bottle.  I'm not sure how the girl in the video was able to pull the polish without it clumping almost 4 minutes after the first drop was placed.  If I didn't drop the two polishes within a second of each other and get my toothpick in there and then my nail quickly, it would turn into a big gloopy mess. 

6.  Tape off your next finger before cleaning out remaining polish in your cup.  This will give it a chance to dry some and make it easier to get out in one piece instead of chasing individual globs all around the cup.  

7.  You are going to use a lot of product.  Probably enough on one nail to paint both hands and toes.  Expect a lot of waste.

8.  Be sure to clean out the cup of water and apply new polish for every finger.  After you dip your first finger in, you may be tempted to plunge the next one in right after to use the ample product beautifully swirling around in the cup.  Don't.  As I've said, the polish is already starting to dry and generally what's left in the cup is globs of product that were deposited when you swirled the colors together.  What you'll be left with is a thick ugly mess on your nails (most likely near the tips) that no amount of patting and smoothing will be able to fix. 

9.  Use a cotton round and Q-Tips instead of a cotton ball to clean up.  The cotton rounds will leave less fibers behind than the cotton balls and it is less likely that these will stick to your polish and ruin your manicure.  I ruined four nails when I used the cotton ball and learned to switch to the cotton rounds.

10.  This will take a LONG time.  Expect about 10 minutes each nail with taping, pouring, and cleaning.  that doesn't even include the time it takes to put the base nail polish down and waiting for that to dry.  All in all, you're looking at about 2 hours to get the paint on each nail.  Expect another 45 minutes for them to dry because there is so much polish on each of your nails. 

All of that being said, I am happy with how they came out.  They don't look professionally done, but they do look cool.  It's a fun little project if you've got 3 hours to kill and an insane amount of patience.  I've seen some pictures where people skip the base coat (it ends up getting covered anyway) and the tape and dip all their fingers in at once, worrying about clean up later.  It sounds worth a shot and it might be less of a pain in the ass to work with but I'm not sure I'll be trying this technique again any time soon.  I won't say never because who knows what I'll be doing during the next bank holiday where all of my customers are off and I'm not but chances are I'll be spending my time doing laundry or something much more productive and responsible than painting my nails all afternoon.  Thanks for reading and let me know if you've tried this and what the outcome was. 

Sigma Haul!

After a long day in the office I came home to find my order from Sigma came in the mail today.  I've had great experiences with Sigma in the past, both with their products and their customer service.  Ever since I saw the new Make Me Up collections, I've wanted the Aqua brushes to match my makeup room which is a lighter aqua and a darker turquoise (much like the brushes themselves).  I'm really excited to start using all my new brushes.

The first thing I got was the Make Me Cool Brush set. 

$99 Sigmabeauty.com

This set comes with 12 brushes and a hard case that snaps closed.  When opened, you can use the two cups as brush holders.  I haven't used them yet but my first impression is that they are pretty nice brushes.   The handles are darker and larger than I expected but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  When I first opened them up they smelled a little funky (kind of like wet paint) but I'm hoping that washing them will take care of that. 

Brushes included in the set:

Small Angle - E65

Medium Angled Shading - E70

Large Shader - E60

Pencil - E30

Large Angled Contour - F40

Large Powder - F30

Duo Fibre - F50

Foundation - F60

Concealer - F70

Tapered Blending - E40

Eye Shading - E55

Eyeliner - E05

As a bonus for ordering this set you get a short handle E25 which I'm really excited about because I wanted to get another MAC 217 for paint pots and concealer and now I don't have to!

A few months back I lost my beloved MAC 222 and have been looking for a new one ever since.  The MAC stores and counters around me always seem to be out of stock so I've had some trouble replacing it.  I was excited to see that Sigma was offering the E35 which is supposed to be a comparable brush for 1/3 the cost.  I'm excited to give this a try and see if it measures up.

$9 Sigmabeauty.com

As I've said in the past, I am in love with my F80 and so I was debating on whether to get the F82 or the F84 because I've heard such great things about both of them.  I sucked it up and just decided to get both and I'm happy that I did.  The F82 is smaller than the F80 but equally dense and soft.  I haven't decided what I'm going to use this for (probably contour or liquid foundation) but I'm really psyched to try this one out as well.

$16 Sigmabeauty.com

The F84 is the Angled synthetic Kabuki.  It is equally soft and about the same size as the F80.  I'll probably use this for liquid foundation as well because the edges will fit in smaller areas like around your nose and under your eyes.  I may use this for contour as well. 

$16 Sigmabeauty.com

I'm really anxious to try all of these out but I'm going to wait patiently until tomorrow when they're dry.  I plan on doing a full review of each of the brushes after I use them for a bit so I can see what I grab for and what I use each of them for.  Hope you enjoyed.

Small MAC Haul

I recently realized that I was still able to purchase MAC pro items despite the fact that my staff discount had been revoked when I stopped working for MAC.  Excited that I could finally see all the pro products again  (MAC pro changed their website and you have to be a pro member to even view pro products...stupid!) I decided to purchase some things that I've always wanted to try.  It was only 2 things from Pro and one thing I just needed to replenish.  After two long grueling days of sales meetings I arrived home to see a small black box on my doorstep greeting me and instantly brightening my day.

$24 (MACcosmetics.com)

The first thing I got was the MAC Lightful Foaming Creme Cleanser.  I started using this about a year ago when I bought my first Clarisonic.  I don't know if it was the Clarisonic, the Cleanser, or just the fact that I was taking good care of my skin but it never looked better.  As I said in my January Favorites, I started using the Lightful Active Softening Lotion and the Lightful Deep Ultra Moisture Creme and while I loved how my skin looked, I missed the full Lightful line.  I haven't used the cleanser with my Clarisonic (I returned my Clarisonic because it stopped holding a charge) because I purchased a new mia and it won't arrive until Monday but I do like using this on its own.  As with the Clarisonic, it foams up nicely and cleans deep down in my skin without over drying.  I don't think it's meant to control oil but I feel like it has.  It also took me a really really long time to finish the bottle (about 9 months) because you use so little.

$14.50 (to purchase call 1-800-866-6464)

The next thing I got was MAC's creme eyeliner which is similar to something I used to use from Borghese years ago when they sold cosmetics in the department stores and not just nail polish in CVS.  Here's what MAC has to say about it "Creme Liner is an advanced version of traditional creme liner, which can be used wet or dry. It can be applied straight from the container for a concentrated opaque line, or with a tiny bit of water for a more liquid/fluid application. It dries quickly, is streak-resistant, and long-lasting. Not made with harsh solvents or lacquers like some, this formula contains Vitamin E. It provides the most versatility for the artist."  I don't know about applying it dry because it it kind of waxy and not very easy to pick up but add a little Fix + or water and it is amazing! It is everything I wish Fluidline would be for me.  I'll do a full review on this once I've used it more than just once but so far, I'm loving it. 

$19.50 (To purchase call 1800-866-6464)

The last thing I got was somewhat impractical but I've wanted it for a long time and have searched high and low for this at CCOs and various websites that give samples.  I even called MAC Pro to see if I could get this and I was told that it was discontinued (which it obviously isn't).  I finally have my hands on it and I can't wait to use it.  It's the MAC Glitter in Reflects Antique Gold.   I have several glitters from MAC but they're all bright and generally unusable colors.  I wanted this one because I saw a video where this was used to create a glittery eye look.  I thought it looked beautiful and had to have it ever since.  I haven't used it yet but I'm really looking forward to trying this out (maybe on Valentines day).


Well that's about it for my little haul.  I should probably start combining my hauls together but I just get so excited to use them and then I forget to even do a post about it.  Let me know if you would like a full review on any of these products.  

FOTD

Today's FOTD is inspired by my new makeup from CVS and Lisa Eldridge's video on concealing spots.  I started breaking out again recently (it's hormonal) and so I've been trying to figure out the most natural way to cover my breakouts.  I stumbled upon Lisa Eldridge's video on concealing acne a while ago and have wanted to try her technique ever since my face blew up a week ago.  She has a wonderful philosophy that instead of covering your whole face with a mask of makeup, you should use a really sheer foundation all over to even out your skin and then conceal spots with a concealer or heavier foundation.  I tried it today and I have to say, I'm really pleased with the outcome.


I started out by priming my face with my Murad Oil Control Primer down my nose and on my forehead.  I then mixed Chanel Pro Lumiere in the color Shell (1.5) with my Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF 42 and then added some of my MAC Lightful Deep Ultra Moisture Creme to thin it out a bit.  I squeezed out a little bit of the Vichy Dermablend Foundation and mixed it with my MAC Pro Long Wear Concealer in NW25 because the color was a little light.  Using a MAC 217 Brush (like Lisa in the video) I lightly brushed the heaver foundation over the spots that needed some more concealing.  I wouldn't say it looks natural...I defiantly look like I'm wearing a lot of makeup and there's nothing any cosmetic can do about texture but I do like the final outcome. 

FACE:
Murad Oil Control Mattifier
MAC Lightful Ultra Deep Moisture Cream
Chanel Pro Lumiere (Shell 1.5)
Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF 42 (#20)
Vichy Dermablend Foundation (Opal 15)
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (NW25)
MAC Blot Powder Loose (light)
Benefit Bronzer (Hoola)
MAC Mineralize Blush (Nuance)
MAC Blush (Dame)
MAC MSF (Shimpagne)

BROWS:
MAC Eyeshadow (Embark)

EYES:
Urban Decay Primer Potion (Sin - all over)
MAC Paint Pot (Indianwood - Lid, Up to crease)
MAC Pigment (Jardin Aires - Inner Corner)
MAC Pigment (Tan - Lid and into the crease.  Also smudged out eyeliner on top and bottom)
MAC Pigment (Chocolate brown - Crease)
MAC Eyeshadow (Carbon - Outer V and smudged out eyeliner)
Milani Liquif'eye Liner (Black - Upper lashline and water line)
MAC Haute And Naughty Lash

LIPS:
MAC Lipstick (Honeylove)

Hoola Barbados in a box

Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin Eyeshadow Primer Potion from Urban Decay is unmatched by any other in the beauty industry! The genie in this bottle fulfills three wishes: eyeshadow that lasts, more vibrant and lasting color, and absolutely NO creasing.

Little CVS Haul

I have a kick off meeting tomorrow for work and went to CVS today to pick up some travel things since I'll be staying over night in a hotel (that's 10 minutes from my house) and I don't want to deprive my boyfriend of shampoo and conditioner while I'm gone.  I of course had to go look at some makeup while I was there and picked up a few things.

$28 (Vichyusa.com)

The first thing I got was the Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation in the color Opal (15).  I've heard a lot of great things about this foundation and I used to use the Dermablend Cover Creme a few years back.  They are very different products but you get essentially the same results.  I'll be using this as more of a concealer than a foundation because of the coverage it offers.






I also picked up a Milani HD Concealer in the lightest shade.  It is one of those click pen concealers like the YSL Touche Eclat.  I plan to use this under my eyes to camouflage my dark circles.

$7.99 (CVS.com)

$5.99 (CVS.com)

Last thing in the cosmetics department is also from Milani.  It is the Milani Liquif'eye eyeliner in black.  It's really creamy so you can blend it out but once it sets, its staying there.  I swatched this on my hand and it literally was like using a liquid eye liner.  After about a minute I tried to rub it off and was unsuccessful.  It is a very pigmented inky black. 

$6.29 (CVS.com)

I ran out of my Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque today and I didn't have time to go to Ulta to pick up some more.  While looking for a travel shampoo and conditioner today I stumbled across something that I've wanted for a while but could never find it in any of the stores near me.  It is the Pantene Pro-V Restore Beautiful Lengths Replenishing Mask.  I've been trying to grow my hair out for about 2 years now and while it's getting pretty long (almost to my elbows) it's starting to look damaged.  I don't think this will take the place of the Macadamia Oil Masque but I'm hoping it'll be a nice stand in conditioner until I can pick up some more.




Well that was my little haul.  Not a lot of stuff purchased today but I'm pretty excited to try out something new.  Let me know if you've ever used any of these products.  I'd love to hear what someone else might think about them.  I'll leave you with a cute picture of Bailey.

He doesn't like it when I leave him so he's trying to pack himself to come with me.

January Favorites

As promised, here are my January favorites.  Some of these items were recent purchases and some have been in my collection for a while but I just recently fell in love with them.  

Nuance Mineralize Blush:  This is the first mineralize blush I've purchased and I have to say, I love it.  I was put off by them in the past because I thought they were too shimmery which can make textured skin look even more bumpy.  I was very very wrong.  This shade is a perfect peach shade that looks natural and compliments my light complexion in the winter.  It also blends easily and doesn't fade.  I find myself using this every day and layering with other blushes to compliment various looks. 


Shimpagne MSF: This Mineralize Skin Finish came in the Fun In The Sun Mineralize kit from MAC's holiday collection in 2009.  It is similar in texture to Soft and Gentle MSF but more beige than pink.  A little goes a long way with this since it's so shimmery.  I like this for the tops of my cheek bones and my cupid's bow.  I find it a little too shiny for my nose. 


Play on Plums Mineralize Eye Shadow :  One of my favorite eye looks to do is to put Expensive Pink Eye Shadow on my entire lid and Cranberry in the outer V.  I recently purchased the Play on Plums Mineralize Eye Shadow and have fallen in love with it.  It is the perfect compliment to my green eyes.  ($19 MACcosmetics.com)

MAC Wedge Eye Shadow:  I got this eye shadow last year and haven't really used it up until recently.  I like using a bronzer to contour my face but I've found that a lot of them are too orangey and look kind of fake.  I started using Wedge to contour my cheek bones and find the cooler color to look more like a natural shadow than bronzer.  I also like this as a transition color in my crease.  ($14.50 MACcosmetics.com)


MAC Blanc Type Eye Shadow:  Another eye shadow I purchased a year ago that I didn't use very often, probably because my skin has been too tan and looked unnatural.  Since I haven't been tanning in months, this makes a great highlight now.  It's matte so I like to use this when I have a lot of shimmer on the rest of my face.  

Bobby Brown Corrector :  I've talked about my dark under eye circles in the past and have found that this is works great to solve that problem.  I got the color Light Bisque because I am super pale right now but it comes in 10 different shades so you're sure to find the right one for your skin tone.  It's very creamy and a little goes a long way and the light pink color works fabulously to neutralize the bluish shades under my eyes.  ($22 bobbybrowncosmetics.com)


Bare Minerals Well Rested: I use this every day under my eyes to set my concealer.  It lives up to its name and brightens to make me look like I've gotten a full night of sleep.  It also helps my concealer last all day and stops my eye liner from running.  ($18 Nordstrom.com)


MAC Prep + Prime Skin Refines Zone: I bought about 2 years ago at a CCO and didn't really think too much of it at the time.  I ran out of primer recently and decided to use this on my T-Zone and across my cheeks around my nose.  A few minutes after applying I noticed my pores shrinking and my skin felt really soft.  This helped my foundation stay on and reduced caking around my nose.  ($19.50 MACcosmetics.com)


MAC Lightful Deep Ultra Moisture Creme:  Despite its name, this moisturizer is very light weight and more of a gel like consistency than a cream.  I use this twice a day and it immediately sinks into my skin making it feel soft and hydrated, never greasy.  It also has a light fresh scent that is very refreshing.  I always feel like I'm doing something really nice for my skin when I use this.  ($38 MACcosmetics.com)

MAC 275 Angled Shading Brush:  This is another item that I've had in my collection for a long time and didn't reach for it very often.  Recently, I've been using this for my highlight color.  It packs color on my brow bone perfectly and then blends it out nicely so there's no harsh line.  ($24 MACcosmetics.com)

Sigma F80 Brush:  Once again, holy grail product and a great company.  This is the softest brush ever and is so wonderful for liquid foundation.  I swirl my foundation on a candle plate and then tap the brush into it and buff it onto my face.  It applies the right amount of product and buffs away any harsh lines.  I had a little issue with it shedding recently while I was deep cleaning it and contacted Sigma who are sending me a new one no questions asked.  I think the fact that they can stand behind their product and are dedicated to such great customer service really says a lot about the company.  I will be purchasing additional brushes in the future for my kit because of this. ($16 sigmabeauty.com)






Well that about wraps things up.  I've really enjoyed playing with makeup this past month and I'm excited to experiment with new (and old) products next month.  Until next time, here's a picture of Bailey.  

He likes to keep with the current makeup trends too!

bareMinerals Well Rested for Eyes This award winning shadow base by bareMinerals is perfect for brightening the skin under your eyes or anywhere you wish to brighten dark shadows.