Try using a brush to apply your foundation! SERIOUSLY! The Body Shop foundation brush.

There’s a reason professionally trained makeup artists don’t go directly onto the face with dots of foundation and blend it out with a sponge. In addition to soaking up too much product, a sponge tends to press product onto your face without distributing it it evenly.

Which is why a brush can be useful. Not necessary, but useful. I am definitely a proponent of, if something works for you, go ahead! Keep doing it. So if using your fingers is comfortable for you and you can still achieve your makeup goals then just skip this review! If using a sponge is your preference then by all means go right ahead!

This is The Body Shop foundation brush.

Bristles up close.. The shape is very useful for getting right into the area between the eyes and the nose.

The tapered brush is perfectly suited to hold enough product without waste.

Description:
A makeup brush meant for application of cream and liquid products.
Bristles: Synthetic (material unknown)
Ferrule: Metal
Handle: Wooden painted with black (I am just guessing because there isn’t any information on their website).

Price: MYR 65 (by the way, based on a previous The Body Shop brush review, link here, their prices haven’t changed at all since at least 2015)

Where to buy: Online on thebodyshop.com.my and at their stores nationwide.

EXTREMELY soft bristles.

They flex very perfectly onto any surface.

Pros:
> The brush is designed very suitably for its purpose.
> Size, shape and bristles are perfect for cream and liquid products.
> Applies product beautifully.
> A few years old and has evidently stayed intact!
> Not a single strand has frayed or shed.
> VERY sturdy! So well made!
> For synthetic bristles, they are EXTREMELY soft! Softer than any of its kind I own or have touched.

Cons:
> The handle is wider at the bottom making it unable to fit traveling cases.

Note: I initially wanted to add the price as a con but the brushes are definitely worth the price! Specialty brushes of the same kind would cost a LOT more.

Rating:
9.1/10
LOVE LOVE LOVE this brush! Will definitely invest in more brushes from the brand in the future.

A local (Malaysian) indie makeup brand that’s in Watsons! What?!

Yes, this indie brand started with a single makeup brush way back in 2015. The brand now boasts brush sets, makeup sponges, lip products, an eyeshadow palette, a mascara, a liquid liner and even hand sanitiser!

Founded by local beauty blogger and YouTuber Sabrina Tajuddin in 2015, it is now available at Watsons and PlayUP stores!!! Definitely an incredible achievement!

When the brand launched with its first product I immediately placed an order (review here). Later that year two more brushes were released and I purchased them too. A year after that more brushes and brush sets were launched during when I won a giveaway and received a whole 6-piece brush set (there’s a first impressions post if you want to see the brushes when they came out of the box all fresh, link here). The brushes are now 4 years old and very much used and loved.

I believe the packaging has changed but the brushes are still the same six brushes.

There are descriptions on the back of the box of what is contained in the box…

Intended purpose of the brushes suggestions on how to use them.

Even comes with care instructions!!!

The brushes. Either my photography skills have improved leaps and bounds or the brushes really are beautiful or a combination of both! I’ll let you be the judge of that…

Both the description and the brush code are painted with rose gold paint with engraved words.

B211; Fluffy blending brush. It is, as the name says, a fluffy brush intended for blending eyeshadow. The faded label is kind of my fault! 😛 I used 60% alcohol thinking it would be effective and I was right. It was a little too effective.

Nice loosely packed bristles for its intended purpose. I love using this to blend out under-eye concealer.

B212; Basic Eyeshadow. This is an eyeshadow brush. Usually used to apply colour.

It is another staple eyeshadow brush. Tightly packed bristles to apply eyeshadow. Densely packed shadows apply pigments more vividly then a brush with loosely packed bristles.

B213; Crease blending. It is just a flattened version of the B211. Basically for the same purpose of blending eyeshadow.

It is interchangeable with the B211 but I do suppose the slightly flattened bristles serve to fit the crease of the eye.

B214; Shadow Smudge. Supposed to be used to smudge cream liner or eyeshadow for a smoked out look.

The square shaped and tightly packed bristles help with smudging and with a precise line.

B215; Pencil Brush. For precise application and smudging in a concentrated spot.

Has a pretty pointed tapered tip. Would help to apply product at precise points, for example the inner corner.

B216; Brow Definer. The newer version of this brush is dual ended with a spoolie.

Bristles. Supposed to be used for brows and liner. It really is designed for its intended purpose. It is one of those basic essential brush that I would recommend you have in your kit if you like makeup in any capacity.

Description:
A set of makeup brushes intended for eye makeup.
Bristles: Synthetic bristles (material undisclosed).
Ferrule: Metal in rose gold colour.
Handle: Wooden painted white engraved with rose gold labels.

Price: MYR 168. Also available individually at MYR 28 each (do look out for sales during special holidays).

Where to buy: Online at https://www.breenabeauty.com/ or selected Watsons stores and PlayUP stores nationwide.

Pros:
> Sturdy and durable brushes.
> Works very well for each of its intended purpose.
> For being a staple in my makeup kit, having traveled with and been constantly used and washed, it has stayed intact and viable.
> Nice design.
> Local Indie brand (I don’t typically list this as a pro, but yes, the fact that it is an indie local brand definitely gives, to me, a reason to purchase).
> Soft bristles.
> No shedding.
> Affordable.

Cons:
> Although bristles are soft the smaller brushes are a little bit stiffer than I would like it to be making it a tiny bit unwieldy. Particularly B214 and B215.
> The white finish on the handle is not very fool-proof. Even alcohol tends to melt it away. During a show, something melted the finish away on one of mine.

So sad…

Note: Perhaps the paint should have been a stronger, more unforgiving material. More of a lacquer paint than just paint or perhaps a protective finishing layer might serve it better. This might have already been improved since this was the first version of the brushes.


Rating:
8.7/10
Lovely brushes!

Zoeva 227 Luxe Soft Definer/ Blender Brush Review

Founded by Zoe Boikou, Zoeva as a brand began with only a line of makeup brushes which has now expanded to eyeshadows, lipsticks, and even blushers and highlighters. This is a review of a single brush, namely the 227 blending brush.

The brush. (I LOVE MY NEW BACKGROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

The cardboard inside has some information on the brush.

Excellent packaging. Definitely made me feel like I purchased something high end.

The handle with the brand and product code engraved.

Bristles up close.

It is slightly flatten with bristles that are frayed out to allow good eyeshadow blending.

Description:
Makeup brush intended for eyeshadow blending.
Bristles: Mix of natural (goat hair) and synthetic
Ferrule: Brass
Handle: Wood (lacquered six times)

Price: MYR 59

Where to buy: Sephora outlets nationwide and online at sephora.my

Pros:
> The brush feels and works like a high-end makeup brush.
> Extremely sturdy and durable.
> Blends out eyeshadow beautifully!
> Having had it for a couple of years, traveled with it and also used and washed it so many times, it looks almost as good as new as evident from the pictures.
> Soft bristles.

Cons:
> Did initially shed a little but when it stopped shedding, it stopped for good.
> Price isn’t affordable but the brush is definitely worth the price.
> Natural bristles require more care than synthetic brushes.

Rating: 9.1/10
I LOVE THIS BRUSH! I actually wanted to test out Zoeva as a brand and so I purchased the brush that I had only one of in my collection at that time (an eyeshadow blending brush). Definitely worth the money spent! I am actually eyeing a classic set. If you’re a makeup artist or simply just love makeup, it is definitely worth investing in it!

Ecotools Six Piece Essential Eye Set Review

[UPDATED REVIEW]

This particular set of brushes are no more available but they do have similar ones derived from the same materials. This review serves as a testament to how good these brushes are because I have had them since 2014.

Ecotools is not that popular a brand in Malaysia simply due to the fact that it is not widely available, however, they aren’t as elusive as I am making them out to be. I love their concept due to their reverence for the environment and being 100% cruelty-free. They do have a website at https://www.ecotools.com/. Let’s take a look at their six piece essential eye brush set.

In this updated review I am attaching some of the older pictures because there are some comparisons to be made. And the bag that the brushes came in, I gave to my mother.

The brushes.

[Picture retrieved from original post]. The sixth piece was the bag itself.

This is the Large Eye brush. It is also the largest brush in the set. According to the instructions on the cardboard cover, it could be used to blend a base eyeshadow all over the entire eyelid.

This is the Angled Crease brush. It is the second largest brush. According to the instructions it is to add definition to the crease of the eye and as you can see the bristles are cut at an angle.

This is the Highlighting brush. The instructions say that is to accentuate the brow bone and inner corner of the eyes.

This is the Petite Eye Shading brush. The instructions say that it is to add accent colour.

The last and the tiniest one is the Smudge brush and according to instructions it is to smudge shadow and liner along the lash line.

I also have pictures of the bristles up close.

Large Eye Brush. Pretty densely packed slightly flat with a dome shape.

Angled Crease. Cut at an angle and as densely packed as the Large Eye brush.

Highlighting. This is more loosely packed and instead of its intended purpose I like using it to blend eyeshadows.

Petite Eye Shading. Small brush and resembles a tiny version of a eyeshadow brush that is used to press shadow onto the lids.

Smudge. Tiny brush that resembles a small pencil brush; perfect for its intended use

Description;

Bristles: Synthetic taklon (cruelty free bristles; taklon is most commonly used for making soft brushes). Each brush bristle shape and use have been described under each picture. The brushes are travel size (I’ll add a comparison picture below).

Ferrule: Aluminum, recycled.

Handle: Bamboo (it is an environmentally friendly source of material).

Price: MYR 70 (price is irrelevant for this post, but at the moment, the price for a set similar to this is MYR 99 at Shins).

Where to buy: SHINS outlets nationwide and they also have a website where you could order online at http://www.shins.my/. SHINS is also available in Sarawak, East Malaysia.

The comparatively similar one I could find on Shins is this one:-

https://shins.my/products/EcoTools-6pc-Eye-Brush-Collection–1227-[ECO717]/3546

A few comparison shots.

The engraving on the handles have faded off.

Initial post.

Current state. The Ecotools logo has almost completely faded.

Comparison with a normal size brush.

 

Pros:

They are environmentally friendly AND cruelty-free.

Extremely sturdy. I have used, washed and cleansed these brushes very often!

Travel-friendly.

Affordable.

Almost no shedding!

At just about 4 years old, the brushes are going strong! So I am bumping up the rating.

 

Cons:

Not all the brushes are soft.  The smaller ones tend to feel a little scratchy on the eyelids.

The shorter handles can be an issue.

 

Ratings:

8.7/10

I love them although I don’t use each brush for their intent purposes. They are also a YouTube fave.

Breena Beauty Face Luxe Brush Review

[UPDATED REVIEW]

Breena Beauty is the brainchild of local beauty blogger Sabrina Tajudin whose first release was the Face Luxe Brush. I purchased it in May 2015 and wrote a first impressions post (post link here) upon receiving it.

I am a firm believer in using makeup brushes for a prolonged amount of time before actually reviewing it. A makeup brush should last at least a couple of years before falling apart, especially synthetic brushes. It is ultimately the reason all the makeup brushes reviewed on FiercePaint, I’ve had and used for at least 8 months.

The brush.

There was a hand written note that which I can’t seem to find. Attached are two pictures from the original post.

Moving on!

I especially love the rose gold ferrule.

Description on the back of the box.

Close up of the description.

Left in the design for aesthetics! 😛

Care instructions.

Close up of the bristles.

Densely packed bristles.

Soft synthetic bristles.

Description:

Multi purpose large face brush. Can be used with both powder and liquid products. Designed and made locally.

Bristles: Synthetic. Dark brown with a gradient white tip. Densely packed and very soft. Dome shaped. Muslim-friendly

Ferrule: Rose gold metal. Very sturdy.

Handle: Wood, white paint with the brush name engraved in gold.

Price: MYR 45 (excluding shipping)

Where to buy: Breena Beauty website. Update! They now offer international shipping!

 

Pros:

Very affordable for such a good quality brush.

Versatile; not too dense for powder application and not too loosely packed for liquid foundation. I have used it for both with good results.

Application is soft and smooth, with no streaking from the brush strokes.

Soft and easy to use.

Because it is rather large, a larger area of the face can be covered allowing for swift application.

The large wooden handle is actually helpful to application because holding and maneuvering becomes surprisingly easier. The flat bottom allows the brush to be stood up on a flat surface.

Sturdy handle and ferrule.

No shedding thus far.

I am giving an extra ‘pro’ for aesthetics because it is quite a beautiful brush and the fact that it comes with a thoughtful hand written note counts too.

 

Cons:

There is a a little bit of unevenness with the bristles. But update, having trimmed the bristles, none has frayed since.

Before (from the 2015 post). It was trimmed right after.

After (constant usage and washing for almost 2 years).

 

The paint of the handle has cracked on mine. I do hope Sabrina has fixed this problem in her upcoming batch of brushes.

Some people may feel that the handle is rather chunky for storage and thus not very travel friendly. I love the fact that it can be left upright on a vanity and to me it overrides the chunky handle con.

 

Ratings:

8.8/10

I love this brush. Good job Sabrina!!!

Blog address; http://www.sabrinatajudin.com/

Breena Beauty online store; http://breenabeauty.com/

Breena Beauty Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/breenabeauty/?fref=ts

Breena Beauty Twitter page; https://twitter.com/breenabeauty

Breena Beauty Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/breenabeauty/

The Body Shop Blusher Brush Review

[UPDATED REVIEW]

The first makeup brush I ever reviewed! The Body Shop blusher brush. Highly rated and here’s my review!

The brush.

Up-close shot of the bristles.

Pretty loosely packed and incredibly soft.

Testament to how loved this brush is. The label is kinda fading.

Name of the brush.

Description;

Bristles: Synthetic bristles. The bristles are tapered and extremely soft. Dual coloured with a lighter brown at the base that deepens into dark brown at the tip. It is slightly flattened to allow contouring. Bristles are not densely packed thus product can be deposited easily.

Ferrule: Sturdy shiny silver metallic ferrule.

Handle: Wood handle with black matte finish. The handle is slightly tapered with the larger end at the bottom that actually allows the brush to stand upright on a flat horizontal surface. 

Price: MYR 69 (not factoring in possible promotions at The Body Shop)

Where to buy: The Body Shop outlets nationwide and online at http://www.thebodyshop.com.my/ (shipping price and details are available on the website)

 

Pros:

The brush has been carefully designed for its purpose.

The size is perfect for blusher and contour.

It picks up enough product and blends out powder blush beautifully.

It can also be used to dab powder onto the face under the eyes and knock out excess powder from the face.

Blending out contours are also a dream with this.

The brush I own is about a few years old and no noticeable fraying and no bristle fall out thus far. If it is being used I spot clean all the time and deep cleanse about once a month so it is noteworthy that there were no bristle fall out! AT ALL!

The ferrule is sturdy and the shiny metallic surface gives it a luxury feeling.

Extremely soft; perhaps the softest brush I own.

 

Cons:

The tapered handle makes it difficult to fit into a makeup brush case.

Price is mid range. 

 

Rating: 9.1/10

It is a brush worth buying, more so if you’re a makeup artist. Although the labels have started fading, it is still visible and the words can still be worked out.

Has been highly rated on their website.

From The Body Shop E-store

Bloop Lip/Eye Liner Brush (028) Review

[UPDATED REVIEW]

Bloop is a range of makeup and skin care products that is available in Malaysia in certain places. Their stall/booth locations can be found on their website. I will link their web page at the “Where to buy” section. This particular brush was a gift from my cousin when I helped her with a makeup favour a couple of years ago.

The brush.

Bristles up close.

After years and the brand logo is still there.

The brush code.

 

Description:

It is a thin, fine eye and lip brush.

Bristles: No info.

Ferrule: No info. Although it is most probably metal with a glossy finish.

Handle: Wooden with a natural finish.

(Note: I emailed the company asking for info about the brush but they never replied)

Price: MYR 14.90

Where to buy: Bloop counters nationwide and from their website. A list of places where they have a counter/booth is available from their website (http://bloop-bloop.com/).

 

Comparison with normal sized brushes. If the picture looks familiar, you may have seen it in the review for the brush in the middle which is Elianto Nose Shading Brush (review post link here).

Comparison with H&M blending brush (on the left; which is about the size of a standard blending brush like Zoeva) and a tiny lip brush by Bloop Cosmetics (on the right).

There! Thin winged liner with the brush!!!

Pros:

The tiny brush allows precise eyeliner and lipstick/lipliner application.

I have used it for a couple of years and it has stood the test of time.

No shedding of the bristles and/or problems with the ferrule or handle.

Sturdy!

Affordable!

 

Cons:

Their products are so difficult to find!!! So few places to buy them!

 

Ratings:

9/10

A great brush! If you come across Bloop anywhere do give this brush a try. Hey, it’s just MYR 14.90!!!

Elianto Face Powder Brush (H) (01S) Review

[UPDATED REVIEW]

Elianto is a brand name that gets mentioned a lot on my blog and I do love a lot of their products because they’re so cheap! I have reviewed products from Elianto in the past here (mascara) and here (makeup brush). Today I shall review the Elianto Face Powder Brush.

The product. The fact that it comes with a brush guard is a huge plus point!

Bristles.

The bristles are very loosely packed.

Very soft.

Description:

Large face powder brush.

Bristles: Synthetic, loosely packed long fibres. It is extremely soft and the colour gradually darkens at the tip.

Ferrule: Metal ferrule with a glossy black finish.

Handle: Black finish wooden handle (I’m assuming).

Price: MYR 35.90 but Elianto constantly offers discounts so watch out for them!

Where to buy: Elianto counters nationwide and from their E-store at elianto.biz.

 

Pros:

Soft, really really soft!

Because of its long fibres and the fact that is it loosely packed, it is efficient in picking up powder and dusting it on the face very effortless.

The brush guard!!! That is highly appreciated!

It has not shed or frayed thus far and I’ve had it for years.

The ferrule and handle are sturdy.

 

Cons:

Cleaning is a little bit of a pain because it is a larger brush.

 

Ratings

9/10

I love this brush. It is a good brush to dust bronzer or powder and also dust off excess powder from the face. If one is skilled enough even blusher can be applied using this brush.

Etude House My Beauty Tool Brush 130 Contour Review

Etude House is a Korean brand that was established in 1985 and they’ve been in Malaysia for quite a while now. I’ve reviewed a product from the brand in the past, which was the Play 101 Pencil (review link here) and I have also written about their hand creams (link here).

This is a review on the My Beauty Tool (which is a line of makeup brushes and sponges I believe), Face Brush 130 Contour.

Packaging.

Description on the back, mostly in Korean.

The tiny little English bit.

The brush. I want to bring to your attention the beautiful ferrule (visit Makeup Lingo Dictionary to see what this means; link here).

Bristles up close.

Very soft and very loosely packed.

Description:

Makeup brush intended for applying and blending out contour.

Bristles: Horse hair (information retrieved from the Etude House website). Long very loosely packed bristles.

Ferrule: Aluminum and very beautifully finished!

Handle: Wood with a light pink glossy finish.

Price: MYR 51 (price may have increased).

Where to buy: Etude House counters nationwide.

 

Pros:

Extremely soft.

Hasn’t shed since I’ve bought and used it (has been over a year and a half); that’s saying a lot considering it’s natural hair bristles!

It is multi-functional (blending eyeshadow, applying highlighter, dusting off powder).

Sturdy ferrule and handle!

 

Cons:

Extra care is needed when cleaning.

 

Note: It is natural hair bristles so that may be something to consider.

 

Rating:

8.9/10

I love this brush and my best use for it is applying highlighter! If you own a similar brush try it!

Elianto Nose Shading Brush Review (H) (07P)

[UPDATED REVIEW]

NOTE; THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.

Elianto is a cosmetic brand with items sourced from countries like Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Korea. Prices are hard to beat for the quality of their products and the brand is rather popular in Malaysia. This is a review of the Elianto shading brush [Nose Shading Brush (H) (07P)]. Although it is called a nose shading brush, it looks a lot like a small pencil brush.

The brush.

Bristles close up.

Comparison with H&M blending brush (on the left; which is about the size of a standard blending brush like Zoeva) and a tiny lip brush by Bloop Cosmetics (on the right).

This picture was from the original post because I discarded the package. It’s pretty nice and sturdy actually.

And the description on the back. This was also an old picture. It has been edited to my best of ability. 😛

Description;

Bristles: Pony hair and slightly tapered towards the tip. Bristle colour gradually darkens at the tip. Very loosely packed; more like a blending brush rather than a pencil brush.

Ferrule: Metal with a shiny finish.

Handle: No information about this (I am assuming it is wooden). It has a matte finish and is quite sturdy.

Price: MYR 19.90 (Elianto often has discounts, so this price is subject to discounts and offers).

Where to buy: Elianto counters nationwide.

 

Pros:

The price is amazing for a specialised brush made out of natural hairs.

The ferrule and handle are pretty sturdy.

Does quite a good job at blending although I have never used it for its intended purpose (nose shading).

Perfect for precise blending because it is so small and loosely packed.

 

Cons:

The bristles initially shed because of the fact that it is made of natural hair.

A lot more goes into caring for them (not beginner friendly). I use a gentle two in one shampoo and conditioner. Also takes a longer time to clean and dry.

 

Rating

6.5/10

I am completely on the fence with this one and it is entirely your choice to make a decision.