Haul + Comparisons: Chanel New Brushes 2012 (Matte Handle)

#1 Powder Brush ~ #4 Blush Brush ~ #19 Blending Brush ~ #26 Small Contour/Shadow Brush ~ #14 Contour/Shadow Brush

#1 Powder Brush ~ #4 Blush Brush ~ #19 Blending Brush ~ #26 Small Contour/Shadow Brush ~ #14 Contour/Shadow Brush

#1 Powder Brush ~ #4 Blush Brush ~ #19 Blending Brush ~ #26 Small Contour/Shadow Brush ~ #14 Contour/Shadow Brush

I never bought any of Chanel's brushes because I wasn't a huge fan of the brass ferrule and shiny handle. They recently revamped their entire brush line and released over a dozen new brushes that have a nickel ferrule and a matte handle, which looks more classy and professional. Therefore, I had to get 5 in one shopping session. =) I also placed an order for their #15 eyeshadow brush on their main website, but it's currently on backorder. Hopefully, it'll be back in stock soon so I can review it for you all. =)

Packaging: All of the brushes come with a box and a velvet pouch, which I find to be cute, but not practical. It's just much easier to store my brushes in a brush holder and if I'm travelling, I prefer to use a brush case because I don't want to dirty the pretty pouches. (I am OCD and a neat freak.)

The back of the box indicates the country in which the brushes were manufactured. The #1 powder brush, #4 blush brush and #26 small contour/shadow brush are made in China, while the #14 contour/shadow brush and #19 blending brush are made in France. The country of origin does not affect my buying decision. I've had both good and bad experiences with brushes that are manufactured in China as well as in France.

MAC Gareth Pugh 182 Brush $60 (full review) - The bristles feel softer and are more densely packed compared to the Chanel #1 brush. However, the Chanel #1 brush is by no means scratchy or uncomfortable on the skin. Both brushes are great for buffing out over-applied products and for applying setting powder, but the Chanel brush is a more suitable option if you want lighter coverage since the bristles are less dense. I also prefer the Chanel brush for applying my Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer because it picks up the right amount of product and disperses evenly onto my skin. I thought that the brush head was going to be too big for my cheek area; however, it's actually not because the tip of the brush is curved. So, when I tap the brush into the pan, the product only transfers onto the tip of the brush. Therefore, when I place the brush onto my skin, the product does not cover a huge portion of my face. Instead, the product applies perfectly onto my cheek area.

MAC 109 Brush $34 (mini review) - The MAC 109 and Chanel #1 brush are two totally different brushes because they serve different purposes. Neither of the two are better than the other. The MAC 109 brush is pictured mainly for size comparison.

Chanel #1 Powder Brush $65 - The quality of this brush is great because the natural bristles feel soft and it only shedded one hair during its initial wash. I didn't experience any dye bleeding or funky smell. As for performance, it is ideal for applying setting powder & bronzer as well as buffing out over-applied products. It never leaves a heavy or cakey finish because the bristles are not too dense, but it also blends products like a dream because the bristles are not too flimsy. The #1 brush just has the right amount of density to perform both tasks effortlessly. (It measures 7.25 inches in total length.)

Studio Gear #13 Blush Brush $35 (full review) - The bristles feel softer than the Chanel #4 brush; however, it is by no means scratchy or uncomfortable on the skin. The Studio Gear #13 brush is also wider and has a more oval tip, while the Chanel #4 brush has a more pointed, tapered tip. Regardless, they both fit on my cheek area perfectly and apply blushes very well. Also, they are both dense enough for blending.

Chanel #4 Blush Brush $54 - The quality is just as great as the Chanel #1 Powder brush and I have not experienced any shedding, even after multiple washes and uses. The #4 brush is ideal for blush application, but it can also be used for highlighting the cheekbones and even contouring because it has a slightly pointed, tapered tip. (It measures 6.25 inches in total length and the bristles are made from natural hair.)

Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush ~ Chanel #19 Blending Brush ~ Japonesque Crease Brush

Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush ~ Chanel #19 Blending Brush ~ Japonesque Crease Brush

Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush ~ Chanel #19 Blending Brush ~ Japonesque Crease Brush

Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush $5.99 (mini review) - It's denser, firmer, and wider than the Chanel #19 brush. The Sonia Kashuk brush is my holy grail blending brush and nothing will ever replace it because it blends out harsh lines and dark pigmented eyeshadows, effortlessly. It isn't as soft as the Chanel #19, but I find that the Sonia Kashuk brush works well for blending because of the fact that it's not too soft. Some people have commented that it feels scratchy; however, I have 7 of these and none of them feel scratchy or uncomfortable on my sensitive eyes.

Japonesque Professional Crease Brush $18 (full review) - The head of the brush is smaller and shorter than the Chanel #19. However, both brushes have the same density and almost the same width at the tip; therefore, I find that they both essentially perform the same. Both brushes are great for crease work, defining the outer v, blending product on the lower lash line, and adding color to the outer corner of the eye & a highlight color to the inner tear duct. 

Chanel #19 Large Tapered Blending Brush $38 - The quality is just as great as the other 2 Chanel brushes that I have mentioned above. The bristles are made from natural hair and feel very soft. This brush is a multi-tasker. It fits perfectly on my crease, defines my outer v, and places color where I need it to. Although it does not blend as well as my Sonia Kashuk brush, I find that the Chanel #19 is good enough for blending light colors and it will blend harsh lines if you put more time and effort into it. (It measures 6.25 inches in total length.)

MAC 239 Brush ~ Chanel #26 Small Contour/Shadow Brush ~ Japonesque Small Professional Eye Detailer Brush ~ Chanel #14 Contour/Shadow Brush

MAC 239 Brush ~ Chanel #26 Small Contour/Shadow Brush ~ Japonesque Small Professional Eye Detailer Brush ~ Chanel #14 Contour/Shadow Brush

MAC 239 Brush ~ Chanel #26 Small Contour/Shadow Brush ~ Japonesque Small Professional Eye Detailer Brush ~ Chanel #14 Contour/Shadow Brush

MAC 239 Brush $24.50 (full review) - It packs color onto the lids and lower lash line very well because the bristles are firm, thin and soft. Both the Chanel #26 and #14 brush are thinner, smaller and offer more precision, but they are too small for applying color onto my lids and they both feel slightly scratchy on my lower lash line.

Japonesque Small Professional Eye Detailer Brush $13.50 (mini review) - It is not as wide as the Chanel #26 brush, but it is wider than the Chanel #14 brush. It also feels softer, is slightly firmer, and most importantly, it does not irritate my lower lash line. Therefore, I prefer using the Japonesque brush for adding color to my lower lash line, setting my eyeliner with eyeshadow, and for any other detail work.

Chanel #26 Small Contour/Shadow Brush $30 + Chanel #14 Contour/Shadow Brush $28 - Both are firm & thin and are ideal for detail work. They both essentially perform the same, but the #14 offers slightly more precision because it's smaller. However, when I use either of the brushes on my lower lash line, it feels uncomfortable. I'm assuming that I just have a sensitive eye area because when I rub my fingers through the bristles, they feel soft and not scratchy at all. (The #26 brush measures 5.75 inches in total length and the #14 brush measures 5.90 inches.)

Bottom Line: I highly recommend checking out Chanel's new brush line. Each brush is so multi-functional and I didn't experience any shedding except for one tiny hair from the #1 powder brush. Overall, the quality of these brushes is great with the exception of the #26 and #14 brush, which do not work well with my sensitive eyes.

Note: The Chanel brushes can be purchased at Nordstrom.

Is this post too long? 

I thought it would be "easier" to read 

if I combined my reviews of the Chanel brushes into one huge post. >_<

Will you be getting any of Chanel's new brushes?

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Beauty Blog Giveaway: Apothica + SkinCareRx + SkinBotanica $20 Gift Card

Hey beauties! I just moved my blog to a new address and everything is out of whack. My latest posts are not showing up on Bloglovin and Bloglovin has no idea what's going on. I wish I could contact each and every one of my Bloglovin followers about this issue. Unfortunately, Bloglovin does not allow that. Also, if you are following me on Blogger or if you are subscribed to my RSS feed, then it may take a few hours for my latest posts to show up on your blogroll, Google reader, etc. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you follow me on Google Plus or Facebook. My Twitter account will be reserved for administrative updates, beauty rants, pictures of my hauls and news about sales events.  

Sorry for any inconvenience and to thank you for putting up with this ordeal, one of you lovely readers will be receiving a $20 gift certificate, courtesy of SkinCareRx, which is an online skincare retailer that carries top brands, such as Boscia, Clarisonic, Dermablend, DHC, Dr. Brandt, Jane Iredale, Korres, Murad, Obagi, Perricone MD, Philosophy, Vichy and many more. Because SkinCareRx is partnered with Apothica and SkinBotanica, the lucky winner will be able to use the $20 gift certificate at any of the 3 sites. (Apothica carries top beauty brands, such as Becca cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, Cargo, Chanel, Dior, Clinique, Too Faced, Clarins, Estee Lauder, Givenchy, Laura Geller, Stila, theBalm, and many more, while SkinBotanica carries natural and organic beauty products. )

Prize:

• $20 Gift Certificate that can be used at Apothica, SkinCareRx and SkinBotanica.

Rules:

• You must be 18+ or have parental consent to enter.
• You must fill out the required questions in the form here.
• You must follow my blog publicly through Google Friend Connect.
• The winner must blog about the product(s) that he/she purchases with the gift card. (This is required by SkinCareRx, the sponsor of this giveaway.) 

Additional Entries: optional

• Make a post about my giveaway on your blog, using the prize picture above. {+2 entries} 
• Post my giveaway on your blog's sidebar, using the prize picture above. (Tabs do not qualify. It must be on the sidebar.) {+2 entries}
• Make a youtube video about my giveaway. {+3 entries} 
• Go to my Google Plus page, add me to your Google+ Circle and click on the red "+1" button {+1 entries} 
• Like my Facebook page and make a post about my giveaway on your Facebook page {+1 entries} 
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet about my giveaway {+1 entries} 

Deadline:

• This giveaway will end at 11:59pm EST on April 29, 2012.

Winner Information:

• I will contact the winner via email. Winner must respond within 7 days.
• I will then forward the winner's contact information to SkinCareRx.
• SkinCareRx will then email the gift certificate to the winner. (As I previously mentioned, it can be used at SkinCareRx.com, Apothica.com, and SkinBotanica.com.)
• Please make sure to add SkinCareRX to your contact list in order to prevent any email from going into your Junk/Spam folder.
• Also, remember that the winner must blog about the product(s) that he/she purchases with the gift card. (This is required by SkinCareRx, the sponsor of this giveaway.) 

You DO NOT have to have a blog to enter this giveaway; however, if you end up being the winner, then you will have to create one so that you can blog about your winnings. Please read the rules section for more information. Also, this giveaway is open to everyone, regardless of place of residence. =) Good luck to everyone and I really appreciate you guys for all your support! ^_^ 

Too Faced 2012 Coupon Code: 20% OFF Entire Site (NO Minimum Purchase)

Too Faced just launched their 2012 Summer Collection, which includes a new lighter shade of their popular Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (review & swatches). The original Chocolate Soleil Bronzer is the best matte bronzer that I've tried for my NC30/35 skin tone. It doesn't make my face oompa loompa orange and it doesn't contain any shimmers. However, those that found the original shade to be too dark or muddy should give Milk Chocolate Soleil a try instead. Also, Too Faced is offering a free deluxe sample of the Chocolate Soleil Bronzer when you purchase anything from their new Summer Collection and 20% OFF entire site. Enter coupon code svintage12 at checkout. Plus, receive free shipping on any $50 order or more.

*affiliate link

Review + Swatches: Mark All the Highlights Soft Glow Illuminator

(Direct Sunlight)  

Mark's All the Highlights Soft Glow Illuminator makes me drool and that alone is a good enough reason to buy it. =) Plus, it was only $16 at Avon and shipping was free!

(Indoor Lighting)

Pros:

• silky texture
• can be used on eyes or face
• easy to pick up the shades individually with an eyeshadow brush
• gives the cheeks a glowy finish
• easily blendable and buildable
• lasts at least 14 hours on cheeks and brow bone
• does not crease when used on the eyes with a primer
• no chunky glitters

Cons:

• not available in stores
• the color of the butterfly has a pink overspray that disappears after 2 brush swipes
• peachy pink shade has fallouts during application when used as an eyeshadow
• starts fading after 6 hours when worn on the lids and used as an eyeshadow, even with a primer (I have oily lids.)

(Direct Sunlight) 

(Indoor Lighting) 

The compact has a full size mirror and is thick, but still small enough to be travel friendly. Unfortunately, the color of the butterfly is just a pink overspray, which is easily brushed away with 2 swipes. Underneath it are 4 different shades, including a light beige champagne, peachy pink, mauvey beige, and mauvey purple. They all have a satin finish, except for the peachy pink shade, which has a shimmery finish. 

First, I tried using the product as eyeshadows and the pigmentation was decent when used with a primer underneath and when layered. The texture of these eyeshadows feel silky and it's easy to pick up the colors individually with a brush. They also blend easily. I didn't experience any fallouts during application, except with the peachy pink shade, which doesn't really bother me because I usually apply my eye makeup before my foundation. So, I can easily wipe away the mess.

The 1st and 3rd strip can be used to highlight the brow bone or inner tear duct. The 2nd strip can be used as an all over the lid color and although the 4th strip is sheer, it still works well as a subtle crease color. They did not crease and lasted at least 6 hours on my oily lids before they started fading. However, when used as a brow highlight, they lasted at least 14 hours. 

When I swirled my Inglot 4SS brush (full review) all over the compact and applied the product onto my cheekbones, it looked too mauvey and purple. However, when I sweeped my brush across just the top 3 shades, it gave my cheekbones a glowy finish with a hint of a mauvey undertone, which looked flattering and still suitable for daytime use. It also builds up easily and can be layered for a more high sheen and frosty finish that's perfect for nights out. The best part is that it lasts at least 14 hours on my cheeks when worn over foundation + setting powder and it does not contain any chunky glitters.

(All Shades Swirled Together + Heavily Swatched)

Bottom Line: If you're looking for a versatile highlighter at a friendly price, then the Mark All the Highlights Soft Glow Illuminator is just the product for you. It brightens up the eyes and leaves a dewy sheen on the cheeks without the glittery mess.

Note: The Mark All the Highlights Soft Glow Illuminator contains 9.1g of product and is available at Avon for $16.

Have you tried Mark's All the Highlights Soft Glow Illuminator?

Philosophy 2012 Coupon Code: Sweet $16 and under Sale

Philosophy is having a Sweet 16 sale* today only! Select Philosophy favorites will be on sale for $16 and under. There is no promo code necessary to redeem this offer. Also, receive free shipping on any $50 purchase or more.

*affiliate link