Review: Inglot 4SS Eye Brush

Inglot was having a 20% off sale in-store on all bronzing products. So, I decided to grab the 4SS brush and AMC Bronzing Powder in #75, which I will be reviewing in a later post (review). The testers of all the face brushes that they had on display felt rough. The only brush that caught my eye was the 4SS. The tester didn't feel that soft, but they weren't scratchy either. I bought it anyways because I liked the size and shape of the brush.

After I washed it and let it air dried, the bristles fluffed out a bit, which is what I had anticipated because I bought the brush with the intention of using it to apply highlight on top of my cheekbones and to apply setting powder under my eyes & around the small crevices of my nose. The size of the brush is perfect for those types of applications. I actually prefer using the 4SS brush over my Sonia Kashuk Black Small Multi Purpose brush (review) because it's bigger and fits perfectly on top of my cheekbones. 

Even though the bristles of the 4SS brush are made from squirrel substitute, which usually means goat hair, the Sonia Kashuk brush is softer. The Edward Bess Luxury Eye brush (review) is the least softest out of the 3. However, I want to make it clear that none of the brushes are scratchy. 

The 4SS brush is the fullest & biggest. It's not too flimsy or firm and I'm surprised that the bristles feel so much softer than the tester in the store. Most importantly, it is more appropriate for face application because it's just too big for any types of eye applications.

The Edward Bess brush is the firmest and is the most suitable for blending out HARSH lines, when used for the eye area. As for the Sonia Kashuk brush, it's more fitting for blending out LIGHT colors because it's not as stiff as the Edward Bess brush. I can use both the Edward Bess and Sonia Kashuk brush for blending my eyeshadows, but not for defining the crease because they're too big for my crease area. (If you have a big eye area, then you can use both the Edward Bess and Sonia Kashuk brush as a crease brush.)

I highly recommend grabbing Inglot's 4SS brush if you plan on using it for face application. It retails $22, but it cost me $17.60 because the SA gave me 20% off, even though it wasn't part of their sale special.

The price range of Inglot's brushes is not drugstore cheap, but it's also not as expensive as the higher end brands. Also, the quality of the 4SS brush is very good and so far, only 1 strand of hair shedded.

Note: The total length of the brush measures 7.25 inches.

What do you think about Inglot's brushes?

Review & Swatches: Dior Bronze Original Tan in Healthy Tan 01

Dior Bronze Original Tan in Healthy Tan 01 looks peachy orange when swatched on my arm. Don't let my description scare you from trying this bronzer out. The shade is not as orange as Amber Tan or Mac Solar Riche. I think lighter beauties can still pull off Healthy Tan without looking dead orange because this shade has a peachy pink undertone. Amber Tan and Solar Riche are more suitable for people with medium complexions like me. For reference, I'm a Mac NC30/35, Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031, MUFE HD 127 and L'oreal True Match W4.

Direct Sunlight

The pigmentation of Healthy Tan is really easy to work with. It's not too sheer and not too pigmented. I use my Royal & Langnickel BC180 Silk Baby Dome Powder brush (review) and it applies flawlessly without any blotchiness. 

Bathroom Lighting

When I apply Healthy Tan on my face, it translates into a peachy honey-tan with a hint of a pink undertone compared to Solar Riche, which looks completely orangey tan. Healthy Tan also has a better finish and emits a hint of sheen that makes my skin look a little bit glowy. It only looks a little bit shimmery when the sunlight directly hits my face, but it's definitely still safe to wear during the day. 

Solar Riche looks a little bit flat, but I wouldn't consider it to be truly matte. To be accurate, Solar Riche has a semi-matte finish without a hint of sheen. It is also important to point out that the difference between the finishes of these 2 bronzers are barely noticeable. Solar Riche is not a bad color choice for my medium complexion, but I find myself reaching for Heathy Tan more often, ever since I compared the 2 side by side on my face because it just looks prettier and it gives me more dimension to my face. 

When compared to the Dior Healthy Glow Powder in Aurora 001 (review & swatches), Healthy Tan looks a little bit peachier, while Aurora looks a little bit pinkier; however, the difference is really subtle. They look like 2 different shades when swatched on my arm, but when I  actually apply them onto my face, I can barely tell which one's which.

As for Too Faced Peach Leopard (review & swatches), it's definitely not a dupe for Healthy Tan. Peach Leopard is a peachy tan shade without a hint of orange.

Healthy Tan, Aurora & Peach Leopard act as a blush & bronzer for me, but I don't use any of them for contouring because they're all too peachy. As for Solar Riche, I use it solely as a bronzer because it's too orange as a contour shade. If you are looking for a bronzer to contour with, I recommend that you check out Too Faced Chocolate Soleil (review & swatches).

Note: The Dior Healthy Tan bronzer costs $44 at Sephora and at all Dior counters. On Sephora's website, it says there are 0.42 ounces of product; however, on the packaging, it says there are 10 grams/0.35 ounces. I bought Mac's Solar Riche at an Estee Lauder Company Store for $14.75. It contains 10 grams and retails for $21. Aurora costs $46 for 10 grams and Too Faced Peach Leopard costs $28 for 9 grams.

Which shade do you love the most?

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

Review & Swatches: Mac To The Beach Marine Life High-Light Powder Blush

I know this post is long overdue, since the Mac To The Beach collection came out more than a year ago, but I would still like to share some pictures with you guys because they are simply irresistible.

The Mac Marine Life High-Light Powder is embossed with a seahorse and seaweed pattern. The gold overspray is what makes this compact look so lavishing and too pretty to touch; however, after 1 or 2 swipes, it's gone and the compact doesn't look so attractive anymore. By the way, the overspray didn't change the color of the product. It just made it look more shimmery.

I don't know why Mac calls it a "highlight powder" because when I mix the dark coral and light pink color together, it's too dark for me to use as a highlight, and when I use the light pink color alone to apply on top of my cheekbones, it just looks shimmery. It doesn't give me a nice glow or sheen that other highlighters give me. So, I basically use Marine Life as a blush.

With Flash

When swatched on my arm, Marine Life and Mac Surf, Baby! My Paradise (without gold overlay) are definitely not dupes. My Paradise (review & swatches) leans more towards the coral side with a hint of a reddish undertone, while Marine Life has a much stronger pink undertone to it. I would describe the color as a bright pink with a fuschia undertone when swatched heavily. When applied onto the face, Marine Life is pinkier compared to My Paradise (with gold overlay), which looks more coral with a hint of orange. 

Indoor Lighting near Window

As for Burberry Blossom No.05 (review & swatches), it looks lighter and it's not as vibrant as Marine Life when swatched. (I find it interesting that when I swatch Blossom next to the other 2 blushes, it doesn't look as coral as when I swatch it next to Burberry Rose No.03: review & swatches). However, Marine Life and Blossom look quite similar when applied side by side on the face, except that Marine Life has a little more pink tone to it, but the difference is barely noticeable. They both look semi-matte indoors, but shimmery under direct sunlight. (They may not look like dupes in the swatch pictures because I swatched Marine Life with a heavy hand, but when applied side by side on the face, I would consider them dupes.)

Direct Sunlight

As for application, I need to use a fluffy brush, like my Sonia Kashuk Blusher brush (review) and a light hand when I apply Marine Life because if I go overboard, it becomes to difficult to blend out (even if I use my setting powder to blend it out). Also, when I over apply it, the color looks strongly pink, which looks REALLY unflattering on my complexion. It only looks good when I use a light hand. For reference,  I'm a Mac NC30/35, Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031, MUFE HD 127 and L'oreal True Match W4.

Indoor Lighting with Shade

If you're lucky, you can still find Marine Life at a CCO. It's unfortunate that the gorgeous gold overspray doesn't go all the way through the pan. This might be something to lust after if you're a collector and don't plan on using it.

Note: It retails $26 for 10g.

Do you have Marine Life?

 

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

Review: Sephora Professionnel Platinum Stippling Brush #44

Most duo fiber stippling brushes that are currently on the market are flimsier than the infamous Mac 187 (review). I have finally found a stippling brush that is highly comparable to the old version of the Mac 187. (The new version of the Mac 187 is flimsier. You can read my post about it here)

I checked out the Sephora Professionnel Platinum Stippling brush #44 in the store and I was surprised how firm it was. I purchased it right away, then went home and washed it. A dark greyish/blackish dye started coming out of the brush and immediately stained the bristles light grey. The stain came out and the bristles didn't bleed any color after that incidence, but after a week of using it, it bled a greenish/greyish dye. The bristles didn't turn green, but it's not as white as my Mac 187 bristles. I'm not really concerned about the dye bleeding because I've had the brush for about a month now and the dye bleeding has stopped.

As for performance, the #44 brush applied my foundation perfectly. (I stipple my foundation and it gives me an airbrush finish. Do not stipple & SWIRL or the liquid foundation will come in contact with the black natural fibers, which will then cause it to shed.) The Sephora version is a little bit firmer and denser because the bristles are more compact and the white synthetic bristles are slightly shorter, which provides better control. However, the Mac 187 is softer, but the #44 is by no means scratchy.

The only thing that I don't like about the Sephora brush is the silver handle. I think the Mac one looks much more classy and professional. Other than that, I would recommend the Sephora #44 because it's $35 and works just as well or even better than the Mac 187 ($42) when stippling foundation.

Note: The Sephora brush measures 7.5 inches in total length. The Mac is a little less than 7 inches long.

What's your favorite duo fiber stippling brush?

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

Review: Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush

I've been eyeing on the Edward Bess Luxury Eye brush for more than 6 months now and have read nothing but positive feedback about this brush.

I bought this brush with the intention of using it for my face because I knew it was going to be too big for my eye area. If you have a big eye area, then you could use the Edward Bess brush to add a light wash of color onto the lids, to define the crease, and to blend. I have no problem using the Edward Bess brush to blend my eyeshadows, but it's too big as a crease brush. The Sigma E45 brush is more suitable for me as a crease brush because it is much smaller and more tapered than the Edward Bess brush.

The Edward Bess brush is just as soft as my Sigma E45, but not as soft as my Sonia Kashuk Black Small Multi Purpose brush. (They are by no means scratchy.) The bristles are also a little bit firmer and not as fluffy as the Sonia Kashuk one (review); therefore, the former is more ideal for blending, while the latter is more ideal for applying product, such as highlight on top of the cheekbones. I mainly use the Edward Bess brush for applying setting powder around the small crevices of my nose when I want more coverage or for blending out sharp lines when I contour my nose.

Another thing that I would like to mention is that the brush came in a velvet pouch and not in a luxurious box, which I saw other people receive. It's not a huge issue, since the box was going to be useless to me anyways, but I thought I would point it out to any potential buyers out there.

Note: Total Length: 6.25 inches. It can be purchased at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Edward Bess'  main website.

I would love to know how you use this brush. =)

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