ELF Haul before the CNY begins!

Finally after a long wait (about 3 months I supposed), my ELF haul finally reach me! YAY!


Nothing but ELF brushes! The spreer also put the Fragile sticker, just in case. How sweet of her. :)

And ta-daaaa....

All bubble-wrapped up nicely. =) Woot-woot!

First up, ELF Stipple brush.


I read quite abit of reviews on this one. But it's a little dissapointment to me though.

USD 3 for this brush.

Quick thoughts: Still okay for me but it is quite flimsy for my liking. Plus I'm not sure what I'm going to use with this one. Maybe for blusher... By the way, the bristles are really soft too!

Next, the one that I anticipated the most!

ELF Kabuki Face Brush! Look how cute it is in the box!

USD5 for the brush.



Quick thoughts: I was really looking forward for this when I first saw them on the ELF website. And when I got it, I love the look and feel of it! Uber-soft bristles plus it does seem quite sturdy too! So far I haven't use it but will update again when I used them.

Now for the last one .... Mineral foundation brush!
It's the newest range from ELF.

$5 for this brush.

Quick thoughts: I was quite skeptical at first, but since I intended to splurge on some ELF brushes, so I just gave in for this one. It looks quite normal to me. Bristles are soft but the one thing I noticed is that the brush handle looks a bit "cheapo" to me (Haha!). I'll take a closer picture of it the next round. And this brush is very lightweight too.

I've also got another back up for my powder brush but I won't be uploading the pictures since I've reviewed them before. Not all these brushes are all mine, I actually just bought one each this time, and the rest are for my fellow colleagues. :)

Note:
If you are wondering where I got these, I actually got them from Ms. Aini (aka hubby_enny @ LYN). Please take note if you are going to participate in the spree, you'll need to have the "PATIENCE". Especially handling sprees are not easy peasy.

Tight budget this year *sniff sniff*. But anyway, last but not least, wishing everyone great health, wealth and joyous wabbit year! I didn't manage to snap some goodie snacks for now but this is what I managed to snap last night.


hahaha, it's not mine but still it's something I can snap other than the messy room that I have. :P

Gah, Sigma Makeup Brushes!

*pardon me, the topic sounds pretty misleading, I know. xD*



Yes. Brushes, from Sigma Make up again. Well, you may say I do have a fetish for brushes. =P


First, please pick up your jaw if you think these are all mine.*hiaks* I did a spree for this early March and now they have gone to their respective owners already. So don't worry, I'm still "normal". TQVM xD

I actually wanted to share how they look like compared to the product pictures on Sigma's website as I got a few questions on Sigma's brushes via email a few times already. So here's some pictures for you, sweet people. =)

(1) Naughty in Black Travel Set - $49

Sigma Makeup product pic:-


Actual goodies:-

Sigma packed them with these little bags. Cute!

And the brush roll that comes with it.

Compare to the regular ones, this travel kit brushes has shorter brush handles.

(2) Professional Premium Kit $149

The price tag *$149* looks a little scary huh? But you get what you have paid for. =)

Sigma Makeup product pic:-


15 brushes with a brush roll. =) Quite cute with their packaging, like a box. =D

Actual goodies:-


Hold on to your saliva, please behave! xD

I still haven't really use them yet. But the brushes quality felt pretty similar with my previous kit. =D

Some random ones.


Take 2.


I know there may be too many "overrated" or "promotional" reviews on Sigma Makeup's brushes. But to me, they are pretty much up to standard for what you are paying for. I still love them despite I still get occasional bleeding and shedding from the brushes. xD

Oh, and one thing I noticed that the premium kit brushes aren't as "flumsy" (flimsy+clumsy xD) as my face&eye kit brushes. The brush handles are pretty much "lighter" and feels quite similar with my MAC ones. Well, go get one and judge by yourself, I wouldn't want to get "somewhat accused" that Sigma is paying me to say this. (if only it happens, sigh xD)

Got to go for now, I need to catch up with some blog readings. xD

PS: I won't be doing another review on this as I think they are pretty much comparable with what I have. You'll have to look out for my reviews here. =)

ELF Studio Complexion Brush and ELF Eye Shadow Brush Review

**Warning: This is a seriously backdated post of my ELF haul in May'09 **



Yeah! Spot on! My ELF brushes, again (I bought ELF again 2 weeks later after my first haul) ! Nothing but brushes. I'm a "kiasu-er", I bought these and they are all my backups except for my complexion brush. Here's my previous haul about them >> ELF Haul 1

I know this is nothing much to shout about as I believed you may see many bloggers had already talk about these cheap + super affordable brushes. I should be talking about Christmas and Holiday collections but still I'm sticking with this ELF ELF ELF... **piff** (I don't care anyway, huhu! vain, I know )

I got this from a spreer in LYN but I seriously don't remember who is the person who help me with it. *soweee* I can't remember historical hauls coz I only have 80GB memory in my head.. ahh.. watever! hahaha :)


See how ELF packaged their brushes? Quite professional looking right? If you look at other brands, they only came with some thin plastic cover..

Let's talk about the normal line of brushes that I got - ELF eyeshadow brush.

This eyeshadow brush came with a hard plastic cover without a brush guard (unlike those studio brushes). But it's only $1, so WTH (LOL!).

They even explained what this brush does behind the cover!


The real thing!


With silver-engraved wordings.


Size comparison.


Side view.


Front view.

See how dense this is!

Believed it or not, this pick up any eyeshadow (powder eyeshadow,please!) like a charm.

The Product: ELF Eye Shadow Brush

From ELF website:

Specially sheered brush tip absorbs the perfect amount of eye shadow and provides long lasting color saturation. The comfort curved brush contours the eye with natural gliding strokes for easy and accurate eye shadow application.

All e.l.f. professional makeup brushes have been designed and tested by professional makeup artist Scott Vincent Borba. Each brush has been ergonomically designed to fit perfectly into your hand and facilitate a flawless finish with every application.

Price: $1

Made in: China

My thoughts about it:
I don't really like it. I know many bloggers raved and raved about this brush, but for me, I feel that it is too dense and it sort-of "scratching" my eyelids when I apply the eyeshadows with this. This brush is not synthetic and I have no idea what it is made of as well. However, it does pick up the right amount of eyeshadows and if you just pat it onto your lids, it does really do a great job. But blending wise, I don't fancy them.

Cons?
Too scratchy. I think the synthetic version (Studio line Eyeshadow "C" brush) might not be so scratchy as this one but I don't think I can comment further since I haven't use them yet. Also, the bristles kinda frays a little bit after a few uses as well.


But seriously, $1 for this brush and I cannot be complaining that much!! Sorry ELF.

Overall, it does a good job on applying eyeshadows. But for blending, it's another thing already. :)

xxxxx


Next up, the ELF Studio Line Brushes - Complexion Brush.


I really like ELF's packaging of these brushes. These brushes came with a plastic kind of brush guard.

I have to confess, this is my FAVORITE brush for now.


I used to rave and rave about my ELF Studio powder brush, but when I finally got the idea of using this complexion brush, I immediately "jump ship" (as in changing my preference, LOL!).


See how softttttttt this is! After many months of using them, it is still so soft and they never shed nor bleed like my other brushes!



I straight away give5 honorable stars for the complexion brush!


he Product: ELF Studio Complexion Brush

Price: $3

Made in: China

From the website:

This new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush! -Creates an even and natural finish -Expertly sweeps all types of powders across the entire face and sculpts features beautifully -Use with pressed, loose, or translucent powders, blush or bronzer *Vegan Friendly Dip brush into powder and tap off excess. Apply all over face or wherever needed for additional coverage or color.

My thoughts about it:
Like I said, I love it! Initially, I didn't know what to do with it. I tried using this for my blusher and highlighter, and the way this brush work with them are horrible (Or maybe I'm horrible with it :P). Then out of nowhere, I used this with my loose powder, and it works perfectly! And this is when I fell in love with it(ok, i gotta end my love story here).

I'm not sure if it's a tactic, the way I use this brush is by patting it with the flat surface (not the tip of the bristles). First, I sort of use the flat surface to pick up my loose powder, then I "flick" the brush to take off the excess and then I pat the loose powder onto my face. It doesn't cake onto my foundation which makes the whole face "flawless & smooth".

Cons?
I'm not sure if this is me, but I find it hard to remove the foundation "stain" on the brush handle. See below if you don't get what I meant.

This is when I first got my brush, it was sleek and nice.


After many months of using the brush....


Stain?!?!?!?! Or Mosses???!! Hmmmm............


I did try to "scrub" them off but still the stain stays there.. It doesn't bother me much, but the look of it is a little scary...

But overall, I heart this... even though it gave me free weird stains.... Best of it, any brushes from ELF are super affordablecancry. You gotta have this even if you are a pro MUA, seriously!

Showing off my Coastal Scents Haul :P

Seriously butt fingers itchy here. Wanted to show off my most recent haul from Coastal Scents actually. (coz can't think of what to write today, LOL!)

What I got here was:

• Brush guards , the variety pack ones.
• Synthetic Fine Liner Brush (this one is great! Has a ultra-fine tip! Much better than my previous one).
• Gel liner in True Black (coz I don't really have one black liner).
• Coastal Scents Smacks (my first tube since I saw a lot of reviews on this one).
  

They included one free sample which is the tiny little container right above my Smacks. :D A lilac colored loose mineral eyeshadow.

Among all these, I have used the pencil liner and the True Black liner. I'm pretty impressed with the brush seriously but as for the gel liner, it smudges like crazy. Or maybe I have oily lids. But my previous Indigo Blue behaves really well! Argh. Even my BF ask me why I have panda eyes. @_@

But I will review these soon! :D

PS: Most of the time, Coastal scents has their weekly "Friday sale". Sometimes they really have great deals, so do keep a look out for their sales as it do saves a lot of our "blood sweat" money. LOL.

Sigma Brushes: SS188

I received a few emails on Sigma brushes. First off, I do not sell nor own Sigma brushes. I'm just like any other consumers who just bought them for the sake of their price which is a fraction of MAC's.

Secondly, some asked if I got SS188 brush. And I have it, until just recently...


The SS109 (the top one) is for one of my spree members and I only owned one SS188 (and not all four, mind you -_-).

Here's a little brief summary on both SS187 and SS188.


The length of both brushes are slightly different.


The brush shape is obviously different as well.


And the density of these brushes.


A more clearer pic...


SS188 retails for $14.

I saw some comments on people says that these Sigma brushes do frayed a lot. But for mine, they are still okay. Just like the way I got them in the first place.

As for the SS188, I love it! Soft and silky feeling on the skin. No crazy bleeding like the SS150 and does not shed too! Definitely recommend this one as an alternative from MAC's 188. :) BTW, I went to test and "feel" Etude's skunk brush since a lot of bloggers have raved about them. And I think they are not really comparable with Sigma's 188 or even SS187. The feeling of the brush is just different. Wait til I get my hands on that Etude's skunk brush and I'll do a photo comparison. :)

BTW, MAC's Color Craft collection has their 131 brush as well, I'm still thinking whether if it is worth the splurge on them. What do you think? :P

PS: Here's the 12 Brushes, the complete set without the brush roll from Sigma. :)