Review + Comparison - Studio Gear #13 Blush Brush + Studio Gear #14 Rouge Brush

From Left to Right: Sonia Kashuk Blusher Brush, Studio Gear #13 Blush Brush, Studio Gear #14 Rouge Brush, Cover FX #160 Cream Foundation Brush

Studio Gear #13 Blush Brush + Studio Gear #14 Rouge Brush

Pros:

• bristles feels luxuriously soft (feels softer than my MAC brushes)
• not too dense or too flimsy for bronzer/blush application
• no shedding when used with powder products
• no dye bleeding
• no funky smell 
• dries within 6 hours
• easy to wash when used with powder products

Cons:

• price might not be in everyone's range

Sonia Kashuk Blusher Brush $17.99 (full review) - The bristles are made from natural hair and feel very soft, though not as luxuriously soft as my Studio Gear brushes. The Sonia Kashuk brush is ideal for applying highly-pigmented blushes because the bristles are fluffy and not densely packed. It just picks up the right amount of product and disperses evenly.

Studio Gear #13 Blush Brush $35 - The bristles are made from natural hair and feel teddy bear soft. It's ideal for applying regular-pigmented blushes because the bristles are neither too dense nor too flimsy. It also blends better than the Studio Gear #14 brush because the #13 brush is slightly denser. Also, since the #13 brush has a wider head, it's great for applying blush on the entire cheek area, up to the hair line with one swipe.

Studio Gear #14 Rouge Brush $30 - The bristles are made from natural hair and feel teddy bear soft. It's ideal for applying regular-pigmented blushes; however, it doesn't blend as well as the #13 brush since the #14 brush is less denser. Also, the #14 brush does not fit on the entire cheek area as well as the #13 brush because the #14 brush has a smaller head. The #14 brush is more ideal for applying blush on the apples of the cheeks.

Cover FX #160 Cream Foundation Brush $38 (full review) -  It's too dense for blush & bronzer application, and is a little bit small for the cheek area, so the product tends to concentrate on one area and ends up looking blotchy. Also, it's marketed as a cream foundation brush; however, the bristles are made from natural fibres, so it'll shed when used with liquid or cream products. The #160 brush works best for contouring the cheeks.

Update: Cover Fx recently released a new version that's made with synthetic materials.

Bottom Line: It's nice to have both Studio Gear brushes; however, it's not necessary. I recommend getting the Studio Gear #13 brush for applying regular-pigmented blushes because it fits better on the cheek area and it blends better than the Studio Gear #14 brush. For applying highly-pigmented products, I recommend getting the Sonia Kashuk brush since the bristles are more fluffy and not as densely packed.

Note: The Studio Gear #13 brush measures 7.5 inches in total length, while the #14 brush measures 7 inches in total length. They can be purchased at Studio Gear's online store.

What brush do use to apply blush?

Have you tried any of Studio Gear's brushes?

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