Review + Comparison: Royal & Langnickel Revolution Brush Set (Part 1)

Royal & Langnickel recently launched the [R]evolution Collection, which consists of 32 makeup brushes. The only brush that I'm missing from this collection is the BX-66, which is currently out of stock on their online store, but I will be reviewing the rest of the brushes in two parts. 

Royal & Langnickel BX-oo Lg Domed Kabuki ($49.99) is ideal for buffing out over-applied products, such as blush and for applying bronzer to the face, neck and decollete. The bristles feel very soft and are more densely packed than the Chanel #1 (review) and MAC 182 brush (review). I personally use the BX-00 for blending highly pigmented blushes. I just tap the brush on my cheeks lightly and it'll blend out the product seamlessly with barely any effort and much more quickly than a brush that's made from natural hairs. When I try to buff out over-applied products with a dense synthetic brush, such as the EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer brush (review), it rubs off my makeup and leaves a blotchy finish. The BX-00 always leaves a polished look. It is definitely a must-have and is one of my favorite brushes from the Revolution line. (The brush takes at least 19 hours to fully dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 12 hours to dry. It measures 6.80 inches in total length. The handle weighs more than any other brush that I own. I can definitely whack somebody unconscious with it, but I love the luxurious feel to it.)

BX-05 ~ BX-10 ~ Studio Gear #13 ~ BX-30

BX-05 ~ BX-10 ~ Studio Gear #13 ~ BX-30

Royal & Langnickel BX-05 Lg Powder Brush ($39.99) is ideal for applying setting powder. The brush head is bigger, wider and fluffier than the BX-10, BX-30 and Studio Gear #13 brush (review). It applies the perfect amount of product and leaves a light natural finish to the skin without ever looking cakey. (The brush takes about 14 hours to dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 8 hours to dry. It measures 6.75 inches in total length. Also, it only shedded one strand of hair, during its initial wash.)

Royal & Langnickel BX-10 Sm Powder Brush ($39.99) is ideal for applying blush. For regular pigmented blushers, I sweep the product back and forth, upwards towards my hairline. For highly pigmented blushers, I use a tapping motion to prevent over applying the product. The results always look natural with barely any effort because the brush does all the work for me. I find that when I use the Studio Gear #13 brush to apply blush, it requires more blending to achieve a polished finish. (The BX-10 takes about 13 hours to dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 7 hours to dry. It measures 6.75 inches in total length.)

Royal & Langnickel BX-30 Kabuki Blush Brush ($29.99) is ideal for applying any type of blush. I prefer the BX-30 over the BX-10 because it's smaller and fits better on my cheek area. Also, the bristles are more densely packed; therefore, it picks up alot of product and is great for applying sheer blushers. For regular and highly pigmented blushes, I use the tapping motion to prevent over applying the product. (The brush takes about 10 hours to dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 5.5 hours to dry. It measures 7 inches in total length.)

BX-20 ~ Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Multi Purpose Brush ~ BX-15 ~ MAC 109

BX-20 ~ Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Multi Purpose Brush ~ BX-15 ~ MAC 109

Royal & Langnickel BX-15 Sm Domed Kabuki ($37.99) is ideal for applying bronzer as well as powder, liquid and cream foundation. The MAC 109 (review) is rounder and offers more control, but the BX-15 does not shed, even when used with liquid and cream products. It is also smaller and less dense than the BX-00. When I use the BX-15 to apply my Dior Forever foundation, I find that I need to use more product to get the same amount of coverage that I get when I use my MAC 187 stippling brush (review), but the BX-15 buffs in the product much quicker and is ideal to use during the morning rush. When used to apply powder foundation, it doesn't offer as much coverage as the Sonia Kashuk Dense Blush Powder brush (review) because the bristles are not as densely packed. So, the BX-15 is ideal for those that prefer a lighter coverage. (The brush takes about 16 hours to dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 7.5 hours to dry. It measures 6.65 inches in total length.) 

Royal & Langnickel BX-20 Flat Top Kabuki ($39.99) is ideal for buffing out over-applied products and for applying bronzer as well as powder, liquid and cream foundation. The bristles are more densely packed and offers more control than the BX-15. The Sonia Kashuk Flat Top Multi Purpose brush is slightly denser, but it tugs my skin a little bit and the bristles are not as flexible or easy to move as the BX-20. I prefer the BX-20 because it's bigger and buffs in foundation much easier. Also, even though it wastes more product compared to the MAC 187, I don't mind because it gets the job done quick. (The brush takes about 19 hours to dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 11 hours to dry. It measures 6.65 inches in total length. Also, it shedded 4 strands of hair during its initial wash, but it has stopped shedding since.)

BX-25 ~ MAC 168 ~ BX-55 ~ Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Pointed Foundation Brush

BX-25 ~ MAC 168 ~ BX-55 ~ Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Pointed Foundation Brush

Royal & Langnickel BX-25 Angled Kabuki ($39.99) is ideal for blending products and for applying blush and bronzer. The brush head is wider and denser than the BX-30 and MAC 168 brush (review). I love using the BX-25 to apply bronzer because the angled shape allows it to fit the contours of the face perfectly, while the density allows it to blend product effortlessly. It also works well with sheer blushes because the densely packed bristles pick up alot of product and distributes evenly. (The brush takes about 9 hours to dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 7 hours to dry. It measures 6.75 inches in total length.)

Royal & Langnickel BX-55 Pointed Foundation Brush ($27.99) is ideal for highlighting, contouring and applying foundation and concealer. The firm, pointed tip perfectly fits into all the natural contours of the face. I love using it to apply concealer underneath my eyes because it blends seamlessly with my foundation when I just gently tap the product onto my skin. The Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Pointed Foundation brush is similar to the BX-55, except it's slightly stiffer and offers better control, while the BX-55 looks more attractive. Regardless, I still love both of them equally and I highly recommend them because they are so multi-functional. (The brush takes about 9 hours to dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 6 hours to dry. It measures 6.6 inches in total length.)

BX-40 ~ BX-45 ~ BX-50 ~ BX-120

BX-40 ~ BX-45 ~ BX-50 ~ BX-120

Royal & Langnickel BX-40 Lg Foundation Brush ($28.99) is ideal for applying liquid and cream foundation. The side of the brush feels similar to the traditional synthetic brushes with that waxy texture, but the tip has a very soft and natural feel to it. I find that when I use it to apply my L'oreal True Match foundation in a painting motion, it does not streak at all. It is also the perfect size for the face and it's not too dense or too flimsy. (The brush takes about 9 hours to dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 6 hours to dry. It measures 6.75 inches in total length.)

Royal & Langnickel BX-45 Sm Foundation Brush ($15.99) is ideal for applying concealer. The side of the brush feels similar to the traditional synthetic brushes with that waxy texture, but the tip has a very soft, and natural feel to it. I was never a fan of concealer brushes because I found them to be too small and they took forever to blend the product into my skin. So, I always just used my ring finger until I discovered the BX-45. The brush head is medium-sized and it fits perfectly underneath the eye area. Also, because the bristles are densely packed, it offers great coverage and it blends the concealer seamlessly with my foundation with barely any effort. The BX-45 also works well for applying cream highlighters on top of the cheekbones. This has become a staple in my collection. (The brush takes only 3 hours to dry. It measures 6.75 inches in total length.)

Royal & Langnickel BX-50 Flat Concealer Brush ($9.99) is ideal for applying concealer to the smaller areas of the face. The side of the brush feels similar to the traditional synthetic brushes with that waxy texture, but the tip has a very soft and natural feel to it. The brush head is longer and has more give to it compared to the BX-45 and BX-120, but when you use it in a tapping motion, it feels firmer and offers more precision. (The brush takes only 2.5 hours to dry. It measures 6.75 inches in total length.)

Royal & Langnickel BX-120 Oval Lip Brush ($7.99) is ideal for spot concealing and for applying lip products. The side of the brush feels similar to the traditional synthetic brushes with that waxy texture, but the tip has a very soft and natural feel to it. I prefer the BX-120 over the BX-50 because it's smaller, firmer, and offers more precision. (The brush takes only 2.5 hours to dry. It measures 6.70 inches in total length.)

The Royal & Langnickel Revolution brushes are not like any brush that I have used before. The bristles are made with DuPont™ Natrafil® fibers, which are synthetic material, but they mimic the performance of natural hair and can be used with both cream and powder products. They feel extremely soft and they don't have that rigid, plastic or fake feel to them like the traditional synthetic brushes do, but they don't feel 100% like natural hairs. The best way to describe the texture of the brushes is that they feel like they're made from a hybrid of both synthetic and natural hairs. The bristles are flexible and they glide onto the skin smoothly without tugging. Also, they retain their shape very well and do not splay.

Another feature that makes the Revolution brushes stand out is that the ferrules "will not loosen or detach, even if soaked in water" because the "handles are impervious to water damage and fused to the non-corrosive, titanium plated, solid brass ferrule." In essence, they are constructed in a way that makes them extremely durable and resistant to damage. I only had these brushes for about a month, but so far, they are holding up pretty well. However, a few of the ferrules are dented, which I'm assuming occurred during shipping and not during the manufacturing process because the brushes were packaged with paper. Hopefully, Royal & Langnickel will be more careful with their packaging and use bubble wrap in the future.

The handles are made from acrylic and are finished with a rubbery Silk Touch™ coating, which provides better control and comfort for your hands. Initially, the handles felt more heavy than what I'm used to, but after using them for about a month, I prefer them over the traditional wooden handles because they feel more luxurious and I get a better grip of them. 

The bottom of the handles are flat, so the face brushes can stand upright. Most of the eye brushes have a small circumference, so they have to be stored in a brush holder or laid flat in a brush roll. I usually store my brushes in my Anna Sui brush holders because I love how organized they look when they're all spread out, but they waste alot of space and I don't have any more room to store any more brushes. (Currently, I have 84 brushes, not including the Revolution brushes!) So, the Revolution brushes are temporarily sitting in my Sigma Brush Cup Holder until I find a better storage solution. The BX-00 is resting on my vanity along with my other kabuki brushes because the base is too wide to be stored in a brush holder. 

As for maintenance, I don't find the Revolution brushes to be easier or harder to clean compared to my other brushes. They are just as easy to clean when used with powder products and just as hard to clean when used with cream and liquid products. (To get all the cream and liquid product out of the brush, wash it once with 1/4 tsp of olive oil and once with baby shampoo afterwards. If you don't have olive oil or are just stingy like me, then just wash it 2-3 times with baby shampoo and your brushes will be sparkling clean.)

The eye brushes take about 3 hours to dry, but the face brushes can take anywhere between 4.5 to 19 hours to completely dry. However, if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it can reduce the drying time by at least 2 hours.

Bottom Line: I highly recommend the Royal & Langnickel Revolution brushes because they will make your morning makeup routine so much easier and quicker. There is just something about the bristles that make them blend liquid, cream, and powder products seamlessly and effortlessly and without shedding. Also, they provide a polished and a natural-looking finish to your makeup. The technology that went into designing the [R]evolution brushes is truly [R]evolutionary.

Note: The Royal & Langnickel Revolution brushes are sold individually as well as in sets on their online store. 

*This post contains affiliate links and the Revolution Brush Set was provided by Royal & Langnickel because I was one of the winners of their sweepstakes. This does not affect my opinion about the products. I don't do paid or guaranteed reviews. My reviews are based on my own honest opinion.

Have you tried any of the [R]evolution brushes?

Click here for Part 2. ^_^