Review + Comparison: ELF Studio Brush Collection

I've been wanting to purchase the ELF Studio Angled Blush brush, Mineral Powder brush, Small Tapered brush, Flawless Concealer brush and Small Stipple brush ever since their release, but a few of them were always out of stock. I finally got the chance to purchase all 5 of them at the same time during the holiday season when they were half off! They're already so affordable at retail price. I can't believe I paid $1.50 each plus $6.95 shipping. ^_^

Pros:

• synthetic bristles feel very soft
• bristles are not flimsy at all
• ideal for applying liquid/cream products
• no shedding
• affordable ($3 each)
• no funky smell after a few washes

Cons:

• currently sold only online (now widely available) 
• dye bleeding during the initial wash (no dye bleeding afterwards)

ELF Angled Blush Brush is ideal for applying cream products and highly pigmented blushers. The synthetic bristles feel very soft and are more densely packed than the MAC 168 (review), but not as stiff as the Sigma F84. The ELF one is more flexible, but is by no means flimsy. I personally use it to apply highly pigmented blushes because the bristles disperses powder product lightly and evenly without leaving a clownish finish. I also use it to apply my Chanel cream bronzer (swatches) because the shape of the brush fits nicely on my cheek area and it doesn't leave any bristles on my face to clean up afterwards. (It measures 6.25 inches in total length.)

MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush ~ ELF Angled Blush Brush ~ Sigma F84 Angled Kabuki

Sigma F84 Angled Kabuki ~ ELF Angled Blush Brush ~ MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush

MAC 109 ~ ELF Mineral Powder Brush ~ Sigma F35 ~ ELF Small Tapered Brush

Real Techniques Contour Brush (available in the Core Collection set) ~ Real Techniques Setting Brush

ELF Mineral Powder Brush is ideal for applying cream products, such as blushers and bronzers. The synthetic bristles feel very soft and are not too flimsy or too densely packed. The Real Techniques Contour brush is slightly smaller and more tapered, which makes it more ideal for applying concealer and setting powder under the eye area and for highlighting the cheekbones. The ELF one fits better on the cheek area and it blends cream products onto my skin flawlessly when I use it in a tapping motion. I also like using it in a buffing motion when I apply liquid foundation because it gets into all the crevices of my face really well, but I just wish the brush was a little bigger. By the way, their stock photo looks bigger than the one that I received. (It measures 6.25 inches in total length.)

ELF Small Tapered Brush is ideal for applying setting powder, highlighting, and contouring. The bristles are slightly denser than the ELF Mineral Powder brush and slightly bigger than the Real Techniques Contour brush. Due to its tapered point, it fits very well on top of the cheekbone area, on the hollows of the cheeks, around the crevices of the nose, and underneath the eye area. I have been loving this for applying setting powder in the "hard to reach" places of my face. (It measures 7 inches in total length.)

MAC 109 ~ Sigma F35 ~ ELF Small Tapered Brush ~ ELF Mineral Powder Brush

MAC 109 ~ ELF Mineral Powder Brush ~ Sigma F35 ~ ELF Small Tapered Brush

Sigma F35 ~ ELF Small Tapered Brush ~ Real Techniques Contour Brush ~ Real Techniques Setting Brush

ELF Mineral Powder Brush ~ ELF Small Tapered Brush ~ Real Techniques Contour Brush ~ Real Techniques Setting Brush

Inglot 4SS Brush ~ ELF Flawless Concealer Brush ~ Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush ~ Sonia Kashuk Small Multi Purpose Powder Brush

ELF Flawless Concealer Brush is ideal for applying setting powder, spot concealing and blending. The synthetic bristles feel very soft and are more densely packed than the Inglot (review), Edward Bess (review) and Sonia Kashuk brush pictured above. I personally don't like using it to apply concealer underneath my eye area because I find that it takes to long when I use it in a tapping motion and it doesn't give as much coverage when I use it in a buffing motion. However, I love using it to blend my cream eyeshadows when I'm applying an all-over-the-lid shade. It's also  excellent for setting concealer because the brush can reach in the small crevices of the face. Also, you don't have to worry about it leaving a cakey finish because the synthetic bristles lightly disperses product. (It measures 6.50 inches in total length.)

Inglot 4SS Brush ~ ELF Flawless Concealer Brush ~ Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush ~ Sonia Kashuk Small Multi Purpose Powder Brush

ELF Small Stipple Brush is ideal for applying cream products and highly pigmented blushers. The synthetic bristles are not as dense as the Real Techniques and MAC 130 brush, but is slightly denser than the MAC 187 (review). Keep in mind, it is by no means flimsy. It stipples and buffs foundation into the skin really well without leaving a streaky finish. I just wish that the brush head was bigger. Because of the size of the brush, It's more suitable for applying cheek products, which it does flawlessly. (It measures 6.75 inches in total length.)

MAC 187 ~ Real Techniques Stippling Brush ~ ELF Small Stipple Brush ~ MAC 130

MAC 187 ~ Real Techniques Stippling Brush ~ ELF Small Stipple Brush ~ MAC 130

Bottom Line: I highly recommend checking them out, especially if you're on a tight beauty budget. These brushes feel baby soft, don't shed and work well with both liquid and powder products. 

Note: The ELF Studio brushes can be purchased individually for $3 each at their online store, drugstore.com, and Target. 

Which ELF Studio brush have you tried?

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