I had some of these products for a few months and others for a few years. -_-
I decided to group them together in one big post with mini reviews instead of making separate posts.
I decided to group them together in one big post with mini reviews instead of making separate posts.
Dolce & Gabbana Big Blending Brush ($33) - This one is made with a blend of goat and pony hair. The bristles feel soft and are densely packed. Therefore, you can use it to pack on shadow all over the lid if you have a large eye space. I personally love using it to apply highlight on my brow bone and blending out the contour line on my nose. Because it's wide at the tip and the bristles are slightly firm, it's also great for blending your lid and crease color. This has become a staple in my collection due to its multi-tasking abilities.
Chanel Large Eyeshadow Brush #25 ($38) - The box that came with the brush says that it's made in France and is made with a blend of natural and synthetic material. The base is thin, but the bristles fluff out at the tip. Therefore, this makes it great for applying eyeshadow and then using the tip to blend and soften the lid color. However, there were a few strands of hair that felt prickly on my lids. Maybe mine is from a bad batch or my skin is just sensitive? As for the MAC 239, it's softer, thinner, firmer, and overall smaller, which makes it more suitable for those with a small lid space and for those who prefer more precision.
Sigma E55 Brush ($14) - I purchased this one a few years ago when they still made it using natural bristles. The one that they currently sell is made with synthetic fibers. It's dense, so it's great for packing on color to the lids. When compared to the MAC 239, the Sigma E55 is not as firm or thin. The MAC 239 offers more precision and control. For those that find the MAC one to be too small, the Sigma and Chanel #25 would be a more suitable option.
Chanel Small Eyeshadow Brush #15 ($32) - This one is made in France and is made with a blend of natural and synthetic material. It's not as firm or thin as the MAC 239, but the dense bristles pack color onto the lids really well and the size allows it to offer precision and control. It's suitable for those with small eyes. The bristles also feel similar to the Sigma E55. The main difference is that the Chanel #15 is smaller and offers more precision compared to the E55.
Sigma E60 Brush ($16) - The version that I have is made with natural hair. (The one that they currently sell is made with synthetic material.) The bristles are firm and thin; therefore, it's great for laying down product. It's not as big as the Dolce & Gabbana one, but it's bigger than the Chanel #25. I recommend it for those that have a big lid space.
Louise Young LY06 Super Blusher Brush ($42) - This one is made of natural hair. To give you an idea of how the bristles feel, the LY06 is softer than the MAC 109 and Hakuhodo B110BkSL, but not as soft as the Japonesque #324. It's pinched at the base and fluffed out at the tip. It has the same amount of firmness as the Hakuhodo and Japonesque brushes, but is the widest out of the 3. It works well for applying sheer and regular-pigmented blushes and for blending out over-applied cheek products.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($43) - MUFE 127/Y335 works fine on my MAC NC30/35 skintone, but I wanted to try their new shades after finishing the bottle that I had. I find that Y345 doesn't look as yellow as 127/Y335 and is a smidgen darker. It still has a warm undertone and I recommend trying Y345 for those who found 127/Y335 a bit light. Y375 is darker and works best for the the summer months when I have a tan. Dior 021 has a more yellow undertone and is lighter compared to Y345 and Y375. In order to get a perfect match in the Dior foundation, I have to mix 021 with 031. I prefer to use the MUFE one in the drier & colder months because the consistency is more runny and leaves a semi-matte finish. During the summer months, I prefer to use the Dior foundation because the formula is mattifying and keeps my oils at bay better. (For reference, I have an oily t-zone and normal skin on the rest of my face.)
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer ($29) - In order to counteract dark circles, I always use a concealer with a pink or peach undertone for my under eyes. I also use a shade lighter to brighten that area. Vanilla is a tad bit too light for me, while Honey is too dark. The texture is the driest compared to the Urban Decay and Mac concealer, but it's by no means dry to the point where it leaves a "crypt creeper" finish. It's actually very easy to smooth and blend onto the skin. It also doesn't crease and lasts at least 8 hours when set with a powder. However, it doesn't cover up my dark circles as well as the Mac one. (I have really dark circles and have a very hard time finding a concealer that covers them well without creasing or looking dry.) The formula is thick enough to cover blemishes very well, though. Therefore, I recommend it for this purpose if you can find a perfect match for your skintone and for brightening the undereye when using a shade lighter.
Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer ($28) - Light Neutral looks similar to NW20, but it has a slightly more pink undertone in person. It also oxides after a few minutes and becomes slightly darker than the MAC one (more swatches). However, Light Neutral still works fine for my skintone as an under eye brightener. The texture is the creamiest among the 3 concealers and is very similar to the Nars one in terms of longevity and coverage. However, just like the Nars one, it doesn't cover my dark circles as well as the MAC one and works best at concealing blemishes if you can find a perfect match for your skintone.
Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer ($28) - Light Neutral looks similar to NW20, but it has a slightly more pink undertone in person. It also oxides after a few minutes and becomes slightly darker than the MAC one (more swatches). However, Light Neutral still works fine for my skintone as an under eye brightener. The texture is the creamiest among the 3 concealers and is very similar to the Nars one in terms of longevity and coverage. However, just like the Nars one, it doesn't cover my dark circles as well as the MAC one and works best at concealing blemishes if you can find a perfect match for your skintone.
Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Bronzing Powder in 02 Blondes Naturel ($53) - This is also called the Terracotta Healthy Glow Blush Bronzer Powder Duo. I purposely bought Blondes Naturel even though I'm a dark hair gal because the blush shade is the darkest and pinkest among the 4 duo powders that Guerlain offers. Therefore, on my skintone, this duo powder acts more as a blush rather than a bronzer. It gives me a very feint glow and a natural-looking color on my cheeks. The product does have "feminine" scent to it, but I find it to be pleasant. (Though, those with sensitive skin might not be fond of this.) I also love how slim and sleek the compact is.
Note: The Dolce & Gabbana Big Blending brush, Chanel #25 and #15, Sigma E55 and E60, Louise Young LY06, MAC 239 and MAC Pro Longwear Concealer can be purchased at Nordstrom. The Hakuhodo B110BkSL and Japonesque #324 Blush brush can be purchased from their online store. The MUFE HD foundation contains 1.01oz and is available at Sephora. The Dior Forever foundation contains 1oz and is available at Sephora and Nordstrom. The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer contains 0.22oz and is available at Nordstrom, Sephora, and Beauty.com.The Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer contains 0.16oz and is available at Nordstrom, Sephora, and Beauty.com. The Guerlain Terracotta Healthy Glow Blush Bronzer Powder Duo contains 10g/0.35oz and is available at Nordstrom and Sephora.
Hope you all enjoyed the pictures and swatches! ^_^
This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.
