I am an unabashed makeup brush addict. When I say 'addict', I don't mean an 'enthusiastic devotee', I mean an outright makeup brush OBSESSIVE.
Everybody knows that with that sort of obsession comes an overwhelming compulsion to always purchase these fluffy makeup tools (despite the fact I already own hundreds...) and test them out!
So, for todays post, I'm going to be going through and reviewing, for you, the two newest brush sets to enter my beautiful collection. After adding the 'Carli Bybel Deluxe Palette' to my basket, I couldn't resist picking up the 'Sculpt and blend 2' 10 piece brush set by BH Cosmetics, as the professional feel they had drew me in. INSTANTANEOUSLY. And, for the second set, you guys are going to die when you see these gorgeous rose gold face wands* by Sminka London!
So, aesthetically speaking, these sets both have my instant approval but are they worth the purchase? Let's find out!
BH Cosmetics - Sculpt and Blend 2 (10 piece brush set) - $19.99
So, as I mentioned during the intro, I love the professional look of these brushes - they don't in any way look cheap or tacky, which is always a positive for me. The handles are also made of wood, giving a little more weight to them, hence the luxe feel. (They're just really bougie, okay?!)
So, for the very reasonable sum of $19.99, you receive 10 synthetic, duo fiber wands (cruelty free too, which is fantastic) that are supposed to be designed for use with liquids, creams AND powders.
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| My sincere apologies for the disgusting nails today! |
- 123 - Flat top buffing brush
- 124 - Tapered face blending brush
- 125 - Tapered contour brush
- 126 - Precision blush brush
- 127 - Angled face shader brush
- 128 - Small deluxe blending brush
- 130 - Large shader brush
- 131 - Nose contour brush
- 132 - Precision detailer brush
- 129 - Small round blending brush
Overall, I think that BH Cosmetics did a swell job when deciding the variety of this set: you could very easily do a full face of makeup using these. However, there are still a few elements that I would change regarding the selection and the nature of these brushes.
To start with, the quality of the synthetic fibers, despite not being terrible for the price, could have definitely been improved. They're certainly soft enough texture wise but, having only owned this set for all of two weeks, I don't expect to already be noticing shedding on a few brushes, which is a little disappointing! My second criticism would have to be regarding brush 131 (for nose contouring): it's absolutely pointless. The snake-tongue form that BH Cosmetics went for isn't even going to contour four fifths of the world's noses - they should have chosen something more universal because I don't see myself ever picking that wand up. Sorry BH!
In conclusion, despite coming across a few hiccups and weaknesses within this collection, for the price, this professional makeup set is very versatile and something I would, for sure, recommend to beginners who would be interested in acquiring all of the necessary tools but for less. On the contrary, for those of you that look closer at quality than price, I don't think this is the set for you. (However, there are plenty more brushes in the sea! Well, to be honest, I think you'd be better off looking in a makeup shop before resorting to the ocean, so please kindly avoid quoting me on that.)
Sminka London - Face Wands (Rose Gold)* - $33.70
Now, although I'd much prefer to just sit back and admire these beauties in mute amazement, I've got to give you guys the details on my new favourite brushes.
I was kindly sent these for consideration a few weeks before they actually launched, however, I chose to wait for them to be released before writing this, which has given me a lot more time to test them out daily within my makeup routine.
It's no surprise that I'm obsessed with the rose gold, unicorn-inspired wands: anything combining my favourite colour with my favourite animal has got to be a winner. (I'm a strong believer in the existence of unicorns - don't judge...) I also enjoy the fact that I can travel with these as they're so lightweight.
So, within this stunning set, we have the following brushes:
- F60 - Foundation and baking wand
- F79 - Powder wand
- F28 - Angled blusher and bronzer wand
- F56 - Tapered illuminator wand
In reality, I couldn't be more impressed with the quality of the bristles, as these are some of the softest brushes I've ever felt (honestly, the experience of using these is comparable to having somebody stroke your face with candyfloss. That's how fluffy these are.) The delicate texture of F28 and F56 makes them perfect for powders, creating a natural blush and bronzer application, which is right up my street for everyday use.
These brushes also wash really well and restore to their original state almost immediately after being cleaned and dried - I can't really fault anything I've seen so far.
So, overall, they may be a little pricey for some, but if you want know how it feels to be tickled by a fairy (cheesy), you should definitely invest in this face wand set. These brushes are also available in gold and you can also pick up Sminka's eye wand set! Better yet, you can now purchase the complete wand set too, so I highly recommend placing an order today; you won't regret adding these wondrous brushes to your collection. I'm in love! Also, don't forget to follow their instagram (@sminkaldn) - they're always blessing my feed with stunning photos.
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| Cute little unicorn glittery thingy bobs: courtesy of Sminka London |
* The products marked with an asterisk have been gifted to me, free of charge, for review. However, all opinions on them are strictly honest.
Thank you so much for reading today's post! If you enjoyed finding out about my newest brushes and my experience with them, please follow this blog for more juicy content just like this!
Which makeup brush set was your favourite? Bonus question: do you believe in unicorns?
Let me know in the comments section along with any other feedback you may have - I love hearing from you guys, it really makes my day!
Until next time,
Marina Rosie x
Which makeup brush set was your favourite? Bonus question: do you believe in unicorns?
Let me know in the comments section along with any other feedback you may have - I love hearing from you guys, it really makes my day!
Until next time,
Marina Rosie x
Oh my god, the pink ones are gorgeous! That is a bit out of my price range though, so maybe as a treat or for my birthday. they look so soft! Ellie xxx
ReplyDeleteYes, that's certainly the right mindset Ellie! They're for sure worth the purchase! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
OMG definitely in love with the Sminka London - Face Wands!! So beautiful! almost too pretty to use lol <3
ReplyDeleteI was in love with them at first site! They're absolutely stunning! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Those unicorn brushes are amazing. Love the way you've explained...
ReplyDeleteThey're a gorgeous style and beautiful quality Joshita! x Thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed the way I wrote the review! Always fabulous to hear! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
The Sminka brushes look stunning! Ahh I wish I could afford them because I would LOOOOVEEE to have them in my collection. x Nikita
ReplyDeleteBLOG//Jasmine Loves
Get them for yourself as a cheeky little post-exam treat! You deserve it! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Dese brushes are soo pretty....but I don use brushes😉 to be clear II really don't knw to use dem
ReplyDeleteThat's no trouble at all Steffy - I'll add a 'brushes for beginners' post to my list of future blog activity for you there! Makeup is for everyone, and there's a wonderful community of beauty bloggers here, we can definitely help! xx
DeleteLots of love
Marina Rosie xx
Marina Rosie x
Despite some of its hiccups i.e brush shedding it sounds like that it is a reasonable price for what you get. Plus they are cruelty free which gets a big thumbs up from me x
ReplyDeleteYes, it's such an affordable set, especially considering the fact you're getting 10 brushes! I love cruelty free products too! I did forget to mention that the Sminka London brushes are also Vegan and cruelty free too, so they'd be right up your street too Ana! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
I am not a huge fan of makeup brushed for foundation. I do use brushes for my eyebrows and eyeshadow, though.
ReplyDeleteI don't tend to use brushes for foundation either Kathryn, I find that they buff in a lot better using a damp beauty blender! But to each his own, I suppose! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Awesome post! Very thorough and descriptive. I enjoyed reading it a lot!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day 😀
Why thankyou hun! So glad you enjoyed reading today's content! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Great post and nice pics :) The golden pink brushes look amazing :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed the post and my photography - flattered! x Yes, Sminka did an amazing job with their brushes, I love them! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
I don't use make up that often so I have very little knowledge about good (or bad) brushes. However, my daughter can talk the whole day discussing make up brushes. Haha. I know she will love these brush sets you featured in this post. The Sminka London - Face Wands are so pretty. I could get that set and give them to my daughter as a "just because you are my only daughter" gift.
ReplyDeleteI think myself and your daughter would definitely get on haha, because I'm exactly the same! x If I were her, I'd be jumping for joy if I received a set of wands as beautiful as the Sminka London ones! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Yes!!! I love brand new makeup brushes and although I am yet to try BH Cosmetics, I've heard such great things!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to have a fellow brush obsessive in our midsts! xx Do try them out Freya - I've seen some new brush sets that they are coming out with thick and fast that I'm definitely going to pounce on as soon as I've got the spare cash!
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
i can't say that this is very useful to me lol - but i will say you write a good article so props to you
ReplyDeleteFeel free to suggest a post to me that you'd like to see - everyone is very much welcome on my blog, so if you'd like to talk to me about anything or if you have a suggestion, pop to the contact page to find out how to go about contacting me! Happy you like my style of writing though - that's a positive! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Great review. Unicorn brushes are super cute
ReplyDeleteThey are so precious, aren't they?! Thanks for reading,
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
These brushes look lovely. Passing your post along to my daughter. She's really into makeup and was just commenting that a new brush set was on her birthday wish list!
ReplyDeleteAwe that's lovely Alison; I really hope she has a fabulous birthday! I can relate to her a lot - being a teen and into makeup myself, brushes are really important. I know she'd love the pink unicorn set! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Oh wow! I love the look of those Unicorn brushes! xx
ReplyDeleteIndie// In Search of the Holy Grail
They're stunning - definitely a fabulous find! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
The rose gold set looks so pretty! x
ReplyDeleteJordan Alice
I'm obsessed with them Jordan, you have no idea! xxx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Ah the unicorn brushes are just my favourite, I always forget that often the brushes you use to put on your make up are more important than the make up itself! You have a lovely blog here too by the way, well done on all your hard work pretty lady! x
ReplyDeleteadelelydia.blogspot.com
100% correct Adele. You could have £1 brushes and £100 makeup, but it's not going to give you the results you wanted! xx Thanks so much, that's really brightened up my day beautiful. Big fan of yours too! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
I don't generally use brushes unless I have had to do something on stage with stage makeup. I do like learning about it for the sake of my daughter though.
ReplyDeleteYess - us teens never stop talking about makeup so you're bound to learn something from your daughter! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie x
Ahh, they looks so soft! The rose gold brushes with pink bristles have totally caught my attention. Thanks for the reminder to update my brush collection babe :)
ReplyDeleteaglassofice.com
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They're some of the softest brushes I've ever touched hun, I was shocked! xx And haha, you're very welcome gorgeous! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
OMG! What a gorgeous collection of brushes! I just have 2 brushes and I don't use them at all! Thanks for the reminder about what I'm missing now!
ReplyDeleteThey are so precious! These would be great additions to your collection Ana, if you were thinking about expanding it! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
The Sminka London rose gold brushes are gorgeous! I am OBSESSED! What a great find, I will need to test these out!
ReplyDeleteYASS Sondra, that's exactly how I felt when I opened my package! They're perfect! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
these brushes all look absolutely amazing, i like the hold colours and they look very soft and ok for the face, compared to other hard ones that rip of the face... good product good brand. awesome.
ReplyDeleteReally glad you enjoyed the post and like the looks of the brushes! Rose gold is such a stunning colour and really adds a new dimension to a brush set! And yes, these are as soft as dandelions! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
A lot of brushes! I like it. I think I need to change my brushes. This looks useful and high-quality.
ReplyDeleteHey Dana, thanks for reading today! x Yes, after a while, I, too, tend to have the urge to change my brushes and replace them with brand new ones! It gives me a rush! I'd recommend either of these sets to be honest, but, if you want the best quality, Sminka London is the brand you want to go for.
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
unicorn brushes have my hearts
ReplyDeleteThey have mine too, trust me! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
You know, this is the first time I've ever seen the price of makeup brushes..those things aren't cheap!
ReplyDeleteTimes like these I'm happy the only brush I use is for my hair :)
Haha, you're right about that hun - these brushes are fairly reasonably priced though! However, when we start to go into the seriously high end brush department, it can cost HUNDREDS for a single set! Shocking isn't it! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThese brushes are very gooood .
I like the pink ones
I like the pink ones too Diidy - they're perfection! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
love your blog!!!! so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Patricia - that really means the world to me! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Oh by the way the pink brushes are really beautiful! Thanks for sharing, I am going to look into the BH cosmetics because I always wanted to try their makeup brushes. Thanks again for this awesome review!
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome Marshalee! SO glad you read! Yes, BH have such a wide range of brushes, and the newest sets they're coming out with look gorgeous! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
That looks high-quality brush! I love it. The color pink is my type. I want to have it.
ReplyDeleteThey're beautiful Dana, so don't hesitate to purchase a set for yourself! x Thanks very much for reading! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Wow! They look really good and pretty also! I love it! :))) :**
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea - both of these brush sets are shipped pretty much worldwide to be honest, so feel free to check that out and get some! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
I love these brush sets. They look so good! I recently bought 1 such set from a store in Singapore It was a chinese brand and feels okay so far.
ReplyDeleteHey Sona, thanks for reading, so glad you're liking the look of these brushes! x Ooh, tell me more, I'd love to know the details of the brand! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
I don't know much about make up but I am aware that there's really specific type of brushes for specific type of purposes.. my sister got bunch of them too haha
ReplyDeleteHaha, you're sister definitely sounds like me! x Yes, you're right there - a lot of different brushes serve a lot of different purposes but, to be honest, when I'm lazy, I just reach for 3 brushes and use them for the whole face! xx oops!
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
I am looking to buy makeup brushes and my friend has suggested me some brands which they failed to impress me. They looks high-quality brush. I would love to purchase them.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes Shirley - you've got to be careful with brands and brushes, as the quality isn't consistent throughout brands. I definitely recommend the Sminka brushes if you're looking for quality. They are top notch, vegan and cruelty free! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
brushes are amazing.loved those pink and golden brushes :)
ReplyDeleteThey're my absolute faves too! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Great selection. I love the look of the rose gold brushes they are so pretty and so in fashion at the moment.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about that Mel - rose gold is such a trendy colour! x It's my favourite, along with red, as it's so symbolic. x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
I love these Sminka brushes they look great and the sizes are fab too. Brushes are so important for doing a good make up job. Perfect make up starts with the right tools.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with the way you put that Kathryn! xx Brushes are my lifeline - if your brushes aren't up to standard then, chances are that your makeup isn't either! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
These makeup brush sets look fabulous. I have never been a big makeup person until now, so I am still learning and what better way to start than with brushes.
ReplyDeleteYes LIndsey - you've gotta start somewhere! SO glad you're getting into makeup - it's so fun! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
You've sold me on the unicorn ones hon. I've grown weary of poor quality brushes - if they shed I toss them, no time in the morning rush to be picking stray bristles off my face lol. Great review and thank you xxx
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed the review babe! xx You're so right - the consumers shouldn't have to pick bristles off of their faces, it's gross! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Damn, that unicorn brushes are stunning. What a big hit lately, but I think you've convinced me. xx
ReplyDeleteMichelle Morchella
Ah Michelle, you're right - unicorn makeup and accessories are so in fashion lately! But this set is so worth it, trust me! xx
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Oooh these are both so aesthetically pleasing to look at! I do like the look of the BH brush set, they seem to have such a good variety of brushes :D
ReplyDeleteVioletDaffodils
xx
Aha! I love aesthetically pleasing makeup and brushes! x BH have TONS - I'm going to have to try a different set next! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Wow those gold brush set is gorgeous! I actually own the BH ones and really enjoy most of the brushes. I know BH usually has great sales on them and worth the purchase.
ReplyDeleteFabulous! Really stoked you're enjoying your set, as they're great value for money with the BH sales and 48 hour hauls! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx
Oh I LOVE the rose gold unicorn brushes. They are almost too pretty to use! My daughter is obsessed with brushes and has the exact same pot as you to keep all of hers in, such a small world.
ReplyDeleteYass Rose Gold is one of my favourite colours nowadays - adds a little bit of sparkle and gleam where you need it to make anything just that little bit more girly! xx I know, I didn't even want to use them but, as they were PR, I must be fair and test them so I'm glad they were as fabulous as they looked! Yass the flower pot brush holders are so popular nowadays - they're very aesthetically pleasing! x
DeleteLots of love,
Marina Rosie xx