Sephora Classic Mineral Powder Brush vs. Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki

A little while ago I posted a 'vs' blog on foundations (read here) and it went down really well.  This time I'm comparing two of my face brushes, the Sephora Classic Mineral Powder Brush and the Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki.  

Sephora Classic Mineral Powder Brush #45

I picked up this brush whilst in Spain in June. I'd heard a few great reviews and wondered if I'd like it more than the Sigma F80.  It was around €16 (£13) when I bought it which I thought was reasonable. Although the name suggests this is for use with mineral products, I use this with liquid foundations.  The brush is soft to touch but I find that when I apply product it can feel a little scratchy but not to the point where you can't stand it.  It's great at buffing in base products for a flawless finish - my favourite foundation in conjunction with the brush being MUFE's HD foundation.  Unlike the Sigma F80, this is a rounded kabuki and is far fluffier and a little less dense.  The bristles are synthetic meaning that they clean easier and because this brush isn't so dense, I find it dries within a couple of hours.  

Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush

I've had this brush for around 10 months now and I love it.  It was £14.99 from Love Makeup, who stock a lot of the Sigma brushes.  This is a great liquid foundation brush, the bristles are extremely soft and glide over the face nicely, creating a flawless finish.  I really like using Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua with this brush as it gives the perfect finish and helps to achieve a higher coverage.  As you can see, the bristles on the F80 are more tightly packed, making the brush far denser in comparison to the Sephora.  As well as foundation, I also find I can use this brush with my concealer and also it's great at getting under my eye area with my YSL Touche Eclat.  The synthetic bristles mean that again, it cleans fairly easily, although as I've used it quite a bit, it's stained now. Might be time to get a replacement! This brush takes a long time to dry, I washed all my make up brushes yesterday morning and when I took this photo's a day later, the middle bristles were still a little damp.  

Both brushes have pro's and con's but are great at general base make up application.  For a smoother feeling, all around product brush the Sigma F80 is great but if you'd rather one brush for one job then the Sephora is equally as great.  The only downside to the Sigma brush is the time it takes to dry whereas the Sephora brush takes a lot less.  Right now I'm reaching for the F80 as I feel I can do it all - foundation, concealer and under eye concealer in one but I do fluctuate from time to time to the Sephora brush.  

Unfortunately the Sephora brush is extremely difficult to get hold of in the UK - it's time they came back to the UK and opened up some stores!

Have you tried either brushes? 

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

The term 'BB' cream has always been a familiar one to Asian countries and up until a year ago, a product concept that always intrigued me. BB creams, or Blemish Balms as they are also known are a type of base that is supposed to blur imperfections and promises a flawless base.  Since 2011 a lot of companies in the UK have jumped on the bandwagon, Garnier being the first and now high street beauty chains such as L'Oreal, 17 and now Maybelline have brought out their own take on the famous Blemish Balm.  

I took the plunge and decided to try the Maybelline version which was £7.99.  It claims that it is an 8-in-1 cream, promising skin benefits such as evening of skin tone, blurring imperfections and leaving a glowing, fresh faced finish.  It also contains a high SPF of 30 which is an added bonus.  

On first impressions, the colour looked far too dark for my skin and I'd bought the lightest shade.  Once I applied it to my face, the colour seemed to match up but I found it didn't really do much.  I could still see imperfections that should have been 'blurred' and my skin tone was still all over the place.  I wasn't expecting a medium - heavy coverage, in fact I don't like that in any of my bases, but I expected a lot more.  It feels lovely on the skin and does leave a dewy finish which I like but it looked more like I'd popped on some moisturiser rather than a skin base.  

To begin with, I was using my Sigma or Sephora brushes to apply the product and many of the reviews written said they'd found that fingers worked best for application.  I've now tried both and neither work any better.  I guess I expected more from a product that has been quite popular but maybe BB cream just isn't for me!

How do you apply the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream?

April 2012 Favourites

Another month gone, where is 2012 going? April was an extremely busy month with the magazine unit due (see the finished product here) and then work experience starting, I haven't really stopped.  When it came to my make up for this month it was quick and simple which is reflected in my favourites.  

For my base I've kept it light and dewy as I haven't really had the time to buff out a heavy duty foundation, plus my skin hasn't really needed that extra coverage. I've switched between my Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in shade 'I'm pure 4 sure' and my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10.  These both give a dewy finish which leaves your skin looking really natural.  My brush of choice is the Sigma F80 flat top kabuki which makes life so much easier! It applies the foundation extremely quickly, leaving a flawless finish. 

To add warmth to my cheeks I've been using the Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronze Universel with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush from the Core Collection.  As I am so fair at the moment, I use the tiniest amount otherwise I might look like an oompa loompa (sorry Roald Dahl, it was never a good look).  I'm looking forward to taking this on holiday and using it when I have a tan! I've also been picking up my Sleek Face Contour Kit and using the highlighter to brighten the inner corners of my eyes as there was a lot of early mornings and late nights through April.  

Keeping with the simple look, I haven't really done anything other than kohl liner on my tight line and mascara.  My mascara of choice is MUFE Smoky Lash in black which I will definitely be stocking up on when I go to Sephora in Spain next month.  For lips I've kept things pretty nude or sheer in colour.  My favourites have been the Clinique Chubby Stick in wooping watermelon and 17 Mirror Shine On Lipstick in Beehive.  

What have been your favourite products of April? 

Make Up Brush Collection + Reviews

The key to a flawless make up application is not solely reliant on the products you use, but also the brushes you use to apply them.  I've always been interested in make up from an early age, but up until recently, I either used my fingers or the applicators that came with make up.  I've been building up a decent brush collection for a few months now and I am finally ready to show you what I use and also if they work or not.  

I have a mixture of brushes from Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman, Sigma and Topshop.  I got my brush organiser from Muji, for around £2-£3.  Here are the brushes I use on a daily basis, as well as some that are a little bit rubbish. 

FACE

(L-R) Real Techniques Blush Brush, Real Techniques Powder Brush, Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush, Real Techniques Contour Brush and Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki

Real Techniques Blush Brush - Before I picked this brush up, I used to use an Eco Tools blush brush for everything (contour, bronzing, blush and powder).  Now I have a separate brush for each I will never go back.  This brush is tapered allowing for precision when it comes to blusher.  It's extremely soft and like all the other RT brushes I use, washes extremely well.  

Real Techniques Powder Brush  - This brush is big, flexible and fluffy.  Perfect for all over powder application.  It hasn't shed at all, unlike my Eco Tools brush used to and like the Blush brush is extremely soft.  

Real Techniques Buffing Brush from the Core Collection - I've heard this brush is excellent for a quick and easy foundation application but I have yet to try it for that purpose.  At the moment I use it after applying foundation and concealer to ensure that I have a flawless base with no lines or patchiness.  

Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush from the Starter Set - I use this for under eye concealer and around my nose, rather than eyeshadow which is was the Pixiwoo girls do.  It's a ruddy fantastic brush and blends concealer seamlessly.  I wish all the brushes were sold separately as I'd love another for eyeshadow.  

Real Techniques Contour Brush from the Core Collection - Another brilliant brush.  I feel I can sculpt and highlight my face so much easier with this brush.  

Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki - I absolutely adore this brush and it's probably the only reason I haven't tried the RT buffing brush with foundation yet.  I've never been able to apply my foundation as flawlessly than I have with this brush.  It's dense but has enough flexibility to move around the nooks and crannies of the face.  The bristles are soft and wash up lovely without loosing shape.  

EYES

(Top - Bottom) Sigma Tapered Blending E40, Sigma Small Tapered Blending E45, Real Techniques Base Shadow, Real Techniques Accent and No.7 Eyeshadow Blending

Sigma Tapered Blending E40 - A brilliant brush for blending.  It's big and fluffy allowing to blur harsh lines quickly.  When I first got it, it shed a little but after using and washing it's now fine.  

Sigma Small Tapered Blending E45 - This brush is brilliant for crease work and precision eyeshadow application.  It's also good for the outer V and a brush I pick up most days when applying eyeshadow.  

Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush from the Starter Set - A does the job brush.  Great for packing on eyeshadow.  

Real Techniques Accent Brush from the Starter Set - I use this brush to highlight the inner corner of my eye.  It's also good for applying eyeshadow underneath the bottom lash line.  

No.7 Eyeshadow Blending - I'm going to be honest.  This brush is rubbish and I no longer use it since getting my Sigma brushes.  In comparison the brush is tiny and doesn't blend well at all.  It's also extremely scratchy and irritates my eye area.  Whoever told me this was a dupe for the MAC 217 lied! 

MISCELLANEOUS

(Top - Bottom) Topshop Foundation Brush, Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush and Real Techniques Detailer Brush

Topshop Foundation Brush - I used to use this on a daily basis but found it didn't blend my foundation all that well.  It works well with some foundations, with others though it can be streaky.  

Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush from the Core Collection - I haven't used this brush yet, but I've been told it works well with concealer so I will give it a go soon.  

Real Techniques Detailer Brush from the Core Collection - I use this for applying bold lippie.  It works really well and gives me a precise application.  

So those are the brushes I use pretty much everyday.  I wash them in Johnsons Baby Shampoo and it works just as well as expensive brush cleaners for a smidgen of the price (plus they then smell gorgeous)!  It's also easily found in supermarkets and high street stores too.  

Have you got any of the Real Techniques or Sigma brushes or have any recommendations for other brushes to add to my collection?  

Cleaning Bug

I don't know about you but sometimes I get this overwhelming feeling that I need a ruddy good clear out.  For the past few weeks I'd gotten increasingly fed up with my dressing table/desk.  As an out and proud beauty fanatic, the products sitting on my desk had accumulated to a stupid amount, half of them I never touched, some of which were years old.  That was until last week when I quite literally cleared it off and started again.  I wish I had thought to take a before photo, just so you could see just what I had to work with.  After a good two or so hours, I'd chucked away a million and one products, leaving the ones I use and love out on display.  The result? 

A rather neat and tidy space.  I can even fit my MacBook Pro nicely, meaning I can work comfortably in my room if I so wish.  I thought I'd show you what I currently have on my dresser.  

This is now what I like to call my 'goody basket', because, well, it has some goodies in it.  To the right we have the Lush products I've been using (yes, that is a TOWIE DVD next to it too...), including I Love Juicy shampoo, American Cream conditioner, Snow Fairy shower gel and my Magic Wand.  To the left we have all my Liz Earle skincare products (which conveniently ran out today, meaning I will need to pop in and pick some more up sharpish) as well as my Sigma F80, tweezers and some cotton pads.  

Before I cleared off my dresser, I had at least 8 perfumes taking up a lot of space.  I have narrowed it down to two, but don't worry I haven't thrown the others away, just stored them elsewhere.  Stella was one of my bargain sale buys and my new everyday fragrance, whilst Chloe is and always will be my (cliche coming up) signature scent. The bottle perched on top is on it's last legs, but luckily I received another bottle for Christmas.  In between the goody basket and my perfumes is the Porefessional Pretty set and two Alamay lip balms which were sent to me very kindly by the companies PR (review coming soon).  

Here's all my barnet products.  Hairspray, volumising mousse etc.  At the front we have my Tangle Teezer, MoroccanOil and Macadamia Healing Oil.  Next to these products is my iPod dock, which I want to move, but quite sure where yet.  

So that's my much tidier dressing table/desk.  Do you ever get a cleaning bug?

Compulsive, Impulsive Shopaholic

My student loan was welcomed into my bank account last week and with the rest of my Christmas money burning a hole in my back pocket, I thought a shopping trip was deserved.  Admittedly, most of my purchases were online but I also did a spot of sale shopping too! Along with online shopping, I also booked flights with my good friend Gina (check out her blog here) as we're going to Spain for 10 days in the summer!

If you follow me on Twitter, or read my blog during the week you'll already know what a couple of my purchases were, including an investment which I'm SO pleased with.  When I get my maintenance grant (the one you don't have to pay back), I always try to make sure that I invest in something that's going to benefit me, last year it was my beloved Macbook Pro.  Without further adieu...

John Lewis; Canon 1100D with 18-55mm Lens £341

My investment buy was this DSLR camera.  I've really loathed the picture quality that my point and shoot gives when I'm taking pictures for my blog.  It is a great camera to take on a night out, but when you're trying to take pictures for reviews and what not, it just doesn't do any products justice.  I'm extremely lucky to have gotten this so cheap (usually retails around £400ish), as my Auntie kindly asked her brother-in-law if we could use his staff discount! I haven't had enough time to sit and play as I've had so much uni work to complete, but I'm already noticing a difference in my pictures and learning different techniques.  

Amazon; Canon EOS Rebel T3/1100D for Dummies Book; £15

The manual I get with the camera isn't all that, so I thought I'd get this to help me out when I'm trying to do various things.  It's 400 pages long, with lots of tips and tricks to help out beginners, which is what I most definitely am...

Amazon; Decal for Kindle; £17.99

I wanted to get some kind of skin for my Kindle, so that I wouldn't scratch it when it's not in its case.  I saw these Decals on Amazon and after flicking through the different designs I came across this Paris illustration.  The application is fiddly, a bit like a screen protector on an iPhone but if you're patient with it, it goes on well.  

Lush; I Love Juicy Shampoo and American Cream Conditioner; £8-10 each

You may well recognise these from my 2012 Beauty Wish List post.  These are possibly the most gorgeous smelling products ever.  I've washed my hair using them twice now and I have to say they really linger on your hair.  Usually after blowdrying or sleeping on my hair, the products smell fades completely.  These didn't. I then straightened my hair and usually the smell is definitely gone at that point. These didn't. Amazing! Oh, and they also leave your hair squeaky clean and silky to the touch!

Love-makeup.co.uk; Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush; £13.99

I finally have this infamous brush in my collection! I have wanted this brush for about 6 months now, but could never bring myself to pay the extortionate shipping fees.  I then heard about Love-makeup.co.uk and the rest is history.  A word of advice, if you see this on the website and you want it, get it in your basket ASAP as they sell out within a day!  I'd really recommend Love Makeup after my experience.  I'd heard their shipping took a while but my brush turned up next day after despatch.  I've used the F80 a couple of times now and it really does give you a flawless finish.  A full review will be up soon, no doubt.

FeelUnique.com; Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment and Deep Repair Masque; £11.50 £10.35 and £18.50

Another off of my 2012 beauty wishlist... I have only literally just received the Masque an hour or so ago .  I'm really excited to try these products as all the reviews have been rave and I've heard it beats the Moroccanoil Restorative masque in both price and product quality.  I'll get back to you on that! The oil treatment is literally filled to the top and the masque is an extremely thick, paste like conditioner that smells amazing.  These can both be used together to create an even more nourishing treatment, or separately.  

Harvey Nichols; Marc by Marc Jacobs iPhone case; £30 £15

One of my sale bargains.  I recently had to purchase a new phone as my Blackberry became extremely difficult to use, it would crash on a daily basis and the Blackberry company itself went down AGAIN but not for as long as the first time.  I was fed up and got myself a refurbished iPhone 3GS to hold me over until my contract is up in September.  I bought this case in the sale as I always wanted a Marc Jacobs case.  

House of Fraser; Benefit Porefessionally Pretty £23.50 and Stella by Stella McCartney Eau de Parfum £36.50 £18.25

Oh Benefit, how I love thee.  I have wanted Porefessional for a while and while I was walking around I noticed the gift set on the shelf. Immediately I thought that it would be about £35 knowing what Benefit can be like when they add a couple of samples but when I heard it was £23.50 (same price as just Porefessional on it's lonesome) I knew it was fate and I must buy it. I then saw Stella and the 50% sale sticker that was on her box.  I've been lusting after this for a while as a nice everyday scent. 

Sainsburys; Gok Wan for Tu Satin Shirt; £25 £12.50

I've always had my eye on a few of Gok's pieces in Sainsburys, after it was launched in September/October time.  It was definitely fate that I found it today, the only one left in my size. I think the colour is gorgeous and will look great with some black leggings and boots.  I also think the collar is a bit different, a lot larger than the average and far pointier! 

Matalan; Be Beau Teal Chiffon Shirt; £14

I have a thing for chiffon shirts (and shirts in general), if you hadn't guessed by now.  This 3/4 length beauty caught my eye in Matalan, a place I rarely shop.  I picked this up for  a bargain price and know it's the type of top I'll wear to death.   

So that's why my Christmas money and some of my student loan went towards.  Have you picked up any bargains in the sales?

Beauty Lust List #1

You may have read my beauty favourites of 2011, but now I am looking to find some new products to make my 2012 favourites.  Mainly hair and make up products, here is what I'm wishing to try this year (excludes any feature releases I may not know about yet, obvs).  

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10  

1.  Lush I Love Juicy Shampoo; £4.75-£15.50 - When I first read the scents that were included in this shampoo, I must admit it had me druelling a little bit.  Fresh pineapple, orange, lemon and mango juice to name a few.  This is supposed to be a great clarifying shampoo as well as good for the scalp - both I need help with.  Since going a bright shade of blonde my scalp has been more sensitive due to the bleach and I've always used lots of products in my hair.  

2.  Macadamia Deep Repair Masque; £18.50 - I've been eyeing up the Moroccanoil Restorative mask for a while now, but after reading rave reviews (and admittedly seeing the less hefty price tag) I now want to try the Macadamia range.  The scent is supposed to be amazing and the results even better.  

3.  Lush; American Cream Conditioner; £4.25-£13.50 - Another Lush product... I'm all for conditioners that a. smell incredible, b. nourish my hair and c. aim to strengthen hair, so this seems like a match made in heaven.  

4.  Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment; £11.50 - I've almost finished with my Moroccanoil Light, which I've enjoyed using but this product appealed to me more.  The word 'healing' in the title had me hooked as my hair needs the extra nourishment these days.  Like Moroccan oil, this product has argan oil in it as well as Macadamia oil.  Unlike the Moroccanoil, this product can be mixed with the Deep Repair masque for extra nourishment.  

5.  Lush King of Skin; £4.95 - ANOTHER Lush product, I've gone a little Lush mad after discovering Snow Fairy.  Another fruity offering, this time Banana, that moisturises the skin in shower.  I'll probably need to invest in a tin to stop this melting away! 

6. YSL Touche Eclat; £25.00 - I've heard only good things about this product and I always look at it when I'm at the beauty concession.  Need I say more?

7.  Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronze Universal; £29.00 - Since buying a Chanel foundation, I've always had one eye on this bronzer.  Currently Chanel are repackaging and it's not in stock anywhere so I will have to wait a bit longer to try this product.  

8.  MAC Party Parrot Lipstick; £13.50 - From the Iris Apfel collection, this lipstick is a gorgeous pink coral colour.  I've been branching out with slightly more colourful lipsticks as I think it suits my complexion and hair colour well.  Unfortunately it's out of stock - like most things in the collection so it's another waiting game!

9.  Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki; £13.99 - I've wanted to try this brush for a while but couldn't justify shipping.  With the discovery of Love Makeup I might be able to grab it at a fraction of the price! Do you know any other UK stockists?

10. Benefit Hervana Powder Blush; Price TBC - This is Benefits latest offering, available in the UK from the 28th January.  After seeing Amarixe's post on this blush I've been lusting after it.  It's a matte blush, rather than their favoured shimmers (Thrrrob, Bella Bamba etc) and it looks gorgeous when swatched.  

That's it for my 2012 wishlist, but I want to know what's on your beauty wishlist?