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Brushes - Synthetic vs. Natural Hair
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Are there major differences in the quality between synthetic brushes and natural brushes? Blogdorf Goodman's Brushed with Greatness Project has somewhat persuaded me that there really isn't. I'd still love to hear your thoughts. Also if you guys have any brush recommendation (i.e., what brush do you reach for day after day after day, what brush would you cry over if it was damaged AND discontinued, etc), please share!
I think I prefer natural hair brushes because it's softer. However, it could be that the synthetic brushes that I have aren't of great quality (got 1 for free and other 2 from CVS), where as most of my natural hair brushes were bought at Sephora. My fav. brush though is a eyeshadow brush from Japonesque. The brush is very soft, and the perfect size for my small lids. It was included in the Touch Up Tube Set that I got for really cheap.
Right now I'm looking to buy a good blush brush. My sister bought one from Victoria Secret (forgot the actual brand), and it's just so soft and perfect. It was a regular round brush, about 1.25/1.5 inch in width, and only .5 inch in length, and just picked up blush so effortlessly, and glided across my cheeks in the most perfect manner. My cheeks looked soooo perfect that day, with the perfect glow that is just sooo hard to achieve. I asked my sister about it, but she said she wasn't able to find any more. :(
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I think the synthetic vs. natural brushes has a little bit to do with what kind of makeup you are using. I've read that natural brushes can absorb some liquid makeup. The recommendation was that if you are using a brush to apply your foundation, you should choose a synthetic one.
Have you tried looking on victoriassecret.com for the brush? They have more online than they do in stores and carry several brands of brushes.
Hope that helps! -
I'm also in need of a new blush brush so I decided to check Paula Begoun's book The Complete Beauty Bible for her thoughts. Keep in mind that she says to throw away those little brushes that come with blush if you want the very best result.
She believes that high price does not always mean superior performance. For blush and powder brushes, she thinks they should have a soft, firm texture and not splay out when used either on the face or in the product. They should feel soft and silky, yet hold their shape. If a brush is too wobbly, it will be hard to control the color. She recommends getting two good blush brushes in the same size and using one for powder and one for blush. When you have a choice in length of handle, go for short handles. For blush and powder brushes, look for brush ends that are more dome-shaped. She also says to be sure and wash them in a mild shampoo once a month and let them dry overnight.
She feels that synthetic brush hair is not preferred for most makeup application other than foundations and concealers. (Good call,, pas71!) She thinks that they hold up as well if not better than natural hair brushes, though. Her picks of the synthetics: Origins, Paula Dorf, and Shu Uemura
She thinks that natural bristles are definitely softer but more expensive and become floppy and too soft eventually.
Another choice she mentions that I wasn't familiar with is mixed-hair bristles. She says they are stronger, more pliable and dont lose their shape over time. She didn't name any specific brands in this category, though.
ALL the brush lines she likes:
M.A.C.
Prescriptives
Bobbi Brown
Trish McEvoy
Stila
Maybelline
Aveda
Lorac
BeneFit
Paulas Choice (of course!)
She adds that Bobbi Brown brushes are very good in general but she isnt impressed with the loose powder or blush brushes and thinks theyre expensive. She likes Maybelline brushes if youre on a budget but says the bristles tend to pull out so while they are a superior bargain, they wont hold up over the long haul.
Anyone else's thoughts or experiences before "tai" and I buy our blush brushes? -
Wow! Thanks soo much Karen for our comments. I like the idea of the mixed-hair bristles, especially if it combines the qualities of both natural and synthetic hair brushes. Btw, call me either Gloria or TG/TGurl. :P
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I have an entire set of Bobbi Brown's brushes...and just love them...I believe they are synthetic but not sure...the quality is fabulous...and ever since I started using them my makeup is flawless.... Make sure and clean your brushes regularly!
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Sephora's house brand brushes are very good and reasonably priced. I think they're phasing in a new line (with silvery grey handles) so the old line (with black handles) was all 50% off. I like the shape of the handles; long but not too long and not tapered. They're similar to the Japonesque handles. I also like the Japonesque brushes, but not the travel ones; the handles are too short. My favorite brushes are all squirrel. They're nice and soft, they pick up the right amount of product and they hold up well to repeated washings. I've also got a set of sable brushes that I've had for 25 years. They're holding up beautifully but they were obscenely expensive. I can't even imagine what they'd cost now.
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I went to Walgreens this morning and was poking around the cosmetics section. I was looking at their brushes and some of them looked nice so I got two of the smaller ones to try out. (They were on sale, buy one get the second 1/2 off) Some are natural fibers, some are dalcon and some are a combination. The handles are a bit short but they're nice to use. It's the "Salon Collection"; the handles are off-white. The selection is limited; not a lot for eye makeup but what they had all looked useful. When I was taking them out of the package I noticed that they "designed exclusively for Walgreens by Japonesque. " I really like the Japonesque brushes so I guess it's not suprising that I like these too. So if you're looking for some good, basic, inexpensive brushes you might want to take a look at these. I may go back and get the travel set to keep in my purse.
I picked up some new brushes at Sephora last week. I wanted a new powder and blush brush. I don't like the handles on the new Sephora brushes; much too thick. Didn't like the brushes themselves either.I ended up getting Vincent Longo brushes. They're not bad but I think I'd be just as happy with the Walbreen's brushes. -
I've been in the market for some new brushes for a while now, but was hesitant to spend a whole lot of money. I was looking at a nice-looking set at Sephora, but the saleslady totally turned me off. She came over and told me not to buy them, that they were cheap and would fall apart and in front of me grabbed the powder brush and forcefully ripped about a couple of hairs (I think any brush would have given up a couple of hairs with the force she pulled on it!). Anyway, she was trying to convince me to buy from another line (can't remember which) and just the basics would have cost well over $100. Since I was so turned off by her selling technique, I didn't even want to look anywhere else in the store and just left. I then went to MAC, but I just can't afford a whole set of their brushes. Yes they are wonderful, but I don't have the money to spend on them.
I finally decided to see what Sonia Kashuk's brushes at Target were like and I really, really liked them. She has two lines there, one is higher priced than the other. I bought some brushes from the higher priced line (like foundation, powder, large eyeshadow) and some from the less expensive line (concealer, eyeliner, and contour blush). I got a total of 7 brushes for around $80. The higher priced line is really nice with contoured handles that are so easy to hold and maneuver. Also, the eyeliner brush (from the cheaper line) is at an angle and I LOVE it; I can't believe how much easier it is to use to put on eyeliner. It works really well with the Smudgepots. -
wow.. what kind of sales technique is that?!?!? destroying brushes in front of customers?!?!??
i bought a Sonia Kashuk blush brush too.. it works pretty well and gets me nice pinky cheeks..
i def. will go to Walgreens to check out their brushes by Japonesque.. thanks for sharing the advices everyone!! -
wow is right. One of the best things about Sephora is the low pressure sales technique. Or maybe it's just the Sephora that I shop in. I hope that's not going to change.
I looked at the Sonia Kashuk brushes but didn't buy them because I was broke at the time. It looks like makeup brushes are like everything else; you don't have to spend fortune to get nice ones. You only have to look around. -
Yeah, I was not pleased with that Sephora. Luckily, there are 2 in about a 5 mile radius of me and that one is not the one I usually go to.
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Paula Begoun has disappointed me!!!
I took her advice and got Maybelline's blush brush when this thread got started and, ladies, it's not all that great but I've been using an expensive Bobbi Brown brush for quite a while so that's what I'm comparing it to. I have to say Maybelline's isn't even close. The size is perfect for a travel brush so all is not wasted. I think I am going to go with Gloria's and PurpleRule's recommendation for the Sonia Kashuk brushes but will check out the Walgreens' brushes, too.
Thanks, everyone! This was really helpful!
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