Current Favourites

I haven't done a proper favourites post in a very long time, probably because my favourites don't tend to change all that much. Both the RBR Murmurings lipstick and GOSH Truly Brown liner have been mentioned so many times on here, that I fear you may all get fed up with me banging on about them. At the moment I'm in a bit of a makeup funk and keep forgetting to put any on. I'm not entirely sure what's the matter with me, to (mis) quote an online friend, I think the cheese has fallen off my cracker somewhat. Whilst I've been having my little makeup moody, I've become quite reliant on the items below to put on a face without having to put any thought into it.

From top left, clockwise: RBR Gracilis blusher, NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, RBR Time Defying Foundation in Linen Cream, Lancome La Vie est Belle, Ellis Faas S202 concealer, GOSH Truly Brown eyeliner, RBR Murmurings, RBR Blusher Brush and NARS Smudge Brush (#15).

RBR Gracilis blusher* - this is a fairly recent addition to my collection but it's a colour I've been interested for a while. I worried that it might be too cool or pale for me based on swatch research but it's actually the perfect flush of pink. Although I tend to gravitate to more beige pinks, I find Gracilis is very good at instantly brightening my face and making me look less miserable! I have taken some comparison swatches which I will share in another post.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - I repurchased Too Faced Shadow Insurance several months ago and I'm not sure whether the formula has changed but I found the new tube just didn't work for me. The formula feels too wet and it didn't prevent creasing. I decided to give the NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base a try based on both Visionary Beauty and Musing on Beauty's recommendation. Because I've not been wearing eyeshadow everyday, I haven't put it through it's paces sufficiently for a review but I have been very pleased with it so far.

RBR Time Defying Foundation in Linen Cream* - I'm close to finishing this sample pot of foundation and I have been reaching for it every time I do my face, instead of my usual tinted moisturisers. It has a heavier coverage than I normally wear but you can still my freckles so I wouldn't personally describe it as full coverage. Despite how it looks in the pot, this foundation is a touch lighter and pinker than the skin on my face but I think the depth of colour matches my neck better than my other bases. Particularly as my skin is at its palest at the moment.

I find the finish of this foundation is totally dependent on how my skin feels when I apply it. If I apply to primed or dry (i.e. not pre-moisturised) skin, it gives as semi-matte finish and has a satin-y feel to the touch. However, if I apply to skin that has a film of moisturiser, I find I get a more dewy finish and I do experience a bit of oil break-through on my T-zone later in the day. Unlike the Milk Aquarelle foundation, the Time Defying Foundation doesn't settle into my pores

Ellis Faas S202 concealer - I really like using this for concealing my undereye area and the redness around my nose and I find the coverage lasts quite well. Unlike some of the other Ellis Faas pens, it's not hard to prime. Asthetically speaking, the splaying of the brush bristles is rather annoying.

GOSH Truly Brown Velvet Touch eyeliner and NARS Smudge Brush (#15) - I've put these two items together as my favourite thing to do at the moment is apply the liner in a heavy line and then smudge with the NARS brush. I really like the definition it gives to my lash line. The NARS brush is firm enough to smudge well but the hairs are soft enough not to irritate my sensitive eyes.

RBR Murmurings sheer lipstick - I've said plenty about this lipstick before so I won't repeat myself except to say that I love this lipstick for both the colour and the moisturising feel. It's perfect for this time of year.
 
Lancome La Vie est Belle Perfume* - I love the smell of this Lancome fragrance. It has a sweet, slightly gourmand note to it and wearing it always cheers me up.

Lanolips Lip Ointment in Rose - On days when I haven't bothered with any makeup, I wear Rose to keep my lips moisturised. It doesn't add any colour to my lips particularly but it does give them a nice sophisticated shine.

a design Flat Topped Foundation Brush* - Although I still frequently apply foundation and tinted moisturiser with my fingers, I find buffing in foundation with this brush makes for a speedy application. It also gives a polished finish. The only negative is washing it can be quite a chore.

Left to right: Ellis Faas S202, RBR TD Foundation in Linen Cream, GOSH Truly Brown, RBR Murmurings and RBR Gracilis

Here's how it all looks applied. I did add a touch of Burberry Rosewood eyeshadow to the mobile lid but the hooding of my lids has obscured this.

What products do you turn to when you're in a makeup funk?

* Press samples are indicated with an asterisk

Messy Smoky Eye Look

I actually wore this makeup look several weeks ago for a dinner party but forgot to take a picture at the time. I decided to repeat it for a face of the day post as I was pleased with the result and it was quite quick and easy to apply. I took my inspiration from this Lisa Eldridge tutorial but instead of a cream eyeshadow, I used my Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill eyeshadow in #4 which is a cream/powder hybrid.

When I did this look originally, I used Illamasqua Skin Base foundation. I only have a small sample tube of the Illamasqua Skin Base and I wasn't particularly taken with the formula when I first tried it. However, it's the only full coverage foundation that I own so I use it whenever I want a heavier coverage and I must admit that I've warmed to it a lot. You only need a small amount otherwise it looks cakey and I find it looks best buffed into the skin using a dense kabuki-type brush. Instead of Skin Base, today I used a sample pot of the new Rouge Bunny Rouge Time Defying foundation.

Face
Vapour Soft Focus Skin Perfector*
Rouge Bunny Rouge Skin Sanctuary Time Defying foundation in Linen Cream*
Ellis Faas Concealer in S202
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer in SC-3 on blemishes
Brows freshly dyed with Eylure Dylash kit in Dark Brown
MAC Strada blusher to contour
Rouge Bunny Rouge blusher in Gracilis*
A tiny bit of Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Tranquility on the tops of cheek bones

Eyes
Kevyn Aucoin eye pencil in Basic Black*
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill in #4 (Pulp Fiction)
Navy aqua cream from the MUFE Black Tango palette layered in the centre of the mobile lid
Maybelline The Falsies Flared mascara

Lips
Rouge Bunny Rouge Irreverence

I wanted to finish off with a few random brush thoughts. I used my MAC 217 to apply the Eyes to Kill eyeshadow, just as Lisa Eldrige demonstrates in her video. I was surprised how well the 217 applies this kind of product, I typically apply with my fingers but I've never been entirely happy with this. I will definitely use the 217 in future. I've been using my new Laura Mercier Eye Finishing brush to buff in concealer which it does really well, one of these days I will get round to using it with eyeshadows as I had intended.

Now this is probably a rather odd brush confession. I have been using my tiny Louise Young eyeliner brush to apply Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer. I've hardly used the Secret Camouflage since I bought it two years ago, as I've always thought the formula looked too dry and obvious. After watching Lisa use it in her videos, I decided to give it a try using a small brush. Unfortunately, all of my concealer brushes are too big for this kind of spot application, hence the misuse of the liner brush. Using a different tool has definitely changed my opinion of Secret Camouflage and I intend to buy a dedicated pinpoint concealer brush to use with it in future.

* Items indicated with asterisk were received without cost for review purposes

A Brush Splurge

After obsessing over brushes for the past two weeks, I decided to treat myself to an early Christmas present (read House of Fraser were offering 10% off). Although I had been considering either a Hakuhodo or Chikuhodo order, what I was particularly looking for were several eyeshadow brushes with a specific shape, as well as at least one for use with cream products. The following brushes all looked like they would fit the bill and the reviews looked promising.

Top to bottom: NARS #15 eye contour brush, NARS #15 smudge brush, Shu Uemura #10 synthetic brush and Laura Mercier Eye Finishing brush.

I won't deny this was a splurge, especially as said I was cutting back on makeup purchases. My justification is that these brushes should help me get the most from the makeup I already own and also improve my application technique. I've come to the conclusion that following the 'lighter lid colour plus darker colour in the crease' colour application just doesn't flatter my eyes and I'm hoping the NARS brushes will help me experiment with different placements.

I touched on Chikuhodo above and I wanted to share a recent discovery. Having previously assumed that you couldn't buy Chikuhodo brushes outside of Japan, I was pleased to learn that you can buy their brushes from Kohlindo, an online store based in Sweden. The website is currently undergoing some changes, so orders must be placed by emailing the shop owner, Malin. I have spent a good deal of time pouring over the various brushes, particularly the long handled Artist Series and Malin has been brilliant at answering my questions via email. I'm planning an order after Christmas if no-one picks up on my very unsubtle hints!

Hakuhodo B214BkSL Highlighter Brush

For a long time the Hakuhodo B214BkSL has sat neglected in my brush roll because, in all honesty, I wasn't sure what to use it for. I know many use it to apply undereye concealer but I always forget to use it for this purpose. I tend to use my fingers or the LMdB concealer brush for this job.

So, I recently decided to give it a try with a highlighter, specifically the Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc. Ordinarily, I apply this with a fluffy brush which creates a sheer veil of highlighter but the way the B214BkSL picks up the powder produces a much more intense and precise application. I suspect this brush would be great for use with any powders that you feel are too sheer or take a lot of effort to pack on. I wish I'd had this brush when I still owned MAC Belightful pressed powder as I might have had more success with it.

Although I haven't tried it on my eyes, I am tempted to test it out with some of my more tightly packed eyeshadows. I did experiment with a couple of different brushes using the same eyeshadow on a piece of tissue (you can blame the dull weather today for the lack of accompanying image) and this definitely picks up more powder that my paddle shaped lid brushes. I was a little worried that it might feel stratchy on the eye area but it does suggests that it can be used for eyeshadow application on the Hakuhodo website. I will let you know how I get on if I give it a try.

I bought my Hakuhodo B214BkSL before the price increases at the beginning of this year. The B214BkSL costs $26 from the Hakuhodo website and although they do offer international shipping, the value (based on the current exchange rate) is just a shade over the UK VAT waiver so you could incur customs charges to receive it at this end. Boooooo!

Rouge Bunny Rouge Blusher Brush (002)

I've had the Rouge Bunny Rouge Blusher Brush (002) for quite a long time now. I mentioned it when I reviewed the RMK Cheek Brush last year and fully intended to post a review soon after. At the time, I'd added a number of blusher brushes to my collection and this one got a bit side lined. In fact, my love of this brush has been quite a slow burner but I do think of it as one of my favourites now.

Top to Bottom: RBR Contour Brush, RBR Blusher Brush and RMK Blusher Brush

The RBR Blusher Brush is a super soft, paddle shaped brush. It doesn't provide resistance like the contour brushes that I generally favour for blush application and this is probably why it took a while to grow on me. Instead, what it is excellent for is adding a sweep of vibrant or shimmery colour. I pick up this brush when I want to apply a colour like NARS Orgasm, Desire or Illamasqua Morale. It feels so beautiful to the touch that I do have to fight the urge to go overboard with the colour!

I haven't experienced any shedding with this brush, like I did with the RBR Face Contour (012) brush. As with my other squirrel hair brushes, it does give off an animalic smell when wet but this fades once dry. I find it keeps its shape well through washing and storage.

The Rouge Bunny Rouge face brushes are expensive but I would say they are quality tools and comparable to Hakuhodo and RMK brushes, so worthy of an investment. I use both 012 and 002 to apply blusher, despite the fact that the 012 is designed for applying contour. If you're trying to decide on one rather than buying both, I would say that your blusher choice and/or style of application will dictate your decision somewhat. If you use mostly neutral pink or subtle blushers and like to work the colour in, you'll get on well with 012. If you like a sheer veil of vibrant colour, go for 002.

The Rouge Bunny Rouge Blusher Brush is available from Zuneta and costs £47. Rouge Bunny Rouge is also available from Beautyhabit.com for those of you in America.

Disclosure: PR Sample

Updated Brush Collection

I rearranged my brush collection over the weekend and as most of the brushes were clean, I thought it would be a good moment to do an updated collection post. The number of brushes I have seems to have grown again since this post. Judging by my original brush collection post, this urge to talk about my brushes seems to be an annual event!

Rather than make the post overwhelming by commenting on each brush, I will simply name the brushes pictured and provide links to previous reviews where possible. Hopefully it will help me identify any brushes that I haven't reviewed yet. Also, if there are any which you would like me to discuss in more detail or compare you can put a request in the comments.

Previously I had my brushes split between the handmade brush roll I bought from asoftblackstar's Etsy Store and a glass vase. The brushes in the vase were often neglected and I was fed up of having to clean them because they had collected dust. I bought this Stilazzi mesh bag from Cocktail Cosmetics (as modelled by my furry helper) to store the brushes from the vase in order to keep them clean and tidy, and also to allow me to store them in the plastic drawer unit I keep my makeup in. I have the STZ-027M mesh bag and it fits my brushes perfectly but the bags are available in a variety of sizes.

The brushes in the picture above all fit in the Stilazzi bag. The Rouge Bunny Rouge Contour and Blusher brushes don't normally live in there as I keep these loose in my drawers with my face products. I managed to miss a couple of other brushes as they are also slotted into my storage drawers or hidden in makeup bags such as my Le Metier Concealer Brush and my short handled MAC 213 Fluffy Brush. Otherwise this is better much a complete collection.

FACE BRUSHES

Left to right: Essence Blusher brush, Sigma F25, MAC 187 duo fibre, MAC 188 small duo fibre, Hakuhodo B214BkSL Highlighter and The London Brush Co. #12 brush.

Left to right: 2 x MAC 168 Contour brush, MAC 129 SH, discontinued Ruby + Millie Blusher brush, Rouge Bunny Rouge Blusher brush 012 Face Contour brush, Rouge Bunny Rouge Blusher brush, Illamasqua Blusher brush1, MAC 109 Contour brush, MAC 165, RMK Cheek brush and Hakuhodo Medium Pointed Yachiyo.

Left to right: adesign Angled Concealer Brush, GOSH Professional Face Brush, Hakuhodo G5552 4mm Powder & Liquid round/angled brush, adesign Flat Topped Foundation Brush, Le Metier Angled Foundation, Max Factor Foundation Brush, adesign Cream Cheek Brush and MAC 242 SE brush.

EYE BRUSHES

Left to right: The Body Shop Shadow brush, 2 x MAC 239, Hakuhodo Kokutan ML, Hakuhodo K024, Rouge Bunny Rouge Blusher brush Large Shader 003, The London Brush Co. Shadow Blender, Japoneque Fluff Brush, The London Brush Co. #14 and Cozzette D225.

Left to right: GOSH Smudger brush, MAC 266 Angled Brush (brow), The Body Shop Angled Eyeshadow Brush, KIM E131 Angled Eyeliner, MAC 210 Eyeliner Brush, Louise Young Eyeliner Brush, The London Brush Co. #18 Small Blender, MAC 219 Pencil Brush, The London Brush Co. #17 Blender Brush and the Smashbox Definer.

Left to right: Hourglass Crease 04, MAC 217, Sigma E35, Rouge Bunny Rouge Blusher brush Crease 011, MAC 224, Japonesque Angled Eyeshadow and Sigma E40.

Top to bottom: MAC 226 Crease Brush, Louise Young LY38, Cozzette S175 and Cozzette D330.

LIP AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS BRUSHES

Left to right: MAC 316 Lip Brush, KIM L311 Narrow Lip Brush, discontinued Ruby + Millie Angled Liner Brush, MAC 204 Lash Brush and adesign Short Handled Foundation Brush.


Listing everything and looking for links highlights the fact that I have a few reviews outstanding. I was certain that I had reviewing the Rouge Bunny Rouge Blusher brush before but it seems I was mistaken. Both the Hakuhodo B214BkSL and G5552 also warrant further mention.

I shall leave you will a picture of my furry friend enjoying the brushes (just before he started to eat them). Do let me know if there are any brushes which you would like to know more about.

Disclosure: The brushes shown here are a mixture of those bought by me and sent for review.

Hakuhodo K024 and Kokutan ML Eye Brushes

I was finally prompted to write a post about these two brushes after using the Hakuhodo K024 the other day and feeling rather disappointed. Being disappointed by a Hakuhodo brush is such a rarity that I thought it was is definitely worthy of discussion.

These eyeshadow brushes are at the opposite end of the price spectrum. The Kokutan ML eye brush is a blend of blue squirrel hair and synthetic fibre and costs $48. The K024 is a horse hair brush and currently costs $17 (I paid $12 as I purchased before the January price rises).  It is probably unsurprising that a brush that retails for under £10 has some imperfections but I suspect that it's the type of hair that I don't get on with in this case.

K024

Looking back at the pictures of the K024 when it first arrived, it is clear to see that it has lost its shape through washing. It has altered further since I took these pictures. The oval paddle shape has gone and instead it is wide and splayed out just before the tip. The hairs no longer feel smooth at the end, some have taken on a kink and the brush feels quite bulky at the tip. The hairs no longer feel as soft on the skin: they have blunt tips and feel more like cut ends rather than the usual natural tapered tip of the hair. I'm not sure which, if any, of my other brushes are horse hair to compare with but it is possible the slightly rough texture is typical for this type of hair.

I particularly noticed how scratchy the brush felt after washing. I wondered if it might benefit from being washed with moisturising shampoo rather than my preferred BECCA brush soap. It did indeed feel a little softer after washing with the shampoo so I will have to remember this in future (or more likely skip using this brush).

The K024 still picks up product with no issue but I feel it doesn't apply colour on the lids as well as some of my other brushes. I actually did one eye using the Kokutan and one with the K024 yesterday, so I know I'm not just imagining the difference in performance.

Kokutan ML

The Kokutan ML eye brush is a completely different story. I love this brush and it was worth every penny for its luxurious feel. It feels silky soft to the touch and maintains its lovely oval paddle shape after washing. I wouldn't have realised that it was a blend of hair and synthetic fibre had I not checked on the Hakuhodo website as it looks and feels like 100% hair. It also has that faint animalic whiff when it is washed.

The Kokutan ML applies colour on the lid beautifully: it doesn't pack it on like the MAC 239, instead it is perfect for adding colour in layers and because of this I don't end up with a blunt line that I need to blend. It holds on to shimmery eyeshadows well, applying without fallout. It has a shorter handle than many brush makes but as I've mentioned before, I rather like that.

Top to bottom: MAC 239, Kokutan ML and K024

Top to bottom: RBR Large Shader, MAC 239, Kokutan ML and K024

I have included pictures of both of the brushes next to the MAC 239 and Rouge Bunny Rouge Large Shader 003 for size and shape comparison. As you can see, both are quite large lid brushes and closer in size to the RBR brush than the 239. The Kokutan ML is also much flatter in profile than any of my other brushes.

So there we have it, one love and one 'meh'. I can't say I hate the K024, it is serviceable enough and cheaper than many other lid brushes but I think there are better alternatives available and this is probably one to skip.

Hakuhodo brushes are available from www.hakuhodousa.com. Be aware that customs charges my apply for those buying from outside the USA.

Adesign Brush Review

I think it's well established by now that I like my brushes so when I was offered some new brushes to try, I jumped at the chance! Adesign in an American brand and some of you may have come across their exhibit at IMATS.

From top to bottom: short handle flat top foundation, angled concealer, cream blusher, flat top foundation

My apologies in advance for not including a comparison with other brushes. I didn't have anything similar in my collection but, in retrospect, it would have been useful to have a sizing reference.

I've not had any experience of flat top brushes before and wasn't quite sure what to expect but I discovered that I get on very well with them. I've used both the large Kabuki-style flat top and the long handled flat topped brush to buff in foundation. They work well with liquids and creams and I've already mentioned how much I like them for buffing in my W3LL People Narcissist foundation. I also really like the long handled flat topped foundation for creating a subtle blush effect with the W3LL People Universalist stick. Now this is where a sizing reference would have been useful as the diameter of the long handled foundation brush is probably a little smaller than you might expect from my photographs. The diameter is roughly the same as a 10p piece.

The two flat top foundation brushes

The pouch on the left contains the large flat top foundation brush

I normally use my fingers to apply more emollient cream blushers but the Adesign cream blusher brush is actually very useful. Because of it's small size it is easy to control the area of application and I find it especially good if I only want to apply colour to the apple of my cheeks. Unusually for a brush designed for cream product, this is made from real hair (the other three brushes are made from synthetic fibre). I actually contacted Adesign to confirm this as the information wasn't on their website and I learned that they are in the process of switching this brush from real hair to synthetic fibre. I know for hygiene reasons that makes more sense but I like this brush very well as it is. It gives good resistance and doesn't splay yet still feels soft on the skin. I will be interested to see how the synthetic version compares.

I've probably had the least use from the angled concealer brush. There is no problem with it in terms of texture and function, I simply prefer the shape and fibres of my Le Metier de Beaute brush for concealer application.

These brushes are a pleasure to use, they feel soft and the fibres are of good quality. I do wish the handles were wooden rather than plastic but it's a minor gripe really. They wash well although, as you might expect, the large flat top foundation brush takes a bit of effort to rinse clean. Even with my trusty BECCA brush soap. The flat top foundation brushes take a while to dry which is unsurprising for such densely packed synthetic fibres and I find they benefit from running a hand over the top to separate the fibres once dry.

Adesign brushes are available from www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk. These brushes aren't available individually on Cocktails Cosmetics but the Skincare Brush Set contains a similar selection of brushes and costs £44.95. You can find more detail about the Adesign brushes on their website.


Disclosure: These items were sent to me without cost for review purposes.

Japonesque Brushes

Although it has always been possible to buy Japonesque tools in the UK, up until recently this has been mostly via online stores. Since the end of 2011, Japonesque have had a high street presence: their Pro line is available from John Lewis and the short handled Travel range can be found in Boots.

The brushes shown here are both from the Pro range: I have the Medium Eyeshadow Fluff Brush (£12.95 - £13.50) and the Angled Eyeshadow Brush (£11.95 - £12.99). The brushes are of good quality. The hairs feel soft but not floppy and I have not experienced any problems with shedding. There are a couple of hairs that don't sit as well after washing but they do maintain their general shape with no issue.

Medium Eyeshadow Fluff Brush

The fluff brush reminds me of the MAC 213 brush. It's a good size and shape for adding lid colour but it's not as good for packing on colour as something like the the MAC 239. With more flyaway, loose powders you can get a little fallout when using this brush. The hairs feel nice on the skin and aren't scratchy.

Pro Angled Eyeshadow Brush

Although the angled brush may seem an unusual shape, I had been keen to try it ever since I saw it used as a crease and blending brush in a couple of YouTube tutorials. I thought it might be good for adding colour to the outer lid but it is quite a bit bigger that I had expected. My eyes are too small to use this to apply colour but it is fine for blending. It's actually quite good at softening colour in the outer V and crease if you've gone a little overboard. Although the hairs feel soft to the touch, on the delicate eye area I can feel a few hairs that aren't as soft as I would like.

Overall, I think Japonesque offer a good, affordable range of brushes. I also quite like that they make some more unusual shapes, like the angled eye shadow brush, the smudger and pointed style crease brush. So, if you've struggled with some of the more generic shapes, you my find your perfect fit within their range.

Most of the brush shapes seem to be available as both long and short handled versions. As well as Boots and John Lewis, Japonesque tools are also available from www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk and www.love-makeup.co.uk. Prices do seem to vary a little depending on the retailer.


Disclosure: PR Sample

Hourglass Crease Brush 04

I thought I would stay with the brush theme for another day and talk about the Hourglass Crease Brush 04 that I bought last year. Hourglass Cosmetics have a fairly extensive brush collection all of which are made from high-grade taklon so they're a good choice for anyone wishing to avoid animal hair. The handles are made from the same bronze metal as the rest of the Hourglass line and they are weighted to feel solid in the hand.

As you can see from the comparison to the MAC 217 and Rouge Bunny Rouge Crease brush, the Hourglass Crease brush is quite narrow. It is tapered but not particularly fluffy. Consequently I find it applies colour in a more precise line than the other crease brushes. I can soften the line using a wind-shield wiper motion but it does require a little effort. Whereas the MAC 217 will deposit colour in the outer corner and into the crease at the same time, the Hourglass brush deposits colour just in the crease and I have to apply colour in the outer corner separately. This is probably a very long-winded way of saying that the two brushes apply colour in a different way, the Hourglass brush allows more precision whereas the MAC 217 is faster and more smoky. Which you prefer will depend on the look you want to achieve and possibly your eye shape.

L-R: MAC 217, Hourglass Crease 04, RBR Crease 011

Top to Bottom: RBR Crease 011, Hourglass Crease 04, MAC 217

The Hourglass brush is super soft and feels lovely on the delicate eye area. It picks up colour easily and I haven't noticed any issues with fallout. The brush washes well and doesn't change in shape or shed hairs. As with all taklon brushes, I find it takes a little longer to dry than animal hair.

After all that waffle, what's the bottom line? Well, I like it but I don't love it and it's not a must-have in my opinion. If you're interested in trying the Hourglass brushes I would recommend trying one of their face brushes first (whilst I don't own one, I've had a selection used on me at the Liberty counter). Both their Foundation Brush 02 and Large Concealer 08 are on my wishlist.

The Hourglass Crease Brush costs £22 and I bought mine from Zuneta. Hourglass Cosmetics are also available from Liberty.

TheTenBest.co.uk & Zuneta's Vlogger Contest

I'm moonlighting on thetenbest.co.uk today talking about my pick of The Ten Best Makeup Brushes. My collection of brushes has grown considerably over the last couple of years so it was interesting to muse on which brushes I would consider to be must-haves. I was rather shocked by how heavily MAC featured in my top ten. I do have a great many brushes that I love but in terms of accessibility and function, I think that MAC brushes are hard to beat. Particularly their eyeshadow brushes.

I'd really love to know what you would pick as your top ten brushes. Would you disagree with any of my choices? Have I missed any essentials?

Now I'm about to do something I have never done on my blog before and mention that I have entered a contest. In a fit of weekend madness I entered my BECCA Professional Brush Soap demo video into Zuneta's Vlogger Contest. I'm not under any illusions about winning but you might find the video interesting if you haven't already seen it before. It's amazing how a soap in a tin has revolutionised my brush washing!

New Brushes (and a New Taupe!)

I don't share hauls that often, I'm never entirely sure how interesting they are for anyone else but yesterday was such a great day for deliveries, I couldn't resist sharing. Plus, I also wanted to bring you an update on the Hakuhodo price increase that I mentioned here.

I want to start by saying a big thank you to Marcia of Beauty Info Zone for helping me with this particularly Hakuhodo order. You made this blogger very happy indeed! The brushes I have here are the B214BkSL Highlighter brush, the G5552 4mm powder & liquid round/angled brush and the K024 round and flat eyeshadow brush. I can't wait to have a play with them all.

The prices have been affected in exactly the way I anticipated. The G5552 powder & liquid brush from the G series was one of the more recent addition to their line up and already at a higher price. Pre-2012 the G5222 was priced $42 and it's current price is $45. If I've done my maths correctly, that is in an increase of 7%. I expected the Basics line to be the hardest hit by the increase and indeed, the B214BkSL has gone up significatly. Pre-2012, this cost $18 whereas it now costs $26, so that is an increase of 44%. The K024 eyeshadow brush has taken a similar jump, increasing from $12 to $17 (42%). At the time of purchase the Medium Pointed Yachiyo that I reviewed in December cost me $27 and I was sad to see this has increased to $40. At an increase of 48%, this is the biggest jump of the four brushes.

Despite the increase, I still think there are some reasonably priced brushes and they are of an excellent quality. If you're interested to see a complete break down of the price increases Glossed in Translation has compiled a rather marvellous spreadsheet. Although I am disappointment by the increase, I know I won't be able to resist a look at the Hakuhodo stand at IMATS in February (if I can get close enough to it of course, I may need to sharpen my elbows!).

Because a girl can never have enough brushes, I put in an order for some of The London Brush Company brushes whilst they were on sale on Cocktail Cosmetics. I ordered No. 12 and No. 14 (I have previously reviewed No. 17 and No. 18). The No. 12 brush was much bigger than I was expecting but I'm keen to experiment with this shape. I'm sure No. 14 will be a great lid brush as it's a smaller version of No. 16 which I find to be excellent for laying down colour.

On to the new taupe! Whilst putting in the order for the brushes, I finally caved and bought the Julie Hewett Hue in Mystere which I have had on my wishlist for more than a year. I have not dared disturb it yet but the colour looks very promising in the pot. I will of course report back on how I get on.

Have you treated yourself to anything in the sales? Also, what do you think to the Hakuhodo price increases, do you think it will put you off future orders?