Review- Royal & Langnickel [R]evolution Brush

I don't always notice striking differences with make-up brushes until I experience one that really stands out. The Royal & Langnickel [R]evolution Eyeshadow Brush BX-75 made me feel like I was living in the dark ages before and now that I've upgraded, it's going to be hard to go back! The high-tech "synthetic" (Dupont Natrafil) fibers on the brush are especially designed to replicate the feel of natural fine hairs, and I was almost very certain it had to be made of real hair. (As a side note, I'm so grateful no animal hair products were used!!) The brush was able to pick and lift up so much of my eyeshadow and upon application cover my eyelids smoothly and fully. The actual barrel handle also has a smooth comfort grip, which was easy to hold and control. As a result my eyeshadow application looked considerably better and not of my own doing. Not only is this one of my favorite eyeshadow brushes, but I'm also impressed that it remains quite affordable for such a quality brush ($13). I'm definitely interested in checking out their other brushes, because if this one can elevate eyeshadow application this well, I can only imagine the amazing possibilities with their other brushes!

Review - adesign Finishing Crease Brush

Finish: Grade 'A' goat hair & high grade synthetic
Shape: Elongated finely tapered point
Use: To blend & contour the crease of the lid.

I will never know why there are so many different kinds of makeup brushes. Some of the distinctions make sense to me - you cannot use a blush brush on your eye, of course, and a lip brush and an eyeshadow brush are very different. But this brush, the Finishing Crease brush by adesign, seems SUPER SPECIFIC. "I only use this brush on my eye crease and NOWHERE ELSE." 

That said, it's quite useful to have a brush shaped in this manner - it's longer than your average eyeshadow brush, and more tapered, to really get into the crease of your eye. I liked using it with a dark shadow on the outer part of my lid to create a glamorous cat-eye effect. Also useful is the fact that it's a combination of natural and synthetic hairs, so you get the durability of a synthetic with the softness of a natural.

Review - e.l.f. Eye Shadow Brush

Specially sheered brush tip absorbs the perfect amount of eye shadow and provides long lasting color saturation. $1.00

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I know that others weren't too keen on the blush brush.. I think they E.L.F. is redeemed with their eye shadow brush.. I really like it.. I have my share of brushes from ridiculously expensive to moderately priced. I have been using only this for over a week and so far so good. It gently picks up the shadow and spreads evenly and smoothly.. I find this works really well in the crease.. I think it feels like it's well made and will last.. All in all if you are a brush snob then this is perfect to pack in your weekender and won't be sad if it's lost.. I will re buy this one if I lose it or it falls apart. I also haven't noticed lose hair either..

Deedlejuse Says: I have to completely agree with Cityslicker, and I was the original hater on the blush brush. All in all I also couldn't be happier with this brush. It is awesome! I think it is well made for the price, the bristles are not too stiff or too wimpy, and it really does pick up eyeshadow well. I have used it with both hard packed shadow and the loose stuff and I am happy on both fronts. This brush reaffirms my true love for this company, the perfect place for people without a lot of dough! You will not be disappointed with this brush, I promise.

Amanda S. Says: I agree also! I pulled this brush out of my bag just in time to test it with a new quad of ultra dark monochromatic eye shadows I picked up to attempt that smoldering smokey eyed mystery girl look I'm always seeking. I was really petrified of walking out of the bathroom looking more raccoon/panda than mystery woman, but not only was I an all around success in my quest, but the brush worked so well. It's light and gentle and blended even the hardest super dark colors with light well. And so cheap!

Hillary says: I'm a little obsessed with brushes, especially eyeshadow brushes. I'm like the Imelda Marcos of eyeshadow brushes. If I didn't think I'd need to have a psych evaluation because of it, I'd have a brush for every color of eyeshadow I've got. And now I've found a way to make my excessive dream a reality- $1 quality brushes from e.l.f.! I actually find myself reaching for this brush instead of my Armani brush. It's got a great bristle density, it's not too firm, not to soft and it picks up color beautifully. It's bristles are on the short side but they are long enough to be fluid and the head is generously sized but small enough to use to apply multiple colors on one lid. Unfortunately for my wallet, the more e.l.f. I try, the more e.l.f. I want. My list is getting ridiculous!

Review - Smashbox Rapture Eyeshadow and Brush Set

This get-gorgeous set includes 16 luminous shadows and 2 full-size metallic pink brushes for flawless application. The inspiring shades allow you to create an endless array of beautiful eye looks that take you from day to night.

Movie Maven says: Smashbox's eyeshadow colors are, on the whole, to die for. Gorgeous options abound, which is why this Rapture Eyeshadow and Brush Set really is a great deal. Of the colors you see above, I got to try the green and gold (go Packers) set and the shadow brush. I thought the green would be a little deeper based on the photos I'd seen online - it's dustier than I anticipated, more muted, but still a lovely color. The sheer, shimmery gold that goes with it is great for highlighting, or for wearing alone when you don't need as much drama. The shadow stayed on pretty well - when I wore it with a little concealer underneath as a base, it not only stayed on longer, but the color was more intense, which was nice. The brush is fairly standard, with soft bristles. The funny thing is that I found myself using the Smashbox brush with some other eyeshadows more than with the green and gold Smashbox shadows I got, simply because the brush is a little on the large size, and these duos are pretty small. I ended up using a smaller brush to apply the Smashbox eyeshadow. All in all, a great color combo!

Sheba says: I received the Silver combination and let me say -- it applies very nicely and has staying power. I did use a primer first as I have become addicted to them. It is a perfect combination for hazel eyes -- but then I would think it would make blue eyes pop. Come to think of it -- I bet it would really just enhance almost any eye color. But then, remember if you have the whole kit you can just select another combination. There are so many that you will find several that work for your eyes. You will have a difficult time trying to decide -- but then you don't have to decide. You can wear different combinations on different days!! The Smashbox Rapture Eyeshadow and Brush Set is an incredible deal at only $59 for all that Eye Candy.

CitySlicker Says: I am a big fan of Smashbox Cosmetics so there is pretty much at least one of their products in my rotation. Their shadows are rich and velvety, I got what looks like the bottom on the right, it’s a golden brown color called luminous golden brown and a peachy nude highlighter called shimmery champagne. They are a great combo that complements one another. I have been using the peachy color on my lips and the darker color as a liner. The shadows melt into my lips and give a nice shimmery sparkle without looking overly shimmery – perfect for day or night. They stay on feel light as air. The pot is easy to tote around and very deep so this will last a long time.

Deedlejuse says: Goodness I do love Smashbox! I think that my favorite part is that they make really use-able colors and then pair them in a very user friendly way. I have the navy/white combo pot and am happy to report that these easy to wear colors work perfectly with my hazel eyes. The only thing that I might ask is for them to be a little more shimmery, because if you've ever read my reviews I live for shine, but these colors are opaque (in a great way) and so good for day to day wear. Really I don't think you can go wrong when you go for Smashbox, you sort of know it is going to be a great product! I wish I had them all.

Hillary says: For me, Smashbox means quality. It also means the latest and greatest colors. And the cherry on top, I can actually afford Smashbox, unlike some of the other brands I see at Sephora and Dept. stores. I'm not at all cheap when it comes to buying cosmetics, but I've got to feel as if I'm getting something worth my money. Smashbox eyeshadows stay the day (into the night) and come in colors that are both practical (in that they look good on) and trendy. The brush I got (Definer Brush) is perfect for putting on your darkest color right near the lashes (at least that's what I use it for). The brushes are top notch, not too soft, not too firm like a cheap brush. And unlike some cheaper brushes I have, they keep their shape. I have a special place in my heart for Smashbox and I can't wait to see what they come out with next!

Amanda S. Says: I have the "Enchanting" split color of this shadow. This is, by far, my favorite eyeshadow I have ever used. It goes on so beautifully and smooth, it feels weightless, never creases or flakes off, and lasts for an entire eye rubbing day at work. I have paid embarrassingly large amounts of money for eye shadows that worked well in the past. I have very sensitive eyes, and they are a very pale blue color. If my eye make up gets screwy, I end up looking crazy eyed and un-human. Smashbox is my new 'go to' for shadow. the white makes my eyes look bright even when I have panda-like circles under them, and the purple-ish color goes really great with my dark blue eyeliner and black mascara. It seriously, no joke, stays on for 9 hours or longer. If you have eye shadow issues, go for this stuff!

Review - Mineral Essence Eyeshadow and Brush

"Whether you want a hint of subtle color, a splash of glamour or simply want to accentuate your natural beauty; these velvety smooth, crease-proof formulas offer a variety of gorgeous, long-lasting effects to choose from."

This loose mineral eyeshadow, made from natural ingredients and enriched with vitamins, is a nice product. I'm not going to say it's my new obsession, but it's definitely Top Ten material. I got it in 24K, which (as you might infer) is a gold shade. In the package, it appears to be a rather sheer gold, but once you put it on, the color is richer than anticipated, making it better for a night out on the town than a day at the office. When I did put it on, though, it stayed in place for the day, but not into the night - a girl might need to reapply if she decided to rock the gold for more than just a few hours. Since I'll be using this for evenings from now on, however, I don't see that as a drawback. My favorite feature of this product was actually the packaging: instead of dipping the eyeshadow brush (sold separately) directly into the powder, a shaker top is provided underneath the lid, allowing you to shake out just a little, making it easier to load up the right amount on your brush. Speaking of the brush - it's a fine little guy, with soft bristles that let you capture enough of the loose powder to put on, but it's also easy to knock a bit off if you find you've overdone it. Overall, a solid product.

Deedlejuse Says: I got this eyeshadow in Chocolate, a perfect shade for lining the eyes. The brush I received was also a lining brush so they must have meant for it to act as a liner. The brush is really nice, very fine so you have plenty of control, and it has a smudge sponge on the end. The eyeshadow is kind of hard to use. I'm not that good at applying loose powder eyeshadow, so I have to be really careful with such a precise line. It stays on for most of the day though, and is pretty highly pigmented so you only need to use one or two layers to get a defined line. In the future I might try a shade that is more for all over coverage (I'd like to try the 24K!) because I really like the idea and the product, I just don't trust myself with lining via mineral.

CitySlicker Says: I didn’t get a shadow but I got the Mineral Essence Shimmer in Pure Bronze – when you see the color online the color I received is much deeper and a lot more bronzy. This can be used on the lips, face and eyes so I am pretty psyched about that! A three in one for only $16.00... The pot is small so when using this with my big bronzer brush I have trouble tapping the excess back into the pot so I do it over a clean piece of paper to be able to funnel the extras right back to where they belong. This product instantly gives my face a warm glow that truly gives off a healthy complexion. I have used a little on my eyes more like a liner and with my hazel eyes it brings out the golden flecks, very pretty if I say so myself. I find that this wears throughout the day on my face but when using on the eyes it does feather and spread a little so the next time I applied I used it with a damp brush and got all day wear out of it. This line has something for everyone with price points that don’t make you cringe... This will last forever and it’s filled with lots of shimmer for all you gals that like reflecting qualities...

Sheba says: My Mineral Essence Eyeshadow selection is Mocha. Let me say I have been dying to try a shadow in this color range since watching different makeup artists on various television shows. They use a multitude of colors. Yet, I have noticed any color/shade near this particular shade gave a beautiful definition to most any color eye and I noticed they use it to highlight also. At first I thought it was boring until I saw just what they were able to accomplish with it. My eyes are hazel and I first used my Laura Geller primer which I have already raved about in its own review. Next I applied this shadow and Movie Maven is dead on about the shaker top -- it is so much easier to use it with that in place! It really went on so smoothly and the primer helped to disguise some of the crepes in my skin there--the shadow looks terrific. I tried it different ways on different days. One day -- fully on the lids. Another day, in the crease and another as a highlighter. I could not mess up with it: it worked and looked wonderful no matter what I did with it. The color has perfect intensity and it does make your eyes pop -- in a very good way. The price is reasonable, especially for the quality of the product you get.