Shu Uemura Portable Brush Set

Being a big fan of Shu Uemura brushes, I almost squealed in delight when I saw this set again at Temptation Hong Kong Duty Free (I skipped it the first time and regretted it). Boy did they name that store right! *winks* Now I have it and that makes me a very happy camper!

The 5 piece set contains 4 brushes + the zip-up leather case.

this is a lightweight set, which makes it perfect for traveling. It fits perfectly inside my cosmetic case.

The zip-up case has 1 spacious slot (left) for the face brush which can fit 2 more small/thin brushes (like my spooly) plus 3 smaller slots for the slender brushes.

top to bottom: eye / lip liner brush (sable), eyeshadow brush (sable), cheek brush (pony/squirrel) & face brush (goat)

All the brushes are soft to touch and have good quality unlike those flimsy ones which come with limited edition sets where the packaging lures you into buying it but end up realizing you were better off saving your money. *looks at Aya Takano* 

Everything in this set is functional, it has all the brushes I NEED when traveling. Well, add a spooly / screw type brush for my taming my brows and its perfect for me! I especially like the eyeshadow brush which is the best for applying Armani Eyes To Kill shadows. My only complaint would be the cheek/blush brush is too soft and small, but its alright, it still works. 

This set can only be purchased at Duty Free stores. I bought mine for HKD380 (approx. USD48 / Php2,080) which is a great deal for Shu Uemura quality. Be on the lookout when you're flying! :)

♡,

G

The Brush Guard

Mail time has come once again! I finally received my brush guards yesterday. I ordered this in early January but the first parcel Diane sent got lost in the mail, so she sent me another one.

So what exactly are Brush Guards? 

Brush Guards are stretchable mesh tubes which will help protect our precious brushes from dirt, dust and deforming. It is also useful in drying brushes after washing or cleaning, it helps the bristles stay in shape. 

Which makes me wonder, how do you dry your brushes? I personally like to lay them flat in a table with the bristles hanging out so that they don't get flat, especially the rounded ones (got this tip from Bobbi Brown's Beauty Evolution). But now that I have Brush Guards, I can just wash my brushes, put the Brush Guards on and dry them bristles down in a cup. Just as stated in the instructions. Not only will the brushes dry nicely, the ferrule will also be protected from water. 

I got 2 Variety Packs ($5.50 inc. tax) which contains 6 pieces of Brush Guards per pack

1 extra small BG for an eye liner brush

2 small BGs for blush brush

2 medium BGs for foundation brush

1 large BG for a kabuki or powder brush

My happy brushes :)

now I can safely store them in a brush roll. yay! :)

NOTE: It is important to read instructions as these Brush Guards are not meant to be pulled towards the handle, it might destroy your brush. ALWAYS slide Brush Guards from the handles towards the bristles.

Happy weekend everyone! ^.^

♡ coffretgorge

My HG Brush Collection

I read in one of my beauty books that makeup is only as good as the tools we use to apply them with. Having the right tools for every specific purpose not only makes your look more polished and pretty, but it also makes you feel beauty and luxury from the moment that soft, high quality brush touches your skin until you achieve the complete look you're after. You also reduce the risk of getting pesky rashes on your face due to rough brush bristles. yikes!

 

I always try to get the best brushes as I believe that getting high quality products help you save money in the long run. (ok ok, i'm trying real hard to justify the pricetag! lol) I have been using my Shu Uemura face brush 20 Pony  for a year and a half now, i wash it almost every week and it does not shed at all! Talk about high quality! Makes me happy ^_^

Shu Uemura natural brush 20 pony

my favorite blush brush! I bought this in Hong Kong for my birthday in 2008 along with 2 eye brushes which you will also see in this post. (everything is cheaper in HK! Well, almost.) ^_~

description from Shu Uemura: 

natural brush 20

made with pony hair, this brush is ideal for powder face color application. the soft, flexible bristles are best for sharply defined cheeks and precise, delicate shading. also suitable for applying face powder.

Shu Uemura natural brush 20H pony

This one is new, I got this during Shu Uemura's 2009 holiday sale, 15% off! This baby is great for contouring.

description from Shu Uemura:

natural brush 20h

made with pony hair, this brush is ideal for powder cheek color and nose shadow application. the diagonal shape is suitable for defining the cheek, creating nose shadows, and applying colors to the eye area.

Laura Mercier finishing brush

I use this to set makeup with Guerlain Meteorites, for blending, or sometimes to apply a super pigmented blush like my Jill Stuart loose powder blush in 03 crimson flush

 

Shu Uemura natural brush 8HR sable

I love using this to apply main color eyeshadows and highlighting the inner corners of the eyes. This brush makes it all easy.

description from Shu Uemura:

natural brush 8hr

sable brush ideal for powder eye shadow contouring and blending. the angled shape fits onto the hollow around the eyes and nose. the natural blend of bristles are smooth yet firm with a soft touch to the skin.

Shu Uemura natural brush 10F pure kolinsky

This has got to be the most expensive brush I've ever bought. What can I say, SA had great persuasive powers! hahaha. I don't regret it though, because if you can only feel this brush, it has the softest yet dense bristles you'll ever feel! This is an eye brush but i also use this for applying concealer.

description from Shu Uemura:

kolinsky brush 10f

the flat brush tip is suitable for contouring, accentuating lines and smudging colors.

Lunasol Lip Brush Ex N pure kolinsky

I love that its portable, and its great for applying my YSL rouge voluptes! If you want precise lines and smooth application, this is a great lip brush. I recommend! :)

Im still trying to find a Holy Grail material powder brush, recommendations will be greatly appreciated! 

♡ coffretgorge