E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush & Pointed Foundation Brush Review!

E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush & Pointed Foundation Brush

There are so many new products by E.L.F. since the last time I placed an order a year ago. I've been meaning to purchase a MAC 130 Short Duo Fiber Brush ($42) and when I spotted this new E.L.F Studio Small Stipple Brush ($3), I had to get it.

It's much smaller than your average stippling brush (such as the MAC 187 or E.L.F. Studio Stipple Brush) and it's slightly more dense because of the shorter bristles. The bristles are synthetic, so it's ideal for liquid and cream products but can also work well with powder products.

It's a great brush for liquid foundation, and because of it's smaller brush head, it can maneuver around small areas such as under and around the eyes, around the brows and hairline. Whereas a large brush might not be able to blend small areas as well, and it's harder to avoid coating the brows in foundation, etc.

I also really like using it to apply cream blush. It's the perfect size to apply the blush precisely to the cheekbones and blend it in with the extra soft bristles. Also, because it's not super dense, it won't pick up too much product, so if you have an uber pigmented blush, a stippling brush always works the best. The same goes for applying highlighter. It picks up just the right amount of product and it's small enough so you won't apply too much. There are really so many uses for this brush!

I'm kind of kicking myself that I only purchased one, because I can see myself using it often for many different things.

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush Review!

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush ($48) is a large ultra-plush, dense synthetic brush that can be used in a variety of ways for an always-flawless application. Did I mention that it's OMG soft?

The benefit to using such a large brush is that it covers a larger surface area at once, so application goes by much quicker. The ultra, soft and luxurious bristles create a seamless finish, so not only does it apply product quicker, but completely even with less work than a standard size brush.

I've used this brush in a few different ways - to apply liquid and cream foundation, setting powder, liquid/cream body bronzer and as a finishing brush to help blend everything together.

I love using it for liquid and cream foundation, but because it is so large, you have to use a separate brush to get to the small areas (around the eyes, nose hairline, etc.) so my favorite use for this brush is using it as a finishing brush.

I'm often on-the-go, and when I don't have enough time to adequately blend in my foundation, I always grab my IT Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush and quickly run it across my face working the brush in circular motions. It ensures my foundation is seamless, free of any streaks or blotches.

Sigma Tapered Highlighter and Face Brushes Review!

Sigma F25 Tapered Face Brush & F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush

You might remember me talking recently about wanting a domed shaped powder brush, and how I've had my eye on the Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush. I'm not sure if it's the unique shape of the brush head, or the fact that you don't see them around too often and I wanted something different (you mostly see the regular, standard, boring brush shapes) - All I knew was that I needed one (or two) in my collection even if I don't really need it.

So, I went ahead and ordered both brushes after not being able to choose one over the other.

F25 Tapered Face Brush - Designed for precise product placement of powder, blush and contour shades to the face. ($22)
F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush -Designed for precise product placement of highlighter to the face. ($16)

Upon waiting for my order, I was a little nervous that the brushes wouldn't be soft. I own a few sets of Sigma brushes and they are for the most part very soft, but I also have a couple duds that aren't very soft at all (F50 Duo Fiber and F05 Small Contour).

Sigma Mr. Bunny Travel Kit Review!

Sigma Mr. Bunny Black Travel Kit

The Sigma Mr. Bunny Brush Sets are Sigma's synthetic, or vegan version of their Make Me Up Brush (which I own and love) Collection.

If you're familiar with Sigma Brushes, this set uses the same "Sigmax HD Fibers" as the popular F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki. The bristles are super soft and fluffy, and although they are synthetic, the bristles higher quality than synthetic brushes you may find at the drugstore (Ecotools, etc).

This set includes:

Pencil E30 - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, upper and lower lash line.
Tapered Blending E40 - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease.
Eye Shading E55 - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments.
Small Angle E65 - Essential for the application of gel or cream eye liner on the upper and lower lash line.
Large Powder F30 - Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body.
Large Angled Contour F40 - The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades.
Foundation F60 - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. Recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas.

All of the brushes have the same name as the regular Sigma brushes, so it might be a little confusing, but you can't actually order these brushes separately, which may be the reason.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush Review!

 Real Techniques Stippling Brush

I've been meaning to literally buy this brush ever since it came out, but I rarely ever go to ULTA. I've had the Real Techniques Blush Brush for a while now, and use it often to apply my powder blush. I've always been interested in trying the stippling brush as well considering Nic and Sam, or "Pixiwoo" (Sam - the creator of Real Techniques and sister Nic) are always using it to apply their foundation in their YouTube tutorials and their skin always looks flawless! I swear, when I'm on the computer, I sometimes just play their vids and minimize the screen and go about my work, just because I love their voices. Weird?

Nicola applying foundation with Real Techniques Stippling Brush (Image Credit)

The head is much shorter than the MAC 187 Brush and smaller overall in comparison to the Sigma F80 Brush (which I lost.. boo!!!) and the Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush. The size is probably the most comparable to the Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Blusher Brush (I like this brush better).

The synthetic taklon bristles are super soft, and it's dense enough to stipple your foundation, but it's not super dense for those that like a somewhat dense (dense enough to provide good coverage), yet pliable brush. I think Sam did a fabulous job designing this brush as it's just perfect for applying foundation. The shorter bristles and smaller size make it perfect for covering small areas of the face.

You don't only have to use this brush for foundation - it's also useful for cream and powder blush, as well as bronzer. Because it is fairly small, you can apply color precisely to the apples of your cheeks.

 Real Techniques Stippling Brush

All of Real Techniques Brushes are cruelty-free!

This brush retails for around $9.99 at ULTA and it's worth every penny! (that's only my opinion, of course.)

For more information about Real Techniques Brushes, visit http://realtechniques.com.

What's your favorite brush for applying foundation?

Get 'em before they're gone.

I know, I know, makeup brushes again. But I just wanted to share that Coastal Scents recently launched some new brushes (or newly designed brushes) and put all of their current brushes on Clearance. The brushes were already inexpensive to begin with, so the extra discount (I believe it's 50%) is quite the steal on several of them.

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of them, but some of my favorites include: The Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush, Black Sable Buffer Brush, Destiny Kabuki on a Stick and Fan Brush Black. Most of their eye brushes are quite good. I use The Pro Blending Fluff Brush and Destiny Blender often, and I would say they are very comparable to higher end makeup brushes.

 Assorted Coastal Scents Brushes

*With any new makeup brushes, I recommend washing them before use to release any loose bristles, and rid the bristles of any dust that they may have came in contact with during manufacturing. Also, brushes typically feel softer after a good wash.

I've been ordering from Coastal Scents from the past couple of years and I'm really happy with their service and shipping time. I typically always receive my order within three business days, and my order has never been wrong. (No affiliation)

Check out all of their brushes, by clicking here.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set!

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

I've been interested in trying makeup brushes from Costco for a while now, after repeatedly hearing about how awesome some of the sets have been over the past few years.

I don't have a membership to Costco, so as far as inventory goes, I'm not really sure how often the selection of brushes changes. The location near me only had this set available, and of course, it could differ from location. I really wanted to try a Borghese Brush set, and I didn't know until now that they aren't sold all year round. Apparently they are available around the holidays, and there is a new set each year. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I don't want to give out false information).

The Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set includes: Contour Kabuki Brush, Highlighting Fan Brush, Finishing Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Powder Brush, Cheek Brush, All Over Eye Brush, Angled Eye Brush, Crease Eye Brush, Liner Brush and Cosmetic Bag/Brush Roll.

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

 On the Costco website, the set retails for $29.99. But, at my local Costco, this set was only $13.97! (My amazing friend picked it up for me. Hi May!) I wouldn't necessarily purchase this set for $30, but $14 is an absolute bargain (A little over a dollar a brush + the brushroll/cosmetic bag!)

My favorite brushes include: The Finishing Brush and Pointed Foundation Brush. The finishing brush is one of the softest brushes in the set and feels wonderful on the face. The pointed foundation brush is also very soft and doesn't make the foundation application streaky. Also, because of the pointed shape, it applies the foundation well in small areas (around the the nose, brows and hairline) and it works well for applying concealer.

My least favorite brushes include: The Contour Kabuki Brush and Highlighting Fan Brush. These are my least favorite of the bunch and I probably won't use them often. They are incredibly soft, but almost too soft for my taste. They are synthetic, but the cheap synthetic, where the fibers are shiny and plasticy. I prefer natural bristles unless it's for foundation. I may use them for setting powder, though.

READ MORE!

Essence of Beauty Starter Brush Kit for the Face!

Essence of Beauty Starter Brush Kit

I rarely ever look at the brushes on my weekly trips to CVS, but on a visit, some new packaging for the Essence of Beauty brushes caught my eye. I know this is old news, as they introduced the new packaging mid-2011, but I believe my CVS was pretty late on the bandwagon and haven't stocked any of the newly packaged brushed until recently.

You may be familiar with the older style brushes - a beige handle with a black ferrule (reminiscent of Bobbi Brown brushes). It looks like they might be phasing out that style for a sleeker black brush with silver textured ferrule. Kinda nice if you're particular about having all of your brush handles the same color. I personally prefer black handles.

If you're not familiar with Essence of Beauty, it's basically the Ecotools of CVS - they are affordable and good quality for the price you pay. They range from around $5-$10 each. I only own a couple, and I really dig them.

Anyway, I had a few extra-cash bucks to blow, so I decided to pick up the Starter Brush Kit and give it a whirl.

The Essence of Beauty Starter Kit comes with three brushes (a foundation brush, blush/powder brush, double-sided eye brush) and a small brush roll.What drew my attention to that particular kit, was the small foundation brush. I figured it'd be the perfect size brush to apply my under-eye concealer since it's smaller than a standard foundation brush and much larger than a standard concealer brush.

Essence of Beauty Starter Brush Kit

READ MORE!

Guest Post: Real Techniques Powder and Blush Brush!

 
Guest Post Written by Ashley
Today the beautiful Ashley of Lashes Anyone? shares her thoughts about some of her favorite Real Techniques makeup brushes!

Hello Beauties!

About two years ago I fell hard for the infamous Sigma brushes that had every beauty guru in beauty craze. I did adore the face brushes, until the bristles started shedding on a daily basis. I do love the Sigma eye brushes, as they have impeccable quality and have held up nicely.

I was in need of a serious powder and blush brush rescue, considering those are my primary brushes for everyday use. About a month ago, I was wandering through the lit up aisles of ULTA and came across the Real Techniques brush line created by Samantha Chapman of YouTube.

 Real Techniques Powder and Blush Brush

 Real Techniques Powder and Blush Brush

READ MORE!

Real Techniques Blush Brush + A Fav Lip Combo!

Real Techniques Blush Brush

PRODUCT DETAILS:
Ultra-plush, synthetic taklon bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free
Self-standing for easy storage
Extended aluminum handle is light and easy to use

If you're a fan of the Pixiwoo sisters on YouTube, Sam and Nic, you're probably already familiar with Sam's line of makeup brushes, Real Techniques.

Real Techniques Makeup Brushes can be found at ULTA stores (in-store and online) throughout the USA. There are also a few online retailers that cater to International users. (click here for a location list)

What really stands out about the brushes are the unique designs. They have a professional look and most of the brushes have a tapered tip, for a perfectly airbrushed finish. The fibers are also incredibly soft, and the brush seems very sturdy. I've had mine for three months now, and the brush doesn't show any signs of wear and tear. The best part of all, the brushes are very affordable. The blush brush retails for $8.99, and ULTA always has $3.50 off $10 coupons, which is always a plus.



CONTINUE READING FOR A SHORT REVIEW AND ADDITIONAL PHOTOS!

Review: Sigma F80 and F05 Brushes!

I've had my eyes on the Sigma F80 Brush for some time now, especially since I've seen it on numerous blogs and YouTube videos with everyone claiming that it's their favorite foundation brush. So naturally, I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about.

I went ahead and placed my order for the F80, along with the F05, as by the photos, it seemed like a great sized blush or contour brush.

Here are the brush descriptions -

F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki - This exclusive flat top synthetic kabuki was designed to deliver a flawless makeup application. The Sigma Makeup F80 is a buffer brush that can be used to blend powder or liquid products. The short and dense bristles make it easy to buff your liquid foundation. The long handle adds comfort to your makeup application. The synthetic fibers are ideal to be used with liquid products and can be easily cleaned. Made of Synthetic Sigmax HD filament.

Rated 4.8/5 with a 94% re-purchase rate on makeupalley.com 

F05 Small Contour Brush - Ideal to apply, blend or contour powder products. Softly rounded dome tip smoothly blends colour into the face. (This brush is supposedly a "dupe" for MAC's ever-popular 109 brush)

Review: E.L.F. Studio Kabuki Face & Body Brush!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: This anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this brush! Our handy and easy to use Kabuki Brushes provide a light to full coverage on your face or body to ensure a flawless finish. The compact brush is perfectly sized to allow for precise and controlled application of bronzer, powder, or a highlighter on your skin.

Both Brushes are from E.L.F's Studio Collection and cost $5 for the face brush and $8 for the body brush.

The Kabuki Face Brush stands a tiny bit over 2 1/4 inches and the diameter of the base is slightly larger than a quarter. It's perfectly compact and fits comfortably in the hands for controlled application. The bristles are very soft, but not too soft where they aren't effective. Compared to the Mineral Brushes reviewed a few days ago which were  extremely soft, shiny, and almost plastic-like. The kabuki is surprisingly pretty dense, so it will work well for application of powders. Also, the top is nicely domed, like the MAC 181 (I don't own the 181 though to compare). I love this brush and can't stop rubbing it on my face! For $5 I highly recommend this brush. Great Value.

The Kabuki Body Brush is reminiscent of the Face brush. The base is exactly the same, but it stands at about a 1/2 inch taller than the face brush. The bristles are the same, very soft and dreamy on the skin. Compared to the face brush, it's not as full, domed or dense. I was a little disappointed that it's not very dense, but it would still make a good brush for setting powder or for adding a highlight or bronzer to your neck and chest. The denseness was kind of like the make it or break it for me, therefore I'm not too crazy about this brush. But I will definitely be using it. 

Overall, I'm pretty happy with these kabuki's. Especially the Face Brush. I can totally see it climbing up my favorites list for setting powder! 

Hope you all had a lovely weekend! Sorry to bore you with all of these E.L.F. reviews. I'll mix it up a little better this upcoming week. ;)

Review: E.L.F. Mineral Brushes!

While E.L.F. had their 60% off sale, I decided to try a few of their mineral brushes. I've always been curious about the mineral brushes because they are a few more dollars than the Studio Brushes. Naturally, I figured they are better quality.

So, I went ahead and ordered the 4 Piece Bamboo Brush Set, Angled Blush Brush and Flat Eyeliner Brush.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: These antibacterial Taklon bristled brushes are 100% cruelty free, luxuriously soft and can be used with wet or dry products. The natural and sustainable bamboo handle fits ergonomically in your hand for comfort and precise application. The recycled Ferrule is eco-friendly for guilt free beauty.

READ MORE FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS & MY REVIEW!

Designer Perfect Brushes at Big Lots for $1!

Periodically (maybe a couple times a month) I like to check out my local Big Lots and Dollar Tree stores for great deals. It's always a hit or miss. Half of the time I walk out with nothing and the other half of the time I find something good. If one of your favorite drugstore items became discontinued, Big Lots or your local dollar store are good places to check periodically for those items. 

They seemed to have a lot of ELF items, which was most likely an overstock. They were all still a dollar each, so no real deal on them. If you're a fan of Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstick in the shade Pink Please, there were several tubes for $1.50. (View my past review here) I actually gave my tube to a friend because I didn't wear it much. Of course every store will have a different selection, so what I find at my Big Lots.. you may not be able to find at yours - and vise versa.

Cosmetic Aisle at Big Lots

Cosmetic Aisle at Big Lots

Something that did catch my eye though were some brushes, more specifically, a whole brush set for $1. None of the bristles felt stiff and scratchy, so for $1, who could go wrong? I also picked up a few single brushes. (I apologize in advance if the photos aren't the greatest quality. They are taken indoors with flash)

From left to right: Powder Brush, Duo Eyeshadow Brush, Wiper Blending Eyeshadow Brush, Five Brush Mini Kit with Zip Purse.

Five Brush Mini Kit with Zip Purse

The Five Brush Mini Kit contains a blush/powder brush, foundation brush and three double sided brushes for the eyes, brows and concealer. I've already used each of the brushes and they are surprisingly good quality for $1. The only brush I find useless is the brush on the opposite side of the angled brush. It's an angled sponge for smudging.. and I find the sponge too dense (and rubbery?) to work well. Also, the angled brush is a little stiff so can't really be used to line the eyes... but it works great for the brows.

Brushes included in the Five Brush Mini Kit (excluding the powder & foundation brushes)

What's cool is that the kit comes with a little zip around carrying case which is perfect for travel. It's great to pop in your bag, use for traveling or even to keep in your glove compartment in your car for emergencies!

Carrying case for the Five Brush Mini Kit

Left to Right: Powder Brush, Wiper Blending Eyeshadow Brush and Duo Eyeshadow Brush.

The three brushes I purchased separately are also great quality. The Wiper Blending brush is like a dupe for the MAC 224 or Sigma Tapered Blending Brush. 

The only thing I dislike about these brushes is the appearance of them (*cough* ugly). I prefer black brushes to match all of my other brushes. Nevertheless, these brushes are great for travel, or like I mentioned good to keep in your car, etc. 

Have you found any "too good to pass by" deals lately? Do share!

IT'S HERE! My Sigma "Make Me Classy" 12 Brush Kit!!!

The Sigma 12 Brush Kit (Make Me Up Collection) contains five (5) face brushes and seven (7) eye brushes, for a total of 12 brushes. Each brush is labeled with the actual name of the brush and brush number. Brushes starting with "F" are face brushes and brushes starting with "E" are eye brushes. The Sigma 12 Brush Kit comes in a variety of four (4) different colors to suit your personal style. There is pink, blue, purple and black. I went with the standard black brushes, also known as the "Make Me classy" Kit. Each kit also comes with a durable holder that is convenient for traveling or storing your brushes in.

These are the individual brushes that come in this kit:

Eyeliner - E05 - An extra-fine tipped synthetic fiber brush that delivers a precise, firm, even stroke to line the eyes.

Pencil - E30 - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. Also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Natural bristles.

Tapered Blending - E40 - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Natural bristles.

Eye Shading - E55 - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Natural bristles.

Large Shader - E60 - Flat shape is ideal for application of cream formulas and eye shadow primers. It also works great with loose eye shadows or pigments. Can be used to apply color all over the lid or precisely on the lash line. Natural bristles.

Small Angle - E65 - Essential for the application of gel or cream eyeliner on the upper and lower lash line. This brush is also excellent for filling out the eyebrows. Synthetic bristles.

Medium Angled Shading - E70 - Angled, tapered, flat top. Ideal to apply highlight shades underneath the eyebrow and on the inner corners. It can also be used for a precise application of darker shades on the crease area. Natural bristles.

Large Powder - F30 - Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles.

Large Angled Contour - F40 - The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades. Natural bristles.

Duo Fibre - F50 - Specially designed to generate an ‘airbrushed’ finish when used to apply liquid foundation. It can also be used to apply blush, highlight shades and loose pigments. Blend of synthetic and natural bristles.

Foundation - F60 - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. It is also recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas. Synthetic bristles.

Concealer - F70 - The rounded, tapered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area. It is also recommended for a precise application in small areas. Synthetic bristles.

The price of the kit is $99, which divided by 12, is around $8.25 a brush with a free brush holder.

Click HERE to view the product on the website. 

I will have a review to come for these soon! I actually own several of the eye brushes and use them daily - I absolutely love the E40, E55, E60 & E70 brushes. I haven't tried any of Sigma's face brushes, so I'm excited to give them a go.

The Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Multipurpose Brush!

For those of you who aren't familiar with the brand.. Sonia Kashuk is a line of beauty products (created by Makeup Artist & Entrepreneur Sonia Kashuk) that are sold exclusively at Target stores. Sonia Kashuk products are supposedly of high end quality for an affordable price. One thing Sonia Kashuk is really known for is their wonderful brushes. Often times Sonia Kashuk comes out with limited edition brush sets for the whole face that range from $10-$20.. often times you can snag a great set for a great price since they go Clearance when the next new items come out. If you have, Kudos to you! I unfortunately don't have a very large selection of brushes and don't happen to own any myself.

It wasn't until lately that I was feeling a little dissatisfied with my selection of foundation brushes (I lost my MAC 131 somehow.. I gave my full size MAC 187 to my Mom and my MAC 187SE got ruined when my eyelash glue leaked into all of the bristles). Currently, I only have my ELF Studio Stipple brush.. which works wonderfully and a few basic foundation brushes (MAC 109, Ecotools Foundation Brush, ELF Studio Angled Foundation Brush) which I don't find practical for every foundation I own. I've been really wanting to try the Sigma Synthetic Face Kit, but as of the moment I can't dish out $50 on brushes. So, I finally decided to purchase the Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Multipurpose Brush that I've see every time I'm at Target and have read raves for among Beauty Blogs.

The Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Multipurpose Brush is a synthetic fiber brush with relatively short bristles (maybe a little under an inch long?) and is very silky soft to the touch. It is very dense and sturdy, and because of the small size - it is ideal for applying foundation and working it into small areas as well as creme and powder blush. The brush retails for $14.99.

I compared it to my other flat top brushes...

From Left to Right: Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Multipurpose Brush, ELF Studio Powder Brush & Gotta B' Urban Finishing Brush. 

The Sonia Kashuk brush is the smallest of the three and it is the most dense. My ELF Studio Powder Brush is almost just as dense and a little bit larger. The ELF brush works well for foundation.. but I found it very difficult to clean when I used liquid foundation, so I just stick with using powder products with it. The Gotta B' Urban brush (purchased at Marshall's) is the least dense, as the fibers are very long and is ideal for setting powder.

The first time using the brush was today and I really liked the result. It smoothed on my foundation so quick and easy. I didn't have to spend extra time buffing it in like I usually do. 

Overall, I think it's a very good brush. The price seems a lot for a brush that isn't high end, but it works extremely well and is comparable to a brush you'd buy from MAC or Sephora. 

I'll keep you updated to let you know how I like this brush as I use it more and more.

Do you own this brush? How do you like it?

The Brush Guard Review!

You can purchase these in different variety packs for $5.50 (tax & shipping included) from http://www.thebrushguard.com/. I purchased mine from Coastal Scents for $4.95 (+ shipping).

View the reviews for the brush guard on makeupalley here.

Review: The basic concept of this product is to keep the bristles of the brush together while drying.. and to dry the brushes upside down so excess water won't seep into the wooden handle and cause the handle to separate from the brush in the future. I didn't really buy into the whole idea of the brush guard (considering these have been around for a while).. Although it's a good concept and it makes a lot of sense, I never really found the urge to purchase them. But while I was making a purchase on Coastal Scents, before checkout I was tossing in some last minute things and I figured I'd give them a try. I couldn't think of any other method or tool to use to dry my brushes facing down. When I clean my brushes, I usually lay them flat to dry and by the following morning, they are usually dry and fluffy. No problems. No serious issues with my brush bristles fraying or straying away.. and haven't had any brushes separate from the handle (well, high end at least). When I used the brush guards, it dried my brushes just as good & it kept all of the bristles together. I find the drying time to be very long (for this post, I had them drying for 10 hours and they were still damp. I had no choice but to use them by that point, so I couldn't take a picture of them dry). You really need 24 hours for them to dry completely. I find that my goat hair/natural bristle brushes dried in a much shorter time (it's always the case anyway) than the synthetic brushes. I do think this will help maintain my brushes well and that it will give my brushes a longer life span. Overall, I think it's a good product. Nothing I'd continuously rave about.. but, worth the $5.

Do you own these or anything similar? What are your thoughts?