M.A.C Makeup Brushes

photo credit: maccosmetics.com.au

M.A.C Makeup Brushes: probably the most well used brand of makeup brushes, but is it the best?

Well, yes and no. I mean, I love M.A.C and have quite a few of their brushes, but I also love other brands which are cheaper and similar quality, such as Sigma.



So what are the Pros and Cons of these brushes:

PROS:

There is an enormous range of brushes, and I mean enormous! You think of a brush, it will be there. This is a huge advantage on their part, as many people will buy all their brushes from M.A.C because all the brush types they want come in so many sizes and types in one shop! The brushes are extremely high quality and I recommend trying them out!

CONS:

These brushes are fairly expensive! And if your only a teenager with not much money, because you either don't have a job or have a low paying part time job, the idea of buying one foundation brush for $88 can seem quite overwhelming! So, I recommend maybe trying out the cheaper M.A.C brushes or using cheaper brands such as Sigma, until you can comfortably afford to spend that well earned money on M.A.C!

xoxo themakeupqueen

Nude by Nature Brush Kit

The first makeup brushes I ever purchased: Nude by Nature!

Onto the Pros and Cons...

Get the Nude Look 8 Brush Kit

Phot credit:nudebynature.com.au

PROS:
8 brushes for $30, BARGIN! These were the first brushes I ever used and I must say, they were perfect for me when I was only a beginner! The whole kit comes with a Kabuki Base Brush, Blush Brush, Eye Shadow Brush, Domed Eye Blending Brush, Ultimate Cover Concealer Brush, Dual Headed Precision Eye Definer and Lip Brush and a Pencil Sharpener. The brushes are great quality for the price paid for them and they never loose hairs! So easy to clean as well! Definitely a purchase for beginners or even the makeup obsessed, like me!

CONS:
This is probably Nude by Nature's only product which I absolutely can't find any thing wrong with. Good on ya Nude!! Maybe the only thing is that their isn't really quite a massive range, as in Sigma or M.A.C. But that can be improved!

xoxo themakeupqueen

Sigma Makeup Brushes

Sigma makeup brushes, brushes that are like no other, brushes that are unique, brushes that are simply awesome!

Sigma is by far my favourite brand of makeup brushes! I can't even comprehend how amazing these brushes are! To describe to you how much I love these brushes would be impossible, as my love is infinite!

We all know how hard it is to find the perfect brushes for applying makeup! Without the right applicators, makeup can turn out cakey, streaky and just plain annoying! But the solution is right at our fingertips...

SIGMA MAKEUP BRUSHES

Essential Kit-Make me Classy

New Synthetic Essential Kit-10 Brushes

Eyes Kit

Synthetic Kabuki Kit 4 brushes

Synthetic Essential Kit 8 Brushes

Premium Kit

Above is only a snipit into the wonderful world of Sigma. Not only can you buy individual brushes from $9 (smallest brushes); but these awesome brushes come in kits! What a great way to save money and to aquire brushes in the process!!

I have the Sigma Essential Kit-Make me Classy

This kit is AMAZING!

Sigma Essential Kit-Make me Classy

Sigma Essential Kit-Make me Classy

Included in this kit is:

E05 - Eye Liner: Create smooth and even lines. Use with gel or liquid liners.

E30 - Pencil: Soften and smoke out lines. Soften pencil liners along the top and bottom lash lines, add shadow to line the eyes, or use to highlight inner corner of eyes.

E40 - Tapered Blending: Soft blended crease. Using just the tips to apply color, sweep back and forth through the crease for a diffused and blended finish.

E55 - Eye Shading: Even application of color. Place color across the whole lid for an even and strong application of product.

E60 - Large Shader: Uniformly cover the whole lid with product. Apply cream shadow base or cream shadow for quick and even coverage.

E65 - Small Angle: Create precise lining. Moves fluidly and easily across the upper and lower lash lines. Use with gel, cream or powder liners.

E70 - Medium Angled Shading: Soft application of color. Use for brow highlighting or to blend the crease.

F30 - Large Powder: Even powder application. Uniform blending of powder products onto the face and body.

F40 - Large Angled Contour: Subtle cheek application. Use the angle to softly contour the cheekbone. Can also be used to apply blush.

F50 - Duo Fibre: Creates an airbrush effect onto the skin. Can be used with powder, liquid or cream products.

F60 - Foundation: Smooth foundation application. Apply liquid or cream products such as foundation and primer.

F70 - Concealer: Conceal small areas. Conceal the hardest to reach areas such as around the nose and eyes.

visit http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Sigma_12_Brush_kit_Make_Me_Classy_Black_p/ckc01.htm for more details

My favourite brush in this collection would definitely have to be the F30 Large Powder brush! I use this brush regularly to apply my finishing powder and it is just amazing! It gives me a complete airbrush look! Definitely try this brush out! I also love this Sigma kit because it comes in a carry case which is so handy and perfect for displaying my brushes!

Another Sigma kit that I absolutely love (and the most expensive) is Extravaganza Complete Kit!

Extravaganza Complete Kit

Extravaganza Complete Kit

Extravaganza Complete Kit

Extravaganza Complete Kit

Extravaganza Complete Kit

Extravaganza Complete Kit

It makes the Essential kit look so tiny and miniscule! This kit, now brace yourselves, contains 29 of Sigma's best selling brushes for $510! Now that may seem like a enormous amount of money to you (which it definitely is); however, 29 brushes for $510 is COMPLETE MADNESS! That's only on average $17.58 for each brush! Now how much are most M.A.C brushes individually?? .......

Sigma is often compared to M.A.C and I i just simply like Sigma better. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate M.A.C or anything, I love It!! I just love Sigma even more heheh :)

Now what's included?? ..

E05 - Eye Liner: Create smooth and even lines. Use with gel or liquid liners.

E10 - Small Eye Liner: Precise application of liner. Use with gel or liquid liners.

E15 - Flat Definer: Sharp and precise application. Press product along upper and lower lash lines to create an easy thin liner. Works with gel, liquid or powder products.

E20 - Short Shader: Concentrated color application. Apply color onto small areas of the eye such as the outer eyelid. Also use to smudge the lower lash line.

E25 - Blending: Controlled blending. Blend colors together onto the lid with added control. Buff out harsh lines for a well blended effect.

E30 - Pencil: Soften and smoke out lines. Soften pencil liners along the top and bottom lash lines, add shadow to line the eyes, or use to highlight inner corner of eyes.

E35 - Tapered Blending: Controlled application of crease color. Using just the tip of the brush to pick up color, apply directly onto the crease and sweep through. Effect is blended, but defined.

E40 - Tapered Blending: Soft blended crease. Using just the tips to apply color, sweep back and forth through the crease for a diffused and blended finish.

E45 - Small Tapered Blending: Precise color application onto the crease. Picking up color with just the tip of the brush, apply intense colors to the crease to add depth and dimension to the eye.

E50 - Large Fluff: Controlled highlighting. Apply highlighting shades onto the brow bone or upper cheekbone. Gives a soft and blended finish.

E55 - Eye Shading: Even application of color. Place color across the whole lid for an even and strong application of product.

E60 - Large Shader: Uniformly cover the whole lid with product. Apply cream shadow base or cream shadow for quick and even coverage.

E65 - Small Angle: Create precise lining. Moves fluidly and easily across the upper and lower lash lines. Use with gel, cream or powder liners.

E70 - Medium Angled Shading: Soft application of color. Use for brow highlighting or to blend the crease.

F05 - Small Contouring: Contour cheeks. Buff and blend contour shades under cheekbone and jaw line for a chiseled look.

F10 - Powder/Blush: Precise placement of blush. Use for powder application.

F15 - Duo Fibre Powder/Blush: Soft blush application. Generates a diffused blush application. Works especially well with mineral product for a natural and delicate effect.

F20 - Large Powder: Controlled bronzer application. Bronzing of the cheekbones and temple area. Using the flat side gives definition and control.

F25 - Tapered Face: Exact product placement onto cheeks. Apply powder, blush or contour shades onto the cheeks and temples. Tapered shape gives exact placement of product.

F30 - Large Powder: Even powder application .Uniform blending of powder products onto the face and body.

F35 - Tapered Highlighter: Subtle highlighting. Apply highlighting shades onto the upper contours of the face. Diffused finish gives skin a natural glow.

F40 - Large Angled Contour: Cheek application. Use the angle to softly contour the cheekbone. Can also be used to apply blush.

F50 - Duo Fibre: Creates an airbrush effect onto the skin. Can be used with powder, liquid or cream products.

F55 - Small Duo Fibre: Creates a controlled airbrush effect onto the skin. Use with cream or powder blush and highlighting products.

F60 - Foundation: Smooth foundation application. Apply liquid or cream products such as foundation and primer.

F65 - Large Concealer: Conceal larger areas of the face or body. Works well with liquid or cream products.

F70 - Concealer: Conceal small areas. Conceal the hardest to reach areas such as around the nose and eyes.

F75 - Concealer: Precise product placement. Use around the lip area to conceal when wearing bold lip colors.

L05 - Lip: Precise application of color onto the lips. Use the firm edge to define and contour the lips.

Check out http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Extravaganza_Complete_Kit_p/ecg01.htm for more information!

This amazing kit also comes in a deluxe makeup carry case! BONUS!! I haven't yet purchased this collection, but it is so amazing and I am in the process of saving up my money at the moment! If your only a beginner, maybe don't purchase this Sigma kit straight away. It is mainly for professionals. But if your keen, then by all means, GO FOR IT! This kit contains pretty much every single brush you'll ever need in your makeup lifetime!!

That's all for this post on Sigma Makeup Brushes! Check back regularly for even more of my reviews and opinions on everything makeup! :)

xoxo themakeupqueen

all images and information on the brushes included in the kits was aquired from http://www.sigmabeauty.com/default.asp
Check out Sigma online for even more information on the things discussed in my blog!!