Sigma Performance Eyes Kit Update!

Is there any better feeling then coming home to an awaiting parcel? Even if you know, very well, what's inside from the box alone - you still get curious and excited when you start to open it? Although the waiting is the worst part of Internet shopping (along with the chance of being scammed or your package getting lost - has never happened to me, THANK GOD!), opening the package is the most exciting!

I just thought I would update everyone on my Sigma Black Friday Parcel arriving earlier this Monday (17/12/2012). :)

My Second Sigma Order.

The free gift is the same as it was before (travel sized eyeliner brush - I have soo many eyeliner brushes now). The kit came in a cardboard box with a instructional pamphlet outlining ways to use each brush (of course this can be varied according to personal preferences), and a little card saying thank you for purchasing Sigma!

I bought this kit for $61.00 USD with free shipping (promotion during Black Friday) from the Official Sigma Website: CLICK HERE to visit the page (I am not a sigma affiliate)! :)

Packaging is similar to all Sigma brush sets.

Back - with official sticker of Authenticity.

Sigma Performance Eye Kit Brushes - all in protective sleeves.

Originally I had no intention of buying these brushes. They interested me but the fact that they weren't made of synthetic Sigmax bristles meant they didn't make it to my "need to buy" list (which is already quite extensive, I need to cut down... Starting next year). ;)

But when Sigma had the free shipping deal on their Black Friday "sale", I couldn't resist and bought these. :)

I will be using them daily for the next month or more before writing a review. I wash my brushes after every use, so these brushes will be very tested like the rest of my collection.

First impressions: after one use and wash

> Bristles on all the brushes are splayed, fixed after the first wash with the use of brush guards. Also many of the brushes are not as defined and well-shaped as they are on the website or advertisements (yes, they've photoshopped the BRUSHES, I can't believe people do that...)
> One particular brush is very coarse (I have sensitive eyes so my standards for soft eye brushes are very high). I will post more about this brush on my review in the future because I want to see if maybe I'm using it wrong or the bristles soften up.
> You can see the glue which binds the bristles on two brushes below the ferrule - quite worrying but we'll see how this holds.

 Now adding this set to my current collection:

My First Ever Sigma Order!

I think I'm done with Sigma for the time being. :)

This is strange but does anyone else love the smell of new brushes? When you open new brushes from any brand at all, they all have that new-brush smell which I've realised I love. :) Or is it just me? ;)

Thank you for reading this entry, feedback is much loved and posts are up every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Bookmark, subscribe or follow if you find the time. :)

Stay Beautiful! xx

Sedona Lace Midnight Lace Synthetic Brush Set Review (Sigma Comparison)

Time for yet another brush review! This is a popular one and I'm sure everyone has heard of/tried out/or bought this set already.

I bought this set when I first started doing make up with brushes as I was beginning to explore different types of brushes for achieving flawless and even foundation application. I paid $44.99 USD for this set from the official Sedona Lace website (usually $49.95 USD) but I got it on a special promotion at the time. Despite the special discount, I would have been prepared to pay the full price for this set, it is incredible value for amazing quality brushes. Even after buying more expensive brushes, this set has been my go-to set for flawless foundation coverage! Shipping to Australia was less then $10 USD for order of two brush sets at the time. CLICK HERE to visit the page of the site that I bought this set from.

The Midnight Lace Synthetic Brush Set.

The Midnight Lace Synthetic Brush Set comes with four brushes: three foundation/face brushes and one travel-sized kabuki brush. All of these brushes come with a plastic case/covering as shown in the above image!

None of these brushes have bled or shed since I got them! I wash after every use and they have lasted very well! I am very impressed with the quality of this set.

Midnight Lace Kabuki Brush.

I adore using this kabuki brush for blending out contour, application of setting/translucent powder and it's case will prevent damage to the brush when traveling! The bristles are incredibly dense so you can apply mineral or cream foundation with this brush easily and buff without streaking or caking into your skin. However, as a result of the thickness and length of the bristles, it does take a while to clean (but definitely worth it!).

Sedona 928 - Flat Top Powder & Sigma F80 - Flat Kabuki Brush.

Flat tops are good for liquid foundation: you blend on the foundation and use patting/stippling motions on areas which require higher coverage, then you buff out the edges. Viola! Perfect foundation application in a very short period of time! These types of brushes will extend the life of your foundation since it will spread a small amount over a great surface area compared to applying foundation with your fingers! I also use these brushes for application of powder onto my oily T-zone area as it really packs on powder without cake face. :)

Sedona 480 - Round Top Powder & Sigma Round Kabuki Brush.

I love these brushes for buffing in liquid foundation! They are amazing and have the best finish for my oily skin type (I can sweat and the make up will stay on)! Both of these brushes are the same in density, shape, and size! I always reach for these if I want a full coverage foundation look but know that I'll be likely to sweat it off (unfortuantely). For example: clubbing in freaking Australian summer heat when even breathing is a work out.

Sedona 602 Angle Top Powder & Sigma F84 Angled Kabuki Brush.

Sorry the Sigma brush is dirty because I just got home from work when I took this photo (making the most of the natural light in my room) and I have yet to clean it! I use these brushes to apply bronzer to the hollows of my cheeks. The Sedona brush has a higher degree of an angle which is perfect for bronzing, the Sigma has only the slightest slant as you can see from the image. I recommend using the Sigma one for foundation application or when you use two shades of liquid foundation for a more natural contour (if that makes sense!). :)

Storage idea! ;)

I just thought I'd also share how I store my kabuki brush after it is dry. This makes sure the kabuki brush keeps it's shape even when stored!


So in conclusion, the Sedona Midnight Lace collection is definitely worth a second glance. Everything from the colour selection (to prevent staining), the brush design (large and thick handles), the strength (no shedding, no bleeding of colours, soft and durable), and the price (very affordable) is definitely a pro to buying this set. :)

UNLIKE ALL OTHER BRUSH SETS I OWN, this set has absolutely no downfall to me. And I don't say that lightly - trust me, I've worked these brushes hard to find a flaw. :)

I am not endorsed by Sedona/Sigma/anyone, these opinions are all my own and all brushes are used for my own personal purposes. You may not like these brushes like I do but they work well for my skin and face shape. Please comment if you have any other brushes you think are better then this set! I would love to keep an open mind. ;)



Stay Beautiful! xx

Sedona Lace 12 Piece Synthetic Professional Make Up Brushes with Cup Holder Review (With comparison to Sigma)

Sedona Lace was one of my first ever make up brush sets that I bought when I first started out with my dangerous-to-my-bank-account make up addiction. :) As a result, I've had plenty of time to try out and use all these brushes before this review. I've used them half asleep, in a hurry, with many different types of products, and for every possible occasion!

I highly recommend this 12 Piece set from Sedona Lace for anyone who is starting out with make up or just wants back ups of staple favourites for their collection. They're incredibly inexpensive, especially when they're compared to other brands. I bought this set for $79.95 USD from the official Sedona Lace website. Shipping was less then $10 for two brush sets for that order. CLICK HERE to visit the exact place I bought this set from.

All of the 12 Brushes!

These are the brushes, they have matte black handles with holographic lettering (which won't fade like some other brands such as real techniques so there's no need to apply clear nail polish to the names!) and light pink-purple bristles with dark purple/black tips! I really love the dark bristle tips as this means the brushes will not stain (or the stain will not show up) when using certain highly pigmented products such as eyeshadows! They are a bit larger then the Sigma version in relation to length of the brushes.

I found that all the brushes kept their shape but I always use a brush guard when drying my brushes. I also wash my brushes after every use (due to my sensitive skin and the fact that I'm terrified of germs). Hahaha!

Anyways, this kit comes with a hard-cover carrying case which stores your make up brushes easily and makes a good holder for your vanity table.

The case has purple stitching to follow the theme of the Sedona Lace set. :)

Comparison of the size and materials used for the Sigma Mrs. Bunny Kit case and the Sedona Lace Kit case!

As you can clearly see from the above picture, the case for the Sedona Lace brushes are almost twice the size of the Sigma Mrs. Bunny case! However, if I travel with my brushes (the cases were made with the intention of traveling in mind), I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND YOU USE THE SEDONA LACE CASE! If you look closely at the image, you will notice that the Sedona Lace case is completely lined with suede inside!

This is a terrible design idea for plenty of reasons:
- If you're not like me and wash your brushes after every use, you will accumulate product on the inside of the case if you use the case to hold your brushes. Or in my case, it will accumulate dust if you don't clean frequently!
- Unless the brushes you travel with have a slip-proof cover to protect the bristles, the suede material will rub against the bristles causing it to SPLAY outside the brush! Don't destroy your brushes by traveling with this case. I was very lucky to notice it in a trial run before risking destroying my brushes!

So to sum up the case: Sedona Lace is larger and therefore better for displaying brushes on your make up dresser table, but for the love of all that's good, do not use this case to travel with brushes or you will regret it sorely! Got that? Okay! :)


Time for the brushes:

Sedona 850 Large Angled Contour & Sigma F40 Large Angled Contour Brush.

I've tried multiple times to use these brushes for contouring and bronzing but the bristles are too long and flexible. They blend easily and it's incredibly difficult to draw a precise contour (which we all know is vital for a perfect contour)! They work well as blush brushes though. I believe they both work as well as each other.  :)

Sedona 376 Powder Brush & Sigma F30 Large Powder Brush.

They both work very well for the application of powder to set your foundation and make up. I personally prefer the Sigma version since it is larger, denser, and softer for application of powder.

Sedona 813 Duo Fibre & Sigma F70 Duo Fibre Brush.

One of my favourite methods of liquid foundation application for natural beauty make up looks. I prefer the Sedona Lace brush because it's larger and the same density as the Sigma. I just feel like it blends foundation easier. They both work well though, I would use the Sigma one for application of cream blushes due to it's smaller size.

Sedona 727 Foundation & Sigma F60 Foundation Brush.

I've mentioned it before, I absolutely hate using these brushes for applying foundation. It literally looks like you're painting your face, it does not give you the most natural, flawless finish (I judge this by stepping into direct sunlight and seeing what my face looks like), and it has a high risk of cake face! That being said, there was a period of time that I actually did use this brush for foundation application and I must admit these brushes do make foundation look good in photos, just not in person (or sunlight!). If I had to choose, I would choose the Sigma one since it is denser and has an even tapered brush shape. As you can see from the photo, the Sedona brush has an odd pointed tip on the side and the bristles are slightly uneven at the ends (which streaks). But maybe I got a faulty brush! If you have this brush, let me know how you found it to be in regards to application and bristles.

Sedona 863 Tapered Blending & Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush.

I like the Sedona Lace brush better since its' shape and size is just perfect for my crease and blends my eyeshadows amazingly with a few strokes! The Sigma version is too untidy for my liking but that's just my opinion... :)

Sedona 941 Large Shader & Sigma E60 Large Shader Brush.

Both work very well but I prefer the Sigma due to it's tapered pointed bristles which allows for very precise application of the base eyeshadow colour to the lid area. But it doesn't really matter - unless you're doing a dramatic, sharp look - because you'll probably blend it out anyways. :)

Sedona 407 Medium Angled Shading & Sigma E70 Medium Angled Shading Brush.

These are tied to me, they both do their jobs well. I will reach for the Sedona Lace brush for darker (high chance of staining) pigments but the Sigma works just as well!

Sedona 772 Eyeliner & Sigma E05 Eyeliner Brush.

Sigma wins this round: It's incredibly soft for my sensitive eye area. I needed an eyeliner brush which was both soft yet hard enough to allow precise application of gel liners and I went through a lot of brushes to find this one. A definite staple brush for me now! :)

Sedona 561 Small Angled & Sigma E65 Small Angled Brush.

Both are good, I use them for powder liners when doing natural looks or smoking out the eyes!

Sedona 954 Concealer and Sigma F70 Concealer Brush.

Good for application of concealer on the face and eyeshadow colours! Brushes are small and the perfect size for spot concealing. Both are good, although keep in mind that the Sigma brush is likely to stain due to its' white tipped bristles!

Sedona 305 Eye Shading & Sigma E55 Eye Shading Brush.

SIGMA WINS THIS HANDS DOWN, it is denser, soft and picks up the perfect amount of pigment. I've made it no secret that I love this brush! Perfect for shading!

Sedona 904 Pencil and Sigma E30 Pencil Brush.

Both brushes are good but I do like the Sigma one a little bit more because the bristles don't irritate my eyes as much.



In conclusion, the Sedona Lace are very similar to the Sigma brushes - even down to using similar/the exact same names as their competitors! In the end the brand name does not matter, all that matters is what brushes work best for you. When you find a good fluffy brush which is perfect for you and your method of make up application - it will be difficult to find a substitute! So remember to keep an open mind and to be honest, you will probably end up buying both sets since you will always wonder "what if the other suits me more?". Just. Like. Myself... ;)

Also a cool fact I found out a while ago: Sigma brush codes which start with F (e.g. F30), refer to face brushes. When they start with the letter E, they are intended for eye make up!


All of these opinions are my own, what works well for me may not work well for you. Please use these reviews as a general guideline only, my words are not written in stone (they're typed on a laptop) and I will edit my posts if/when my opinion of them changes. ;)


Stay Beautiful! xx

Sigma 7 Piece Synthetic Midnight Lace Brush Set Review (comparison to Sigma version)

On Black Friday Sedona Lace had a sale with 50% all their items (including their brush sets!). As I already owned most of the brush sets from Sedona Lace, I decided I'd purchase the 7 piece set after I fell in love with the style of brushes from my Sigma Set.

Order arrived after 1 week! :) I also bought the primer and the eyeshadow palette was a free gift.

The 7 brushes included in the kit - all come with a clear cover for the bristles.

This set retails for $59.95 USD but I paid half of that because of the sale (I was so very happy!), you can visit the site by CLICKING HERE). The other set I own which includes these types of brushes is the 10 piece synthetic essential brushes kit for $131.00 USD (CLICK HERE to go to the site - I am not a sigma affiliate).

Sedona (above) and Sigma (below) brushes of the same style. As you can see, both are very similar in size and packaging!

So let's start the review:

Sedona 773 - Synthetic Small Angled & Sigma P84 - Precision Angled Brush.

I always use these brushes to contour my nose (since I have a very Asian nose), I like to emphasise the shadows to create a more angular face. Both these brushes work well, I find the Sedona Lace 773 works better for blending out the contour with natural make up due to the higher slant of the bristles (if that makes sense!).

Sedona 224 - Synthetic Small Tapered & Sigma P86 - Precision Tapered Brush.

I've really developed a love for tulip-shaped, highly tapered brushes. They work very well for all face shapes and blend liquid and cream products like a dream! I prefer the Sigma version since it does not have a sharp ending to the tapered bristles which prevents streaking. The Sedona version has a sudden point when the tapered top ends and just becomes straight whilst the Sigma one is smoothly designed into the brush (as you can see by my image).

Sedona 312 - Synthetic Small Round & Sigma P82 - Precision Round Brush.

Perfect for buffing in concealer/any cream or liquid products, out of all the brushes, this one seems to best imitate your finger so it would also be good for application of the product to the skin before blending/buffing. Sigma wins this round, they both work very well but the bristles on the Sigma brush are a lot more soft and less irritating for my sensitive skin. I'm sure if you're skin isn't a mine field like mine, you should be fine with using either brushes. :)

Sedona 847 - Small Round Flat & Sigma P80 - Precision Flat Brush.

These types of brushes are good for stippling on concealer and blending the edges when spot concealing. I have to say I prefer the Sedona Lace ones out of these two because the density and amount of bristles in the Sedona version just seems to deposit the right amount of concealer evenly without absorbing as much product as the Sigma one.

Sedona 618 - Small Angled Flat & Sigma P88 - Prevision Flat Angled Brush.

I rarely reach for these types of brushes but when I do, it's usually for blending in hard to reach areas such as the nose, mouth (especially when concealing around bright/dark/bold lipstick colours where precision is a must), and just under the eyebrow (on the brow bone concealing/highlighting). There are no favourites, to me they both work as well as each other! ;)

Sedona 847 - Small Round Flat Brush.

Sigma does not have a version of this brush yet, it's a larger fluffy brush which is similar in density to the  Sedona 312 - Synthetic Small Round Brush included in the same kit. Good for blending out contouring of the nose. It's too large for my eye space so besides that, I have no uses for it.

EDIT: This is the absolute best brush for blending in concealer. I'm not even joking, this brush has become one of my favourites out of the entire set! I reach for this brush daily and am planning to buy back ups of this single brush later on. Very good brush, I can't go back to using a concealer brush for my under eye area anymore!

Sedona 217 - Small Round Dome Brush.

This brush is even fluffier and larger then the Sedona. I'm still not entirely sure what use this brush could have. I'm sure there are plenty of professional MUA which can put this brush to use but for the everyday person like myself, it's really a very large blending brush. It's much too large to use as an eye brush and much to small for a face brush. If anyone have any idea how to use this brush and ways you use the other brushes, please let me know in the comments below! You will be very much appreciated. :3

EDIT: This brush is amazing for setting areas where you apply concealer such as your under eye area and around your nose and mouth! It's soft enough that it does not move the concealer and firm enough to pick up the right amount of powder for a flawless finish. Very happy with this brush!


In conclusion, I think this Sedona Lace set is a great addition to any make up kit (and definitely a good gift for anyone aspiring to go into the make up industry or has a general passion for make up)! I would honestly hesitate to pay the full $59.95 for this set, although I've paid much more for brushes in the past, and wouls suggest that you wait for the next sale to purchase (especially because these are not "must have" brushes for basic make up application)!


These opinions are my own, I have not received any benefit from using these/reviewing these products. Since this is all personal preference, what works well for me may not work well for you. I'm not always right - and that's what makes life interesting! All the differences we have. :)



Stay Beautiful! xx

Sigma Synthetic Essential Kit 10 Brushes Review

Time for another brush review, I decided to do Sigma's Synthetic Essential 10 Brush kit because I couldn't find a lot of them before I bought mine which I found useful for my needs. I'm not a MUA so these brushes are only for my own personal use! And the odd times where I do make up for a family member/good friend.

All the brushes come with clear covers.

So this kit comes with a total of 10 brushes, all of them are face brushes. They're all incredibly dense but the bristles are the perfect level of soft/firm for me (personal opinion). I also own the Sedona Lace version of these brushes which I will review later on. :)

From what I have personally observed, none of these brushes shed or bleed when/after washing. I wash my brushes after every single use (being a germaphobe) and these have survived brilliantly. These brushes are made with sigmax synthetic fibers which pick up product without absorption into the bristles. Same as the Mrs. Bunny Complete Kit I reviewed earlier (CLICK HERE to see what I wrote).

I am not a Sigma Affiliate, this brush set retails for $131.00 USD on the official Sigma website, CLICK HERE to go there in a separate window. Shipping time for myself in Sydney Australia was less than a week (incredible right? But then considering the amount of shipping I paid...)

You can also buy the larger brushes and smaller brushes in their own sets or separately on the Sigma website.

F86 - Tapered Kabuki Brush.

The tapered tulip shape of this brush makes it easy to reach and blend cream and liquid products in hard-to-reach areas of the face (such as around the eyes precisely). It is incredibly soft, quick-drying, and not streaky. It doesn't absorb a lot of product when used and is easy to clean due to it's highly tapered design.

F88 - Flat Angled Kabuki Brush.

The flat angled kabuki brush is excellent for full coverage foundation looks. It dispenses and blends the liquid products into the skin very quickly and allows for fuller coverage then other brushes in the kit. It works best for me when I apply it to the flat surfaces of my face and blend outwards. I like using the pointed tip for precise blending. This brush takes a long time to clean but it is still possible! ;)

F84 - Angled Kabuki Brush.

The round top kabuki brush is the excellent for precise contouring and blending. You can also use it for other things such as applying foundation but I just prefer it for contour.

F80 - Flat Kabuki Brush.

This flat top kabuki is good for packing on and blending out powder foundation, there is a risk of CAKE FACE. :(
But if used correctly and with a light hand, powder application can be flawless and last all night. :)

F82 - Round Kabuki Brush.

My favourite brush for foundation application, this round top kabuki brush will buff and blend foundation flawlessly into any skin type. For medium to high coverage foundations but you can easily use less product for a lighter coverage. A nightmare to clean but well worth the effort, trust me ;)

P80 - Precision Flat Brush.

The smaller brushes are exactly the same as the larger brushes in shape and density. :) This small flat top kabuki is good for spot or blemish concealing (remember, spot concealing prevents cake face)!

P82 - Precision Round Brush.

 This smaller round top kabuki brush mimics the shape and feel of fingers so it's perfect for buffing and blending in concealer or other cream products.

P88 - Precision Flat Angled Brush

This small flat angled kabuki brush is good for precise application of cream products in areas such as around the nose and mouth.

P84 - Precision Angled Brush.

The best brush for nose contouring ever! I can't believe I managed to live without this brush, it's amazing, I won't ever go back. This is the small rounded precision angled brush. ;)

P86 - Prevision Tapered Brush.

Perfect for the placement and blending of concealer around the eyes (especially the under eye area), this is the small precision tapered brush.

In conclusion, these brushes were created with the idea of professional uses in mind. It would be a bit unnecessary for the daily, personal make up looks but it great for dramatic, special occasion looks where there will be plenty of photos being taken and flawless and dramatic make up is required!

Keep in mind that these opinions are my own, I enjoy some of these brushes greatly but they may not work for you like they did for me. :)




Stay Beautiful! xx

Beauty Problems! - Sigma Stained Brushes! (RESOLVED)

Shortly after receiving my much-wanted Mrs. Bunny Brush Set from Sigma, I washed them with some soft baby shampoo and dried them completely. The day after they had dried, I used these brushes for make up application for my little sister's formal.

My Sister's Teal Eyeshadow look! :)

It suited her dress very well and these photos really don't do it justice! :(

Now here's a little fact about Synthetic/Vegan brushes, they are incredibly multi-use because they do not absorb product into the actual brush bristles, especially when compared to animal hair brushes (even high quality natural bristles have a higher rate of product pigment absorption). After using a brush for an extended period of time (usually this means years), the staining of a make up brush is basically inevitable (there are many methods to prevent this for many years though which I will explain in a future blog). Cream and liquid products are a lot more likely to stain bristles then powder/dry products. Therefore, synthetic bristles are well-suited to being used for all types of products (cream, powder, liquid, etc.) without the same risk of staining as natural brushes.

Anyways, back to my Sigma brushes. I used a lovely teal blue colour which suited my sister's dress as an powder eyeshadow for her look that night. It turned out beautifully and I immediately spot cleaned all my brushes including my F70 Concealer brush. After an hour, I went to deep clean my brushes and the F70 was stained. It didn't matter how much I deep cleaned that brush, the stain would not budge! I owned multiple make up brushes at the time and I had never had a problem with staining or the eyeshadow which I had used. I had also used that exact powder eyeshadow with my other brushes from the same kit and there was no staining. I am aware that this brush is intended for concealer use but the beauty of synthetic brushes (or any kind of make up brush) is that you can use it for whatever function you want! This rule applies more  with synthetic brushes!

Brush after several deep cleaning sessions, the bristles are clearly stained with a deep teal colour! >:(

My biggest frustration with this is: a synthetic brush which I used for the first time after cleaning with a powder eyeshadow managed to stain, an hour after usage and spot cleaning, when other brushes from different brands and even brushes from the same set resisted staining.

Now don't misunderstand: the F70 brush applied product like a dream and was incredibly soft and precise. Also since staining is inevitable over time, it doesn't matter how "pretty" a brush is, as long as it does an amazing job, it should not be thrown out. However, I was still frustrated so I emailed customer support at Sigma and received a reply within 24 hours offering support with the situation. Once they realised that the brush was clearly stained, they sent me a new one which arrived today!

Aaannnddd... you're officially forgiven. :)

Now I'm not sure if I had received a faulty brush (considering synthetic bristles should not have stained that easily/quickly), or if it was to do with the white bristles (despite the other brushes with the white tips being stain-free after using the same way), or that the brush is really not for eyeshadow (concealer can stain too! So I'm not entirely sure what this brush is 'for'). After much searching and asking around I found that a lot of people have had the exact same problem with teal blue powder shadows staining! So it may have been the colour selection and I just got unlucky.

Anyways, the lesson is:
> Be careful with using white tipped bristles with pigmented shadows.
> Be wary of the beautiful vibrant teal blue colours as they are the colour which is most likely to stain even the most expensive of brushes (e.g. MAC).
> Sigma has good customer service and will graciously offer a replacement brush.

Stay Beautiful! xx