Top Tools with Sonia G. and Makeup Artist Tor Torre

Published on January 18, 2026

Welcome back to my series of interviews with fans and friends as they pick their Top Tools from my ever-growing brush collection. From experts to enthusiasts, each interview will showcase how a person incorporates their favorite Sonia G. brushes into their daily lives, offering new tips and creative ideas to inspire us all—plus my insights as well.

Tor Torre (@tortorre) is a professional makeup artist based in Manila, Philippines working in TV and film as well as in fashion. His makeup journey began at a young age when he was a drag beauty queen. Deciding that makeup artistry was the career path he wanted, he obtained a certificate in makeup at the London Academy of Radio, Media Film and TV. By 2012, he sought further studies in makeup artistry at MUD (Makeup Designory) in New York.

The first time I met Tor was at the Fude Matsuri (Festival) in Kumano. Tor had been researching information about the Festival and it led him to my blog, Sweetmakeuptemptations. Meanwhile, I had also been following his Youtube channel for a long time, and could feel a connection that went beyond our shared love for art and brushes.

The funny thing is that even though we may appear to be extroverts to the world, we are both really shy. But when I saw him in Kumano, it was so easy for me to go talk to him. We kept chatting and realized we have so much more in common than we could have imagined! Tor is a radiant soul and an inspiration to me. We've already had the joy of meeting twice, and I'm truly hoping we get to cross paths again very soon!

Tor Torre, Manilla, Philippines

Professional MUA

Tor's Top Brushes

I started in the industry at a time when sharing knowledge was not a thing most people did, which was frustrating. But, if there is one thing growing up in a Jesuit school has embedded in me, it’s “sharing is caring”. I have an inner monologue that persists: if I am asking myself certain questions, for sure someone else in the world has the same questions too.

As difficult as it was to choose, here are my current Sonia G faves.

Traditions TF1

I like the shape of this. It’s not your typical round powder brush, which gives it more use for other products and formulas, making it an all around brush.

I use this primarily with powder foundation because it picks up just the right amount of product and applies it evenly on the face. The brush head has a nice balance of softness and strength at its core, leading to well-balanced performance.

I sometimes use it at the last stage of my makeup routine when I want to add a little more coverage on the face. This is my go-to powder brush for oily skin.

Sonia's comments: I am so happy to see this featured in Tor’s selection! The TF1 is actually one of the most difficult and expensive brushes to manufacture. This is a great example of how tradition and innovation work hand in hand. The special kakishibu (persimmon fruit) dye, the generous almost flat working surface, and the arched ferrule aren’t just nice details—they each play a role in making this brush perform better and feel more enjoyable to use.

Keeping this brush in the permanent collection is not as easy as it seems, therefore seeing Tor’s love for this brush truly helps us with the whole process of restocking it when it sells out. Despite its big size and long bristles, the well-balanced performance is on point, whether you are new to make-up or a pro, you will find this brush so reliable!

Buffer Pro

I love my Guerlain Meteorites and I find that the Buffer Pro pairs well with them.

The size of the brush head fits perfectly on the tin and the bristles are strong enough to break the pearls down when I am swirling it.

I love the slight dome at the bristle tips because it gives me product concentration. When I press the brush on my face, it evens out with the outer bristles, giving it the ability to apply and buff at the same time.

With other traditional “flat top” brushes, I have noticed, over time, that the middle portion of the brush ends up with a depression/deformation from constant use — caused by using the brush on the face as well as from picking up products from their pan. Most finishing powders are baked gelee formulas and have domes or look raised on the pan. So, the center of the brush will always experience the first impact of pressure. Since the Buffer Pro has longer bristles in the middle of the brush head, it has a longer life cycle than most.

This is also the reason why I love its younger sister, The Sky Smooth Buffer.

I love to read that Tor uses this brush with the Guerlain Meteorites. The Buffer Pro was developed with this exact product in mind and to also gently but effectively buff for flawless results, with or without product. The Buffer Pro can just be used on its own simply to perfect the final blend.

When I was looking for flat top brushes, I was finding tools that were either too dense or too floppy for the functionality I had in mind: an even, very gentle but effective buff. For this Buffer Pro (initially called Face One), it was about reaching that perfect balance in strength, softness, and movement so that it could fill that gap and become an essential tool for anyone with the same expectations.

Today the Buffer Pro is one of my best sellers. If you are curious about an alternative, there is also the Mini Keyaki Buffer, which is smaller, but has similar properties as a tool.

Sky Jumbo Blender

The Sky Jumbo Blender is the brush I rarely use, but—it is a staple in my brush kit when I go to work.

This is the brush that I use when I need to buff out color on the eyes if I’ve applied way too much product/colour by mistake.

I am amazed that despite how strong and densely packed the bristles are, it feels soft!

This is a great “just in case of an emergency” brush.

It’s so surprising to read that Tor labels this brush “just in case of an emergency”—these are the exact words I used in 2018 to describe it to my friends! I was looking for a name for this brush and I wanted to call it “The Fixer”. We may not think that we need it, but having a brush like this can save us from having to redo our entire eye application.

This was my initial thought behind its design. Something just big enough but still allowing for some precision, with a good strong surface to tone down or to even out an application without destroying everything around it.

At the same time, it’s also a great beginner’s brush. When anyone asks me: What Fude should I start with? I always recommend a good blender or “fixer”, and if you are thinking to start with my brushes, this one would be the perfect one.

Fundamental Fan L

I love to “brontour” with bronzer, and I use the Fan L for this.

I love how big and airy and luxurious it feels. This brush gives me the ability to apply a precise yet soft application of colour on the cheek and forehead area.

I usually load bronzer on the middle of the brush where it is the fluffiest and lay it near the tragus of the ear, sweeping the brush along the cheek bone. As I do this, the brush travels from the middle towards the outer bristles of the fan brush, giving a gradation of bronzer/colour with a hint of precision, then thinning out as it nears the front of my cheek bone.

But truly, this is such a fail-safe brush to use. I know it looks intimidating because it’s quite a big brush—long and airy— but the Hakutotsuho hairs of this is the reason why it works. It’s strong enough to pick up bronzers of different formulas while delivering soft application of color.

I use this to apply highlighting products on the body too! Especially when I'm in a hurry.

Just like Tor says, Hakutotsuho bristles are the best bristles for this brush—he really knows what he is talking about. I tested this brush with several grades and blends of goat bristles, but none delivered the same level of performance as this one.

This is a perfect reminder that what truly makes a brush exceptional isn’t simply having the softest bristles, but choosing the ones that strike the right balance. The right bristles can allow us to achieve the perfect shape; to bring together softness, strength, and control; turning a simple tool into something reliable, versatile, and also a pleasure to use!

Fundamental Pencil S

I always need to have this tool in my brush kit because it helps me to be detailed with my eye looks.

The Pencil S is small enough to work color into the lash line and the outer eye area where both the upper and lower lash line meet. It is soft with no sense of irritation, but strong enough to deliver pigment precisely.

I usually worry when applying colors with intensity on the lash line because I am afraid of fallout. Hence, I am usually conscious of how much pressure I exert on the eyeshadow pan. This brush gives me confidence in knowing I will pick up the right amount of pigment for the lash line area. The softness of this is remarkable because I also notice the brush does not flick eyeshadow colors already on the lash lines/eyes when I buff colours with it.

I love using this with a variety of eyeshadows, whether they be matte, baked, or even in liquid form.

I also love using this brush to add highlights in the inner corner of the eyes.

This is another example of selecting the bristles that perfectly match the brush’s purpose. As with the Fundamental Fan L, they need to have the ideal thickness—neither too soft nor too stiff—providing both flexibility and dependable performance. Throughout the development process, we tested several samples and designs, but this particular version stood out. It consistently met the widest range of needs and checked the most boxes.

It's a joy to read that it made it into Tor’s favorites!