Sigma, MAC, Sephora, etc?

Aug 21, 2011

Jazmine G.

You guys, I am in a serious dilemma. I want to get some new brushes and I can't decide if it's worth it to spend almost $30 a brush at MAC or just go with sigma's 12pc. set. Or do you guys know of any other great brushes or brush sets? Need help fast! :/

XO, Jazmine
www.youtube.com/dollyjaz01

Aug 21, 2011

Korie S.

I think Sigma brushes are the way to go because you get more for your money. One MAC brush can be over $20 when Sigma brushes are way under $20. 

Aug 21, 2011

Soma S.

Yay, Mandy! Glad to see you finally got the F80! MAC brushes are great because they do what they are supposed to do, but I agree w/ Mandy, they aren't always the greatest quality brushes - some can be VERY scratchy but apply well.

If you're going to splurge on a premium brush brand and invest in some really great quality brushes, I would suggest you look into Louise Young and Hakuhodo brushes. Not only do they apply product fantastically, the brush hairs are angel soft. I find my MAC equivalent brushes apply product well, but are scratchy.

If you don't mind too much about the scratchiness, Sigma eye brushes can be the better bet for you. I haven't tried those, so I can't offer my opinion on them. If you get face brushes though, you absolutely MUST get the F80.

Hope that helps!

Aug 21, 2011

Brianna G.

I think you should also look into the Real Techniques brushes! They're really cheap and work REALLY well. I use the stippling brush, blush brush and deluxe crease brush on a daily basis. And it seriously blows my mind that they don't even shed! I have yet to try any Sigma brushes yet, so I don't know how they'd compare, but definitely check out Real Techniques :)

Aug 21, 2011

Erica S.

If you're lacking in brushes in general and just need a set, I'd go with Sigma. The quality of their stuff is really good for the price. I have their purple brush set and I love it!

Aug 21, 2011

Jasmine P.

I personally think Sigma brushes are okay, but I don't think that they are as great as people rave about. You do get more quantity for your money though. Right now I've been using OCC brushes a lot. I think they're great, but they're a bit pricey. 

Aug 21, 2011

DJ M.

I have to say, I am a pretty huge fan of MAC makeup brushes. They were the first high-end company I purchased my brushes from over a decade ago and they held up really well for years (I'm pretty crazy about taking care of them). In my opinion it's an investment, so if you plan to use them daily or on others they're definitely worth it. If you won't get a ton of use out of them then definitely try something a bit cheaper first. If you want to go really budget-savvy, try Crown Brush--www.crownbrush.com That's just my opinion though ;)

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http://www.makeupchicliterarygeek.com

Aug 21, 2011

DJ M.

@Soma S. Can you tell me about the different collections for Hakuhodo brushes? My sister lives in Japan and I've been eyeing makeup brushes there, but not being able to see them first-hand is killing me! Thanks!

Aug 22, 2011

Soma S.

I only own the 8 pc. set: http://www.hakuhodousa.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_9&products_id=242&zenid=3661b4112c89e8b591d5f2d89e58421c

And the different collections vary - the basic series is the cheaper version of the S100 set - which I feel I should have purchased instead. The S100 def. looks nicer and is super-luxe in application and softness, but they are extremely light weight, and I prefer things to be heavier or weighted. Also, the basic series looks like a good sturdy set to have because they look just right for professional use. I opted for the 8pc. set because it had all the brush types I was interested in, and did not have a brow brush or spoolie brush to waste my $ on.

I believe the G Series are short handled, the 200 Series is their cheaper line [same brush heads, different handles], the Kokutan series has the brown handles that slowly gain a patina with continued use and has a mix of polyester in some of their brush heads, Basic has varying handle sizes.

I find their brushes are extremely soft, but some of them I can't quite find a good use for them, or they can be TOO SOFT, if that's even possible. The few that are too soft can pick up too much pigment, so you really have to watch how heavy of a hand you use when applying.

I would def. suggest the pointed tapered face brush from them: http://www.hakuhodousa.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_10&products_id=67

I'd imagine if they use the same hairs across their entire line, and the only difference is the handle/ferrule - you'll love it. It's like the MAC 138, but 10x's better.

Aug 22, 2011

DJ M.

Ooooh thanks! I was looking at the different lines trying to determine which would fit me best. I use a lot of loose shadows so I find that I need brushes that pick up a decent amount of pigment. Hmmmmm

I like a nice heavy handle. Not super heavy, but some weight to it. Ugh I wish a store nearby had these! I feel like brushes are a super personal thing when it comes to preference haha. 

Aug 22, 2011

Soma S.

^I completely agree! Fortunately, I had a lot of great reviews to rely on - I ordered both my Hakuhodo and Louise Young brushes w/o knowing what they felt like, but I've yet to have any of them disappoint me! It's a gamble, but if you find that you don't like it, you can always swap it away since the demand for these brushes are high - you just have to swap w/ someone trustworthy.  =)

Aug 22, 2011

Courtney C.

I own brushes across the spectrum: kat von d, sephora brand, sonia kashuk, elf, smashbox, ecotools, estee lauder, merle norman, and bare minerals. My collection of brushes I use on a daily basis are a mix of all these brands. I think, price wise, eco tools are awesome as are sonia kashuk. I've had the estee lauder and merle norman brushes over 10 years and have had no problems but I've also had no issues with my dollar elf brushes. I have encountered some of the elf 1 dollar line that i'm disappointed with but i have yet to be disappointed with any of the other brands. I'm more of a sephora junkie than a MAC junkie; so, my high end splurge were the kat von d bruhses which are awesome but on a budget, i would say both eco tools and sonia kashuk are worth looking at. 

Aug 22, 2011

Courtney A.

whatever brushes from whatever brand you end up buying, you HAVE to own a MAC 217. You just have to 

Aug 22, 2011

Shelly T.

I have brushes from MAC, Sigma, Sonia Kashuk, e.l.f.'s Studio collection, and EcoTools. They've all served me well.

Sigma's brushes are okay if you're starting out, but after several months of using them, I've ended up upgrading two of them to MAC (E25 to 217 and E55 to 239) and will soon upgrade a third (E45 to 226, as the latter is being repromoted in the upcoming MAC Me Over collection), and I ended up replacing my F60 with a Studio Tools (Target brand) brush that I like even better...and that was cheaper than the Sigma ($14 vs. ~$6!). On the other hand, I've been more than happy with the Sigma F80 and would definitely recommend it.

Meanwhile, I have several from e.l.f.'s Studio collection, and I think they're pretty good.

That all said, I'm slowly-but-surely turning into a brush junkie, and there are several other brands of brushes I'm itching to try still, as I mentioned in another thread (Real Techniques, Louise Young, Hakuhodo, Roque Cozzette).

Aug 22, 2011

Courtney C.

@mandy - i agree about target. i have an up and up crease brush that i love! my favorite fluffy crease brush though is from sonia kashuk and only goes for 6 bucks! i have nightmares about loosing that brush and I think I'm gonna buy a few backups soon. :-)