Blank Canvas Cosmetics Double Ended Eyebrush Set with Case

Hey Everyone!

Hope you all are well :)

Today I have another brush review for you all, of the Blank Canvas Cosmetics makeup brushes. If you haven't checked out my first review of the 'My Face and Eye' Professional Brush Kit, you can check it out here.

When my delivery of the 'My Face and Eye' brush kit arrived, I was surprised to see some extra goodies in the mix and thats what I have to share with you all today :)

Back in August I went to The Leeds Festival and had the time of my life!

I got to see my favourite bands along with meeting some new friends, the experience was one I'll never forget :')

While I always like to try to look my best, this weekend was no expection regardless of if it was a festival or not. Despite the scorching heat on the Thursday, followed by the torrential rain on the Friday and everything in between….I still rocked my full face of galaxy makeup all weekend!

I have a tutorial on that too if you want to check it out, you can do so here :)

Now, while wanting to look my best I didn't want to bring over a whole load of makeup and brushes. That along with the fact Ryanair are a pain in the butt when it comes to the weight of the bags, I had very little weight left to pay around with after the tent, drink *typical Irish* food and clothes went in!

Thats where this little beauty came in handy!

The double ended brushes are encased within this gorgeous black, easy  to clean faux leather travel brush case. As you can see from the picture below, you just zip around the case and the brushes are sitting snuggly inside.

There are 5 brushes within the case, which in turn works out as 10 brushes ! The case and brushes themselves are very lightweight and small enough that you can simply pop them in your handbag while your on the go….

did I mention that they are all full size? Yep! :)

The first brush we have up is the:

Double Ended Tapered Crease Blender/Smudger (E32/33)

The tapered crease brush allows you to add definition to the smallest areas of the face with ease, such as the eyes or the nose. I love tapered brushes in particular for creating that 'cut crease' effect over the eyes, this brush is ideal for it. It works great with cream and powder products so you can even apply your under eye concealer with it, it fits underneath the tear duct area nicely and blends concealer out to a flawless finish.

On the other end we have the smudger brush, as the name suggests this brush is great for smudging out eyeshadow and liner regardless of if they are of a kohl or a gel consistency. As the brush is quite dense it moves and blends the products easily, not much work is required on your behalf at all!

I prefer to use a pointed pencil brush when blending out products underneath the eyes are, but thats just personal preference :)

A blending brush is simply essential as part of any brush kit so as you can imagine I was over the moon when I saw this dynamic duo!

Blending Duo - Double Ended Blending Brushes (E25/26)

While I was away and creating my crazy makeup looks, I needed a couple of blending brushes to blend together various different colours. These brushes worked a treat! The bristles are very high quality and super soft so there is no irritation caused to the delicate eye area!

This next duo is my favourite out of the set….I think!

I'm pretty much torn between this one and the double ended blending brush!

Double Ended Pencil/Flat Shader Brush (E23/24)

As I mentioned above, my favourite kind of brush to use to blend products underneath the eye area is a pencil brush. I was thrilled to see that it was included in the set because it is a must have brush for me!

If I want to add some extra drama to my eyeshadow look, I will take the pencil brush and apply a darker eyeshadow to the outer 'V' of the eye. The brush is also great for applying a highlight shade to the inner tear duct of the eye.

The flat shader brush works best at packing colour onto the eyelids. When I was in Leeds I used this brush to pack glitter onto different areas of my face and it worked a charm!

Next up we have this colorful combination!

Double Ended Brow/Spoolie (E30)

The angled shaper of this brow brush allows you to give depth and definition to your brows with the use of powders of gels. Bold brows are bang on trend at the moment so be sure to fill them in!

Once you have applied your brow colour with short strokes, flip to the spoolie side and comb through the brows to ensure the product has been evenly distributed throughout the brows.

Last but not least we have the:

Double Ended Mini Detailer/Eyeliner (E27/28)

I love how small and precise the eyeliner brush is, any makeup artist/enthusiast is going to adore this brush! As the point of the brush is so fine you get that really sharp defined cat eye'd eyeliner effect, its brilliant! I also love this brush for special effects makeup, its perfect for adding some gory details.

The mini detailed for me, is just like a smaller version of the flat shader brush.

I use this brush to pack on eyeshadow, as it is a mini brush I love to use  it for packing a highlight shade underneath the brow bone area. It also works nicely for applying a highlight shade onto the tops of the cheekbones.

All in all I am quite impressed with this little set :)

However I have jotted down a couple of little things worth noting!

When washing these brushes ensure to wash one end at a time. By washing one end and letting it dry, you are preventing water from running up the ferule and loosening the bristles while you attempt to wash the other end. This is something to note with regard to all double ended brushes not just this set in particular.

I store all of my brushes together in brush holders with the exception of these brushes. As the brushes are double ended they cannot be stored upright as it will cause the bristles of the bottom brush to splay out. Just another little thing to note, keep them in your little case :)

I find that the white bristle brushes stain very easily if you are using colorful eyeshadows like I normally do. If this happens, not to worry!

After you have finished washing your brush with shampoo, take a dollop of conditioner and work it into the bristles. This will remove any staining, olive oil works a treat too if you have that lying around the house.

Cheap and cheerful! :)

The set retails €64.81

Meaning, each brush works out at less than €7.00!

Bargain Hunter Byrne strikes again :)

For more information on the brushes head over to the Blank Canvas Cosmetics website or Facebook page which i'll link below!

http://blankcanvascosmetics.com 

https://www.facebook.com/BCCosmetics 

Hope you enjoyed the review :)

Talk soon!

Eimear x

 

Blank Canvas Cosmetics "My Face and Eye" 13 Piece Professional Brush Set

Hey Everyone!

Hope you all are well :)

Today I have my very first makeup brush review for you all. Over the past few years I have tried out many different types of brushes from various companies. Smashbox, Sedona Lace and Sigma to name but a few!

A little over a year ago I was introduced to a company called Blank Canvas Cosmetics based here in Ireland. Myself and my Mam spent ages pottering around the website looking at all the beautiful products. We couldn't get over how affordable the products were! After much deliberation we finally each decided on picking up the 6 Contour Powder Blush Palette (reviewed here) and also the 28 Neutral Palette (reviewed here).

After such a pleasant experience with the company I knew I wanted to try out some more of their products, I was adamant on trying out their brush range next. Luckily I managed to win quite a number of their brushes last year..and thats where the obsession started.

Recently I spotted some Blank Canvas Cosmetics Brushes over on Pigsback.com, they had to be mine. The offer was simply too brilliant to let go. It was €45 for the 12 Piece Professional "My Face and Eye" Brush Set complete with Brush Roll, with the BCC F23 foundation/concealer brush including delivery

See what I mean? I can justify breaking my spending ban for a purchase like that! I had some piggy points stashed away too so I got it even cheaper again!

The brushes are encased within this leather look brush roll, it is incredibly soft and even though it is not real leather it is quite durable. On opening the brush roll you will find the 12 brushes located within their own compartments, I like how there is a flap that folds down on the brushes providing extra protection. Another aspect that I liked about the brush roll was that it has a zipper compartment, making it even more suited for travel.

The F23 was not included in the brush roll and came absolutely free, it retails at €13.99. Like the majority of Blank Canvas Cosmetics Brush Range, the F23 is extremely versatile. I favour using this for applying my concealer to my under eye area and I also use this to sharpen up my contour shade to give my face that very defined sculpted look. I have also used this brush to apply cream highlighters, foundation and blusher. It works great with cream and powder products I usually tend to go back in with the brush and set my under eye concealer with some powder. The brush is tapered so it really helps you to get into the under eye area.

Moving on to the brushes in the set now, first up we have the 001 Powder Brush. This brush is very dense which I love to see, however due to this the brush can shed a little with washing. Nothing major just something I have noted, this isn't unusual for these kinds of brushes. The brush is very soft and helps to set my foundation with ease. I lightly press the powder all over my face using this brush and it gives such a smooth finish to my skin. You could also use this brush to apply bronzer, I just prefer to use something more defined :)

Next up we have the Double Ended Foundation/Concealer Brush 002. 

In my opinion this brush is simply genious, I'm surprised I haven't come across something like this before. With this painter style foundation brush I apply the foundation to my face using downward strokes I then turn the brush on its side and buff back up the face. This ensures that we have no brush stroke marks on the face. The bristles on these brushes are synthetic and they do a wonderful job at applying foundation and concealer. One tip with regard to washing, wash one end at a time so that if you have washed one end, the water is not running up the ferule and loosening the bristles while you wash the other end.

Ah the duo fibre, this was actually the first decent brush I owned. I remember watching tutorials on YouTube of girls applying their foundation flawlessly with this type of brush so naturally I wanted gorgeous airbrushed skin too..so I went out and picked one up! Like my Inglot duo fibre, the Blank Canvas Cosmetics Medium Duo Fibre Brush 003 gives a flawless finish to the skin. I reach for the smaller Blank Canvas Cosmetics Duo Fibre more so because I like a really precise application but thats just personal preference!

The next brush we have in the set is the Blush Brush 004. This brush is angled so it can be used not only for blusher, but for contouring too. It fits nicely in the hollows of the cheeks and buffs out products beautifully. Do not fret if you wash this brush and you notice staining, white haired brushes can be quite hard to clean. I find washing with a little conditioner or olive oil really helps to remove the product from the hairs leaving them crystal clear and good as new!

With regard to applying concealer I apply a very minimal amount, if any! This is the Large Precision Concealer/ Eyeshadow Brush 005. As I have two brushes already that I can use for concealer I prefer to use this brush for eyeshadow. Although sometimes I do like to use this brush to contour down the sides of my nose, as the brush has a fine tip it I can easily contour this area. With regard to applying eyeshadow, I can cover large areas quite quickly as it is a big brush. Patting motions work best while using this brush with eyeshadow as it helps to minimize if not eliminate eyeshadow fallout altogether.

Everyone needs a decent blending brush in their collection, the Tapered Blending Brush 006 is ideal. The brush is lovely and soft also a perfect size giving you the ability to create detailed crease work. I love this brush for blending eyeshadows, the key to finding a good blending brush is looking at the shape. This brush is dome shaped allowing you to master the blending process.

Up next we have the Flat Eye Shading Brush 007, I use this in exactly the same way as I do with the 005. Personally I could never have enough eyeshadow brushes, washing brushes is such a mundane task I think everyone can agree. These brushes also work exceptionally well with eyeshadow pigments!

I like to use the Small Angled Shading Brush 008 solely for applying my brow bone highlight. If I have blended my crease colour up too far towards my brow bone this brush helps to pull down and soften the shadow when I am applying my highlight. If you are opting for an elongated eyeshadow shape like a dramatic cat eye look to your eyeshadow this brush is brilliant for building up the shadows on the outer edge of the eye.

I think the 009 Precision Pencil Brush is my favourite brush out of the entire set. If you have trouble perfecting liquid liner, you won't anymore not with this brush within your reach! The brush allows you to smoothly apply gel eyeliner to your upper lash line, as the brush is rather fine you can easily perfect that cat eye flick..without any hassle! I double up this brush as a lipliner brush also :)

The 010 Small Blending Brush is great for those finicky jobs and hard to reach areas. This brush is fantastic for apply a highlight around the tear duct of the eye and it enables you to blend out eyeshadow thoroughly in the crease area.

The vast majority of people favour these types of brushes for apply gel liner to the eye area however I rather use a finer brush like the 009 Precision Brush, again its simply personal preference. I use the 011 Angled Brow/ Liner Brush for filling in my eyebrows. I like to use a dense brush so I can really pack on and build up the colour in my brows as I need, this brush does the job exceptionally well.

Last but not least we come to the 012 Precision Eyeliner Brush. I use this brush hand in hand with my 009 Precision Pencil Brush, it all depends on what makeup look I am trying to achieve!

All of these brushes are very high quality, there is very little shedding and they make my job as a makeup artist ten times easier! I have been using Blank Canvas Cosmetics Brushes for just over a year now and I haven't noticed any wear and tear to date. I'm very confident that these brushes will hold up equally as well! This brush set is fantastic for beginners due to the fact it has all the staple brushes an aspiring makeup artist or enthusiast would need. The most important aspect for me is price, that is what it all comes down to..whether I will make my purchase or not. Currently this brush set is on offer on the Blank Canvas Cosmetics website for €59.99 with free choice of a Kabuki brush. Not only is the price amazingly cheap, even when it isn't on offer it is still amazing value for money. The full price of the brush set is normally €91 that works out at around €7.50 per brush, with a free brush roll and a free kabuki brush. Its a win-win situation all round!

I would highly recommend these brushes to not only to beginners but makeup artist too, they are a great addition to have in your kit. I couldn't be without mine :)

For more information head over to the Blank Canvas Cosmetics website which you can find here.

Have you tried anything from the BCC range? I would love to know your thoughts! :)

Thanks for tuning in, see you soon!

Eimear x

NYX Eyebrow Kit with Stencil For Brunettes

Hey Everyone!

Hope you all are well :)

Let me start by saying a Happy New Year to you all. 

I wish you all the best and hope its going to be a wonderful year for you.

 I know I have high hopes for this year, its going to be a good'n!

...major positivity buzz going on here :)

I have had a wonderful start to this year already as I am NYX Cosmetics Vlogger of the Month for the month of January :)

This month I will have 4 blog reviews on NYX products alone, along with a step by step tutorial including each of these products. 

Todays blog review is on the NYX Eyebrow Kit with Stencil.

I choose the kit for brunettes.

This kit comes in two other shade ranges.

 A kit for Blondes and a kit suited for Everyone.

Included in all of these kits are 4 eyebrow powders, 3 stencils and 2 brushes.

The kit is very well thought out its small, compact and convenient. 

It is going to be a life saver for anyone who does makeup on the go as it is perfect for traveling.

I like the fact that there are 4 different shades in the kit.

I have been using the second shade on the bottom row to fill in my eyebrows.

This is a light brown brow powder I use this followed by the second brow powder on the top row which is a slightly darker shade of brown. 

I usually use this shade to fill in the arch of my brow, using various shades of powder helps give the brows a more natural appearance.

The white in the kit works nice as a highlight underneath the arch of the brow.

As mentioned above there are 3 eyebrow stencils coming in different sizes.

These were not too much of a benefit to me as I have a shape to my brows and when I fill mine in I am literally filling in what hairs are there. 

I don't really fill in outside the shape of my natural brows.

I have used the first portion of the stencil to give the bottom of my brow the definition it needs, after using this as a guide I then fill in my brows.

These stencils will be beneficial to anyone who is unable/unsure as to how to go about defining their brows.

 As it is a stencil you are guaranteed that the end results will be picture perfect brows!

There is a mini angled brush and a comb included in the kit.

The comb is self explanatory, I firstly start by plucking any stray hairs followed by combing the brows into place.

I then load up the angled brush with some powder, using small strokes I then apply the powder shaping my brows.

I've used combs by a few different brands and to be honest I find them to be all the same quality wise...a comb is a comb haha!

The angled brush however I was surprised by the quality. 

Its a rather decent brush, its relatively dense and applies the powder to the brows with ease. 

If I am using this palette on a daily basis at home I would opt for a different angled brush purely because I prefer using a long handled brush but have no problem using the smaller brush for on the go.

There are instructions on the inside of the kit and also on the back of the kit.

Again making it a perfect kit for beginners.

This kit retails at £13.50.

This is a little more than I would spent on my brows seeing as I just use an eyeshadow and sometimes a brow pencil to give my hairs the extra definition.

However I can justify spending on this product due to the fact that the kit comes with a range of shadows, the brushes etc. 

The kit is a nice idea and I'd highly recommend it to absolutely anyone from beginners to advanced makeup artists. 

Have you ever tried eyebrow stencils? Let me know! :)

Eimear x