Sunday, December 30, 2012

Spotlight: IT Cosmetics Brushes


This is my final post of 2012, and I'm happy to report the year is ending on a positive note. Whenever I'm sent an item for review, I'm always a little bit nervous about liking the product because I am committed to giving honest reviews to my readers.

About a week ago, I received a four cruelty-free synthetic brushes from IT Cosmetics. Brushes are my favorite beauty item, and I am very picky about the brushes I like and use. I've tried hundreds of brushes in my lifetime, and so many brands over the past year.

What Makes a Good Brush?
Everyone has different things that they look for in a brush. For me, I need soft synthetic bristles. They need to also be very functional, meaning they need to pick up, and blend product well. The brush needs to fit comfortably in my hand. I also like brushes that are sturdy, because I'm obsessive about keeping my tools clean, I need brushes that stand up to constant cleanings. While I've only had these brushes for a short time, I put them through the ringer. I tested all of them every day for a week using them in a variety of different ways. I gave them two deep cleanings (once when I first received them, and this morning before photographing).

I'm happy to report, that I am very impressed with these. These brushes are super luxurious, and I was able to find multiple uses for nearly every brush. IT Cosmetics (which stands for Innovative Technology Cosmetics) works with leading plastic surgeons to create cruelty-free makeup and tools focused on anti-aging as well as high performance cosmetics.

Here is a look at the brushes I tested


Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Brush:




 This brush has super soft luxurious bristles and can be used to apply powder, blush or even foundation. I tested it with both powder and liquid products and it worked equally well for both. This gave my foundation a very airbrushed appearance.  I think this brush would be ideal for someone with sensitive skin, because it has a very gentle feel against the skin.  As we age, we have to be more careful about pulling and tugging on our skin. I'm in my 30s and the fine lines are starting to show. I need to be more mindful about how rough I am with my face. This brush helped me get a professional makeup look without tugging on my delicate skin.

Dual Airbrush Concealer/Foundation Brush:





This double sided brush makes creating the perfect canvas a breeze. When you are applying your makeup, it's really nice to not have to reach for a separate tool. I was able to use the foundation brush to apply and buff in my foundation, then with a simple flip of the brush, I can blend out my under eye concealer.  I'm a huge fan of this type of brush for applying concealer under the eye rather than a traditional flat concealer brush. When used in small circular motions under the eye, you can blend out your concealer without it settling in the fine lines.  Like all the brushes in this collection, the bristles are super plush, yet firm enough to do the job they need to do.  This is the perfect tool for those who like an airbrushed look to their foundation.

French Boutique Luxe Blush Brush:







While it's really hard to chose a favorite out of these, I'm going to have to say this angled blush brush is it. One major complaint I have about the angled blush brushes in my collection, is that the head is not flat enough. I have quite an extensive brush collection, and none of my angled blush brushes have as flat a head as this does. This is truly the perfect brush for blush application. Simply dip the bristles into the product, tap off any excess product and stipple or sweep the product onto your cheekbones.

For comparison, here are some other common angled blush brushes in my collection. Note how narrow the head is on the others. A narrow head is fine for contouring, but a wide flatter head is more ideal for blush application.

Pictured Above:  IT Cosmetics French Boutique Luxe Blush Brush is pictured on the left, note the flatter head.
Although the head is wider, and flatter than other brushes in my collection, it is still the perfect size for my cheekbone (pictured above).

No-Tug Heavenly Luxe Dual Shadow Brush:








Although at first glance, this appears to be a 2-in-1 brush, it actually is a 3-in-1.  This brush works as a flat shader brush, to apply shadow to the lid, a smudge brush, or when the shadow end is turned sideways, it can be used as a blending brush.  The eye area is particularly delicate. So it's even more imperative that we use tools that are soft, and don't pull on this area of the face. As IT Cosmetics notes, "pulling on the lids promotes collagen-breakdown and eventually sagging of the skin."  If we are more aware of this fact now, we can take preventative measures, like using the right tools designed to prevent premature aging. Like all of the brushes in this collection, the rubberized handle makes these super comfortable to hold, and you don't have to worry about the brush slipping out of your hand. I used these brushes with pressed shadow as well as loose pigment.  The smudging end of the brush is ideal for applying shadow to the under eye area as liner, or when creating a smokey eye.


Overall, I think these are great brushes.  This set is ideal for women who are concerned about aging (which is probably all women), or those with sensitive skin.  I would especially recommend these for mature women or those with a heavier hand.  The way the brushes are made, instantly makes you have a lighter touch with your makeup, which in my opinion is preferable. 

These brushes are available for purchase here:

https://www.itcosmetics.com/catalog/brushes-%26-tools 

http://www.qvc.com

http://www.beauty.com





I wish you all a very happy and safe New Year's Eve!



*Some of the products in this post were sent for consideration. This in no way alters my review. All of my thoughts and opinions are 100% honest, and I only share them with you in hopes of helping you make informed purchasing decisions.

4 comments:

  1. I'm definitely going to have to check these out! I'm a sucker for good synthetic brushes.

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  2. I haven't tried all of their brushes, but of the ones that I have, I absolutely love It Cosmetics brushes!! Thank you for the review! Happy New Year! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aren't they amazing? So luxurious! Glad you like them and enjoyed the review. Happy New Year to you too!
      :-)

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