Bundle Monster 4pc Kabuki Collection

The first time I saw the Bundle Monster Kabuki Brushes online I said to myself I need to check them out. The brush heads look just like the Sigma Beauty Sigmax Kabuki F80 range brush collection.

Price comparison:

• Bundle Monster Kabuki set of 4 brushes is $25 for the whole set and it includes a sturdy case. Another wonderful perk about Bundle Monster is they have free shipping in the US.
• Sigma Sigmax Kabuki Brushes retail for $21 each bringing your total to $84 if you bought all 4 individually or you can pick up their Sigma Beauty 5 Brush set for $84 (that also comes with the F88 Flat Angled Kabuki) I just want to point out that Sigma also charges shipping.

With a huge price gap why not give the Bundle Monster brushes a go? 

Review of Bundle Monster set:

When you first remove them from their original packaging there is a strong moth ball or plastic scent. No worries, after the first wash of the brushes and airing out the case the smell was completely gone!

All the brush head bristles are soft and blend your foundation really well. I only had shedding with 1 brush during first wash, the Flat Kabuki. Since then I haven't had such issues with them. The case that is included is durable and would definitely protect your brushes.  My final rave is a personal preference, I love the look of the rustic wooden handles, I don't think other brushes on the market have that design right now.

I have always been intrigued by Sigma brushes, particularly their synthetic brushes. I first viewed them as an affordable alternative to high end brushes but now I see them as outside my brush price range. I know I own more expensive brushes too but Sigma to me, seems more like a step up from drugstore brushes but certainly not a luxe brand so my willingness to pay for them is lower these days particularly when it seems companies like Bundle Monster can come to a close match on quality without the steep price tag.

Now I wish Bundle Monster would dupe Sigma's Sigmax Precision Kit too, I imagine it would be amazing and send us brushaholics to brush heaven.

Pic from my instagram @gymba24.

Left numbers below are the Sigma Brush numbers and right hand side numbers are the Bundle Monster version. They have equivalent names.

F80 Flat Kabuki K01
F82 Round Kabuki K02
F84 Angled Kabuki K04 
F86 Tapered Kabuki K03


The Bundle Monster Brushes are super high quality, I am very impressed with them. If you want to see them in action check out my video below.

The opinions expressed in this post are all my own, I was not paid to do this review, I received the items for review.

Tarte Decemeber Friends & Family Sale

I just received the Tarte Cosmetics Early Access email to the friends and family sale. Use code DECFF for 30% off and free shipping on orders over $40. 

The items that catch my eye are the 'bright eyed and beautified eye enhancing tool.' Meant to help in the absorption of your eye products. My mother owns the Clarisonic Opal that runs at $185 so at $18 then 30% off of that, this cheap "dupe" might be worth a shot. 

This year's QVC offering on the tarte website is the "what has your makeup done for you lately" 6 peice collectors set. 

This limited-edition set includes:

(From company website)

• LipSurgence lip shine in vivacious, a pink shade
• maracuja oil rollerball
• maracuja miracle foundation broad spectrum SPF 15
• Amazonian clay finishing powder in white
• gifted Amazonian clay smart mascara
• modernEYES waterproof cream shadow and liner duo in moss and black

Last year during this sale I picked up a great QVC kit (glow your way to gorgeous best of the amazon essentials set) and worth every penny. If want to see what I picked up during this same sale last year check out my video

It's really hard to go for something when previously the value you received was just so amazing. Still, I might pick something up! 

If you want to check them out you, head over to their website here.

Deal Alert: Real Techniques Brushes 50% off

This is the best price I have ever seen Real Techniques Brushes. If you have been wanting to these this line. Right now is the time to do it.

As per usual my deal alerts are super time sensitive so I post them ASAP. Today is October 24, 2013. This deal is probably time sensitive. It is 50% off Real Techniques. Go to their website and type in the promo code 'girlsnightin13' and in addition to that, you can get free shipping with orders over $50! Watch me do it in this video!

http://realtechniques.com/

I am in no way affiliated with Real Techniques. I just own a bunch of their brushes that I bought myself and was excited about the deal I saw on Nouveau Cheap's Instagam

Bundle Monster Puff VS BeautyBlender

Bundle Monster 4 Pc Pro Beauty Flawless Makeup Blender Foundation Puff  Sponges

I have been a big fan of the BeautyBlender sponge. I was so excited after I used this to apply my foundation. My excitement was soon dampened by the realization that to replace this would be really pricey! So I started my mission to try and find a dupe for this. I came across the 4 pc puff sponges from Bundle Monster on Amazon found here http://www.bundlemonster.com/beauty-accessories/4pc-pro-beauty-flawless-makeup-blender-foundation-puff-sponges.html

I bought the sponges with my own money and these are all my own opinions.

I didn't find them to be dupes at all but still an interesting tool. Check out my video here:

MAC SE, Real Techniques and HD Ultimate Makeup Brush Review

Check out my review of the MAC Special Edition Makeup brush kit I got from Nordstrom as I compare it to my Real Techniques Core Collection and my High Definition Ultimate Makeup Face brush kit.

Huge ELF Haul

This is my first ELF Haul. ELF was having a 50% off their entire website so I decided to try a few things from their line.

Among the many items featured in this video I show a side by side comparison of the MAC 150 brush and the ELF Studio Complexion Brush.

I also show side by the side the  MAC Prim & Prep Translucent Power next to the ELF High Definition Powder.

I'm also curious to see if the ELF Makeup remover Pen is comparable to the discontinued Revlon Makeup Corrector Pen.

A Review: Makeup Brush Cleaners; MAC, Clinque, Cinema Secrets, Sephora andhome made.

Please excuse the empty, half empty and dirty bottles. As you can see, I love to clean my brushes!

I would categorize my brush cleaners into 2:

1) Quick Cleaner for in between makeup applications.

2) Deep Clean every once in a while.

Quick Cleaners:-

MAC Brush Cleaner, $13 for 7.9oz

Clinique makeup brush cleaner, $13 for 8oz

Cinema Secrets, $32 for 35oz

The MAC and Clinique ones work and even look similarly.  For both I spray it only the brush and use a paper towel or kleenex to and wipe the brush clean. These seem to wash off most of the product on the brush and you have to leave them a bit of time to dry before using them again. I tend to slightly favor the Clinque over MAC because it seems to be more potent in it's cleaning power. Maybe the formula is more concentrated.

Cinema Secrets dries very quickly after spraying the product onto the brush. So you have to work quickly to wipe it on a paper towel in order to get old makeup off the brush. A pro about this one is that the brush feels like it dries the brush completely so you could use the brush again immediately after cleaning. Probably good for professional use. It seems to take nearly of the product off however when it dries on your hand it leaves a white dry residue. it also has kind of a pungent chemical smell that seems to be masked with a vanilla scent. I'm not sure if this is related but this product has broken 2 spray bottles I've used to hold it in which has never happened with my other brush cleaners. 

Deep Cleaners:-

Sephora Collection Purifying Brush Shampoo,  $14 for 6.75oz

Baby shampoo

Youtuber EnKore's DIY brush cleaner (linked below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FwklwLsSSg

The Sephora Cleaner worked to me very much like a baby shampoo would. I pump out a little product into the palm of my hand and swirl my brush into it then run the brush under water. I may repeat this step until the water runs clear. I then squeeze the brush dry and make sure they dry in shape. A brush guard may help with that.

Baby shampoo worked pretty much the same as the Sephora cleaner in my mind. Maybe it doesn't contain any anti-bacterial to it though.

I personally wasn't too crazy about the EnKore DIY formula. It smelled chemically and I didn't feel like my brushes looked any cleaner than baby shampoo or the sephora cleaner. Although I initially thought it was a cool idea to make my own brush cleaner and possibly save a lot of money. I found my own mixture to be the least appealing in the end.