first off, i lovee the packaging! each set was packaged in individual pink/red baggies and each came with their own informational pamphlet :)
onto the review and pictures of the travel kit in nice in pink!
i've been wanting this for soo long !! since i spend a few nights/week at my bf's house, this was definitely a must-have for me. I used to carry around all my normal brushes but its such a hassle to pack them each time and then unpack them when i get home. With this, i have everything i need in one little cute pink clutch :)
all the brushes plus the free SS190 mini that comes with the set
they all come in plastic sleeves with the larger brushes also in plastic guards
the clutch also has a little zipper pocket which can fit more brushes. its actually bigger than you think! i can even fit the F80 brush in here :)
Clutch Dimensions (closed): 7 x 4 inches.
Face Brushes: 5 inches total
Eyes/Concealer Brush: 4 inches total
comparison with my only MAC brush - the MAC 190, as well as my ELF powder brush. as you can see, these are slightly smaller in size but not as small as i thought. the SS190 however, is a mini.
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please note, there are a TON of pictures.. sorry if it takes a bit longer to load!Large Powder - F30
"Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles."
"Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles."
This brush is super soft and is a nice size for travel. The bristles actually fluff up a bit more after washing so the brush does get a bit fuller which allows for wider area of coverage. I did get a bit of shedding during the first wash, but after that, i have yet to see any more. this brush does a good job of appling loose powder, but it could also double up as a blush brush since the size fits perfectly on the apples of my cheeks :)
compared to the ecotools powder and elf complexion brush
As you can see, the sigma F30 is the smallest of the three and is more the size of a large blush brush in my opinion. However, with that said, i have used it to apply my MAC MSF natural and it does a good job of covering my face nicely. It doesnt take too many swirls to cover my whole face but with its smaller size, i find that its easier to reach smaller areas like on the sides of the nose etc.
As you can see, the ecotools brush is much larger and has alot more bristles. The ELF complexion brush is more flat, but the density is more simlar to Sigmas. Overall, the F30 is a nice powder brush to have, especially if you have a smaller face like myself :)
Duo Fibre - F50
"Specially designed to generate an ‘airbrushed’ finish when used to apply liquid foundation. It can also be used to apply blush, highlight shades and loose pigments. Blend of synthetic and natural bristles"
I had no bleeding or shedding whatsoever from this brush which was nice considering most duo fibre brushes tend to bleed during the first wash. I find that this brush is stiffer than the usual duo fibres, which is good for 'stippling' on liquid foundation. But note that the brush head is smaller than usual duo fibres meaning it would take a bit longer to apply foundation. However, the F50 would also be perfect for applying cream blushes and highlighters.
compared to ecotools and quo duo fibre brushes
As you can see, both ecotools and quo brushes are much larger in width. Their bristles fan out more and the brush itself is also less dense. Previously, i had used the ecotools brush for applying cream blushes and the quo one for stippling. I think i will be using the sigma brush mostly as a cream blush brush as i will be using the F80 to applying my liquid foundation.
Large Angled Contour - F40
"The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades. Natural bristles."
This brush is very very soft! i love the way it feels on my skin :) Plus, this brush looks gorgeous after being dipped in blush lol The angled brush head makes it very nice for applying blush/bronzer. The bristles are dense but are not very stiff, meaning that it would not be ideal for contouring due to the fact that you wont be able to get a very defined line. However, this brush works well for applying and blending blush, as well as for blending contour lines.
compared to ELF's blush brush
As you can see, the sigma F40 is much more round compared to the ELF brush. The ELF brush is more dense and flat allowing you to pack on more color. However, the sigma brush is better for blending away rough edges and creating more of a "flushed" look. Notice also, i had some flyaways with the F40, even after washing :(
Eye Shading - E55
"Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Natural bristles."
This eyeshadow brush comes close to my all time favourite HG eyeshadow "c" brush from ELF! Its small dense bristles allow you to pick up and pack on eyeshadows nicely and the size fits my eyes perfectly. You can choose to pack on shadows with the side of the brush using a patting motion, or you can apply more precisely using the tip. Plus, you can also use it to blend if you're doing a simple look. Either way, this brush offers alot of variety! Love it :)
Compared to my ELF eyeshadow "c" brush.
As you can see, the E55 has slightly more of a tip on the top compared to the flatter ELF brush. although then again, it could have been just the way i dried it lol!
Tapered Blending - E40
"Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Natural bristles."
This brush is nice for blending but i find that it is slightly too big for my small eyelids. Also, im not sure if you can see, but there are quite a bit of flyaways. However, i do like how the tip is slightly tapered allowing it to reach into my crease areas better. Overall, i think this brush would be better for those with larger lid areas. But, this brush would also make the perfect brush to blend undereye concealer or apply powder under the eyes :)
compared to my ecotools blending brush
As you can see, the ecotools brush is much more denser and rounder which is better for overall blending. But the E40 is more tapered which allows for more precise blending.
Pencil - E30
"Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. Also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Natural bristles"
This pencil brush is amazing! :) its very small, and has a nice tapered tip, perfect for me because i have a small lid area! This brush allows for very precise application, and is great for crease areas as well as the upper and lower lash line.The only thing im slightly worried about, is if the white bristles would get stained from dark eyeshadows.. that i will find out next time i wash it!
compared to my ELF contour brush, you can see the very fine tip on the E30. (haha sorry, i forgot to take the comparison pic till after i used it.. )
Concealer - F70
"The rounded, tapered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area. It is also recommended for a precise application in small areas. Synthetic bristles."
This brush is very dense and also quite stiff. It can be slightly too stiff for my undereye areas (i like to use my fingers or a blending brush anyways), but i find that it is very nice for covering blemishes. Plus, i also like how the bristles doesnt separate after a couple uses like my ELF brush does.
compared to ELF and Quo concealer brushes. (ELF, Quo & Sigma)
As you can see, the bristles on my ELF brush tend to separate after a few uses (and its also pretty dirty LOL). The Quo brush is quite long in length therefore causing it not to be able to give as precise of an application. The Sigma brush i find is right in the middle. Its more densely packed, similar in width to the Quo brush, but similar in height with ELF. Overall, i think its the best of the three.
Foudation - SS190 Mini (F60)
"Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. It is also recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas. Synthetic bristles"
This brush comes as a "gift" with the travel kit in pink and is actually very nice! The bristles are very dense and stiff allowing for good control during application. Also, the brush is slightly tapered at the top allowing for better application in smaller areas such as around the nose.
compared to my MAC 190.
As you can see, the F60 is slightly tapered near the top.
Overall:
I am really loving this travel set! I can put together a full face of makeup easily with just this set + my F80 flat top kabuki which i will review next, and possibly an angled brush for my eyebrows (both of which fits in the zipper compartment). However, if you like using a duo fibre for applying your foundation, then you would be set with just this travel kit :) The size of this kit is just right.. not too big and not too small. I actually really like the handle sizes for these brushes :) Plus, the clutch it comes in is gorgeous.
Pros:
- Professional quality brushes
- Super soft bristles, sturdy handles
- its PINK!! (although this is pro for some ppl only haha)
- Relatively inexpensive - 7 brushes for $49
- Perfect for travel
- Gorgeous clutch with zipper compartment
Cons:
- Only available on Sigma's website
- Does not include an angled brush, which for me, is a must have
- Some brush head sizes are slightly smaller than i would like, but it is a travel set, so it is expected.
Where to buy?
On sigma's website. If you are thinking of ordering, you can click any of the above links to receive a gift with a purchase of over $30. (Note: yes, this is my affiliate link and no you do not HAVE to click using my link. here is the normal link -> Sigma Website.)
Price?
$49 US for 7 brushes. That's $7 a brush!
Would i recommend?
YES! This is a great kit for travelling and makeup on the go, especially if you're like me and tend to be away from home a few nights every week. The brushes are very good quality and are perfect for those who want to test out sigma brushes but dont want to (or have the extra cash) to go all out on the complete kit. Overall, i am very happy with this kit and its going to come with me everytime im not sleeping at home! :D
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