XO Beauty Brushes Review

Hey Beauty Babblers,

This is to follow on from my first impressions post about XO Beauty brushes (http://annalisebeauty.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/xo-beauty-brush-first-impressions.html)! Here we go :)

So first of all there was no shedding of the brush. There wasn’t any during the pre wash and they was none when I used this brush. Brush shedding can be a nuisance especially if you are using a liquid or cream product. This is because the hair will get stuck on your face and when you remove it will ruin the finish of your makeup. 

The bristles also didn’t disappoint. As you may have read the bristles feel soft when I initially felt them and remained this way when I used the brush. The soft yet firm bristles allowed me to use the brush in different ways to apply different foundations. I could stipple the foundation on or gently buff it into the skin. This is handy for me because I like to use different foundations almost every day.

This brings me on to the reason when I love this brush the most! I have tried four different foundations with this brush. It produced the best finish I have ever gotten with three of the four foundations. 

I applied the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation with the brush in small soft circular motions to buff it into the skin. It allowed the foundation go on sheer and I built up the coverage where it was needed. I absolutely loved the finish, it is the best this product has looked on my skin! 

I applied the Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation in the same way and again the result was better than ever before. These two foundations are of a similar consistency (quite thin but creamy)so that’s why they are applied in the same way!

The Revlon Colorstay is quite a thick foundation that needs to be applied sparingly otherwise when powder your face it will look cakey. A borrowed a tip from Shannon (the creator of the brushes!) herself. First I stippled on the foundation and used very soft buffing motions where needed to give the skin an airbrushed look. (This is a video that shows you Shannon’s tip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRki76NctIs )

The only foundation that didn’t work with this brush was the Maybelline Fit Me foundation. This product’s consistency is quite runny. When is was buffed into the skin the bristles were too strong and the product was just moved around my face. If you have a foundation that is quite thin I would suggest applying it with a beauty blender of even your hands! 

So it works well with a range of foundations which makes it a versatile brush. 

I also found that the foundation was evenly distributed which is great because it allows you to achieve a natural, airbrushed affect because the skin will have the same appearance, free of blotches.

The product also doesn’t retain colour in the bristles, which isn’t a huge deciding factor when buying a brush, but at least your brushes look kinda clean even after you use them! (Bonus!) Above is the brush before use and then after about 5 uses.

Lastly, and yes I am going to mention it again, it is so affordable! If you are in Australia, New Zealand or anywhere in the Southern hemisphere you should buy these brushes now! They may be more expensive than Sigma but you will save on shipping...and don’t forget that there is free worldwide shipping until the 1^st April 2013.    

Also I have seen a couple of people asking what you can use this brush for so I thought I would quickly cover it off. I have used it for applying foundation and concealer and it works really well! Some people have also been asking whether you can use it to apply powder. I love it use brushes for random things (like a pencil brush for filling in eyebrows or a small blending brush to contour) so go for it! There are no rules in makeup so go for your life. Personally though I think that this brush is to dense to apply powder but have a go and tell me if it works!  

In conclusion (finally I hear you say!) I love this brush, it’s my new favourite. It is so versatile and is of amazing quality. 

Here is the website: http://www.xobeautyshop.com/

Stay Beautiful,

Annie xxx 

P.S. Follow me on twitter for updates about new blog posts @annief123

XO Beauty Brush First Impressions

Hey Beauty Babblers!

Today I am doing a little overview of XO Beauty Brushes with a review to come tomorrow. I have only used the brush twice so far and just want to try it out a bit more before I review it.  

So, I was so excited when Shannon from the widely popular Youtube channel Shaaanxo ( check her out if you haven't already cause she is amazing! http://www.youtube.com/user/shaaanxo) designed a range of affordable, high quality brushes! 

She offers a 12 and 9-piece brush set. These sets have all the basic brushes that any beginner will need. There is also a 4–piece kabuki set and you can individual purchase the brushes in this set.

I purchased the round top kabuki for about $21 Australian dollars on Thursday and received it on Wednesday which is a quick delivery time. There is also free worldwide shipping (yes worldwide, woohoo!) right now so I jumped at the chance. I think this brush is great value, particularly if you live in Australia or New Zealand. The kabuki brushes from Sigma are a few shiny coins cheaper but shipping will cost you more!

Shipping is always a bone of contention for me living in Australia because it is so far away from the US and Europe where I usually buy my products from. This means long wait times and huge shipping costs. Like an order from Sigma Beauty costs $25 in shipping using USPS (the slowest method!) and takes around 4 weeks to get here.

I was thrilled to receive my brush. The packaging of the product is beautiful as you can see from the pictures. It was quite minimal compared to other brands but I thought it looked cute. It also held up well in the post with the handle and bristles undamaged. 

Attached is a business card with brand name and contact details. There is also a message about what to do if there is ever any damage to brushes which is so helpful! I also loved the little heart cut out of the corner of the card (because that is just too cute). The pink ribbon was the final touch to the packaging which to me made it feel really personal, as if Shannon has personally wrapped it for me herself!  

 

The brush handle is nice and sturdy which I quite like. This is especially handy if you want to use the brush to buff out foundation because your grip on the handle will be slightly stronger. 

Lastly, when I was searching for reviews for this brush one thing kept on coming up that these brushes were “as soft as kittens.” I thought how can a brush feel like a cat but oh my goodness it really does! They are so soft, the softest brushes I have come across. This is a feature you want especially in a kabuki brush. Because the bristles are densely packed that you don’t want harsh ones as well otherwise it would feel really rough on the skin. 

I also washed the brush before I used it, as we all should do, and I don’t think even one bristle feel out. Go Shannon! 

Overall my first impressions of this brush is great! The process of buying the brush was quick and easy, the packaging was cute and the brush was of an exceptional quality. 

The link to the website is http://www.xobeautyshop.com/. Keep in mind that the pricing in is New Zealand dollars but you smart cookies can work out the conversion! And don't forget there is free worldwide shopping until the 1st April 2013. 

Check back here tomorrow for my review of the brush :)

Stay Beautiful,

Annie xxx

PS. I now have a twitter which is @annief123. Come and say hi, give me some feedback or throw an idea my way :)

Dry and Cracked Lips Rehab

It's autumn at the moment in Australia which means those pesky winter winds are picking up. And for all of in the Northern hemisphere this is a handy tip because no matter how much lip balm you keep in your bag there is no escaping dry lips! So, I like to exfoliate my lips with a homemade remedy a couple of times a week to keep them in perfect condition. I's quick, easy and cheap...perfect!

All you will need is about 1/4 teaspoon of plain white sugar (make sure it is not caster sugar because that will be too fine to use as an exfoliate!) and about a teaspoon (or a squeeze and a bit-super precise!) of Papaw ointment or Vaseline. 

Then place them in a small container or you could even use your hand if you are in a rush, you busy people!

Mixed the sugar and Papaw ointment together until they create a well formed ball. 

 

You may need to add a little more sugar or ointment at this stage depending on the consistency.

Then pop a little on your finger and gently rub it onto your lips, making sure you exfoliate the inner lips. And there is not need to worry if a little bit pops into your mouth because the ingredients won't hurt you!

Then simply remove the lip exfoliate off your lips with a tissue and BAM instantly smooth lips! Placing a little bit of a lip balm (Burts Bees or Baby Lips are my favourites!) over your lips afterwards is a good idea to ensure your lips are re-moisturized.  

If you have incredibly dry lips a great step after you remove the exfoliate is to place a thin layer of honey over your lips. After a few second put some more Papaw Ointment or Vaseline over the top. Leave this on your lips for about 15 minutes and then remove it with a cotton bud (or Q-Tip for my American friends) that has been dipped in hot water. 

There you have it! Follow these steps are your lips will be perfect and kissable once again!

Stay Beautiful,

Annie xxx