Top to bottom: Pink Kabuki, Pink Duo Fiber Powder Stippling
I love you, my darlings
I said I would do a CoastalScents' brush review and so I will. I ordered my brushes online on the 10th of May 2008 after seeing the reviews from Pursebuzz and EnKore. Since it would be my first ever buying online with a credit card thingie, I was a little nervous. I got myself the Pink Duo Fiber Powder Stippling brush and the Pink Kabuki brushes for Elisa, myself and also as my sister's birthday present . I wanted to get more but I kept having this fear that it was going to get lost or something so I ordered a little just to see if it actually arrives. Paranoid I know.
10 days later the package arrived much to my relief and happiness. Was worried that the Malaysian Customs going to hold it for some funky reasons and delay everything but thankfully, it was sent to me without unwanted incidents.
I must admit that the entire process of ordering - shipping was extremely fast and took less than two days to approve everything and for it to be sent out. The best part about it was the shipping price. I'm seriously not kidding. It didn't turn out to be a killer that I expected and it wasn't even as expensive as CherryCulture's shipping. Nicee~
If you're nervous about the shipping price + the cost of the brush = a killer. Rest assured. It's actually cheaper to get them from CoastalScents than to buy it over here. Shocked? I did my calculations and homework before buying unless you're planning to get those Kabuki brushes from little known retailers as I've seen on online forums.
Don't get me wrong but I seriously have no problems getting cheaper brushes online if I actually get to test them out first. I had the 'chance' to experience getting ripped off by a girl whom was selling brushes online. Truthfully, I bought it because I liked the girl, she was sweet, nice and helpful and promised me that they were soft.
Close to one week and close to RM80 later, the brushes arrived. I nearly cried. The blush and powder brush is as good as my toilet bowl cleaner brush whateveryoucallit. It was 'pokey' and hard and shedded like no tomorrow. I was speechless, she told me they were soft! Soft compared to what?!? A metal bar?
I tried washing it with baby shampoo and conditioned it with a hair conditioner to no avail. It seriously shed over 100 hairs every wash. The girl was nice enough to offer to take the two 'pokey' blush and powder brush back and refund me a fraction of the money, but considering the money I later had to fork out to ship them, I gritted my teeth and kept the two brushes. I was in desperate need of a blush brush anyway since my old one spoilt and I've already in a way used them. And if you're wondering, yes I'm still using it and cringing every time I put my blusher on.
So ladies, if you're planning to get your brushes online, do it after you read the reviews. Either that, get it from the stores where you can feel them.
On with the review;
Pink Kabuki
CoastalScents has about three different Kabuki brushes not counting the synthetic ones. They are the Basic Essential Kabuki made with natural sable hairs, the Italian Badger Kabuki brush made from seamless black nickle ferrule and the Pink Kabuki which is made from goat and sable hair blend.
Being a girly-girl, the metallic pink handle was tempting for me but the price tempted me even more. I have absolutely no regrets getting this brush, the bristles are so soft, it hardly sheds and no nasty smells and it was cheap to boot! If you ever decide to order anything from CS, don't forget to get the Kabuki brush too!
Pink Duo Fiber Powder Stippling
I've been eying a stippling brush ever since I found out the wonders of what a Stippling brush can do. Been online and searching through forums for them but to no avail so when I saw some videos from EnKore and saw the pink brushes before my eyes, the whole choir of 'Hallelujah' sang in my head.
The initial Stippling brush that I wanted which was the Silver Duo Fiber Stippling brush has tons of great reviews BUT it's discontinued. So I chose the Pink one to match my Pink Kabuki that I ordered. Stippling brushes are usually used for liquid foundations to give an even and airbrushed look but for this particular brush, it's really not that soft, in fact, I find it a little 'pokey'. Not as bad as the blush brush I mentioned above, thank God. Also the brush has to be washed throughly, it bleeds. Not as how human bleeds but the dye used turns the entire lather of shampoo into grey! So it's extremely important that we wash it first before using. I noticed that it also it still bleeds and turns the entire lather grey after the third wash weeks later and it sheds more compared to the Kabuki. But other than that, it was good.
Another good Stippling brush is the one from M.A.C but be prepared for the price tag!
But other than that, I do NOT regret any of my purchases and will be more than happy to buy brushes from them again! Love the speed of the service and more than happy with the price!
