Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Finally! ELF Studio Contour brush- a small crease brush on the cheap

I have been casually searching for an inexpensive, small, preferably "pencil" type of crease brush for what seems to have been the longest time.  I know Sigma has one along with Coastal Scents and other various online retailers, but it's hard to know exactly what they look like from a computer screen.  This is why I was really hoping to find one in person so I could see what I was getting (and I have a hard time convincing myself to buy stuff online... a story for another day!).  Well, it is like pretty darn difficult to find a large variety of brushes in stores that aren't as expensive as MAC.  EcoTools is great, love them, but they don't have all the different types of brushes that I want.  Sonia Kashuk has a crease brush that I own (it's pictured below), but it's not what I'm looking for.  When I was shopping at Target a couple weeks ago, I stumbled across the ELF Studio Contour brush that has been patiently waiting in my online shopping cart for me to place an order.  This is new, guys!  And I was so excited to see it because I've been wanting to try it for the longest time, but was hesitant to order online.  Long story short, I grabbed it right away.
Here are my thoughts on it!



(Left to right: ELF Studio Contour brush, ELF Eye Definer brush, Sonia Kashuk Crease brush)

From what I've used of it so far, this is the best crease brush I've been able to find and for the lowest price.  It's $3, and I was able to find it at Target, so I saved myself the cost of shipping, yes!  

Its small size makes it perfect for precise crease work and that "outer v" area of the eyelid.  For comparison, I pictured it next to the ELF $1 Eye Definer brush and the Sonia Kashuk Crease brush.  The Sonia Kashuk brush isn't a favorite of mine because of its roundness and larger size- it's almost too big for my crease.  The Studio Contour brush is small enough so it places color exactly where I want it.  It's also a little more pointed than the SK, which is really rounded.  
In an ideal world, I'd have the Contour brush pointed like the MAC 219, but that's probably asking too much for $3! The 219 has been on my wishlist this past year for its precision and ability to apply color to the lower lashline.  The ELF Contour brush is too rounded for the lower lashline, but it's still perfect for those of us with smaller creases or more deep-set eyes who just don't like doing too much in the crease (like me!).  
The synthetic bristles are firm and dense, which allows for more control.  They also pick up color well- I like to kind of "roll" the brush into my eyeshadows.  I find this picks up color the best way.  
I've also given it one quick wash, and no bristles came out.  

If you've been looking for a nice, quality crease brush that's inexpensive, definitely take a look at your Target for this one!  I'm really impressed so far. 
Have you tried this ELF brush?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!