There are visibly trends in materials used in makeup products (and not only there, I guess). Lately, it’s been about Rose Gold. It’s everywhere! I’m not complaining, it’s a gorgeous precious metal…
To be clear, most of the time, Rose Gold is just copper. But “Rose Gold” sounds so much better, doesn’t it?
Did the beautiful Rose Gold packaging encourage my purchase of the Rose Golden Luxury Set by ZOEVA? It’s very likely, because really, it’s difficult to resist Rose Gold, even if it’s just copper. It’s just so pretty!
I’ve already confessed my invasive addiction for makeup brushes. Recently, it got totally out of control!
But I know I’m not alone in the MBAA (Makeup Brushes Addict Anonymous). I know that some people just love to rave about how pretty makeup brushes are, to touch their soft bristles, to consider that cleaning them every week is more a ritual than an obligation… mindblown
Please, tell me I’m not the only one!!! wink
I’ve been hearing about ZOEVA brushes all over the blogosphere.
ZOEVA is a German makeup and makeup tools company/brand founded in 2008. Yes, it’s quite recent.
The makeup brushes made by ZOEVA have both natural and synthetic bristles, depending on the brushes. From a technical point of view, the natural bristles are more suitable to apply powdery makeup products. The synthetic bristles are perfect for both powdery or creamy products.
ZOEVA brushes are known to be high quality brushes and said to have one of the best value for money in the market. They would even be a great alternative to MAC or Sigma brushes for example.
Well, are they really? Let’s find out!
ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Set:
It includes 8 face makeup brushes and 3 eyes brushes.
Face:
OK, let’s start with the only one which didn’t work for me: the 106 Powder.
As the name suggests, this brush is for applying powder on your face.
It’s in synthetic bristles (tacklon) and it’s super soft! But for me however, it has 2 drawbacks: it isn’t thick enough, and it’s not very dense. I really prefer fluffier brushes that aren’t so soft (the bristles are too long for how I use this type of brush) to apply powder.
I have a very oily skin, so powder is a must for me, and I like the velvet effect on my face. I need a brush which can actually put some powder on my face, not something that is too soft and ends up just swiping the powder off my face.
But that been said, if you’re not a big powder fan, and you need a light touch, this may well be perfect for you!
I’ve been trying to use foundation brushes for so many years. Until last year, I didn’t really know that you could use anything else than flat brushes… And really, I don’t like them. I always ended up with too much foundation and brush strokes all over my face. Then I discovered the round shape foundation brushes. It really changes the result, I can tell you! Applying foundation is easy-peasy with round brushes!
With the 102 Silk Finish, it’s even better. It’s like a “ball” shape. It really distributes the product evenly on the skin, with no strokes at all. It’s perfect to blend your product onto the skin. This brush is quite dense, but it’s still soft enough to handle it easily. The bristles are synthetic and very soft.
The foundation application is very quick. It’s a medium size brush, perfect because it’s not too small but it’s still quite precise.
To use it, I would recommend to dot a little bit of foundation on the face and to blend it in circular motions.And don’t forget to stretch the product down to your neck!;)
The 110 Face Shape is definitely my favorite from the set!
It’s like the little brother of the 102. The shape is exactly the same but it’s smaller. It’s also has synthetic bristles.
It can be used for a very precise foundation application or for contouring (especially with cream products). But what I prefer to use it for, is under-eye concealer application. It’s just the perfect size, the perfect shape and the perfect density for that use! It’s not small, but my huge dark circles love that! It’s still precise though.
142 Concealer Buffer is a brush for concealer (duh). It has also synthetic bristles. ZOEVA recommends to use it for under-eye concealer, but for me, it’s perfect to use it to apply some concealer onto any blemishes or redness in the face. It’s very easy to blend concealer where you need it, and very quickly.
127 Luxe Sheer Cheek is a muti-tasking angled brush. It has natural bristles. It’s better to use it with powder makeup products.
It can be used to apply blush, bronzer, contour, highlighter… As an angled brush, I’m using it to apply my bronzer in a precise way. Like a contouring/bronzer way.
It’s not too dense, it’s more on the fluffy side, which is the good to help you avoid Pocahontas style color strokes all over your face. It really blends pigments on the face very naturally.
I quite like it, but the only thing that bothered me is that I already have a very similar brush: my Sigma F40. I have compared the 2 in the photo below. They’re just like twins! Well of course, if you compare the price, ZOEVA is the winner.
Well, I suppose it’s always good to have a backup, just in case… ;)
Eyes:
227 Soft Definer is a blending brush and it has natural bristles. It’s perfect to apply and to blend eye shadows. If you needed just one brush for the eyes, it has to be one with this shape!
Let’s be real here, this brush is a perfect dupe for the famous MAC 217.
MAC 217 is one of the most loved brushes in the beauty world. It’s just the best to apply and blend all kinds of eye shadows. I bought my first one 12 years ago, and I recently bought a second one, just in case… It’s so efficient and the quality is beyond this world.
So, what about the ZOEVA 227?
It’s efficient, no doubt about that. It applies and blends perfectly, exactly like the 217. I’d say that it may be softer than the 217, but it’s very similar. Regarding the quality, the future will tell… I’ve only had this ZOEVA set for a few weeks, time will tell.
The 231 Petit Crease is the one I was the most curious about. So, is it really worth the hype?
The 231 Petit Crease has got natural bristles. Its shape is tapered, which allows very precise eye shadow application, especially in the eyelid crease. It’s perfect for smokey eyes, especially those with several colors. It really intensifies the look of all the makeup. I’m also using it to apply some color under the waterline. It’s perfect for a very pretty and smudgy effect.
In summary, I wouldn’t say that this brush is a must-have, but it’s still very unique and quite useful for those more dramatic smokey eye kind of days.
I didn’t think I would like the 317 Wing Liner that much.
The 317 Wing Liner has synthetic bristles (nylon). It’s a dream for applying any kind of eyeliner very precisely. It’s an angle brush, and the brush is very fine, which I personally prefer.
I tried it with gel liner, cream liner and even powder and it’s great in every case! It almost makes liner application easy. It’s soft but not too much, perfection!
For those who wonder if it can be used for eyebrows, I’m not entirely convinced. I really prefer a much harder brush for eyebrows.
In summary:
[wprs-pros][wprs-cons]
The Rose Golden Luxury Set is available on the ZOEVA website , for 78$.
And you, have you already tried ZOEVA brushes? What are your thoughts?
Photos credits: bonnie-garner.com
Cet article est aussi disponible en français: Les pinceaux ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Set, ma revue
Melissa F. wrote
Hi Bonnie, I use to use the MAC 217 and was just checking out what new options are out there. Google brought me here checking up on the Zoeva luxury set.
I heard that some gals have had issues with the 227 Luxe Soft Definer after washing it, that it started expanding. Have you washed yours a few times yet? Any problems of fraying or splitting?
One last thing, any idea if all of these brushes cruelty free?
Mel
Bonnie Garner wrote
Hi Mel,
Thanks for your comment! I’ve been using my 227 brush for a few weeks now and I have already washed it a few times. I haven’t had any problem with it. So far so good!:)
And about the fact that the brushes are cruelty-free or not, it depends: some of them have natural bristles (from animals) and other have synthetic ones, so probably no (as a set).
I hope I answered all of your questions! ;)
Emily Tibs wrote
These look like real beautiful brushes. I always want to make sure that I get the rest of the makeup right and for me that starts with some good / great brushes.
Bonnie the pictures are lovely and the details about the brushes are super helpful, it’s unusual to get both good details and good photos. Even if I like the old Pinterest splurge of photos, when you’re ready to spend money, it’s nice to know the truth, the pros and cons. I think I’ll avoid the Real Techniques ones and go for these. Hope it doesn’t take to long for them to get to the US.
Was actually looking for a travel version of a brushes set to carry around. I’m slightly paranoid about taking Sigma & Mac brushes on trips as I would literally die if I lost them or had them stolen, whatever. This could be the perfect solution and the pouch looks amazing…
Please do a post on a travel makeup essentials, do you have any tricks about reducing the number of items, would love to see that, sunscreen products and all :)
Em
Bonnie Garner wrote
Hi Emily,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, it means the world to me! :)
I really think that Zoeva is a great alternative to Real Techniques (and so prettier, don’t you think? ;))
I hope it doesn’t take long to be delivered to the US, but I must say I was impressed by their quick shipment to the Middle East. Usually, everything takes so much time to get here!
I completely understand what you said about taking your precious brushes with you on a trip, I’m exactly the same! I would totally buy a cheap set of brushes and it would be my “travel set”! lol
So about the post on my travel makeup essentials, I’m just the worst person in the world when it comes to travelling light. I usually take everything I may eventually need because I like to make sure I’m covered for anything! But I definitely need to work on that and if I can manage being more reasonable, I’ll certainly do a blog post about it! ;)
Emily Tibs wrote
My pleasure :)
And I’m already all excited about it so can’t wait (Zoeva if you’re listening) for the brushes to arrive…
I don’t think I’m as bad as that but I know what you mean but I’ve been told it makes life easier to travel lightly ;)
Em
Bonnie Garner wrote
If only I could! lol
Enas wrote
When rhey shipped it to you ! Did you use UAE as location?? And which courier did they use?
Thanks
Bonnie Garner wrote
Hi!
I ordered them directly from the Zoeva website and yes, I used my UAE address.
The courier was the regular one (not the fast delivery). It took a few weeks but it was fine. :)