THE FACE 1 MARC JACOBS LIQUID FOUNDATION BRUSH - REVIEW

The Face 1 is a Marc Jacobs liquid foundation makeup brush. The brush bristles are made up of synthetic fibers and the extremely large top was designed to give an airbrushed finish to the face. The ends of the brush bristles are tapered which prevents streaking or smudges during the application process. The FACE 1 brush currently retails for $48.00 USD and is sold exclusively in-store and online at Sephora.

While this is a nice brush to have in your collection - it's definitely not a "must-have". The weight of the brush feels rather cumbersome and continuous pro-longed use will almost certainly tire out the hand. During the application of my foundation I found the over-sized top just way too large and not very effective especially when using a thicker foundation formula. The tapered bristles didn't pick up enough product and what product it did pick up was mainly centered in the middle of the brush - maybe if the brush bristles were more dense it might have worked better for me. I even tried using the brush with my Guerlain meteorites but the brush bristles were way to soft to really pick up any product. Then I tried using the brush with my loose face powders and I did achieve better results but overall, in my opinion, the FACE 1 makeup brush just doesn't live up to all the hype.

108 LARGE FOUNDATION MAKE UP FOR EVER ARTISAN BRUSH

MAKE UP FOR EVER just released a new line of Artisan (makeup) brushes and they are amazing! I was in Sephora yesterday when I spotted the brown wooden handles from across the store. These lightweight brushes are easy to handle and just as gorgeous in person as they look in the promo pics.

ARTISAN BRUSHES
100 SERIES - Face brushes
200 SERIES - Eye brushes
300 SERIES - Lip brushes
400 SERIES - Body and Artistic brushes

The 108 large foundation brush currently retails for $36.00 USD which is a little on the cheap side considering this is the LARGE version - the 106 medium foundation brush retails for the same price. The synthetic fibers of the brush are extremely soft and allow for a smooth and streak-free application of my liquid foundation. I didn't notice any stray fibers or shedding on my face which is a huge plus in my book. The brush fibers did soak up some of the liquid foundation but it was minimal at best. The wooden handle of the brush seems to be hollow near the end with the weight of the brush centered at the middle where the metal ferrule meets the handle. Most makeup brushes that I own, the weight is distributed evenly along the brush handle so this is a welcome change. Although others might find it takes them some time to get comfortable using them. Overall I am really impressed with the quality of this brush.

When applying your foundation, Sephora suggests dotting your face with your liquid foundation and then using this brush to blend it in - which works great! However, what I find works best for me, is to dispense a small amount of liquid foundation onto a sanitary surface and then dip my makeup brush into the foundation. Then I apply and blend it into my face with the end result being a beautiful and flawless foundation application.

When it comes to maintaining and cleaning the MAKE UP FOR EVER ARTISAN brushes it is very important to purchase the brush cleanser as well. It is specially formulated specifically for these synthetic fiber brushes. The travel size currently retails at $12.00 USD for 1.69 oz.

The Make Up For Ever Artisan brushes are currently available at all Sephora stores and online at Sephora.com.

What it is:
A large flat and rounded brush to quickly and evenly apply foundation.

What it does:
This must-have brush is used to apply and blend all kinds of foundation quickly on large areas. Its large, rounded shape and straight bristles are ideal for a high coverage, even foundation result. It can be used with liquid and cream foundations.

What else you need to know:
After five years in development with makeup artists and fiber experts, MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brushes are a revolution in brush craftsmanship. The 100-percent fiber brushes are available in a range of 76 handcrafted styles, each with the perfect balance of straight and wavy fibers that replicate natural hairs. Beveled tips create a two-in-one makeup brush and tool, while innovative hair density and brush head shapes optimize every stroke for ideal makeup application. To achieve the ultimate collection, every brush has gone through 25 production stages by 30 craftsmen and has been checked for quality 50 times.

-Dot your favorite liquid or cream foundation through the center of the face and use the flat side of the brush to blend downward and outward.

**IMPORTANT TO NOTE**

If you are making an in-store brush purchase please be sure to carefully look over the brush for defects or anything out of the ordinary. As you can see below, there is a small gap where the metal ferrule meets the wooden brush handle. It is only on one side but repeated use with this brush could allow for dust, water, makeup, etc. to accumulate around the opening and damage the integrity of the brush handle.

What it is:
An alcohol-free brush cleanser that instantly purifies and removes all make up textures.

What it does:
Perfect for synthetic and natural hair brushes, Travel Instant Brush Cleanser cleans quickly without rinsing and dries on the spot so brushes are ready for immediate reuse. Its unique formula dissolves even the most waterproof and highly pigmented products while refreshing brushes with a mint-oil extract.

Sephora is the exclusive beauty retailer for this product.

How to use:
-Spray Travel Instant Brush Cleanser on a tissue and wipe brush.
-Repeat if necessary.
-Use a dry tissue to remove excess cleanser from the brush.