Zoeva: The Luxe Complete Set

Zoeva = Color. Love. Makeup

Zoeva = Color. Love. Makeup

Watching my makeup garden bloom before my very eyes has proven to be emotional. For years I've been cultivating; each brush has a story, a birthplace and a special spot in my heart. And then I happened upon Zoeva, a one stop shop which helps to pretty our faces.

Buy one or buy them all.

Two reviews educated, entertained and eventually helped me to hone in on what I'd eventually choose. Before I dive in with loads of images and banter, please, for the love of makeup, check out the aforementioned reviews:

Zoeva's Luxe Complete Set

Zoeva's Luxe Complete Set

The Luxe Complete set features 15 brushes - five face brushes and ten eye brushes snuggled away in a handy black leatherette pouch with contrasting fuchsia pink grosgrain lining.

The Luxe Complete Set Clutch

The Luxe Complete Set Clutch

Words to live by

Words to live by

The face brushes are by far my favourite. Soft work horses with a magnetic attraction to the powders and foundations I use on a regular basis. Nary a struggle, these makeup brushes truly make applying makeup swift and effortless. A special shout out to the Luxe Face Definer's multi-tasking abilities; I use this baby to contour on most days, but it can also highlight or blur finishing powder with the best of them.

Did I mention soft? So soft.

The fab five face brushes from top to bottom: Luxe Cheek Finish, Luxe Highlight, Concealer Buffer, Silk Finish and Luxe Face Definer

The fab five face brushes from top to bottom: Luxe Cheek Finish, Luxe Highlight, Concealer Buffer, Silk Finish and Luxe Face Definer

The selection of eye brushes is overwhelming.

Blend, buff, shade, line, define, smudge, smoke, intensify. Repeat. If only these brushes came with a built-in makeup artist, it would totally make applying eye makeup so much easier. An artist I am not, just a mere mortal attempting a cut crease or a cat eye flick. That said, these brushes give me a glimmer of hope.

Another soft bunch. The road ahead is filled with endless possibilities.

The eye brushes working clockwise from the top: Soft Definer, Pencil, Fine Liner, Crease, Petit Crease, Luxe Defined Crease, Luxe Soft Crease, Brow Line, Wing Liner and Smoky Shader

The eye brushes working clockwise from the top: Soft Definer, Pencil, Fine Liner, Crease, Petit Crease, Luxe Defined Crease, Luxe Soft Crease, Brow Line, Wing Liner and Smoky Shader

Makeup look put together with 13 of the 15 brushes

Makeup look put together with 13 of the 15 brushes

Here's a side by side visual comparison of some of the brushes from my handpicked collection versus several brushes from the Luxe Complete Set.

One caveat to note, you will experience a small amount of shedding during the first week or two of use.

Aesthetically these brushes aren't too dissimilar from Sigma or MAC, but I appreciate Zoeva's affordability, selection and ultimately their philosophy. Not only are you getting quality brushes, but you're also paying it forward to women in need. Visit Zoeva's website to find out more.

As it goes with cookies, shoes, purses and lipstick, you can never only have just one makeup brush. 

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Zoeva's Luxe Complete Set

  • $165.00 AUS ($11/brush) / €115 EUR (€7.60/brush) / $135.00 USD ($9/brush)

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

  • 10 out of 10 bags — It's like that dream when P-Cakes set me free in a Sanrio shop with all the monies in the world and then we went to Disney Land.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

  • I also picked up a lip brush and a smudger. You know, cookies, brushes, etc.

Good things come to those who wait: Zoeva's Luxe Complete Set

Sneaky peek

Sneaky peek

Still testing, but Zoeva's makeup brushes have really knocked my socks off.

One kit, fifteen brushes and a cute zippered pouch. What more could this gal ask for? Did I mention great quality on the cheap? Call it $12 bucks a brush, only $12 smackeroos!

Thorough review will be out later this week, Girl Scout's Honor!

Confession: I use hand soap to wash my makeup brushes

Subtle Energies Revive Body & Hand Wash

Subtle Energies Revive Body & Hand Wash

And my brushes repeatedly live to tell a tale.

It was a recommendation made by Karen, you know, of Makeup and Beauty Blog. Like Oprah, if Karen said "bees are coming!" I too would be crazy excited.

Dr. Bonner's Bar Soap was fairly ace at the start until I became grossed out by the used bar stowed away in a Ziploc baggie - a potential breeding ground for who knows what? For kicks, I replaced the bar with the mint scented, pump version, but the syrupy consistency of the gel proved to be too heavy for both the natural and synthetic bristles. Plus, it took forever and a day for me to properly rinse out the brushes.

Switched I did to dare I say an Aesop equivalent, Subtle Energies Revive Body & Hand Wash. It's clear, lathers quite nicely, leaves behind a fresh lemon-y/clean scent and washes my handle holding, tram riding hands.

Save money you won't and perhaps I'm a tad blasé about its function as this was a surprise goodie from the very generous people over at Subtle Energies.

It's a right good soap, albeit an expensive one, but my brushes (and hands) are cleaned in no time and that's the most important thing.

 

*Subtle Energies kindly provided a PR sample  –  Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.