It took some time to write this review, hopefully when you are reading this you are 1) sitting comfortably 2) having a delicious relaxing drink, if not, please do, it will be quite long…
My fingers ache from scrolling and typing, sorry about the length of this Part 1… How can you briefly review a big set like this, keep it short but still give enough information for you to decide if you should splurge in one, two, more or none… ? Hopefully I have covered most of the topics and if I haven’t you are very welcome to leave any questions.
This Part 1 is a review on the brushes, there is another Part 2 coming soon that will be an interview with Rae. In this part 2, Rae and Jim will answer the questions I had, not only about this collection, but also about themselves so it should be quite fun 🙂
This set is very special to me because the review of the first version 2 years ago is what made me meet some of you and become very close friends. If today I am not truly fully enjoying the very first set, I am certainly fully enjoying your friendship, I believe that without the first set, I wouldn’t have met you, so it was well worth it.
The first range of the Rae Morris brushes was launched approx 2 years ago and I ordered that first set because I thought they would be perfect. Unfortunately the set I received was not meeting my expectations, it had some issues and they changed it for me. It was better but I wasn’t loving the functionality of the magnets, they were causing the brushes to strongly stick together and this was not compatible with my storage methods. I strongly believed on the design of the brushes but I did not love the quality, that was the main reason of my frustration : so much potential but not consistent quality.
This year Rae Morris changed things (Part 2 will address this) and she recently launched the revamped version of those brushes, they are still carrying the magnets but the brushes are much more solid and tempting, I am lucky that today I own the full new collection so here it is reviewed for you:
I have to tell you how I ended up with all her new range… so this is what happened:
When I first saw the new brushes online I clearly noticed an improvement in how they looked, the handles seem much better achieved, I know I said I wouldn’t get them this time but since the foundation 23 and the ultimate cheekbone were two of my fav brushes ever, I had to see if these could be better and more durable versions of them. I ordered just those two and when I received them, my suspicions were confirmed, they were much better.
That made me order a few more: the little smudger, the little crease one, the new Radiance and a few others, that re-confirmed my previous statement, much better brushes. Now I had two simple choices : either stop there or order more.
“Stop there” was not a happy choice because I know that you were interested in a full review and to be honest, I did want more brushes.
“Order more” was a thought I was considering but it was leaving a sort of bitter taste because if my review was positive the feeling of “forwarding” you to them after my issues with the first set… I don’t know, I wasn’t sure I really felt ok with that. I guess my feeling is just human, I hope you’ll understand and that nobody will blame me for it, neither Rae nor you. Instead, I really wanted to understand what happened and also get to know her a bit better, this is why in Part 2 I will have the pleasure to share something very special for you, an interview with Rae Morris.
It all started with many email exchanges with Jim, Rae’s husband who has a very important role in the Company – 🙂 after very long, detailed email conversations, our contact started to get more friendly and ended up being fun and personal with both Jim and Rae. They told me they had seen my previous “hardcore” review and that they wanted me to test the new brushes, therefore I ended up with the rest of the collection offered by them, this is why part of this collection has been paid by me, part has been offered by Rae for me to try it and see if they could “magnetize me”… and this is how I ended up with all the brushes!
The Artist
I think my first virtual encounter with Rae Morris was in the UK when I saw her book “Beautiful Eyes”, I was searching for some inspirational looks and that book was very interesting, stunning pictures and a lot of simple and precious advice.
Later I saw Wayne’s videos using her brushes and I wanted them. Much later I saw this video here, I am truly convinced that this video is “the most loaded with tips per minute” video I have ever seen on youtube. I can only recommend you to watch it and take a pen because she will fire them at you and it will be difficult to remember everything. Also this tutorial is a must-see, if you haven’t yet, you need to watch it. I have been applying my eyeshadow like this for so long and it’s like magic for the eyes.
If you want to know more about her, you can read her story here.
In part 2, we will know a little bit more about Rae and Jim and I sincerely hope you will enjoy both the questions and the answers 🙂
The material
Some brushes are natural, some are synthetic. I am just not sure what the fan material is right now, could be raccoon, water badger… not sure.
The white brushes (Deluxe, Mini Kabuki, Radiance, the 8.5 crème shadow) are goat hair, for reference the softness of the goat hair is softer than the Hakuhodo Japanese Tradition series and less soft than the Hakuhodo J Series, just gives you an idea of what to expect.
The small synthetic brushes (eyeliners, lip, concealer) are firm but they are easily controllable, do not poke or irritate the skin if you use them perpendicularly.
The 23 Foundation brush is also synthetic, extremely soft and the black surface of the head feels like velvet on the skin.
The other darker hair brushes are squirrel hair :
The softness of this squirrel hair is variable depending on the brush, when I tried to see which one felt softer I found a strange pattern, if she did that on purpose that was really clever, but I am sure she did… They are all soft but in this picture they are ordered by the less soft of the series on the left to the softest on the right, the clever thing is that the brush that needs to have the strongest hair is indeed the #21 for mineral foundation, therefore it’s normal that it is less soft than the others. The softest brushes are the flat ones and the powder brush, in the middle the crease brushes that need more blending capabilities than the flat ones…. I just noticed that pattern when I uploaded this picture so I did not arrange them thinking about this at all. The difference between each brush here is really not that obvious anyway but I thought it was worth mentioning 🙂
The softest is the big face brush #22, it is not as fine and soft as the Chikuhodo Z series (if you know the Z series you know it is one of the softest collections you could get) or the squirrel hair used on Hakuhodo or Koyudo’s brushes but it is very very soft. Same for the eyebrushes, they aren’t as soft as Z series but on the other hand, I do find them more efficient and still surprisingly very soft.
If you have any of the Nars crease squirrel brushes (12 and 13) or Paula Dorf (which are all made with squirrel hair as well), the Rae Morris are of much superior quality and softness and in addition to that, they still have the grip and power of bristles that can compete against goat hair brushes, so you have the benefits of the softness without compromising on the efficiency.
How it compares to the old range
At first of course you will think these are the same brushes, just improved versions of them. It is true for some.
Others look similar but they aren’t, the crease brushes are now more dense and full at the surface, the material (handles and hair) is of much better quality. The bundling is more even therefore their final shape and specially their purpose can also differ, before you couldn’t easily use a flat brush to blend because they weren’t very dense, today you can. I took pictures with the old range and you see that they are not really the same brushes.
I had issues with my first set, reviewed here, they replaced it for me at the time but I still wasn’t happy for the price. Some were too rough for my very delicate skin, or a bit too thin and light for me to hold properly. These two issues I had are not present in the new collection anymore. The balance is adequate and all the brushes are soft for delicate skin. The less soft of the collection is the 8.5 crème shadow but you do need more buffing strength with this kind of brushes when you are playing with creams.
The magnets are still here but this time they don’t bother me as much, they are now located at the back of the brush (the metal thing you can see on each brush).
The Magnets
In the past the magnet was inside the ferrule, now the magnet is attached to the bottom of the brush handle, the handles are ebony-stained oak. Nearly all the brushes have magnets, when you see the metal end it’s because it has the magnet. The magnets are there for organization purposes. They have released a plate with the Rae logo in the center to organize them just like you see on the picture. If you have the whole set, it’s better to have two plates because it will simply be easier to grab them. You have to watch Bora’s review, it’s fantastic, it will give you a lot of info on the magnets, the pros and cons.
This is the best ever example of a love-hate relationship. What I love is how they look on the plates standing on my dresser, when you enter my still-under-renovation office where I keep my makeup and brushes, the first thing you notice is the Rae brushes. They look stunning on the plates, since I have two plates this looks even more complete. The other thing I love about the magnets is that I know where the Rae brushes are, they could only be on those plates so I don’t need to hunt for them in the cups.
The left side of the dresser (eyebrushes) :
The right side of the dresser (face brushes) :
Now, sorry for the long story but I want you to understand what I honestly think about them…
What I hate is simple, when I need to wash them, every time some end on the floor (even twice) because I am not paying attention, they stick to each other, much less than the old set and as you can see in the following group picture they only stick at the bottom where the magnets are. If you put them inside a cup and you lift one, others may follow. If you lay them down on the dresser, when you pick one if it’s close to another, others may eventually follow. It sticks just enough for you to still be able to separate them with one hand but also just enough for the others to have the possibility -if you are not paying attention- to follow the leader and eventually fall on the floor.
Funny… I experience exactly the same situation with my motorbike. It is big, powerful, beautiful, reliable, in terms of performance it offers everything that I want, but it’s a big (super high) bike which is more comfortable to ride for longer distances but can be tricky when you have to stop.
This bike was the reason why I started to ride, just because it was gorgeous. Since it’s too high for me, I have to always keep in mind where I am stopping, at all times, if I stop in an uneven crossroad with small potholes there is a probability of me falling sideways and if I do, not even sure I can lift it on my own. There is a constant “warning light” turned on in my head looking out for the surface where I will have to stop, my mind cannot rest but despite this issue (that will never bother other taller riders) I still love my motorbike to pieces and I am more than ready to deal with it. The same happens for her brushes, the magnets are a deal breaker for some but a reason to buy them for others, or maybe you will love the brushes so much you won’t even care about this topic at all.
Are you missing on something if you don’t take the brushes because of the magnets? Some of her brushes, even if they weighted 200 tones I would still use them because I can’t live without them anymore.
Since they look so terrific on the plates I am considering keeping them that way and just pay more attention when I clean them or when I grab them.
If the magnetized part was the plate and the brushes had metal ends that would stick to the magnetized plate (instead of the other way round), I know that would better fit some of us. The problem is that I don’t know if in terms of physics if they would hold on properly onto the plate. Choosing where you want the magnets to be (either the brush or just the plate) would be an ultimate solution but, I have to admit, they have something unique and look stunning on the plates!
Sticking together :
This is me lifting one brush with another that follows, by the way, I like how the back of the magnet looks with the Rae logo… they look very professional.
The magnet is quite strong and you can lift one brush horizontally with another…
The reason why (in the first picture) I could have them stand close to each other without sticking is because I have this UHU Patafix, you put some at the back of the brush and they stay put against the surface of the table, so clever 🙂
That was my bf’s idea, one day I was looking lost and desperate in the Do-It-Yourself shop searching for a solution, he asked : “What are you looking for ?” I explained my problem (that I was having for 2 years!!!) and it took him 30 secs to find a solution for me, impressive ! I was really happy and it changes my life for the pics!! He is very proud of that finding and now he feels he can bring his ideas into our world of brushes 😀
Organization ideas
I have several of these Nici pouches for pencils, useful! On the left the roll open, on the right closed, you are limited to the number of brushes you store inside but you can still put quite a few, I use it mainly for eye brushes.
If you want to store Rae’s brushes inside a drawer, you can use this idea as well and leave the roll open, that’s what I do with the old range, they won’t stick to each other :
To store them you have several possibilities, either you put the Rae plate on the dresser or you use other methods… If you put the plate on the dresser without sticking it with tape, it can lift sometimes, it’s not the end of the world but today I did find a way that is solving both the “lifting” problem and the “space” problem, I bought shelf hooks and I attached them to the wall:
For the moment my wall is covered with wood but not for long, this month they should be able to renovate my room and remove the old wood, I will have to drill two holes for each plate again but at least it doesn’t move and it doesn’t take space on dresser. I could have used strong double-sided tape but I don’t trust it, if it falls it will damage the white dresser and I don’t want to risk it. It is solid and it looks really nice (will look better without the wood later on…)
I am very very sorry about the dirty brushes, just wanted to quickly show you how it looks underneath and also wanted you to see that you can store other cups in the same surface…
With the dresser (the mirror and decoration will change after the renovation, this was just temporary) :
In the shops (near the photo frames section usually) you have long metallic stripes that you can stick and then use for the Rae Brushes, this is an example with two options that I bought locally, when the room will be renovated I may stick these somewhere, probably under the big shelf, this will be helpful when I want to dry the brushes upside down.
The plate can host a lot of brushes but having two plates when you have the full set is quite useful to more easily grab the brushes, depending on how fast you need to rush in the morning, it could even be a necessity.
The plate has 4 little rubber protectors so that it doesn’t scratch the surface of your dresser and it comes in a nice pouch. Please watch Bora’s review linked before because you will see it in action 🙂
The packaging
Unlike the old range, now they come in smaller boxes with safer packaging. They are all wrapped individually so they cannot pick a particular softness or shape before shipping, you will only see it once you cut the plastic packaging. This is the first pic I took of them with my phone:
They come in black cardboard boxes who come inside other brown cardboard boxes! If you order the full set, it won’t come in the long luggage packaging but in smaller more handy boxes.
The full set costs 999 AUD (approx 892 USD), comes with 28 brushes and 1 plate. It is available either at Love makeup or at Rae Morris website. The price range varies depending on the brush but they are expensive, some are same price as Hakuhodo or Mac others are more expensive. For official details on the set, please click here but she also sells the brushes individually.
Today I will show you all of them here, with pics on my face (sorry the pics are greenish… will replace them with others later on) but at least you can their size to scale, I have a big face though 😀
Rae has a short video for each brush of approx 30sec long where she demonstrates how to use it, they are located on her website under each brush description and she also added comments to each brush, make sure you read those too..
In terms of audience, this set is targeting professionals but also beginners, which is really fantastic. It has all the brushes you would ever need… although I would add two more : a soft pencil brush and a small less dense blush brush, I will tell you why later on.
The brushes
1. Deluxe Kabuki & 2. Mini Kabuki
Goat brushes, I find them softer than the Hakuhodo, but the Rae are denser, they grab more, buff more. The old Deluxe Kabuki are not as nicely shaped. Needless to say, they are super cute.
Due to their high density the application can be medium to heavy, I love to use them with Suqqu, RMK or Chanel JC blushes because of how well they work with sheer products, also the polished finish is achieved perfectly well with these brushes. They did not shed and the bundling is even which makes the brushes not only look great but be durable and efficient.
Despite my super tired face, I still wanted to fulfill my duties and show you the face pics 🙂 the number one:
The number two which is much smaller:
You can also use it to blend the eyeshadow application, it’s a big one but some of you have larger lid space and this brush would totally fit there. On my eyes it fits, although the sides touch the eyebrows depending on how much pressure I put but that doesn’t matter, still fits that purpose.
3. Ultimate Cheekbone
You will not easily find similar brushes out there, compared to the old one, it’s thicker, fluffier, not as sharp but for me it’s a plus. I use it for contour, just like Rae shows here, you don’t need to swipe the entire length of the brush onto the product and you can flick it in a way that it provides a more directional application but if you want a thinner and more precise application you may take the little square kabuki instead (#4) or start higher in the hair line.
If you are starting with makeup, maybe one personal advice I can give you is that while applying makeup, the shape of the brush is not the only thing that matters, your technique (could simple be a different movement with the wrist) is also important, a bit like playing badminton, you can change the angles, flick the brush, do very short strokes or very long… thinking out of the box with makeup brushes brings new techniques that may change one brush from not being easy to use to being a staple.
3 – 4 – 5 – 26
It’s squirrel hair, in terms of softness, softer than the old #3.
In terms of density, much dense as well and compared to the Hakuhodo little angled brushes, the Rae is firmer which implies more blending capabilities but also a heavier application. I prefer the Rae because its size and the results match better my needs (using contouring products that aren’t overly pigmented) so a firmer brush does help.
I prefer to use the flat Hakuhodo little fan for highlighter and the more tapered one for contour but the necessity of having so many little fan brushes is not the reason why I own them… it’s just because I find them irresistible 😀
My fav is definitely the new Rae #3, for quick and easy daily application of contour, it became my go-to.
4. Square Kabuki
Again, squirrel hair, without being pokey at all, it has enough softness and firmness to achieve many multipurpose applications. Sculpting, blending, etc. Sculpting the sides of the nose is the functionality that best fits my usage.
Rae recommends this brush also with cream products, we know it’s squirrel hair and squirrel hair is not the best for cream shadows but if she recommends it, it’s because she can. I think the shape of this brush is perfect for highlighting the cheekbones and if we can use it with cream products, a good reason to own it. I’d rather use the goat little kabuki but that’s a personal preference.
It is firm enough to pick soft cream products and I do prefer an application of a highlighter stick with a brush, the application results more subtle and it won’t mess around with the foundation you are wearing underneath.
It has more firmness and precision than the Hakuhodo and it has a better bundling capabilities (denser and rounder) than the old #4.
A sideways comparison :
5. Flawless shader
Rae recommends this brush for shading the hair line or the jaw line, also to use with bronzers to give dimension.
I do prefer the Koyudo H012 because I have a big face, large front, big jaw… so no worries for me to use an even larger brush!
I have to admit that the Rae fulfils more purposes than the Hakuhodo or the Koyudo would, it can do both of their jobs, where I find the Hakuhodo to be too thin for some applications and the Koyudo to be too wide for others. It’s quite expensive though, but at least it has something that others don’t have, the size is versatile. The old #5 was a bit firmer, not as even and not as soft.
Compared to the Hakuhodo and Koyudo, surprisingly it has similar softness, the other brushes are a mix of goat and squirrel but still feel similar to the touch. Sometimes squirrel hair can be a bit too fine to blend effortlessly and in my humble opinion, the most efficient yet soft combination in a makeup brush is either squirrel with goat, OR, the soft yet efficient squirrel hair Rae is using on her brushes.
6. Deluxe Pro Blender
Super tough competition you will see here with the other similar brushes because this is the type of shape that captures my heart so I have many… I already liked the old #6 but this is even better bundled, denser and softer. Really cute to look at and very pleasant to use either on the eyes for finishing and blending or to sculpt the cheeks. It is quite big to use on the eyes, you will not easily blend a precise application but if the blending you want to do is on a larger area, this is possible with the surface of the brush, which is dense and flat-ish. If you look at the video here, you see how Rae does it.
I thought a size comparison with the other similar shaped brushes from the set would be useful to you, so here it is :
Sideways :
The Hakuhodo S116 is softer but since it’s much tapered at the surface it doesn’t have the similar blending capabilities.
The Koyudo BP025 is slightly bigger than the Rae but this Koyudo is just absolutely stunning and for the price, the Koyudo is a steal. The handle doesn’t look as nice as the Rae but the brush is a heavenly dream. The Hakuhodo K001 is not as soft as the Rae, this time it is a blend of goat/squirrel but too big to use it to blend eyeshadow and not as soft.
I do love the Rae #6 a lot, because of how thick it is versus its shorter length of the hair, it is super cute and super efficient. I even apply blush with it sometimes or layer too different blushes with it, you can play with the angle because it’s fluffy and dense enough to use the surface as well.
7.5 Deluxe Round Shader
Once more, great balance between softness and firmness, now, some of you would have preferred a denser brush, but denser also means less fool-proof if you use it to apply a base color. Denser and firmer also means more movement on the skin, that’s why I like it the way it is.
Here is a pic for you to see its size compared to the similar brushes of the collection :
The Edward Bess is firmer, it has more blending capabilities but if you have delicate skin, you will not enjoy the EB. I kept it because the size for a blender is spot on. Happy that the Rae happens to have similar surface area. The Paula Dorf you see here is firmer, not that much of a blender but more of a placer.
The Nars is less dense but firmer, I love this Nars brush but it is a bit rough, on a daily basis I prefer softer brushes but I keep it because I use it on my less delicate days. This Nars is actually a shape between the 7.5 and the 7, not as flat as the 7.5 and not as pointy as the 7. The brush that could replace the Nars is the Rae #7.
7. Deluxe Point Shader
It has the same shape as the old #7 but it is fuller at the surface.
The Chicca is not a brush I use often because it’s so pointy that it doesn’t have enough density at the top and it has way too much flexibility at the point, I am getting more used to it with time but still not in love with the functionality -although I do love the shape.
The Wayne Goss and the Hakuhodo are amazing brushes, they cover a bigger surface so they aren’t as precise but their blending power is fantastic, they are actually in between the 7 and the 7.5, not exactly flat, not as pointy.
If you have the WG or the Hakuhodo G5522, you’d rather pick the pointier version (#7) instead of the 7.5 blender, although you could pick all of them 🙂
8. Medium Point Shader
A must-have, you will see yourself reaching for it on a daily basis. I enjoy it a lot, very fool-proof, I can easily control the intensity of the darkest shadows that can end applied with precision but still with soft edges.
The Mac 226 is a no-go for me, way too rough. Most of the others are either too directional in comparison (LY, Kiwami but this is not a bad thing), or a bit more flexible to allow the equal precision (Hakuhodo, WG), not a bad thing either, it depends on your own needs…. We are not performing nano surgery either, the difference in the application is not that striking but I need to compare the brushes so I am doing my best to describe the differences 😀
8.5 Crème Shadow Shader
I can see you are interested in this one… It is bigger than the Hakuhodo J5522, not as soft. As you can already imagine, when it comes to cream products it is better that the hair is thicker and not as fine and soft, you still need strength in the bristles to blend the product, it has more strength than the Hakuhodos here, more firmness, similar density but the Rae is more splayed out.
Actually I see myself using this brush with cream contour (face) because the application of cream eyeshadow on the eyes is a bit too sheer for my own use (I prefer a thick cream shadow application near the lashline and blend upwards), I was curious so in my interview I asked Rae with what type of products she uses it.
The Tom Ford is more directional and feels softer. The Chikuhodo has similar firmness but is not as dense. The Mac is firmer, more directional but I wish this Mac was denser and more even at the surface.
9. Detail Point Shader
As you see in the pic here, another one with tough competition, I love little crease brushes even if they are a bit rough (Nars 12). Don’t ask me to choose between the Hakuhodo S146, Koyudo Red or the Rae, they are all amazing, if you have one you don’t need the other. Even the LY, they are all so good. I believe the Rae #9 does it better in terms of efficiency but it depends what you expect from them in priority: grab more pigment and diffuse it more easily ? yes the Rae will fit better because the bristles are slightly thicker and more splayed out so thanks to this I will less use the Nars and use the Rae instead, which is better because it is softer 🙂 Score!!
10. Deluxe Oval Shadow
This has always been an interesting shape, when I was selecting the Rae brushes I wanted, I had so much trouble with that. I couldn’t make up my mind and narrow my choice to just a few, I believe Jim was probably laughing while reading my mails and orders… and probably kindly thinking “looks like she caught the Rae bug hey” 😀
The shapes looked so interesting, not only for professionals but also for beginners, for anyone. I think that the best quality her new brushes have is the wide range of audience she targets with the design of the shapes and the material used.
To me the best quality of this brush is the density, it’s dense like the Z-5, as soft as the Kokutan and nearly as soft as the Z-5, really not that much of a difference going on here.
With a nice surface at the top to blend, so you can use this brush either flat or with its surface. It is dense and super pleasant to use.
11. Medium Oval Shadow
A smaller version of the #10.
Very similar to the Koyudo here, if you have one you don’t need the other.
The Koyudo is thicker and just very slightly softer, same for the Z-5. It is really a nice brush to have but unlike the #10, I do have similar dupes for this #11.
12. Lashline Smudger
Now… are you ready for this ? this is gold. Pure gold to me. Geez, do not separate me from this smudger ever. Side note: I love little smudgers, my fav shape of all eye brushes.
The Sue is a bit too big but still super efficient (but a bit too rough). The Tanseido is super soft and nice size but too thin, the Mac too rough. The Hakuhodo S138 fantastic but quite firm. The G5510 not soft enough for me.
The Rae #12 is small but has enough surface to work with eyeshadow flat or perpendicular mode. Now, I still think something is missing in Rae’s range, it’s a firm yet soft pencil. I did ask Rae so we’ll see what she thinks about it in part 2.
I found more like this (RBR and Paula Dorf) in my collection but again, too rough. When I need to smudge something in my lashline, they need to be firm, efficient but super soft. The Paula Dorf I own feels like needles, the others are fun, the Jane Iredale for example, fluffy tiny unique brush. I use the Rae #12 for the application of eyeshadow in the inner part of the mobile lid or to apply gradients of shadows, one in the inner corner, one in the middle, it’s small enough to achieve that.
13. Deluxe Eyeliner, 14. Precision Eyeliner, 15. Precision Bent-liner
I don’t use these much, since I own the Tom Ford liquid eyeliner I am not reaching for the cream eyeliners anymore. I tried them and they do the application of gel liners very easily, have enough flexibility to not poke the eyes and are super controllable, they follow your movement without any question. The past Rae collection was not ideal for me because the eyeliners were too firm, as a beginner I couldn’t use them easily.
With the #13, I can keep the application very close to the lashline, this week I tried the Suqqu eyeliner with it and loved it. Saves me from throwing the Suqqu liner at the bottom of my drawer. The Suqqu liner doesn’t last that long on me but with this brush I can apply it just at the bottom of the lashes then I set it with powder, the result is more of a soft application of liner with no harsh edges. If you want to use this brush for a more sharp definition of eyeliner, no problem at all, either way works.
This #14 eyeliner brush is either for precision concealing or precision eyeliner, it is very thin but the synthetic bristles stay close together so the application is … precise. I used this type of eyeliners a lot in the past but today I don’t anymore unless it is for special tutorials where I like to play with white, pink or silver gel creams but that would be to apply on the bottom lashline.
This #15 Bent eyeliner is better than the old from Rae Morris in my opinion because the old one was way too firm, this is more controllable and as you will see in the comparison pictures, the tip is also longer.
Some random eyeliner brushes to compare the size:
16. Brow Definer
Very different from any other brow brushes I own. I thought I had discovered a new functionality with this brush but actually I just noticed that Rae had already put that suggestion in the description: it also serves as eyeliner! That is why I recommend you to read her comments on each brush, very useful 🙂 I nearly missed on that!
I discovered this morning that I could blend my pencil application with it, use it with powder and either set the gel liner with it or wing out a powder liner application, terrific! truly works wonders. It is synthetic, unlike other stiff brow brushes this is soft enough to use around the lashline too. The point picks enough powder or pencil to apply an even line, for me it’s precise enough to define the root of the lashes without being too harsh, 100% foolproof.
I use thicker brow brushes on myself but this kind of thin brushes are great when you want to give some lift to your brows, I mean by that cheat a bit on the upper part of the brows, drawing some little brows just to enhance the shape of the arch. I do that sometimes and that is why smaller brushes are still a necessity, the cheating is so subtle and looks so natural that nobody notices it.
Since it is softer and has more flexibility, it is more versatile than the other small brushes here:
17. Mascara applicator
That is a tricky one, I am not a patient person, I do not use this as a mascara applicator, I did in the past and loved it, very full application, but I just don’t have time for that on a daily basis for now.
It is exactly the same as the last version:
Not sure how much I need this one except for combing my brushes and that is why I wanted to try it 😀
Gentle combing that is!!! very gentle, you don’t want to damage the bristles! Removes dust and “refreshes” the shape 😀
18. Brow Brush
I tried over and over again to try this brush on my bf’s brows (they need some grooming), I really would like to “take care” of his brows during his sleep but if I ever do that, I will wake up one day with no hair on my head… we don’t want that.
You can use it in the hairline around the face as well by the way.
In comparison with the usual spooly type brush, this is how big it is (didn’t take pics for that one…) :
19. Lip Brush
This brush is genius. Utterly genius, this is the first time I am deeply in love with a synthetic brush but I will tell you exactly why I love it.
It reminds me of a train on a track, when you apply lipstick with it, you feel it’s so stable on the lips that you forget it, it will just do its job and go back to its original position. Fan-tas-tic! doesn’t absorb product but that is not even its best quality. The best quality is the even pressure of the borders from left to right, the swatch will show that. Vertically on the left is the lipstick straight from the bullet, on the right the 3 swatches. See how even the RM application is ? with just one swatch.
It’s firm but has enough flexibility to follow the lips with an even pressure and without a surprise flick at the end. You usually have to rub your lips together to have the lipstick sink perfectly on your lips, this brush does that for you, it will marry your lips with the lipstick. All that with a synthetic brush ? yep. Since I cannot wear strong and dark lipsticks this brush is perfect for me, I apply a sheer/medium lipstick all over with this brush, then I apply a darker stain in the corners of the lips, love it, love the finished application and love the way it works. If you were not using lip brushes before, this may be a new future need for you. I will take some backups later on but I’ll tell you why at the end of the post.
Sideways :
20. Concealer Brush
Another synthetic brush, maybe this is why it works better with concealers that have a drier texture, will not absorb product and will not leave your skin looking dry.
You can put pressure, it won’t hurt and it will keep its shape. If you need precise placement you can draw a very thin line as well.
21. Mineral Buffer
This brush is much more interesting than the one from the old Rae range, the thickness of the bristles and the material is ideal for the application and buffing of mineral foundation. It delivers high coverage (flat surface= more pore coverage). Stipple and buff in round motions if you want very high coverage, or keep the application sheer with less stippling and more spacing. I have tried it with loose powder foundation, works exactly the same way as the Bare Minerals brush, but you have more coverage and you can build it up more easily. If you swirl and tap off the excess you have the perfect amount left on the brush. I also tried it with compact powder and it’s exactly the same, both applications are flawless. The only problem is that my very dry skin doesn’t like powder foundation but I am very relieved that this brush is soft enough to use in a stippling motion. I was curious about this one not for my own usage but to be able to use it on others… will tell you why later on 😉
It doesn’t poke at all and even if it’s not as soft as the H008 or Z contour or the BP022, it is soft enough for my delicate skin. It is less domed than the others therefore, at least on my face, it covers more surface easily and with the same pressure.
Most of you probably own the Sigma F80, to give you an idea of the Rae’s size, a pic side to side :
22. Pro Powder
Here’s something unique. Most of you probably own similar shaped brushes already, this is the softest candle-type shaped brush I own today.
It doesn’t apply as heavily as the Kashoen, or as precisely as the Hakuhodo because it’s softer, less dense and less firm but still works well with bronzer, its best job is the application of powder.
Just showing you another comparison pic I shared on Facebook … the softest of all these :
23. Liquid Foundation
Another brush made of pure gold. This was the reason why 2 years ago I wanted her first range so much: because of this brush. It is insane, I love how soft it is, when no other brushes can even touch my skin (on very sensitive days), this one still manages to do the job, softly and efficiently. I have good and bad skin days, at this moment my skin is suffering and is super sensitive, most of the brushes feel like needles, I do not wear any makeup at all on weekends anyway but this weekend my skin was so sensitive that I couldn’t even comb my hair, this morning same thing. This brush still manages to apply the foundation when I am in that situation, I am not over hyping the thing.
This brush is also the main reason why I insisted and contacted Rae a few weeks back. If she decided to include it in her new range it changes many things. Seriously I was so sad that this particular was only temporarily available within her old range that I was furious she did not release it individually, I need this in my life.
Today I have 3 of them (including the old one), I will keep them like museum rarities because if one day she discontinues it, I need to have backups. I imagine myself old and wrinkly but still enjoying this brush 😀
It delivers more blending power than the Hakuhodo or the Mac. The longer white bristles are so thin and soft that you barely notice them on the skin, this brush doesn’t feel like a solid mass of hair but it will follow the shape of your face, adapt accordingly to your features, you will just have to dose the pressure and you don’t need much.
Also denser than the Hakuhodo or the Mac… The longer white bristles place the product, the black base buffs it, it does not absorb foundation.
24. Foundation Contour
Very useful brush, either to sculpt or to apply concealer in larger zones, or even to place the foundation before buffing with the Radiance.
Angled, thick and dense = benefits from stronger blending power compared to a more flat brush. Also the synthetic bristles are fluffier than others at the tip which I love since you can also use the surface perpendicular to your skin. Also fits in the browbone area in case you like to apply product in that zone (foundation, primer…).
25. Fan Highlighter
Like most of you I don’t use this type of brushes a lot, if I want to remove the fallout I will use either a cotton bud or a denser brush. For highlighter I tried it, loved it although I prefer a brush that allows more control. This brush is not a necessity but it looks nice now that it has a different handle. I would not use it for shading, not enough control in my opinion to achieve an even application.
Sorry about the shape of the old one… was not comfy in the drawer 🙂 but still wanted to show you the different handles and that it does look much better now.
26. Radiance
Since the first day I used this Radiance it was a big love affair, it changed my routine completely.
Most of the time what I do to apply foundation is use a flat brush or the fingers before to place it, then use the Radiance to blend and finish. It is part of my life now and whenever I go on a trip, if I don’t take it, I don’t feel safe 😀
Today I have 5 of them, all the generations that Rae released, 2 grandmas, a mum and a daughter and even a hidden child, it was a prototype that was sent to me by mistake instead of the official Radiance when I ordered it, we were a few in the same situation and they let us keep the brushes 🙂 it’s just the same brush with different stitches (it’s the only difference I see…). With all the Radiances I own today my room should glow in the dark ! It doesn’t yet but I am probably not that far away from that, soon you will be able to spot my room from outer space.
The new Radiance #26 has a different handle and is now thinner, 5.8cm vs 7.2cm for the #27, it will be easier to hold if you have smaller hands. The bristles feel softer, it has similar density, there isn’t much difference and still delivers the same finish, if you have one you don’t need the other unless you want a different handle and a slightly softer version.
For now I still prefer the old one, I am not sure why, maybe because it looks more Japanese Traditions but most of you will prefer the new version, I used both on my face at the same time, one on the left and the other on the right, the result is similar. If you are interested in my previous review, you can see one here.
I also have the similar Becca that Iris (RougeDeluxe) gave me as a present when she visited me last month. How insanely lucky I am geeez !! Thank you Iris!!
I am pleasantly surprised with the quality of the Becca, but it is much denser than the Radiances and less soft. When you wash it you don’t even see the root of the hair, it’s so thick! The only issue I see with this brush is that the blending on the face can be quite aggressive, mess with the products a bit too much instead of delivering a lightweight and airbrushed finish. For example if you apply a lightweight liquid foundation, if you blend with the Becca it might be a bit too strong to fit the purpose, it will blend but it may remove some of the product as well in the process. I do see it better with powder but for the face it may be too big and less easy to control than a Radiance.
Next to the Becca, the RM Radiances look tiny 🙂 The new Radiance has whiter hair, it looks less natural, more refined. It had a strong smell when I first washed it but now it doesn’t smell at all. Does not shed, feels more solid than the old versions but my old Radiances are still going strong and have absolutely no signs of ageing.
I use it the same way as Rae does in the demo video here.
Bottom line
If you are not sure about the magnets and want to order just some of them to see if they are compatible with you, I would recommend you to try any of these first:
26 or 27 Radiance
3 Ultimate Cheekbone
6 Deluxe Blender
8 Medium Point Shader
9 Detail Point Shader
10 Deluxe Oval Shader
12 Lash Line Smudger
16 Brow Definer
19 Lip Brush
22 Pro Powder
23 Liquid Foundation
24 Foundation Contour
Now, you will have to pick some that you think will best fit into your routine of course.
As far as I am concerned, I am enjoying all of them but very specially, these are now part of me and will always be:
26 or 27 Radiance
10 Deluxe Oval Shader
12 Lash Line Smudger
16 Brow Definer
19 Lip Brush
23 Liquid Foundation
Overall, I truly believe that this new range is worth its price and I am not saying this because I did not pay for all the brushes… Therefore, I will mention the strengths and weaknesses that I noticed, starting with the weak points 🙂
Weaknesses ?
Despite the fantastic brushes within the Magnetic collection and even if some are indeed very versatile, just because I am really a pain in the B I would still add:
- a soft dense pencil brush (in my questions to Rae I mention this and asked her if she could consider an extension to her range).
- a SOFT denser outer V brush, like the little #9 but thicker, shorter more for very precise cut crease work. I have many like these but still looking for my holy grail, I can picture it, I can’t find it.
- a foolproof blush brush, less dense than the deluxe kabukis and less directional than the flat brushes (#3, #5) in order to work with very pigmented blushes a bit more easily, as it is I cannot find a brush I can easily use with very pigmented blushes, the #22 would do but it is too big for blush
- maybe also a fluffier bronzer brush that can pack more product than the current #22, something like her old #24:
- I would add a sort of thin cap to the lip brush that could contain enough lipstick for 2 or 3 applications (you know, like a toothbrush protector) but that would allow you to throw the lipstick brush into your thin handbag when you are dancing all night, I still want the full length brush rather than a convertible lip brush, loving the full length of it!
- I would love removable magnets so that all of us can be happy but I think that with this range, you are missing on something if this is the only blocking point
Strengths ?
Oh dear, yes… some of her brushes just made it to the very top of my top favs ever. Absolute staples. I find her brushes to be more unique than most of the brushes you’ll find anywhere else, they will become a revelation for some. There is a place for very high end luxurious makeup brushes (like the Chikuhodo Z series, Hakuhodo S100 series, etc…) and there is a place for efficient yet soft enough brushes. Lovers of Paula Dorf Sheer Crease type of brushes will find the same kind of efficiency with Rae’s collection: very well studied for the function they are supposed to fulfil.
Why backups ?
I told you I would need some backups for some of her brushes and this is why… At this moment I am preparing for an exam for a work-related topic but as soon as this is done and I am more available, I will start a makeup artist certification (never too late hey 😀 , I already talked to the teacher and this is now in the pipeline… I will need brushes that I will use only on the models I will be working with and some of Rae’s will be just perfect for that, they are durable, efficient and soft enough to allow me more time with the models before they need to shout for help 😀
Thank you for reading this part 1, part 2 is coming on the 10th of March 2014 🙂
55 comments
Fantastic post as always Sonia!
I will need to read it a few more times to really digest all your information – and I am already looking forward to it 😀
I too was thinking of a retractable lip brush or a cap that you put at the end. I like to bring a lip brush with me, so if this one only leaves me the opportunity of applying lipstick at home, because I cannot bring it with me, I think I will give it a miss. Otherwise it sounds really great.
The lashline smudger really got to me. I may very likely order that one!
I don’t quite understand how the brow brush work differently from the usual spiral one. Maybe you need to have very lush and stray eyebrows to need it? It’s just that you don’t look like you do … 😉
Thanks again for a REALLY great and thorough review!
Thank you my dear Jeanette! Funny you mention that, my first ever lip brush I did not wanted it to be retractable… don’t remember why… 😛
I am sure Jim and Rae will come up with a cap for this brush, plizzzzzz *showing big cute eyes*
yes please get that smudger, there is no other as soft and controllable!
if you have questions like this one about the brow brush, don’t hesitate because they will be interested and I am sure they can help to answer 🙂
my pleasure for the review, so glad it helps!
Thank you so much for the detailed review, I placed my order instantly after reading this. Thanks to you I will soon have a brush collection I can be content with, at least for a while. I’m so happy with all the brushes I bought from Suqqu, Koyudo, Chikuhodo and others. I love being part of your crazy brush loving community knowing that I’m definitely not alone in my love for beautiful and efficient brushes. It is so obvious the time, care, thought and energy you dedicate to this blog and please know that it is very much appreicated.
For sure you are not alone, and there are more in the shadows (they are just a bit shy…) but believe me I receive the most amazing emails, we are more than we think 🙂
as I said, the pleasure is mine, I am glad my energy goes somewhere fun 🙂 otherwise I would have to kick buts at work 😛
Yaaaaaay!!! The long awaited Sonia Rae Morris review. I have been clicking on your page several times a day for weeks waiting for this (which has meant that I’ve re-read the Kiwami review post 100 times).
This just made me laugh and laugh: “With all the Radiances I own today my room should glow in the dark!”
The motorbike mentions will make my boyfriend so happy as well 🙂
Thank you for linking to my video reviews. I’m still really loving my brush sets and already have back-ups of:
1. & 2. Kabukis: because they’re so cute
6 Deluxe Pro Blender: I love this for powdering my nose. I have the opposite skin type to you, resilient and oily so I need to spot powder a second layer on the T-zone sometimes and this brush is perfect.
7. 7.5. 8. 9. I love tapered round eyeshadow brushes and agree that these are soft but efficient.
11. Medium oval shadow: the Chiku Z5 is my holy grail eyeshadow brush so I was always going to love this as it’s so similar but less dense.
19. & 20. Lip and concealer: i LOVE the synthetic hairs on these and how firm yet flexible they are.
23. Liquid foundation: agree with you completely, perfection.
I totally agree with your comment on the “missing” brushes to the set, I also want a soft pencil brush (my HG is the Z10) and a flat paddle type blush brush (MAC 116 style) in squirrel. Personally I am also missing a MAC 217 style long paddle shaped blender (the Wayne Goss No.6is my HG) and a push type eyeliner brush to tightline with. Rae’s 16 Brow Definer is a bit too thick and hard for that purpose for me.
The more and more I use them though, the more and more I like the system with the magnets and plate, it’s much more efficient to have them standing up and separated on the plate than my other brushes which are standing in cups. I do my make-up on a large desk so I have plenty of space but I think if you don’t have space then it’s not so convenient.
I also got to interview Rae for my day job, and I have a special brush feature that I’ve written for my magazine that I hope to share with you in the next few weeks….
Thanks again for the review, and I can’t wait to read Part 2!
argh so so sorry for the wait, under water and under pressure here but I am glad I have you and all these brushes to comfort me 😀
you crack me up!!
I am been checking up your channel as well and very much enjoyed your videos, they calm me down and relax me so keep up the great work!!
I had a few examples of things that I love despite being sometimes ennoying so I picked the bike one for your partner 😉 you can tell him that! Tell him that this summer my mission is to be able to lift it on my own in case I fall… I will train on grass though 😀
I can’t wait for your interview! very excited about it!
Wow! Thanks for the detailed review Sonia! I think Im going to go for the radiance and #8 & 9 shader. But my priority is the kiwami and koyudo ces first. Lol
And good luck with the makeup class.. Next time youre gonna be doing makeup videos!!!!
great choice! oh dear… can’t wait for the Koyudo ces to arrive (and the other surprise set from Koyudo… will tell you more soon 😉
hmmm doing makeup videos ? not sure but I am certain this will help me help you better 😉 lacking skills here … 😛
Can’t wait Sonia! So excited!
You will get the other new set as well or is it just upcoming soon ?
They shipped my echizen set today as well I’m so nervous 😉 but it will make a little route to local Japan and then over Melissa to me hahaha 😀
oh you are nervous ? I guess you must be scared to be disappointed, don’t worry me too 🙂
hmm which other set ? the Koyudo upcoming one I mentioned earlier ? yes I get it too 🙂 I will ask them if I can share more details with you, but that one is not canadian, it’s red squirrel and that one will be sold separately but let me confirm to you soon ok ?
it is not yet officially released so I am not even sure I should be mentioning anything at all 😉 mine are not shipped yet, I paid but I dont have yet the info that it’s shipped … we’ll see 🙂
the Hakuhodo one I ordered (together with a few brushes from the Japan site) has been shipped to Tenso yesterday 🙂 youhouuu can’t wait, really excited like crazy here… 😛
I am waiting for the WG, the Koyudo and Hakuhodo and totally fully enjoying the Kiwami and the RM … spoiled!!!
Yes i meant the new set you told us before. I thought you evtl will get it together with the echizen since you wrote other koyudo 😀 …
Red squirrel sounds awesome and that’s enough info for me (at moment) I don’t want that you share something with us you shouldn’t
ohh gosh I see myself placing another expensive order…
What my order was shipped before yours ?? I wanted to order two other brushes with it but I thought it will be faster when i order it alone 😀 and yes I’m nervous and happy at the same time 🙂
I believe 8 brushes in the Red squirrel one 😮
I should get it tomorrow (both of them!!)
if I do I will share pics tonight 😉
did you get yours ??
HOLY SH*T! Red squirrel set?!?!
Oh dear, time to sell some stuff as my budget is ZERO. I just mentioned to 212kiki if there is a “brush bank” so I can get a loan to finance my brush addiction. Or get a “Platinum brush credit card” to buy all of them 🙂 🙂 🙂
I CANT WAIT!!!
yes.. with 8 brushes!!!
me too can’t wait, I am bouncing on my chair shouting “TOMORROW TOMORROW TOMORROW” *breath*
This post is so full of information– I love it! The metaphor of brush application to badminton was perfect 🙂 I don’t know how I’d never seen those video’s you linked of Rae’s but I tried applying contour from outside-inward and I loved the results.
The ones that interest me the most from this collection are 4, 8, 16 (maybe), 22, & 23.
hey Jil,
with all the upcoming reviews and hopefully comments, it will help you get a more balanced opinion of the ones to get 🙂 those choices are great but honestly I don’t regret a single brush so…
thank you for your kind comment 🙂 <3
Oh and so excited for you about the makeup certification class. That is something I would love to do but just can’t with work and kids, but I would love to hear how it goes for you. Your models will be so lucky, I don’t think any makeup artist has quite your collection of brushes. What a treat for them! Please keep us posted.
I was planning this for a while but it will take a lot of weekends so I have to be ready for it 🙂
I have to say that compared to the brushes they have used on me on other very short makeup classes I attended, they have absolutely nothing to do with the ones we own, I remember very clearly that I was very close to have my skin burned while she was buffing the blush, it was very painful, I thought it was surreal, believe me, you can’t go back to regular brushes when you have delicate skin 🙁
Models do suffer too but I will make mine go to sleep 😀
Thank you for the detailed review as usual. The amount of info is just perfect..Precise and to the point with enough details to make a decision. Frankly speaking I was never interested in RM brushes, because they were just to plain for me. Each brush has a story to tell and I felt that old RM lacked in that sense. However, the new brushes looks more grandeur and promising in sense of function and application. They seem better shaped. I’m liking number 2,3,7,8,8.5 (good for buffing concealer under eye) 9,23 and 25. But if I got to pick few I will surely go for 2, 3, 23 and 25 because those are more difficult shapes to get. My wish list is building up… Sniff sniff. I have to wait until my next purchase. I usually get scared reading your reviews, because at the end of review I know I will fall in love with new brushes and my wallet will suffer lol. I enjoyed reading every bit of it and I agree with the weakness comment section. I would rather have a decent blush brush than a mascara applicator or a brow brush. I actually laughed when I read your suggestion for the mascara applicator..lol
Hi Hiba 🙂
you are so much fun, it is just absolutely amazing to share this passion with you!
That’s the thing, Rae created special shaped brushes not that easy to find on the market so if you were looking for more unique brushes, you can’t go wrong.
lol don’t be scared! I don’t always have positive reviews 🙂
Oh yes the mascara brush… The power of finding other ways is in our hands, we have to embrace it 😀
thank you for commenting and I am really happy to see you here!!
I’m happy to be a part of it. Same here… I was super excited reading the review and commenting 😀
A MUA certification course – how brilliant! Do please keep us posted on your progress, you busy, busy lady!
I’m so, so, so close to picking up a few RM brushes now but I cannot afford to right now 🙁 However, this will be my bible when that day finally comes and I can’t wait! Thank you for your precision, and all the personal touches (as always!) 🙂
BRAVO girl!! Oooh….can I pls come over as your first “client” ?? But I insist that you use all yr brushes on me, so that means I will have to stay at yr place for at least a month?? 🙂 🙂 🙂
When my budget allows me again I will get the non-magnetic brushes for now!
Oh Sonia! I am awestruck by your passion and the depths to which you plunge — or perhaps rather the heights to which you aspire! A MUA certification? As if you weren’t busy enough!
Thanks for this thorough and honest review, pros and cons. As nice as these brushes may be, I’m sure the brushes sticking together would drive me absolutely nuts!
Wonderful review!! Read it for several times, dithering which to buy since yesterday, finally placed an order for #12 and #27. Thanks, Sonia!
Great choices Flora 🙂 I am using the 12 every single day, the more I use it, the more I find it versatile, it’s a treasure! I use the Tom Ford pencils and this brush can softly even out the application, I can also do the outer v, I can use it to define the lashline… and it doesn’t hurt my eyes… *sigh* happy face
I coudnt resist and Anna ordered for me the new radiance 😉 I was so close to buy one of the kabukis but since you said the hair is not as soft as Haku J series i think i’m glad i didnt order them at moment 🙂 I think they are efficient but i ordered other sins 😛
Btw i cant belief that you can find enough time to write such detailed reviews when you are so busy with more important things. I’m so excited about yor make-up course i hope you will love it and you can get usefull tips there for yourself as well 🙂 We will book you but only with your full brushcollection 😛
I am sure I will love it, it is separate modules each on Saturdays then practice days / exam days… etc very nervous here 🙂
the problem is to really know the potential of some products you have to try them on several skin types, then I get a lot of questions behind the scenes but makeup is not my professional domain… if that helps me to better review the products it’s great, but either way I am super impatient! Many things are happening to me right now, lots of changes at work (hopefully for the best) and next week I am starting with a new colleague who looks like quite a brain in our IT domain so I can’t wait! so challenging! we will be taking care of projects that involve USA and HK so I am scheduled to travel there as well … crossing fingers!
oh and I hope that my future clients will love me for the fun and for the brushes, I will make sure to use the best brushes so that they come back to me 😀
thank you for the super nice compliments, I am blessed !
Oh yes never thought that could also improve your knowledge for product reviews but sure you will have a view from another side of some things.
And makeup for film or photos are often not very good for a day or event makeup so that also makes differences in application and products 🙂
Wow more stress at work ( sounds “nice” to battle a bit to see how great are you are) so you need a lot of soft brushes in the evening to calm down … pet pet pet smiiiile, ohhh good 😀
at the moment I need a lot of pat pat pat smile in the evenings!!
but I am blessed!
It will certainly help to have a different view since we are often more picky when we do make up on other people, at least I am 🙂
there are some J series that have slightly thicker bristles (the J5541) so it is quite similar to that one. they are not rough at all, but they aren’t as fine as most of the J’s ..
still use them with the Suqqu blushes because I can pack more product and the pan is just the right size 🙂
Superb post Sonia!!! Congratulations on taking steps to become a makeup artist; you certainly have the knowledge, skills and tools to become a great one. I am rooting for you all the way. The very best to you!
-Maria http://www.ifmakeupcouldtalk.com
thank you Maria! I am very excited to play with other people’s face 😀 – now every time I look at someone I imagine myself doing their make-up and I CAN’T HELP IT ! it’s annoying but fun!
Since I have the black radiance since friday and see how much more hair the old radiance has (old 1,1 x 7,0 cm to new 0,8 x 5,9 cm )the price increase leaves a bit bitter taste for me….
But I must say I still love it and the black handle is very nice and i sit hear on my couch and make a radiance sandwich with my face 😛 I just love them. 😀
hahaha you crack me up with the sandwich 😀
I didn’t like it as much at the beginning but today I love both “nearly” equally 😀
Thank you for this review! I am new to the world of luxury brushes. I recently invested in some Hakuhodo brushes. I really want to try the Radiance brush. How do I get it in the U.S.? If I can’t , should I settle for the Becca One brush until Rae sells in the U.S.? I would want to try to use it to apply my tinted moisturizer… I want that quick airbrush look…
Hi Jacqueline, you can order it from their website, they ship internationally. http://raemorris.com/collections/brushes?page=4
hmmm no, much better to get the RM if you can, the Becca will not be as pleasant to use and may interfere with the underneath application a bit too much in comparison 🙂
Hi Sonia, how does the RM 12 compare to Koyudo BP039 in size and effectiveness?
Hi Jeanette, the RM 12 is wider (probably 1/3 more at the base of the ferrule), hair is 1mm longer, more flexible, thinner and not as densely packed. The RM is fantastic for quick, even and precise application on the mobile lid or smaller areas, the BP039 will do it but its power is precise perpendicular work. When used perpendicularly, the surface of the BP039 feels softer but since it’s more densely packed it has a wonderful surface to work with at the top and smudge with more control and strength. I am in the process of writing a few posts where I will suggest dupes for Suqqu S and the BP039 is one of them (sort of) but I think you also mentioned that in the past right ?
Sonia, this post teaches me a lot again! I just love looking at those less seen shape. I am looking forward to those crease brush comparison photos with your coming Wayne brush reviews (also the crease from the Red Squirrel line), can’t be more excited.
This is a short and prompt thought though, I am worried if the #3ultimate cheekbone is hair hand-cut. Am I being too careful?
Also, do you mind me asking u if you are comfortable with Rae’s claim to wash these squirrel brushes with alcohol, like what Wayne previously recommended to do with his recommendation in alcohol based super-fast brush cleansing liquid? Do you find more washing can take off those protective coat Rae Morris mentioned that doesn’t exist for her brushes to make hair look nice?
I think of those dropping the iphone youtube videos to see how things turn out, just an evil thought.
Wayne had sent me his brushes, we tracked them, they said “delivered to Switzerland” in the tracking site but they never reached me 🙁 how sad… I believe Switzerland messed up somewhere.
But I will definitely and shortly get both sets, the face and eye brushes so I will show you pics and all, I am very excited too! I think that like Rae he found a nice balance between efficiency and softness and he will nicely target many of us, we’ll see 🙂
The #3 doesn’t feel like cut hair to me, I use it every single day with my RMK contour and it feels soft and is efficient, not pokey at all. I can ask them if you like ?
If I were a professional I would use whatever technique she uses for sure, you will certainly need more efficient-sanitizing washing technique. If it’s just for home use I wouldn’t but this is just my very personal feeling, the hair feels more solid and durable than other finer squirrel brushes but still, the handles are wood and I just don’t want to take any risk in shorten the durability of the brushes. In the future, if I work on models I will use stronger alcohol based products she recommends but I would be careful with the handles.
Sometimes we need more than a year or two to see the effects of a repetitive procedure on something. At least you know she is a makeup artist and she uses her brushes on a daily basis with very intense usage.
I should buy more~
[…] be found here. As I mentioned in the video, I own the older style but you can see the new style on Sonia’s blog. Rae Morris brushes can be purchased at IMATS conventions as well as the Rae Morris […]
This post has been a real game-changer. I just love how you have combined every detail which may be I couldn’t even think about. I have become a fan of your blog Sonia! Kudos!
Have a great day!
Thank you Wasifa, have a great day too sweetie 🙂
Thank you for this review! Everyone told me not to buy it because of the price but I had to see if RM brushes are worth the money!
Alice, the price is very high but they make me gain so much time in the morning, I am still very happy with them, they are highly professional tools, very efficient and yes, extremely expensive but I do use them all and enjoy them all.
Hallo Sonia,
I want to buy some rae brushes. I hope you can help with my decision.
On my list are the two kabukis, Nr.3,4,5,6,10,23. Warning, I have a lot of questions :)….
Do you often reach for the kabukis? What are you using them for?
I am debating, if I need the the flawless shader, ultimate cheekbone and the square kabuki, because I see myself with all three contouring. But maybe bronzer with the flawless shader and contouring my nose with the small one and cheekbones with Nr.3 :)…Which one is the most multifunctional out of the three? Do you use Nr. 4 and 5 on a regular basis beside the ultimate cheekbone?
Nr.6: For what purpose do you use the deluxe pro blender?
Nr.10: I imagine this brush for applying eyeshadow on the lid and also in the crease and being able to blend with it in the crease. Can this brush meet my claims or is the Nr.11 a better choice(but I imagine the Nr. 11 size wise like the MAC 239 only thicker, this would be a little bit too small)? I have big eyes an want a brush that is easy in the morning.
Nr.7:You suggested this brush, if someone already has the G5522. But I have to say that i find the G5522 a little bit floppy. Has the rae one more resistance?
Ein großes Lob an dich und deine tollen Artikel, durch deinen Blog bin ich zu wirklich tollen Pinseln gekommen. Meine emfindlichen Augen danken dir sehr 🙂
Ganz liebe Grüße aus Deutschland
Maja
Hi Maja,
ok let’s try…
I reach for those white kabukis for harder to pick textures, for that and for polishing up a blush application (because some blushes look better when you buff them with more strenght), for example, Three, Chanel JC, Ipsa, some Jill Stuart. Some sheer blushes need to be handled with stronger brushes, the white kabukis are firm and strong yet soft enough.
The ultimate cheekbone yes, it is a brush I use very often for dimensional contouring (I call that when I want a contouring that is thick and bronzey-type). I use the little one for more precise contouring so those two are the most useful.
Deluxe pro blender for blending and setting, it is big to use for eyeshadow but it depends what technique you use, if you go for precise application of products, rather than layering, then a little brush is great to have. I prefer round brushes but this is a lovely one to own, but again, it depends. Many will use this every day, others will use this only when they want a more researched look. I mostly use it for hightlighter, but it’s like the “control des travaux finis” type of role, how do you call that in English… hmmm compare it to someone that has the role on checking the finish look before it goes into production… that doesn’t even has a sense, well, you finish your application, you pick this brush and add the perfecting touch… (blend, highlighter, dusting off, etc).
No 10 may be too big for the lid.. better 11 and even that one for the lid is a bit large, it’s twice the size of the Mac 239! but it’s manageable!
No 7, no, it doesn’t have more resistance, my G5522 is not floppy though.
Hmmm liebe Gruesse aus Switzerland 😀 du bist ein <3
one thing i forgot…
Nr.23:Because I dont use foundation, is it also so good for powder/ bronzers/blushes? I love my MAC 187 but it is so old an scratchy, and Iam looking for a superior duo fibre brush…so would be the Nr 23 a good replacement for my old 187?
I wouldn’t use that one for powder, it’s too good to use with liquids 😀 I don’t know, I haven’t tried LOL
it certainly is a better one that the 187 …
[…] from Sweet Makeup Temptations produced an incredibly thorough review of the Rae Morris Collection Brush Set. Seriously though, […]
[…] **See what Sonia from Sweet Makeup Temptation (aka: The Queen of Makeup Brushes) is saying about the entire Rae Morris Magnetic Brush Line (here).** […]