THE MINI SHEER BUFFER

You may be familiar with the Sheer Buffer, it launched in June 2023. Today I will show you the new baby version of that brush: the Mini Sheer Buffer.
This new mini version is not only the Sheer Buffer in a smaller size, but it complements its functionality and covers different needs and tasks. For example, when you need more precision, more strength and control, but you still want that same ease building the application to the desired intensity, without the inconvenience of the harsh edges.

HOW THESE SHEER BUFFERS WORK

Both the Sheer Buffer and the Mini Sheer Buffer are stippling brushes, they are bundled with a combination of natural goat bristles and synthetic fibers. They differ in size and purpose, but they are both brushes that allow to build an application gradually and effectively.

• The Sheer Buffer will take care of the products that need a diffused application when we want to target a medium/large area.
• The Mini Sheer Buffer will still have the ability to deliver a diffused application, but it will work with a little more intensity and blend the product within a smaller perimeter.

Stippling brushes can sometimes have synthetic bristles that are too firm, or that flex/open too much, when this happens it’s tricky to obtain a nice even blending using the same brush. These Sheer Buffers are brushes that can apply, and also blend the application.

The surface at the top distributes the product, and the denser working surface underneath blends the application.

When working with products that require a lightweight application, this construction makes the process extremely easy and fast. It saves times because we build the application gradually: we won’t overdo it, and we won’t need to tone it down afterwards.

Both the Mini and the Sheer Buffer are extremely soft, the surface of these brushes has movement, but enough density to blend with fewer strokes. This is very important if you have sensitive skin.

This Mini Sheer Buffer covers a similar purpose than the Sheer Buffer, but on a smaller area, and it will work with more control and strength in comparison. It’s ideal if you want a more sculpted application of cream bronzer, or if you love to work with cream blushes, or even hybrid formulas (highlighters, blushes, sculpting or finishing products).

Although they look very similar in design, in order to reach the desired functionality, the Mini Sheer Buffer required a whole new development process. It’s not just scaling down the size, we had to recalibrate the brush entirely. It was a lot of work to reach this precise result, and so incredibly interesting to see how a little variation on the design can have such a huge impact on the application.

PURPOSE AND PRODUCTS

Since I started my blog in 2012, I received a lot of requests asking for recommendations on what brushes to pair with cream blushes, or with very specific formulas. We had amazing cream products available in the market but when talking about them with my friends, I had the feeling that we were missing out on them. These cream/liquid/hybrid formulas would often go off faster than powder formulas, before we even had the chance to get enough use out of them. Maybe we didn’t reach for them more because these formulas demanded more effort and time, and most of the time we just didn’t want to bother. Or maybe there was also a lack of tools that would help make their application more effortless.

I often recommended the MAC 130, it is such a great brush, very much used and loved, but in certain situations I wished I could recommend something a little bit more supple at the surface, just a little bit bigger than that MAC, but also with a stippling design.

This is why I created this Mini Sheer Buffer with this specific size and design. I think it truly helps to deal with formulas that need a bit more attention, and it even turns the whole process into a fun effortless experience.

This Mini Sheer Buffer has been designed for cream and hybrid formulas. But even though it was designed to work primarily with cream/liquid/hybrid products, it is quite phenomenal with many powder products too, with finishing powders or just for buffing the end result.
The natural bristles are slighly wavy and provide airiness and movement to the brush. With the help of the soft synthetic bristles, it allows the surface to hover smoothly, it doesn’t feel like a dense flat mass but still has strength to evenly buff the product.

Sticks / Lipsticks

You can use the surface of the brush to pick the product and transfer it onto the skin, or you can apply the product onto the skin with the stick, and then blend with the brush. Some products work better when applied onto the brush first as their intensity or formula will be easier to control or diffuse.

Liquid products

You can apply them either onto a make-up mixing palette and pick them up with the brush, or apply the product directly onto the skin and then blend it.

Cream/hybrid formulas

It depends on your own preference, I usually swipe the product then transfer it onto the skin. We just need to adapt the pressure to match the hardness or pigmentation of the product.

Powder products (loose or pressed)

If the product is very pigmented, it’s good to remove the excess / gently tap the surface of the brush onto the back of our hand before applying it.

Foundation/Concealer

The application with this brush is going to be sheer, lightweight, more like a wash of color, it could work with foundation but it depends on the product and the coverage that you are aiming for.
I use it with liquid foundations if I am just aiming for a sheer enhancement, but I’d rather use a denser brush.
This is not a brush I would use with concealers because of the lack of density or coverage that it provides – versus for example the Mini Base below which would be better for that purpose.

The Mini Base is going to work with more opacity, it’s also wonderful paired with cream blushes, but if you are looking for a brush that delivers a more diffused result, the Mini Sheer Buffer is more appropriate.

HOW TO USE IT

The stippling bristles work in two steps. First, using light pressure, the synthetic bristles will hover on the skin to place and distribute the product. Then, when adding more pressure, the denser surface will touch the skin and buff the application.
In order to increase the buffing power, we just need to adapt the pressure.
My recommendation is that the first time that you pair these Sheer Buffers with a product, feel how the bristles pick and interact with the product and how it adheres to the brush. Some products just need a light touch with the thin stippling bristles at the surface of the brush, other products need to be picked and worked directly with both the stippling bristles and the denser surface.

This Mini Sheer Buffer can be easily wiped on a microfiber cloth and it will be ready for the next product.

TECHNICAL SPECS

AVAILABILITY AND PRICE OF THE MINI SHEER BUFFER

The Mini Sheer Buffer will be available on Beautylish starting on the 1st of January 2025 at 10am PT. It will retail for 60 USD.

It is a brush we can keep in the collection so we can bring it back should it sell out.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate! I hope that you will love how this brush performs and that you can incorporate it in your daily routine!