March 27, 2010

Sigma Makeup Professional Premium Brush Kit Review/ Overview






***Preface: I purchased these brushes with my own money. This is not a sponsored post.***

Although I had heard A LOT about Sigma Makeup Brushes through youtube, I hesitated to purchase the original brush kit. I did purchase the revised SS 187 when Encore Makeup published his video about it, but otherwise, I owned no other Sigma brushes. I was simply sick of hearing about the company, and wanted to spend my money elsewhere. However, when I received an email about the Professional Premium Brush Kit, I was intrigued....



At $149, it is considerably more expensive than the first full brush kit offered by Sigma Makeup; however, there are more face brushes in this set. Compared to what one would spend for similar brushes individually, this is a very good value for money. Shipping will vary by location (I.e. Domestic v. International). I paid $7 for shipping, and no sales tax (which is awesome- I live in California and would have had to pay an extra $14 otherwise!).

15 Brushes are included in the set, along with a brush roll. If divided equally, the price for each item is $9.31.


I ordered this set on Monday, February 22nd and it arrived on Wednesday, February 24th. I was impressed that it shipped so quickly (to California). The box the kit shipped in was black with a Sigma sticker on it. I appreciated the care taken in packaging the contents.

When I opened the box, I observed everything packaged nicely in a black gauze bag. Instructions for care and a brochure detailing each brush were included. Unexpectedly, I smelled an extremely strong, artificial and rubber/ glue- like odor. Initially I believed the smell originated from the brush roll, but after removing the brushes from it, I determined it was coming from the brushes themselves (probably due to the glue used in the manufacturing process). The odor has significantly decreased after several washings, but is important to consider. I was surprised by this since no other gurus that I have seen have mentioned this detail...

The included brush roll is the exact same version as compared to the one sold with Sigma's Complete Brush Kit (and also available individually on the site). I noted that some of the brushes fit very tightly into their slots (in particular, the SS 227 and the SS 165) and were difficult to remove and replace in the roll. Contrary to comments made by others (Tiffany D and the like), I found the brush roll to have a very cheap feel. It didn't feel like imitation leather, but more like a thin rubber. The brush roll is not an item I would use, since I already own a brush belt that I prefer to Sigma's brush roll. I would have preferred the option to order this kit without the roll.All brushes were nicely packaged in plastic for protection. As I removed the brushes from the roll, I immediately noticed that the plastic sleeves were labeled "Made in P.R.C." (People's Republic of China). Given background information provided by several gurus (including Tiffany D) about the Sigma brand, I believed the brushes were made in the United States. In fact, the brushes are designed in the U.S., manufactured in China, and then distributed by Sigma (based in the U.S.). Whether or not this poses an issue is for you to decide, but I think it is important to clarify this point. I was previously under the impression Sigma products were made in the U.S.A. since "U.S.A." is stamped on each brush handle (Why not omit "U.S.A" to avoid confusion?).


The information included with the kit is great, especially for beginners who may not know how to care for or use the brushes. One criticism I have for the brochure is that there are inconsistencies in the descriptions of the brushes. Some descriptions include the materials the brush is comprised of (I.e. "natural bristles" vs. "synthetic bristles") while others do not. I think this is something Sigma should consider revisiting. Consistency is important (Something we'll revisit when inspecting the quality of the brushes)!


...Onto brush specs and review details!


SS 134 LARGE POWDER BRUSH

Intended Use:
Setting Powder and Bronzer application. Brush Length: approx 6 3/4". Brush Weight: 43.3 grams. Shed Factor: Not bad. Only a few bristles shed here and there prior to washing, and a few after. Dye Bleeding Factor: Not bad. Very little dye extracted during washing. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9. Pros: Very Soft, very dense and lush feeling. Cons: Becomes extremely fluffy after washing and loses its "paddle shape". Over time it takes on the shape of a fluffy powder brush. Final Impression: I do like this brush, and am hoping that drying the brush in a brush guard will help to condense the bristles so they do not become so fluffy as they dry.


SS 129 POWDER/ BLUSH BRUSH
Intended Use:
Blush and powder application. Brush Length: approx 7 1/2". Brush Weight: 21.8 grams. Shed Factor: No noticeable amount of bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: No noticeable bleeding while washing. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 7.5. The bristles aren't quite as baby fine as some of the others. Pros: Good, basic blush brush- a "can't go wrong" standby. Cons: Might be a little large for some people. Could be softer. Final Impression: Not my favorite blush brush in the world, but definitely not bad.


SS131 DUO FIBRE POWDER BRUSH
Intended Use:
Blush and powder application, application of cream and liquid products. Brush Length: approx 7 1/2". Brush Weight: 23 grams. Shed Factor: A few bristles shed prior to washing. Dye Bleeding Factor: Noticeable bleeding during washing. In addition, black dye leaches into the white synthetic bristles as the brush dries and tints them a grayish color. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9. Pros: Unique brush, may help to deposit highly pigmented products with less intensity. Cons: Dye leaching into white bristles. Final Impression: I like this brush, and hope that the dye leaching will discontinue over time.


SS 138 TAPERED FACE BRUSH
Intended Use:
Powder application. Brush Length: approx 8". Brush Weight: 35.7 grams. Shed Factor: LOTS of shedding. Countless bristles shed and even a clump of about 4 bristles came out of the brush prior to washing. This brush shed more than any other I have owned in any price range. Dye Bleeding Factor: Bleeding was a bit more noticeable with this brush, but was not bad. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9. Pros: Very soft, pleasant to use for powder application. Cons: Brush head is very fluffy, and like the SS 134, this brush almost turns into a standard powder brush after washing. The domed and pointed shape lose definition when the brush head is pressed into the face. Lots of bristles shed. Final Impression: I like the brush, and am hopeful that the use of a brush guard during drying will help to condense the bristles so they are not so fluffy. I am disappointed that the brush head does not retain it's pointy shape when brushed across the face.


SS 165 TAPERED HILIGHTER BRUSH
Intended Use:
Hilight, contour application. Brush Length: approx. 7". Brush Weight: 15.3 grams. Shed Factor: Not bad. A few bristles broke off, but did not shed from the base of the brush. Dye Bleeding Factor: No noticeable bleeding of dye. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8. Pros: Brush retains its pointed shape even after washing. Works tremendously well for contouring. Cons: The tapering around the brush is not completely symmetrical. There are some "Frizzy" and slightly scratchy bristles that stick out of the brush. Final Impression: I like this brush, but wish it was a bit softer and tapered more precisely. This is another example of inconsistency in the bristles. While the similarly shaped, but larger SS 138 bristles are extremely soft and baby fine in texture, there are definitely some bristles in this brush that are on the scratchier side.


SS 192 LARGE CONCEALER BRUSH
Intended Use:
Concealer, cream products application. Brush Length: approx 6 3/4". Brush Weight: 16.5 grams. Shed Factor: No bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: No dye bled. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9 (although synthetic bristles are inherently slick and are often soft). Pros: Large brush head can conceal larger areas quickly. Cream products wash out more easily than they do when used with natural bristled brushes. Cons: None. Final Impression: This is a good basic brush. It doesn't particularly stand out in the set, but it performs very well.


SS 195 CONCEALER BRUSH
Intended Use:
Application of concealer and other cream products such as eye bases. Brush Length: approx. 7". Brush Weight: 8.2 grams. Shed Factor: No bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 7.5. Pros: Tapered and slightly pointed brush tip allow you to get into all crevices around the eye area. Since the brush is extremely thin, it doesn't absorb too much product. Does not cake on liquid or cream concealers, and allows for building of products if necessary. Cons: Can feel slightly pokey. Tapering, again, is imperfect. I can see jagged cuts on this brush. Final Impression: I really like this brush. I wish it was a little less pokey, but it not so bad that it would prevent my use of the brush.



SS 210 SMALL EYE LINER BRUSH
Intended Use:
Creme and liquid eye liner application. Brush Length: approx 6 1/4". Brush Weight: 4.8 grams. Shed Factor: No bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: No bleeding occurred. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8. Pros: Very thin, allows for precise application of eye liner. The brush handle is is a good size in terms of diameter- it fits really well in the hand. Cons: I wanted this to be an arced liner brush. Arced liner brushes are simply easier to use and are more precise. Final Impression: Great brush. Does what it is intended to.


SS 212 FLAT DEFINER BRUSH
Intended Use:
Eye liner application, smudging, eye liner setting with powder. Brush Length: approx. 6 1/4". Brush Weight: 6.1 grams. Shed Factor: No shedding occurred. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 7.5. Pros: Dense but very thin. Wide enough to cover a good amount of real estate, but not so wide that it doesn't contour to the curves of the eye. Cons: A little bit stiff, but I really can't complain here. Final Impression: Awesome brush.


SS 214 SHORT SHADER BRUSH
Intended Use:
Precise shading and smudging. Brush Length: approx 6 1/2". Brush Weight: 7.3 grams. Shed Factor: Has shed probably about 6 bristles so far, some prior to washing, and some after while being used. Dye Bleeding Factor: No bleeding occurred. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8. Pros: Nice small size with rounded edges makes it great for smudging. Cons: Wish it was a little more dense. Surprising amount of bristles shed. Final Impression: Like this brush, but it could be improved upon (make it a little softer and just a touch more dense).


SS 217 BLENDING BRUSH
Intended Use:
Eye shadow application, blending of eye shadow and cream products. Brush Length: approx 7". Brush Weight: 7.3 grams. Shed Factor: No shedding occurred. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A Softness (Scale of 1-10): 10. Pros: Extremely soft, lays down color nicely and blends wonderfully. Cons: Can be a little difficult to clean. It is a good idea to research cleaning methods for white bristles to retain the brightness of the white goat hair. Final Impression: I absolutely love this brush. I love it more than I thought I would. It might be my favorite from the set.


SS 222 TAPERED BLENDING BRUSH
Intended Use:
Blending, application of eye crease color. Brush Length: 7". Brush Weight: 7.6 grams. Shed Factor: Maybe 1 bristle? Pretty much not an issue. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8.5 Pros: Great blending brush that works well even on small eyes. Lays down crease color precisely. Cons: The tip of the brush can feel a little pokey, but I expect that this will improve over time as the brush is used. Final Impression: I really like this brush, but not as much as the SS217!


SS 226 SMALL TAPERED BLENDING BRUSH
Intended Use:
Application and blending of crease color. Brush Length: approx 7". Brush Weight: 6.6 grams. Shed Factor: Maybe 1 or 2 hairs? Not really a big issue. Dye Bleeding Factor: Not noticeable. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8. Pros: Works well to apply color and blend in the crease. Retains its shape after washing. Cons: Tapering is not symmetrical around the diameter of the brush head. There are also a few bristles that are on the scratchier side, as occurred with the SS 165. Final Impression: I like this brush, but wish a little more care was taken in the manufacturing process to ensure that the brush head was symmetrical. Overall, I don't think this effects the performance of the brush.


SS 227 LARGE FLUFF BRUSH
Intended Use:
Eye shadow application. Brush Length: approx 6 1/2" Brush Weight: 17.3 grams. Shed Factor: Shed about 6-8 bristles prior to washing and while being used. Dye Bleeding Factor: Not noticeable. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9 Pros: Covers large area, feels soft and is comfortable to use. Cons: Shedding of bristles, although I expect this to improve over time. Final Impression: This is a good brush. For me, it is not a must have, but is a nice supplement to my collection.


SS 316 LIP BRUSH
Intended Use:
Application of lipstick and lip gloss. Brush Length: approx 4" when closed, 7" when open. Brush Weight: 8.2 grams. Shed Factor: No shedding occurred. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9. Pros: Very sleek looking, and the brush head is protected by the cover. Cons: Poor design. The cover scrapes the brush handle as it is slid on and off, damaging the black finish finish. The shape of the brush head is a bit small and rounded for my taste. Final Impression: This could be a good brush, but the design needs to be improved.




More pictures... Because we love pictures!


Final Thoughts:
I am really happy with the set after using it for just over a month. Although there were some brushes I probably wouldn't have purchased on their own, I think I will still use every brush in the set. I was so pleased with this set that I went ahead and purchased the original complete set after the fact, which I am still testing out.


I wouldn't rely solely on these brushes if I were a makeup artist, but I think that for personal use they are just fine and will likely last for years. I think that like the original complete set, some will probably prefer certain MAC brushes, and some will prefer certain Sigma brushes. Be on the lookout for my comparison of the Sigma SS 165 to the MAC 165, as I think this review will detail some important differences between the brushes, as far as quality is concerned. Bottom Line: If you're curious about these brushes, I'd recommend trying them. But keep in mind that Sigma does not accept returns, only exchanges, for defective products. So if you end up disappointed, you're stuck with the brushes!

34 comments:

  1. omg, such a great review and pictures!

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  2. Been considering these brushes for awhile now, but it's so hard to make a decision when they are not sold in stores and most of the reviews done are by people who get them for free, my friend linked this to me and I was happy to see a very in depth and non-biased review. Thanks so much!

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  3. @ sindylicious, xoladiihoneyxo & Megan: I am so happy that my review was helpful! Thanks so much for your feedback.. I really appreciate it :)

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  4. Love love love your review. This is the best and probably the most honest review of Sigma Brushes. As rightly said by Megan its hard to make a decision when most of the reviews are done by people who got it for free. Thanks a tonne for the review.
    Just one question...how do these brushes compare to the Elf studio line brushes??? How different are they? If both are made in china, dont allow returns and are more or less of the same quality then might as well pay $3 for each brush than $9.

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  5. @ Swarnali- I am so glad you found this useful! As for comparing them to the ELF Studio Brushes--- they are completely different. The ELF Studio Brushes are all synthetic, whereas most of the brushes in this Sigma Kit are natural; therefore, they apply products differently. That said, I would say the Elf Studio Blush Brush is fairly similar and is kind of a combination of the SS 165 and SS 129. The Elf Studio Concealer Brush is totally different from the SS 195 (and I don't like the ELF one for concealer- just eye bases). The ELF Studio Complexion brush is most close in shape to the SS 134, but is smaller and much less dense. I don't think any other Studio brushes are comparable to these. So essentially, I don't really think you can compare the two, as they are so different in composition and performance. I like both types of brushes though, so if money is not an issue, I'd recommend both!

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  6. Thanks a tonne for your response. I appreciate it. Keep up your good work. I am following you on youtube too.....would love to see more videos and blogs from you.

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  7. wow, this is the most comprehensive and honest review of sigma brushes i've come across. thank you so much for putting in the time and effort to giving your readers such a detailed review. you've definitely influenced my decision to buy these brushes!

    love your blog!

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  8. Amazing review! Thank you. I think I'll try these out when I get the money.

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  9. i'm looking forward to getting these brushes but I have to save uo some money before I purchase them! :)

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  10. Question! where did you buy the container that the beads are in for the brushes? thanks!

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  11. @ sara and aziajs: thank you so much!

    @ HelloHurricane: The vase is from ikea, but unfortunately it is not on their website :( Check the store if you live near one. It also comes in clear. FYI it would be better if it were just a littttlle bit taller, but it still works!

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  12. This is the best review I have ever watched/read. A sponsored review is not 100% honest, HONESTLY! Btw, I miss your youtube videos.

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  13. @ Sushu: Thanks so much! I want to make more videos, but I want to get my lighting figured out first because I plan to also begin making tutorials-- something I never intended to do but think would be fun! i have been back and forth to home depot and ikea and have made about 20 test videos- but i am still not happy with the lighting! so once i figure that out i will be back. I appreciate your kind words!

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  14. This helped me a lot, thanks for this great review!

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  15. I was wondering if you had to pick between getting this kit or the original kit, which would you pick? thank you :)

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  16. Hi Erica,

    I would go for the second kit, because I think there are some really great eye and cheek brushes in that one... I'll try to do the same type of review post for the original kit, and maybe compare the two sets.

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  17. I was wondering how you store them when drying, since you said that some of the brush bristles splayed out? Do you use the brush sleeve or a brush guard thing?

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  18. Hi Micheala: I don't have brush guards yet, so I dry them on a towel with the brush head hanging off of the end of a table (so they dry more quickly). This is a fairly standard practice. I figured that using a brush guard would condense the bristles- but I haven't tried that yet!

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  19. thank you thank you thank you for your reviews!! they're so detailed ^^!!! okay i know someone else had asked this question before...but i gotta ask one more time XD. which should i buy? the complete set or this new premium set? i'm don't have any brush set before, money isn't any problem... i just need to know... which is better??

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  20. I <3 my Sigma brushes, but have you checked out the Sedona Lace brushes? They are almost the same thing, only three are different in my opinion. They are also half the price as Sigma.

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  21. Teng: I use more brushes from the second set- so I have to tell you that would be my pick if I could only get one set.

    Nicole: No I haven't! Thanks, I will def. check out Sedona Lace brushes!

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  22. I just found your blog in search of some HONEST reviews for this Sigma brush set!! I purchased the complete brush set after seeing TiffanyD's review on them, and I think she made them sound a lot better than they really were. They're not bad brushes, some of them just aren't as great as the MAC ones. So I definitely appreciate your honesty!

    Thank you so much for such a great review! I've subscribed to your blog, and I'm looking forward to reading your future posts!

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  23. This review made me follow you instantly. LOL. Love it.

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  24. these all look to have crazy heads. I wouldn't purchase them personally but thank you for the up close pictures.

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  25. great, great review! i'm from Brazil, i'm looking for some reviews, i'm a make up addicted begginer and i wanna start up my brushes collection.Kisses and hugs from Brazil!

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  26. You did a really in-depth review of these brushes. I really appreciate that. I like the fact that you measured them.

    Great blog!

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  27. This is probably the best and most detailed review of sigma I've ever seen! Please post more!

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  28. This review is absolutely amazing!!! I really appreciate the time and effort you put into this! I was considering purchasing the set but I have the 12 piece set which I use almost all every day and adore it 100%. my favorite has to be the face kit though with the three kabuki brushes. it applies my powder foundation perfectly and I don't think I'll purchase anything else for my mineral powders. My fave from the 12 piece kit is the free little blending brush that came with the purchase, lol. I haven't even touched the large or small concealer brush though and thinking about selling them separately on eBay along with my sephora concealer brush (never used) since I never use all the brushes in any of my kits.

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  29. Hi great review. I have to buy that brush kit *.*. Where are you from? I'm from Portugal and I thought you could be too because your name is portuguese.

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  30. I loved your review..it was awesome. Once I get caught up on my bills ..Sigma here I come..lol I Can you help with selecting a tapered face brush? Have you tried the Cargo Magic brush?

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  31. Thanks for your great review. The photos of the weight of the brushes are really useful

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