Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Sigma F80 - Flat Top Kabuki

Recently I was given the opportunity to try one of Sigma’s new Sigmax High Definition Synthetic Brushes—the F80 - Flat top Kabuki.
Sigmax brushes in general are meant to provide flawless makeup application as a result of their exclusive Sigmax filament that is specially designed to apply powder and liquid products without absorption into the fibres. The careful engineering of the shape, density, and height of the filaments in Sigmax brushes allow the brushes to perfectly buff products onto the skin for a high definition effect.
The F80 itself is a buffer brush from the Sigmax line that can be used to blend powder liquid or cream products. Since the fibers are synthetic, they are formulated to  be used with liquid products and  should be easy to clean.
Beginning with the construction of the brush, the best way that I can describe its fibres, handle, ferrule, and overall appearance is with the word luxurious. At first glance, this brush looks very classy and professional with its shiny silver ferrule, matte black handle, and silver writing. You can tell that the handle is made of good quality material because it is quite heavy and solid. The ferrule is well crafted and holds the brush fibres very tightly. So far I have not experienced any shedding whatsoever from this brush. I was absolutely shocked by how soft the fibres are. For lack of a better description, when rubbed against the skin they feel like the fabric of an expensive teddy bear. In addition to being soft, the fibres are very dense and hold their shape without being stiff. Unlike Sigma’s duo fibre brushes which have black and white bristles, the Sigmax fibres are chocolate brown with cream-coloured tips.
The F80 costs $16 and can be purchased on the Sigma site http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Sigma_Flat_Top_Synthetic_Kabuki_F_80_p/f80.htm?Click=62512 
Considering its high quality, I think that the price of this brush is reasonable. These Sigmax brushes are very unique and, at the present time, I would not consider them dupable. As a result, $16 is acceptable for a high performing good quality unique brush. Or, if you want to try all three of the Sigmax brushes including the F80, F82 - Round Top Kabuki, and F84 - Angled Top Kabuki, you can save a bit of money and purchase the entire set for $42 http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Synthetic_Face_Kit_p/smax01.htm?Click=62512
Most of the reviews that I have seen on this product comment on its ability to apply liquid foundation. I decided to test it with three types of blushes instead.
1. Pressed powder blush – This is the first type of blush that I used to test my F80 brush. Specifically, I used my MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty. In my opinion, the brush is perfect for blush application because it fits nicely on the apples of the cheeks. I tapped the brush into the pressed powder blush a few times and then swirled it onto my cheeks in an upward motion. The result was a flawless flush that gave a glow-from-within effect. My blush was neither blotchy nor streaky and looked very natural.
2. Cream Blush – I used this brush with my MAC Blushcreme in Ladyblush. I have always struggled a bit with applying this blush. It is the old formula and is quite sticky and, at times, difficult to blend. Since the Sigmax brush is so dense it is easy to pick up too much colour. Therefore, I added cream blush to the brush by lightly tapping the brush twice into the product. I then tapped the blush onto my cheek using a stippling technique on the apples of my cheeks, and then swirled the brush to blend out the harsh edges. The result: perfection. I am so pleased with how well this brush applies cream blush and I think that Sigma is correct to say that this brush is ideal for applying liquid and cream products. It is firm enough to blend the product thoroughly to avoid streaks and unevenness, and soft enough to give a flawless application that really buffs the product into the skin, giving a natural finish.
3. Loose Powder Blush – My L’Oreal Bare Naturale Gentle Mineral Blush in Soft Rose was used for this test. Since the brush is so dense, it picked up way too much of the product. I had to do a lot of tapping to remove enough product so that it was easy to apply. In the process I ended up with blush all over my table. This also has to do with the fact that the blush is in a very small container and the surface of the brush is quite large so it did not fit as well into the container as I would have liked. That said, once I removed the majority of the powder from the brush it did give a decent application that was nice but not as perfect as the pressed powder and cream blush application. For loose powder blush I much prefer to use my Sigma F55 - Small Duo Fibre brush which you can find here: http://www.sigmabeauty.com/product_p/f55.htm?Click=62512    I also have a review of it here if you are interested: http://putbeautytowords.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-favourite-blush-brush-sigma-small.html
As a result of testing out this brush on various types of blushes, I conclude that the F80 is great for applying pressed powder blush and ideal for applying cream blush. I cannot, however, recommend it for loose powder blush. For those who often wear loose mineral products, I would recommend a duo fibre-style brush rather than one of these high definition brushes to ensure the most exceptional application results.
My final test involved cleaning the brush. I applied my MAC brush cleanser to a tissue and gently moved the brush back and forth in the cleanser to clean the bristles. The F80 cleaned very nicely and even after days of blush use, the cream coloured tips of the bristles were left with no traces of pink. The brush also did not need to be reshaped after cleaning. If I had needed to reshape the bristles I could have done so with the brush guard that came with the brush.
If you like the F80 and would love to have one of your own, look for updates on my blog and YouTube channel…there may just be a giveaway Smile
*click photos to enlarge*
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2 comments:

  1. wow very nice and detailed review...

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  2. Thanks for reviewing this brush with blush! I am buying it specifically for use with pressed powder blush and like you said I could only find reviews about using it with foundation (which I do not use at all).

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