Sale Score - The Sonia Kashuk 15 Year Anniversary Brush Set

Sometimes the shopping-fu is with me.

I was on my way home from physio when I had the sudden and overwhelming urge to check Target for a bath mat I had been thinking of purchasing. As is my usual practice, I did a quick walk-by the beauty department, on the off chance there was something new and/or awesome.

AND BEHOLD.

This is the 15 piece Professional Brush Set that came out recently, to celebrate the past 15 years of Sonia Kashuk as a brand. When I saw reviews popping up on Youtube and fevered posts on Instagram, I relegated this to the "Aw, that's nice" part of my brain, as I never, ever assumed I would have the luck of stumbling upon one.

And then the shopping-fu. Not only were two of these prime sets sitting on the shelf, happy as you please, but they bore that most of exciting of signs: the red liquidation sticker. Already reasonably priced at 39.99$, I snatched this one for a mere 20$. The purple and gold was perhaps a tad more gaudy than I'd generally like, but math won over aesthetics in this case, as fifteen brushes for 20$ worked out to about 1.33$ per brush. I figured if I liked 5 out of the brushes, I would still consider it money well spent.

I have yet to put these through their paces, but based on very superficial first impressions of how they feel, I am doubly pleased with my score. The powder and blush brush are full and silky soft (not Chikuhodo, obviously, but better than the Sigma and Quo in my collection). The round buffing brush feels a touch too stiff in the centre, but a good wash may soften that up. I think it'll work for cream contour products. The foundation paddle brush is smooth and evenly tapered, with no scratchy bits (often an issue with drugstore paddle brushes - I'm looking at you, Real Techniques).

The narrow contour brush is soft but dense, and I'm really curious to try this one out, as I don't have anything like it. It's a big part of why I bought this kit, hoping it wouldn't suck. The angled buffing/foundation brush is really nice, very dense and silky.

For the face brushes alone, I am impressed.

Onto the eye brushes:

The crease brush is too full, firm and dense for me to use for that purpose, except to really soften and blow out an eyeshadow over the crease, but it's a nice enough brush. I could see myself using it for concealer or specific contouring. The second crease/blending brush is also too big for me, except to maybe apply brow bone highlight. It's quite a bit denser, as well. I need to play around with it to figure out how I would use it.

The lay down brush is interesting - it's almost a cross between the MAC 217 and 249 in terms of the length and shape of the bristles, though it has a narrower profile and a slimmer shape. It's a little too slim and precise to blend the crease, but for laying down product and getting a tight shape in the crease or the outer corner, I suspect it might be perfect. If it picks up powder as well as the 249, I have a feeling this will be the sleeper hit of the set.

The bullet brush feels a little stiff for me, as does the pointed brush and the tapered smudge brush. I think they'll wind up feeling scratchy when used closer to the lash line, but I'll have to try them to be sure.

The concealer brush is basic, like pretty much every concealer brush ever included in any set ever made. (I really wish they would start including fluffier version, which is the way a lot of people apply concealer these days). Same "basic" comment applies to the angled brush and spoolie. I'm also assuming the angled brush is meant for the brow, and not eyeliner, as it's too thick and not quite evenly cut on the edge.

So overall? Strongly positive about 6, potentially positive about 3, unimpressed but no qualms about 3, and wary about 3. I think that's not a bad breakdown at all, especially since the ones I'm most confident about are the brushes that would be more expensive anyway. So...super pleased!

Have you guys seem this at your local Target? Are you thinking about tracking it down? Or have you scored anything else on sale that you're thrilled with?

(I purchased this item. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Matte Palette

I keep most of my makeup in my vanity, but some of it winds up in my bathroom organizer. Those items are the ones I'll reach for time and again, especially when I have 5 minutes to slap a face together at 4am. Within days of getting the Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Matte palette, it found its way to that organizer.

It's THE no-fuss everyday palette. 

It's not tremendously exciting to look at, I'll admit. The packaging is simple and practical - clean, plastic, lightweight. The colours are basic, everyday colours.

And that's the point. These are all the shades you would need to create a natural eye, a contoured, professional eye, a smoky eye. For the average woman, this is exactly the kind of palette that ends up being a staple in the makeup repertoire. And for a beauty junkie like me, it's that sleeper palette that I end up reaching for again and again. It's practical, reliable and surprisingly versatile. In a beauty industry dominated by flash-in-the-pan trends and gimmicks, a makeup item that does exactly what you need it to is a rare bird indeed.

I have to admit, when I first started playing around with this palette, I was hesitant. Most of the eyeshadows that I consider to be good quality and well-performing share a similarly dense, smooth, buttery texture. I know I can get great payoff, adherence and blendability from that kind of texture. These feel firmer, finer, drier. I got into them expecting lacklustre results.

I could not have been more wrong. These have good to excellent pigmentation, apply super smoothly and blend like a dream! They are not powdery, with the exception of the two lightest shades, which aren't as smooth as the rest. They are also the sheerest and the most given to blending out. I found that the shadows in this palette had minimal fallout, and lasted through an average workday (and then some) without a problem when I wore them over a primer.

The colour range is very good as well, with solid mid-tones and deeper tones, and both cooler and warmer leaning shades. If anything, it skews slightly more warm.

Compared to something like the Lorac Pro Palette, you're getting less versatility since there are no shimmer tones, and slightly less payoff, though the softer texture of the Pro palette also creates more debris. I do think a good shimmer is easier to find than a good matte, however. If you're choosing between the two, this one is definitely the more affordable option.

Availability: Exclusively at Target. Price is 19.99$ CAD and USD.

Pros: Good to great pigmentation, blends and builds very well. Great wear and smooth application with minimal fallout. Range of warm to cool leaning shades, variety of depth of tones. Packaging is slim, light and practical.

Cons: Two lighter shades have more powdery texture, are somewhat sheerer and prone to blending out. Packaging may feel a little too basic and lightweight.

(This item was provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)

Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss - Fairest Flush and Modern Mauve (Review and Swatches)

Target is finally coming to Quebec! The one nearest to me is opening sometime in the "late" fall, but several have already opened in Laval, Brossard and St-Laurent. Like any beauty junkie, I was most excited about finally being able to access certain hard-to-find and Target-exclusive brands like Sonia Kashuk and Pixi. I was lucky enough to be offered a sampling of products to try out, and now I'm basically stalking the Target page in anticipation of my local store opening.

I've been coveting items from the Sonia Kashuk like for a while now. Lady deserves serious respect for being the only makeup artist - at least at the time - to create a mass-distribution makeup line. As much as the current quality of drugstore makeup owes to the formulations of higher-end sister brands trickling down to their drugstore counterparts, I think a lot of the credit also goes to Sonia Kashuk. She created the template for performance-driven, good quality makeup at a reasonable price.

The Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Glosses certainly exemplify that. (Especially the last part, because unlike some brands, their Canadian prices are pretty much par with the US ones. AWWWW YEAH.)

Sonia Kashuk Ultra Luxe Lip Gloss in Modern Mauve (top) and Fairest Flush (bottom)

First and foremost - I love the packaging. The square tube, the bold logo, the matte black cap - it feels well-executed and on-trend. It doesn't have the heavy-weight feel of a luxury brand, obviously, but neither does it feel cheap. I also really like the brush applicator for getting a nice quantity of product on in a neat manner. I don't love that it has a tendency to catch on the rim going back into the tube, as this has already caused some of the fibres to go a little askew. Also, as the wand comes out it does pick up a fair bit of product, so you might get a glob dripping down if you're not paying attention.

This is a medium-textured gloss that is slightly tacky, particularly as it starts drying down, but not sticky. It has good coverage and feels very comfortable and actually quite hydrating on the lips. Not quite balm-like, but it definitely left my lips feeling smoother and softer, and looking fuller while wearing it.

Lasting power is about average for a gloss, though Modern Mauve left a hint of colour behind as it faded down. These seem to be unscented, at least no masking scent.

Fairest Flush is a super pretty light pink with golden shimmer. It doesn't add much colour to my lips, though that has more to do with the shade than the coverage level, as for a gloss it has medium pigmentation. I like this shade layered over a nude or concealed lip, as it picks up more of the sorbet-pink undertone.

Modern Mauve is that perfect everyday shade for me - a deeper, more polished version of my natural lip colour. I think this is the shade that almost everyone could wear. It has no hint of shimmer, and the creamy finish combined with the conditioning benefits of the formulation really works to add the appearance of fullness and a smoother texture to my lips. Super, super flattering.

Considering how much I like these, I'll be checking out the other shades in this range - I'm feeling the Polished Plum for Fall!

What about you guys? Have you tried anything from Sonia Kashuk or Target that you're thrilled with?

Availability: Currently at Target stores in Canada (no online shopping yet). Price is 8.99$ CAD and 8.99$ USD.

Pros: Comfortable, hydrating, lip-softening wear. Good pigmentation and flattering colours. Modern and classy packaging, and a brush applicator for generous yet precise application.

Cons: The brush can splay out a bit if it catches on the rim of the tube.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. Opinions are my own.)