So this isn't about makeup, per se, but about something equally important...brushes!
Makeup brushes are essential because your makeup is only as good as how/what you use to apply it. A simple blending brush can make all the difference. Good makeup brushes are also dense, which means you use less product to achieve your desired effect.
There are tons of brands to choose from (which ultimately end up making duplicates of each others products just in different colors/styles) as well as different qualities (as well as prices).
One thing about makeup brushes is that you get what you pay for. If you find one of those bargain/wholesale sets on places like Ebay and Amazon, even with proper maintenance, they don't last as long as the more expensive brands.
Personally, I've always just shelled out the extra bucks for quality makeup brushes because if you factor in replacing brushes, going the cheaper route costs you more in the long run.
As far as quality goes, nothing comes close to the Sigma and MAC brand brushes. Any professional makeup artist will tell you the same. Even if they're all about bargains, they'll tell you that nothing compares to Sigma and MAC brushes. They really took their time crafting these...and with proper care, they last for years. As I said before, with makeup brushes, you always get what you pay for. So a single MAC or a Sigma brush can run you anywhere from $14-$50 or more. I was just looking to replace a few of my Sigma brushes, and a set of 5 basic face brushes was $87, which was really no shock to me.
I have a close friend who's a makeup artist. Makeup artists have to replace their brushes way more often than us little people do...well at least they should. And shelling out at least $200 to replace a couple of handfuls of brushes can grow quite tiresome. Needless to say, she's always on the hunt for quality brushes that are budget-friendly. She's tried so many brushes and brands, from department store to drugstore to wholesale. She's satisified with them short term, but ultimately she just goes back to MAC or Sigma.
Recently, she's really been raving about a brand called Ovonni. They have a 29 pcs brush selling on Ebay and Amazon anywhere from $45-$49. This may still seem like a steep price, but remember...spending more on quality saves you money in the long run. Good brushes means using fewer product to achieve great looks, so you don't have to buy as much makeup, and they also last much longer so you're not replacing them as often.
Now, back to Ovonni. First of all, I'm quite stubborn about brands. When I find one I like, I stick to it and seldom deviate. So my makeup artist friend was raving about this set of brushes...something she's never done before. She said they were exactly like Sigma brushes, down to the materials, color, quality, density...everything. It's a 100% dupe. The only difference is, 5 Sigma brushes costs you $87, where a set of 29 Ovonni brushes costs you $45-$49, so you do the math.
I ordered a set myself, and I have to say everything she said was absolutely correct. I'm surprised that something like this exists at this price range. And when more people catch on, I'm not sure how long they'll stay in this price range. Or maybe they were created for the sole purpose of providing top quality for such an excellent price.
I rarely rave about products like this, but I really had to share. This is by far the best bargain I've ever found in my entire existence of bargain-hunting! I'm seriously contemplating buying another set for when I have to replace mine in a couple of years or so.
I'll post images and links later. But typing 'Ovonni 29 pcs brush set' into either Amazon or Ebay's search boxes will bring you to the brush sets. Ignore the colorful fluffy looking stuff and go for the black ones that come in a nice big zip-up case with different compartments on it...and a heart on the zipper.