Recs for good SYNTHETIC retractable powder-dispensing brush?
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free skin care · Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:28 am

I just tried to brush on some of my Peter Thomas Roth Mineral Powder Sunscreen SPF 30, only to have the bottom fall off and almost ALL the powder fall into the sink. Rrr!

I'm going to try and take it back to Sephora to exchange it for a new one, but I wanted to see if any of you knew of a good retractable powder-dispensing brush with quality, synthetic hairs.

I've only ever seen cheap, crappy brushes with coarse black animal hair, that pokes my sensitive skin and sheds worse than my cat. I'd love to get a GOOD powder-dispensing brush that doesn't leave bristles all over my face, and that doesn't feel scratchy, ya know?

Any recs at all would be most appreciated -- thanks!

Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:52 am

Have you already looked at Lumiere's Powder Dispensing Brush? The only thing is that I can't tell if it is synthetic or not.
http://www.lumierecosmetics.com/index.php?p=product%26id=256%26parent=25
(cut and paste link to work)

Meow Cosmetics has a Fillable Travel Brush but I don't think it is retractable.
http://www.meowcosmetics.com/brushes.htm

I also saw these refillable and retractable brushes on Etsy... They come pre-filled with MMU but for $12, you could easily toss the contents and re-fill with the product of your choice.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9390139

Darn! ETA, forget the last listing. The bristles are goat hair.

free skin care · Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:20 am

Hey, thank you! I think these are all animal hair, but the Meow one looks like it's better quality hair than most -- it's actual sable, which tends to be a lot softer, and it's also not dyed black so it's not quite as obvious if a hair or two does shed. I just might pick up one of these!

Thu May 22, 2008 6:30 pm

Hey Ginnie, did you ever order the Meow brush? How was it? Although not retractable, this synthetic one from Barefaced Beauty looks as if the brush part might be great...

Description: Our Powder Dispensing Brush is made from super soft synthetic hair and is wonderful for applying your makeup on the go! Ideal for use with our bronzers, glows or blushes, can also be used with our foundation for a light coverage.

http://www.barefacedbeauty.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=Powder%20Dispensing%20Brush

This one from Sephora is really adorable although I can't tell if it is synthetic or not (the other Sephora brushes say "goat" or "synthetic" while this one doesn't say either Confused

)
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?categoryId=C17628&id=P205302&shouldPaginate=true#moreInfo

Thu May 22, 2008 6:58 pm

oops! the Sephora link only works if you cut and paste into your browser.

free skin care · Thu May 22, 2008 10:07 pm

That's funny, havana -- when I click on your Sephora link directly, it goes to a Bliss body cream, but when I copy and paste it, it goes to the brush. Laughing

Thank you for the references! I never did buy the Meow, because I'm still job-hunting and thus being quite frugal. (Hard to do when you're a member of a forum like this!) But I think I'm glad I held off, because that Barefaced Beauty one actually looks better to me. (The Sephora looks like the usual coarse goat hair, though I could be wrong!)

Do you know what kind of int'l shipping costs that site has? I see the price in pounds instead of dollars and I get nervous... and the site is surprisingly sparse about such info. Maybe I'll have it shipped to my aunt or grandma next time I'm planning a visit, might be cheaper that way!

free skin care · Thu May 22, 2008 10:55 pm

Lise Watier has a retractable brush too but it's not synthetic hair I think. When I first used it, it seems quite nice but after a few wash, it seems quite stiff and scratchy. Sad

free skin care · Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:17 pm

So after much procrastinating, I finally got around to purchasing a synthetic retractable brush. (The really great-looking one that Havana8 recommended is from the UK, and I'm worried I'd pay more in shipping than in product!)

I found this synthetic brush at Forever Female, which is apparently a wholesale vendor I'd never heard of.

I also caved and ordered one of the real-hair Sephora ones, because I'm going to try making my own dry shampoo/hair powder. I figure a scratchy texture matters less when you're using it on your hair/scalp, and it helped me qualify for free shipping. Smile

I will update results! I may just track down that one havana mentioned after all if the FF one doesn't work out.

Why, oh WHY, can't Too Faced make me a retractable refillable brush? Laughing

I'd be in heaven! Their retractable baby buki is my favorite item in my entire makeup arsenal, hands-down.

free skin care · Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:48 am

I am a regular shopper st Silk Naturals and have ordered brushes from her. AFAIK Karen, the owner, is a reseller of Forever Female brushes and just introduced this one.

http://www.silknaturals.com/creb/product_info.php?cPath=25%26products_id=492

I have not tried it. I like the idea, but I am not sure I really need it. It is on for an intro price for $15.55.

Let us know what you think of your bruses.

Edit: checked link. You need to know under brushes and tools.

Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:52 am

I just got the Sephora one, ginnielizz! Smile

For being so minimalist, it's actually quite a clever and nice looking little unit. The clear insert part where you add the powder turns to the left and right to open/close (lock/unlock) the powder connection to the brush. When in the open position, you can temporarily pull the powder insert/container down so that the brush part gets pulled down into the black casing, sort of a fake retract, which makes putting the clear brush lid on very easy. One of my pet peeves with refillable self-dispensing MMU brushes is the fiddling involved in trying to stuff the brush part back into the lid without wrecking the outer bristles. My other pet peeve with them is when the brush part is scratchy/not soft enough but I am happy to say that the Sephora brush is not scratchy in the least.

free skin care · Sun Aug 17, 2008 2:11 pm

I'm so glad to hear this! I'm really looking forward to having a couple of these brushes around, both for DIY hair powder and for other concoctions. Smile

And I know what you mean about the pseudo-retractable brush -- the PTR powder sunscreen one is like that, and it's a really helpful feature. Now, if only they could figure out how to make the other end stay closed!

free skin care · Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:19 pm

Quote:
I found this synthetic brush at Forever Female, which is apparently a wholesale vendor I'd never heard of.

Gizzie:

Did you order the one from Forever Female? Just curious, I have seen a couple of MMU companies that are selling it also. I think Silk Naturals has the lowest price (although she said the price will go up.)

free skin care · Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:52 pm

Bummer, I did order it and it's cheaper from Silk! Alas, maybe I'll get another one from them if I like it. Thanks for the tip!

free skin care · Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:22 pm

ginnielizz wrote:

Bummer, I did order it and it's cheaper from Silk! Alas, maybe I'll get another one from them if I like it. Thanks for the tip!

Ginnielizz:

If you do decide to order from Silk Naturals, she does have very nice blush samples and finishing powder/all over glow samples. I also like the eye shadows and lippies. Basically, I like everything BUT the foundation; I just can't get the mixing right.

She ships out within 2 business days and even international shipping is reasonable.

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