Clover Makeup Brushes- Review and "How to"
- Hannah Smith
- Apr 10, 2016
- 7 min read
I was recently sent a set of face brushes to review from the brand THE CLOVER COLLECTION. They have two sets of makeup brushes, eyes and face, both with 13 brushes in each collection. The site also sells the brushes separately. Today I'm going to be reviewing the face brush set, as well as how to use each of the brushes, in case you buy the set and are new to makeup or new to using brushes for application.
CLOVER SOCIAL MEDIA:
REVIEW:
First and foremost, the brushes look way smaller than they appear online. They're far from miniature,
but I had a preset idea that they'd be a morphe brush size, but when they came they were smaller and it threw me off. It's not a big deal just something that I thought I'd inform you before you order.
All of the brushes are made with synthetic bristles. The difference between a synthetic brush, in comparison to a natural brushes, is synthetic brushes are made with "Man Made" Materials such as nylon, taklon or polyester fibers; however there are many pro's and con's to a synthetic vs. natural brushes.
PRO's:
-synthetic brushes brushes are often much less expensive because natural brushes are made from animal hair
-synthetic bristles naturally gravitate toward each other making a denser brush and allowing for precise, streak-free and smooth application
-these brushes are ideal for liquid, cream or gel products because they don't absorb as much product making for a cleaner brush and also saving you more product and more money in the long run
CON's:
-tend to be not as soft as natural brushes as they are man made using "faux-materials"
-synthetic brushes tend not apply powder products as well as natural brushes
- tend to apply blotchy makeup as they don't blend as well as the natural brushes
I find that the normal "CON's" of buying synthetic brushes aren't an issue with these brushes. The hair is almost as soft, if not just as soft, as natural brushes. After a couple weeks of testing, I haven't found that my foundation comes out blotchy or with skips. These brushes bend like a dream, with all the qualities of a natural brush along with the pro's of being a synthetic brush.
Keep in mind that makeup is all for fun and all about experimenting. You certainly can use my suggested uses for these brushes but there is not one way to use a single brush. What might be a blush brush to somebody might also be a be a foundation brush to the next. You can, by all means, use any of these brushes for any purpose that works for you. I'm simply providing a guide line for makeup brushes and what works for me. Play around and use the brushes to find what best fits the purpose you need.
Large Powder Brush:
Hands down, this is my favorite brush out of the entire collection. It reminds me of an It Cosmetic's Airbrush Powder brush, which are almost 5x the price of any single brushe in this collection. It's the biggest out of all of the other brushes and it's dense enough to pick up powder and apply it to the face flawlessly.
Application: Just as the name suggests, this brush is intended to be used with powder for all over face coverage. The size makes it easy to apply powder all over the face quickly and flawlessly. You can also use this brush for bronzer on the perimeter of the face in a 3 shape on either side of the face. Starting on the temples, going down into the hollow of the cheek bone and finishing with the excess product on the jawline. It creates a natural bronzed face rather than a structured contour.
Tapered Powder Brush:
This brush has a tapered end, making it easy to get into the crevices of the face, such as the undereye area and around the nose. Additionally, the size of the brush allows you to set a large area in a short amount of time.
Application: This brush is ideal for setting the undereye area with powder such as a brightening powder like a yellow/banana shade or a white powder such a mac emphasize.
Highlighter Brush:
This brush is basically a smaller version of the tapered powder brush, making it perfect for highlighter. Unlike the alternative, fan brushes, that dusts product over the top of the cheekbone, this brush will apply product stronger.
Application: Be weary that this brush will apply the product more pigmented than a fan brush, but keeping that in mind this brush is the perfect size and shape to apply highlighter. Use the side of the brush to pick up product and apply the product starting on the cheek bone, then apply any of the extra product to the brow bone, cupid's bow, and down the bridge of the nose.
Bronzer Brush:
This brush is a smaller, domed shaped powder brush that makes it perfect for bronzing up the face. It applies bronzer to more precise areas, in contrast to the all over bronze that the large setting brush gives.
Application: Just like the the large setting brush, the best way to use this brush is by dusting the bronzing shade in the 3 shape from the temple to the jawline. Keep in mind that this smaller dense brush will be placing the product in a more precise area for a more structured look so be sure to blend out any harsh lines using little circular motions.
Setting Brush:
With the slightly tapered bristles and size, this brush is prefect for getting into small areas, while the round edges make it perfect for blending.
Application: I use this brush to blend out undereye concealer. Using small circular motions, I can get into the inner corner of the eye and cover undereye circles effortlessly.
Flat Buffer Brush/ Round Buffer Brush:
I put these two brushes into one review because I use both of these for foundation. The different shaped bristles for applying foundation depends solely on personal preference. I tend to lean more towards a round top foundation brush, as I think it blends out the foundation more seamlessly; however, many tend to disagree, so try both and find out which works to you. That being said, both work great! I find that the round top brush is comparable to the Morphe M439 Buffer Brush.
Application: When working with liquid and cream foundation, I suggest working the product into the brush on the back of your hand or on a makeup palette before applying the product to the face. This will make sure that the product is distributed throughout the brush, so that it goes onto the face evenly. Be sure to start in the places up need the most coverage and blend outward, so that you have the most product in the areas you need it. Lastly, be sure to blend in tiny circles all over the face and really buff into the face. Take you time and just keep blending until it looks the way you want, and don't be afraid to apply more foundation to the brush and start the process again if you want more coverage.
Contour Brush:
This brush is made to fit perfectly into the contour line of your cheekbone. The bristles are long enough to apply the contour shade lightly to keep from an overly harsh line and dense enough to be able to blend.
Application: Rather than using the side of the brush, like you may feel inclined to do, use the entire top. Just like with the foundation brush, makeup sure the product is evenly distributed throughout the brush by swirling the brush in the product. Then, when applying, use only circular motions along the jawline and hollow of your cheek, to create a slimmer more sculpted appearance to your face.
Blush Brush:
The shape of this brush is made to distribute color more predominately where the bristles are shorter, and lighter where the bristles are longer, making it the perfect blush brush.
Application: Position the brush so that the bristles go long to short, up to down, and apply the blush starting from the apples of the cheeks back towards the temples using a light hand.
Flat Duo-Fiber Brush:
Duo-Fiber brushes are made for stippling. They are not as thick and dense as a normal brush, allowing it to apply product lighter and created a more natural/ airbrush finish.
Application: I recommend using duo fiber brushes solely with liquid and cream products. Make sure that whatever product you're working with, is evenly distributed throughout the bristles by working the product in on the back of your hand. Stipple the product onto the face by bouncing the brush up and down creating little stipple or dot marks of the product, much like airbrush makeup would do. The makeup should only be on the tip of the bristles. With this brush you might be tempted to blend in the product using circular motions but keep bouncing the brush on the face and with enough stippling, the product will be fully blended.
Large Duo-Fiber Brush:
I like to think of this brush as a multi-purpose brush. It can be used for a number of purposes and with a number of different products. I tend to use this brush as an overall face blender brush. The two layers of bristles blend things out lightly and fully while not disrupting the makeup you're blending or have already set.
Application: The application differs depending on what you choose to use this brush for. In my case, I use this brush after I've applied my base to blend out any harsh edges as well as to blend together the different products, i.e. powder, blush, bronzer, and highlight.
Small Duo-Fiber Brush:
This petite brush is ideal for applying liquid or cream products to a small, pinpointed area. Just like with other duo fiber brushes there are two length bristles that are intended to be used in a stippling motion to blend.
Application: I like to use this brush to stipple concealer on imperfections such as blemishes, freckles or moles that you wish to cover up. Keep in mind that you should be applying the product using stippling motions so remeber that the product should be evenly distributed on the tip of the brush before application.
Paddle Foundation Brush:
This brush is a made to apply liquid or cream foundation. This brush is dense and doesn't tend to shed any bristles, which is common with this type of brush. It is comparable to the Sigma or Real Technique flat paddle brush. This foundation brush is the most basic foundation brush and is typically the first brush beginners use to apply their base. The key to a good paddle brush is for it not to be too fluffy and this one is not, so it's perfect.
Application: If you choose to use this brush to apply foundation, you have to be really weary of steaks. Apply the foundation to one side of the brush and evenly distribute pressure on the brush and use swiping motions down, making sure you go over spots that look streaky. The streaks are most likely cased because there is more product in that area, so keep swiping the brush over to distribute the product and blend out the product.
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