I hope everyone had a good break during the Chinese New Year holidays. I certainly did! Traffic was a little crazy coming back to KL yesterday but with careful and patient driving, it didn’t end up too bad.
When I went back to my hometown to spend Chinese New Year with my family this year, I took home a set of travel brushes from Momo Minerals that I’d purchased from Singapore through the help of a lovely friend. You meet the nicest people online, I swear! I first read about Momo Minerals’ brushes from Vivawoman.
The set is very dinky and travel friendly, even coming in its own slim pouch that has a zippered compartment for storing some small makeup items or tissue. Its just a little larger than a lipgloss and not much thicker or bulkier and I really liked that.
The brushes have very short handles and very soft synthetic bristles. I was a little concerned about the usability of the powder and blush brushes. They felt a little too soft and I was worried that the small head of the blush brush might result in clown cheeks.
I did not have much to worry about though. Whilst the blush and powder brushes are a little more floppy than I’m used to, they did they job. The powder brush was good for loose powder or touching up as it was light on the skin. I prefer using a sponge to apply powder foundation.
The blush brush picked up blush colour well and deposited and blended it well too. The benefit of a brush with a small head I’ve found is that its easier to get the blush just on the apple of the cheeks for a healthy pop of colour. I used Benefit Coralista throughout my trip and this blush brush did not over apply.
The other brush I used a lot of was the angled brow brush. Like Sesame I found it a little soft – softer than the Shu Uemura 6 OB Badger brush I’m used to, but it does give a softer more natural look to the brow.
The eye shadow brushes felt firm to the touch and I think they’d apply shadow well. I did not test them because I was using the new Dior Parisienne Lights palette and the colours are a little too light to use a brush for. The crease brush does look very promising though.
Whilst the black polyester pouch can get dirty easily from all the powder flying around while applying makeup, it is easy to clean and I liked the convenience of having a set of travel brushes where most of the brushes actually work and are so lovely and soft on the skin! The brush set costs S$35. However Momo Minerals ships only within Singapore so if you have a friend there who can order it for you, I think its worth getting if you do a lot of travelling or if you want an inexpensive starter brush set.
The 7 items in the pouch are:-
1 Blush Brush
2 Powder Brush
3 Crease Brush
4 Small Eyeshadow Brush
5 Angled Liner / Brow Brush
6 Eyeshadow Brush
7 Spoolie
I’m not sure what the spoolie can be used for but I reckon I’d think of something.
Oh and here’s something that isn’t quite beauty related, but amused me nonetheless – have you seen a PINK dragon?!
I was so amused I stood out in the hot sun snapping pictures like a tourist as the acrobatic performers made the dragon dance and twirl through the air. Amazing I tell you.. and even more so when its PINK! 😀
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
pf1123 says
January 28, 2009 at 10:12 amI have this set as well. Haven’t had a chance to try it out yet as I’m not travelling yet. The eye shadow brushes are kinda firm. I though they can be used as concealer brushes as well.
Please let me know what you use the spoolie for. I have no idea. But it comes in the set with the nice wooden handle, so I can’t bear to separate it from the brushes.
Thanks for the review.
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 9:21 amHiya pf1123 With all the ideas for the use of spoolies, I might try it for the brows. I don’t usually have much trouble with them but its nice to know I have a tool that can help if I do! hehe…
Kahani says
January 28, 2009 at 11:03 amOoh you hit me right in one my brush-lemming bullseye! *sighs*
And tee hee… no I’ve never seen a pink dragon… so cute!
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 9:21 amHey Kahani, Its a lovely little set and that pink dragon really made me laugh.
JackieA says
January 28, 2009 at 11:06 amHi PB! Happy New Year!
I use the spoolie brush for my brows and for (sometimes) combing through my lashes to really separate them after my mascara has dried. Is there another way to use it though?
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 9:22 amHi JackieA, Thanks – hope you enjoyed the holidays. Thanks for the spoolie tips!
geekchic says
January 28, 2009 at 11:09 amPeenk! Right by my books!
As for the spoolie: I have a dual-ended brow pencil from Dior. One end: pencil, the other end, spoolie. I use the spoolie to blend away any harsh lines on the brow. Especially at the “tail”-end of the brow.
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 9:22 amHi geekchic, Glad you are loving the Chanel Tweed blush too! Its gorgeous right?
pf1123 says
January 28, 2009 at 1:22 pmLooks like people use the spoolie more for the brows?
To comb the lashes, I use a lash comb, not a spoolie. But then once I changed my mascara to a non-clumping one, I don’t use the comb anymore.
Nikki says
January 28, 2009 at 1:42 pmI’ve seen that travel brush from Viva Woman too and too bad they only ship to Singapore. The brushes for travel and starters look very promising! and looks like it’s of good quality just by taking a look at photos 🙂
Pink Dragon! 🙂 that’s cute!
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 9:23 amHiya Nikki, I was quite surprised at the quality considering the price. Its pretty decent and works well – what more can you ask for in a travel set? 🙂
Teresa says
October 30, 2009 at 4:57 pmHi Nikki, they ship internationally now 😉
jojoba says
January 28, 2009 at 6:34 pmlooks like a very nice set.
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 9:23 amHi Jojoba, yep its pretty decent.
Connie says
January 28, 2009 at 7:28 pmthe brushes definitely look very very soft! you can use the spoolie either to groom your brows or separate lashes. Personally, I use it to blend eyebrow powder/pencil so that it won’t look harsh
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 9:23 amHi Connie, Thanks for the tips! Looks like brows win heh… yes the brushes are soft yet firm which is great for me
Michelle says
January 28, 2009 at 10:54 pmAt Shu Uemura they use the spoolie to groom the eyebrows. It is used to comb and hold the brow hairs down while trimming the strays (ie. whatever that is longer than the desired length). It’s a snazzy trick. I could never find a spoolie for sale so I washed an old mascara brush and have been using it for that since. If you have no idea what I’m talking about… go to Shu to get your eyebrows groomed and you will know what I mean! 🙂
ps: the brushes look a bit flimsy in the pic
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 9:25 amHi Michelle, Yep I know what you mean. I’ve had it done on me before. However since I started using a brush to apply my brow powder instead of a pencil, I’ve found the effect softer and I have less need for toning down the look. I’ll keep the spoolie handy for those days when it does get out of hand though. As for the brushes, they are really sturdy and decent with a nice heft to the wooden handles.
Ms. Blacklace says
January 29, 2009 at 12:56 amI really really like the case. So sleek!
Oh… By the way, I got a Roo-tote!!!!! It was SGD19.90 and I got it at a place that vivawoman mentioned. My favorite black fila bag lost its shape and the handle got longer [somehow], and the weight distribution became uneven and it was a bitch to carry!
So right now the roo-tote is the only bag that I have that’s not Black. [its bluish-grey with alternate lines of “flowers”] I had a really hard time deciding what to get though…… So many cute designs!!!
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 9:25 amHi Ms Blacklace, Yay for roototes! You’ll be absolutely spoilt for choice! 🙂
sesame says
January 29, 2009 at 11:17 amGlad you find this kit useful. I actually like the foundation brush in this kit more than the full-sized kabuki brush. The small size makes application more even…but my fave is the crease brush. It’s fantastic!
I use the spoolie once two days ago to separate my lashes after I’ve crimped them. I hardly apply mascara so I probably won’t use so much of this tool.
ParisB says
January 29, 2009 at 11:45 amHiya Sesame, The crease brush looks quite perfect for my small lids. I’m going to give this a shot soon. Thanks!
Tine says
January 31, 2009 at 7:36 amOooh it sure is similar to Everyday Minerals brushes. Don’t you just love travel-sized brushes like these? So good for traveling. Also, the short handles makes it easy to use on a day-to-day basis too.
Oh, and the spoolie’s used for the brows 🙂
ParisB says
February 1, 2009 at 6:06 pmHi Tine, I LOVE these brushes especially for travelling – usable AND travel friendly. Thanks for the tip for spoolies! I was thinking eye lashes haha…
daf says
February 5, 2009 at 3:24 amjusst wondering,is the crease brush a dome brush???thnx!
ParisB says
February 5, 2009 at 11:38 amHi Daf
No, its just a normal brush for the crease.
Nura Arifin says
February 18, 2009 at 7:53 amHi… Can you tell me where in Singapore that you purchased this brush set from? Can I get it at any stores in Orchard Road? Thanks!!!
ParisB says
February 18, 2009 at 10:26 amHi Nura
I purchased it online through a friend in Singapore. I believe its only sold online.
Shay says
April 8, 2009 at 10:40 amHey, I tried out this set of brushes on my travels.
I find it quite small and I need to spend more time on my face. hehehe…but well, its a travel set.
I brought my powder foundation. I use the sponge in the compact to apply on my t-zone and cheeks then I buff over my whole face.
My Stile blush in my palette is quite pigmented. And the blush brush fits the blush pan well. But I need to bend a lot in order not to look like a clown with 2 stripes on my face.
I prefer to have regular size brushes to make the job easier.
ParisB says
April 8, 2009 at 10:43 amHi Shay
Full sized brushes are best I do agree. But I never carry out my full sized brushes because its just too bulky. I like to travel light and I don’t have a lot of makeup on most times so small brush sets suit me fine 🙂