** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

Ask me before I tried makeup brushes if I needed them, and I right out in your face would say, “Hellz nah.” I’m glad no one asked me that then because I’d be eating my words – shamefully. Makeup brushes really do help applying products easier with better results, I’ve discovered. Duh me!

Which is why I’m on this mission to find quality face and eye brushes that are affordable…for myself and, of course, for this blog. 🙂 And when it comes to affordable makeup products, the first name that comes into mind is e.l.f. cosmetics.

I’ve reviewed a few other brushes by this brand and came to the conclusion that the brushes are very hit and miss. My first impression of the e.l.f. Essentials Total Face Brush wasn’t a good one. Find out if I changed my mind…

e.l.f. Essentials Total Face Brush Pictures & Photos

Claims: BUSTED

X Soft, caressing bristles
X Soothing application
√ Full-face touch-ups

Key Notes

• Name: e.l.f. Essentials Total Face Brush (formerly e.l.f. Professional Total Face Brush)
• What I Paid: $0.50 US (was on sale; retails for $1 US)
• Other Essentials Face Brushes Available: Blushing, Bronzing and Blending Brush; Foundation Brush; Concealer Brush
• Where to Buy: e.l.f. website

e.l.f. Professional Total Face Brush Review

The first thing I did when I got the e.l.f. Total Face Brush was run it across the palm and back of my hand to feel the bristles. Ugh! They’re sooo rough that I almost didn’t want to try it on my face!

After doing that, I was faced with a 2nd negative of the elf Total Face Brush: it shed almost immediately. Already I didn’t have high hopes for it, but I gotta give it a shot.

Then I washed it. More shedding, but it gets worse. As you can see from the picture above, the dye comes off! My sink turned orangey red even as I was just wetting the brush in water before using any cleaning product. I’ve never experienced this with other e.l.f. brushes before… although none of the other brushes are red, and red dye is especially hard to work with.

Turn-off #4 came after it dried (and after it shed on me even more). I finally used the elf Essentials Total Face Brush on my face… and, yup, not a pleasant feeling. I wouldn’t describe it as scratchy, but it’s definitely rough. If you don’t enjoying rubbing cheap carpet or an itchy polyester sweater on your face, then you can skip this brush.
So how does it do with applying makeup? Well, the elf Professional Total Face Brush does a decent job with a natural application and even distribution. Also, the size of the brush is good – it’s just small enough for the curves of your face.

But these good points are not enough to redeem it from its major, major faults.

Pros Affordable Good size (head measures approximately 1.5” in diameter) Nice length on handle (ferule to tip is approximately 4.5”)

Cons  Sheds terribly Dye leaks Bristles are very rough Smells bad (possibly because of the dye)

Final Verdict: 4/10

I know, I know: It costs only $1, which is a very tempting price. But if you want a good and affordable face powder brush that works with foundation, setting powder, bronzer, highlighter and blush, may I suggest the e.l.f. Studio Kabuki Face Brush? It’s super soft and does a better job – at only $4 more.

Do you prefer a face brush like this over a kabuki brush? Let me know!