Duo Brushes -- So convenient, especially for travel. Great value.

Multitasking. Shade, color, camouflage.

Duo brushes are such a convenience and their benefits need no explanation. The usefulness of these brushes is greater than the sum of its sides.

Eye Contour Duo I- Our most popular eye shadow brush with sable hair which makes it ideal for the eye area. One side is rounded dome for broader swaths of color over lids and brow bones. The second end has shorter hair with a slight angle to reach corners and creases.

Eye Contour Duo II- This smaller brush with Kolinsky sable dome fluff end for shadow application and a pony angle for reaching corners. The angle edge is ideal as a brow brush.

Brow Duo - One of our favorite brushes. Custom made only for us it has a firm angled side to tame and contour brows, as well as a straight line softer taklon side to gently color and shape brows. This side is especially helpful for sparse brows to shade the skin as well as the brow hairs to enhance the appearance of fuller brows. 

Camofluff Duo - A taklon brush carries more color/powder which makes it the choie for concealing, eye contours, facial contours, or anywhere you need a little extra.  The soft fluffy brush is for gentler feathering, finishing powders, eye swaths, or contouring.  This is a larger size brush than the other duo selections. 

Directions

Multi-tasking. Use as needed for eye shadows, brow color, highlighting, blushes, concealers, correctors, targeted foundation applications.  

Eye Contour Du: Kolinsky sable, wood handle Eye Contour DuII& II :Sable, pony, wood handle. Brow Duo : White taklon, pony, wood handle

Index:

• Makeup Brushes: The case for quality.
• Makeup Brushes: Natural vs Synthetic Explained

Makeup Brushes: The case for quality. What difference does it make? Firstly, it does. It may seem that a brush is a brush is a brush; as long as the shape is the same, the results will be the same. Not so. It isn't the shape but the density and quality of the hair and synthetic strands in a brush that determine the final outcome. A quality brush gives the smoothest, most natural results. A quality brush is cost effective in that it is an effective adjunct to any skin care protocol that you so meticulously adhere to, whether at home or in salons. With proper care, a quality brush will last for years. Owning a quality brush will never give you cause for regret. That said, there is the cost factor to justify. Forget right away the plastic brushes often included with cosmetics as they are harsh on your skin and inflexible. Flawless application of makeup in general and mineral makeup in particular, is dependent on the brush. For example, many women still find it difficult to relinquish liquid foundation in favor of mineral powders. There is no question that mineral powders are devoid of so many of the chemicals that we dislike in theory, but have a hard time giving up in reality. I often suggest that the reluctant experiment with powder application by actually purchasing an inexpensive brush at Walmart, but once committed to mineral cosmetics, obtaining the best quality brush maximizes the beauty of the cosmetics. Here at the Abbey, we made an early decision to find and offer only the best quality available. We were even a little shocked ourselves to initially discover the wholesale cost of quality. This led to the second decision to offer the brushes with minimal margins to make the brushes most affordable. Acquiring one brush at a time is a fairly painless way to build a set of makeup tools that will serve you well for years. A quality brush is an investment in yourself and your commitment to put your best face forward. You are worth it.

Makeup Brushes: Natural vs Synthetics Explained Synthetic hairs are more variable and quality depends on manufacture. Many like the fact that synthetics are vegan. Synthetic brushes can be less durable than natural hair, but high quality synthetic hair will undoubtedly last years with proper care. Synthetics tend to pick up more cosmetic and are especially useful for camouflage brushes for applying concealers and correctors. Quality synthetic hairs are made from taklon or nylon and are recommended for liquid foundations and all types of cream cosmetics. Look for synthetics with soft ends as sharp ends indicate low quality plastic production. Natural hair is used in brushes because it is soft and gets softer with use. High quality natural hair has tapered ends that stay soft on the skin and produce smooth and flawless surfaces. The best brushes use hair from various animals, sometimes in combination, depending on the designated purpose of the brush. While each brush is purposed for enhancing and simplifying application of various cosmetics, there are no hard and fast rules so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. Below are descriptives of the most commonly used natural hairs. Goat Hair (capra) Goat hair is a favorite of makeup artists because it is the most effective hair to pick up powder and deposit it evenly and smoothly on the skin. In addition, goat hair brings a natural luster to your skin which makes it exceptional for buffing and blending. European goat hair, known as super capra, is elegant and soft with rounded tips.

• Pony Hair Pony hair is similar to goat hair in that it has rounded tips that make it superior for cheeks, bronzers, and blending. It is very fine and soft and most commonly found in brushes made for cheeks and facial contours.
• Squirrel Hair Squirrel hair is the softest natural hair used in makeup brushes. This hair is not from your average backyard birdfeeder bandit, and it is used in some of the most expensive brushes because of its durability. It is ideal for conical shaped brushes with flat tops. The hair is usually thicker in the middle, tapering ta point at the end. Squirrel hair is ideal for applying eye shadow and heavy pigments.
• Sable Hair Sable hair brushes are appreciated because they are considered a lifetime investment and are worth every penny. Sable hair comes from mink found in Russia and China. Kolinsky sable is the highest quality, followed closely by red sable and sable. They have thicker middles with fine pointed tips and are resilient, amazingly soft, and durable. These brushes are especially versatile as they are excellent with wet or dry cosmetics. Sable brushes are excellent for eye shadow.
• Boar Hair Brushes made from boar hair are extremely soft making them useful for fine hair which is easily damaged. Cosmetic manufacturers most commonly use boar in brushes purposed for lashes and brows. Boar is most often used to make hair brushes because it is good for sensitive scalps and its absorbency helps redistribute scalp oils through the rest of the hair, adding luster and shine. Straight hair benefits the most from boar hair as its softness is less effective on curly hair.