So I opted for Lauren Luke, and can I say I am not disappointed :) This post will tell you all you need to know from delivery to use :)
Website/ Ordering
The website is pretty basic, only consisting of 4 main pages. This does mean however that you don't get distracted or lost when using the site, which is a bonus. The actual ordering page is very easy to use. You can chose which brush/ brushes you want using a drop down bar on each one, which gives you the quantity. Or you can do what I did and chose the full set of 8.
Once you have made your choice, you click proceed which takes you straight to the paypal payment page. If you don't have a paypal, I'm not sure how else you could get them, as all sales are made using this. After payment you should receive an email from paypal saying it has gone through.
One thing that did annoy me was I got overcharged for postage. UK is £1.99, but I got charged the EU rate of £3.99. I did get £2 refunded, which was good.
Customer Service
I didn't really rate the customer service if I'm honest. I didn't receive any emails from the company until the day before my order was dispatched. I contacted them the day after I placed my order to ask when they would be dispatched (as they are sent recorded delivery, so you will need someone to sign for them). I also wanted to find out about my postage issue. But it took them two days to send any sort of reply. I also tried to ring the customer service phone number provided, which always went straight through to an answering service. So I do feel that this area could do with some improvements.
Delivery/ Packaging
Delivery took 4 full working days, which surprised me as it was First Class Recorded. They did however turn up in a very cute envelope. Black padded with a pink bow on the corner. Very original. All the brushes came in their own plastic bag, and some of the smaller or more delicate ones also had the plastic topper on. I also got a letter that was personalised to me, and signed by Lauren. All the brushes arrived to me in perfect condition.
The Brushes
As I ordered the 8 piece essential set, I got all the brushes she currently sells. I also found out that if you buy the set together, you get the pencil brush for free, which is a saving of £3.25! They are all made with synthetic bristles, and all have a sturdy black handle with Lauren Luke logo on them. The fennel on each brush is pink, which I thought was a nice touch. Here is a breakdown of each brush.
Angled Liner Brush - £3.25
Very similar to most angled brushes out there. I did find this one to be very thin though, which is perfect for creating very thin liner, or building up to thick. Lovely for doing wings with too.
Blending Eyeshadow Brush - £4.50
Lovely brush, a dupe for the Mac 217 I believe. Really great at blending your colours up and together. It is also slightly tapered, which helps to get right into the crease.
Flat Contour Brush - £5.25
I use this for blush as it has a fairly round top. It is a small brush, which is great, as it doesn't leave you with blusher everywhere. Could also be used for bronzer.
Flat Eye Shadow Brush - £4.00
This brush is really good at packing on the colour to your lids. It holds a lot of product, and delivers it without covering you in product.
Foundation Brush - £6.00
This is the brush that most people are interested in. Its shape is very different to most foundation brushes. Due to its smaller size, it is easier to get into small areas, like around the nose. It does however mean that it takes longer to apply foundation. I do feel though that the finish is better.
Large Powder Brush - £6.50
This is my favourite brush. It is massive, which is great for getting the product on quickly and easily. It is lovely and soft too :)
Pencil Brush - £3.25
Really nice for putting colour on the lower lash line. Also good for precision work. Really soft.
Tapered Blending Brush - £4.50
This brush is slightly shorter than the other blending brush, but has much more of a point to it, which helps to get into the crease.
Cleaning
I have washed my set a few times now, and it always goes back to the lovely state they arrived in. The foundation brush can be a little difficult, as it holds onto the product really well, so if you are using a lasting foundation, be prepared for a fight!
