Zoeva Makeup Brush Review - 231, 226, 234 and 114

As a treat to myself a few weeks ago, I made a naughty purchase - I bought some makeup brushes from Zoeva. Ok, I actually bought these about a year ago, and this review sat on the back burner for quite a while. But hey, now you're just getting a better review because I've been testing them for so long!

While some other bloggers/youtubers claim Zoeva brushes are an "affordable" brush option, for us Canadians, they are not really that affordable. With about C$20 in shipping, averaging each brush around $15, the prices of the brushes itself are just ok. Definitely not a crazy bargain.

My purchases?

- 231 Luxe Petit Crease
- 226 Smudger
- 234 Luxe Smoky Shader
- 114 Luxe Face Focus

The brushes themselves are of excellent quality. The handles are solid and I haven't had any shedding problems with the brushes. I'd say the quality is comparable to my MAC brushes - however, the glossy finish on the handle does make them seem less luxurious - although that's simply my opinion. I prefer a matte finish such as my MAC brushes, or my NARS brushes.

The 231 Luxe Petit Crease is a brush that was missing in my arsenal. The tip of the brush is more precise than a MAC 217 and smaller. It's very useful for applying eyeshadow precisely in the crease, or the outer crease. I was initially apprehensive about the stiffness of the brush thinking it would not blend eyeshadow properly, but in fact, it works like a charm. It applies the shadow right where I want it, but also blended it softly. This brush is a must if you lack something similar in your repertoire.

The 226 Smudger brush was also something I was missing in my collection. I don't often put eyeshadow on my lower lashline - all my brushes are a bit too big for the job. I find shadow on my lower lashes can also make me look a bit tired - I just don't have a lot of space to work with. This Smudger brush, however, does the job amazingly. Not only does it apply shadow on my bottom lashline very close to my lashline, but it also smudges it out easily. However, my favorite way to use this brush is to smudge out liner on my upper lashline to add a bit of smokiness to an every day look. A must in any collection.

I'm going to be honest, I bought the 234 Luxe Smoky Shader brush simply because I wanted a dupe for my MAC 239, and I think I found it! While this brush is a tad (seriously just a bit) less dense, it performs just as well as my 239. In fact, I have a hard time finding differences between the two when I can't see the handles.

My intention for the 114 Face Focus was to use it as a highlighting brush. When I received it though, it was way smaller than I thought it would be. Still, it's not comparable to anything else I own, and applies highlighter smoothly and beautifully. I like that it deposits highlighter in more specific areas of my face (I'm not one to highlight a ton) and it blends the highlight easily.

As I said, the quality of these brushes is excellent. I've used them for about a year now, washed them numerous times, and they're still in great shape. They haven't frayed at the edges, and they haven't stained.

If you're looking to invest in a good set of brushes, but not "invest" in pricier classic brushes such as MAC, I highly recommend Zoeva brushes. I'm very happy with the quality of my purchase and they definitely measure up to other high quality brushes such as MAC. A+!