Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash

I am such a sucker for Lush products. This time around I had an opportunity to try the Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash. Don't get put off by the name, you don't need to have a beard to use this product. As a matter of fact I was positively surprised by how well it works for me. 

Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash

As with all Lush products it comes in a minimalistic plastic packaging that is recyclable. You can bring 5 empty black pots (or spray bottles, which I was not aware of but since they are made of the same plastic they do count as well) and get a free fresh mask. You can purchase this product in two sizes. I grabbed the smaller one just to see how I get along with it. I do have to say that I am not a fan of dipping my fingers into the pot as opposed to having a pump, but that is just a minor inconvenience. 

When it comes to ingredients it includes: almond oil, apricot kernel oil, organic jojoba oil and fresh pineapple juice just to name a few. It's vegan and cruelty-free. This product does contain perfume and parabens, so keep that in mind if that is something you are wary of. 

Kalamazoo Beard and Facial Wash

It has quite a strong but pleasant scent of something citrusy and spa combined. I find it up-lifting especially in the morning. That being said if you don't like strong scents you might not like this. I am pretty picky when it comes to scents and very often prefer un-fragranced skincare products but weirdly enough I don't mind this one.

The product has a creamy texture, like that of a body butter. It's incredibly soft and silky. It doesn't dry my skin out but leaves it feeling super clean and soft. It hasn't broken me out or caused any sort of irritation to my sensitive skin. 

Overall I think it's a good cleanser with no extra bells and whistles. I would recommend using it as a second cleanse, after you have taken off your makeup or spf. I think the small pot (100g) would last a reasonable amount of time, since you don't really need much. As said I am a little bit iffy about the whole pot concept for something that I use on a daily basis. However, I can understand that perhaps the consistency could be troublesome for squeeze tube packaging.  

As always I hope you found this helpful. Do let me know what are your favourite Lush products, if any!

Cheers,
Muffy

Kypris Moonlight Catalyst

Today let's talk a little bit about luxury high-performance organic skincare. I have the Kypris Moonlight Catalyst here which I have been using consistently since March. As such I had a good amount of time to see how it performs, if it made any difference and eventually if it's worth the money.

Kypris Moonlight Catalyst

As per usual let's quickly look at the packaging. I think both the outer box and the actual glass bottle are stunning. I really like its presentation, aesthetics and uniqueness. What's more it actually feels and looks luxurious to me. Very often you pay immense amounts of money for a product and it comes in a cheap plastic packaging and even worse if it comes in a jar (meaning that it get's exposed to the air every time you open it and it looses all it's valuable properties).

Kypris Moonlight Catalyst simply put is an exfoliating serum that you use ONLY at night. It enhances cellular renewal, refines skin texture and evens skin tone. In my opinion you get a good amount of product (47ml) and it should last you for 6 months after opening. The consistency is that of a gel and you need 3-4 drops to cover your face and neck. You can use it on its own as a last step of your night routine or in combination with Kypris Beauty Elixirs or other oils, moisturizers of your choice. It's also a fantastic alternative to traditional retinol treatments if those are too harsh for you or if you are pregnant. 

It's packed full of amazing ingredients such as fermented pumpkin enzyme, Hawaiian sea algae, xylitylglucosides, rosehip seed extract, sea buckthorn fruit extract and neroli flower extract just to name a few. It's free from essential oils, it's vegan, cruelty-free and is sustainably sourced. 

Naturally anyone can use this product but it's especially beneficial for dull, tired or blemish-prone skin. Since it's an exfoliator and reveals new skin you HAVE to use an SPF during the day regardless of the season. 

As to my experience with this product, I have been blown away to say the least! I have never seen a skin care product deliver such visible results. I am talking about people commenting on how good my skin looks. I am not saying this as a person that naturally has good skin to begin with, that is not at all the case. I am actually a good example of someone that has struggled with pimples, texture and dark spots for years. Therefore, when I get compliments from people about my skin it's a BIG deal. I also noticed that my skin feels much smoother, I have less break-outs and it's more radiant. I will with no doubt continue using this product and re-purchase. 

Overall, I can warmly recommend the Kypris Moonlight Catalyst. Sure it's pricey but if you consider the amount you get (47ml NOT 30ml) and how much other luxury brands cost (e.g Sunday Riley, Tata Harper, Vitner's Daughter etc.) it's not that bad. Luckily it's becoming more available internationally and you can get it from CultBeauty or if you are in Finland from Liinu'n Organic Beauty. 

I hope you found this useful. I can't wait to try more Kypris products. I have been eyeing their Pot of Shade - Heliotropic broad spectrum SPF 30. Let me know if you have tried it!

Until next time,
Muffy

Dose Of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Truffle

Dose of Colors is hands down the brand I have wanted to try for the longest time, but it has been pretty challenging to get in Europe. Now this has changed as Beautybay started carrying it. I initially wanted to pick up the liquid matte lipstick in Stone, but that shade seems to be sold out all the time everywhere. I was lucky enough though to snatch Truffle, which has been on my radar as well. I have tried quite a few liquid lipstick formulas and I wanted to see how this one compares. To find out just that keep on reading!

The reason why I got interested in the brand is because it's vegan and cruelty-free, plus it's still a rather niche brand. I personally like to support niche and indie brands. The product comes in a really nice cardboard packaging which is colour coded. The liquid lipstick tube has a frosted-glass effect that is very sleek and modern looking. I personally think the packaging and overall presentation is on point. Besides being vegan and cruelty-free the Dose of Colors liquid matte lipsticks are formulated without parabens and gluten. That is why the shelf life is only 6 months before the product goes bad. 

The applicator is quite unique. It's not your traditional doe foot. It has a slight dent which allows for more precise application and control. I never mess up when using this product. It's much more user friendly compared to others I have tested. In terms of formula it doesn't disappoint. It's opaque with one swipe and doesn't dry too fast, which means you can still perfect your application if need be. As it's a matte liquid lipstick it will be drying, but it's not as drying as for instance La Splash, Sleek and Stila. I noticed that I start feeling like I want to apply lip balm when I have worn it for about 3-4 hours. I think that's pretty good for a matte lipstick. Usually with other similar products within an hour or so I start feeling like it's crusty and super drying. 

Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Truffle

When it comes to longevity it performs really well. If I eat salad or something non-greasy during the day it can easily last the whole day. It doesn't wear off ugly like some matte liquid lipsticks tend to do. This can be due to the formula but also the shade. It's very close to my natural lip colour therefore you can't really see distinctively where it has worn off. In terms of shade I would describe Truffle as a darker pinky-nude. It's in the same colour family as for example Mac Velvet Teddy. Below, I have swatched it next to the Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in Birthday Suit. They are quite similar, but Sleek's Birthday Suit is more rosy. Sleek is also a cruelty-free brand but I have been put off when I noticed that the shelf life of it's Matte Me Lip Cream in Birthday Suit is 36 months! 

L-R: Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in Birthday Suit and Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Truffle

Overall, I am very pleased with the Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Truffle. In the future I would like to try other colours such as Stone and Cork, but for now I am pretty satisfied with what I have. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative of similar shade, Sleek's Birthday Suit is a good one (as long as you are not bothered by an insanely long shelf life for a liquid product).  

I hope you found this useful. Let me know if you have tried any of the Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks and what are your favourite shades!

Cheers,
Muffy

Winter Skin Care Essential - Mádara Pihlaja Daily Defence Protection Cream

Winter is officially over, but here in Finland it will still continue for the next month or so. As such I decided to sneak this post in and tell you about my number one product that has saved my skin during the cold winter months. It's the Mádara Pihlaja (Rowanberry) Daily Defence Protection Cream. 

Mádara Pihlaja Daily Defence Protection Cream

Mádara is the Latvian manufacturer of organic skincare products. I haven't tried anything from its range until I stumbled across the Finnish blogger Kemikaalicocktail featuring this particular product. As a matter of fact Mádara Pihlaja Daily Defence Protection Cream has been made in collaboration with Mádara and this beauty blogger. Hence her signature on the package. The idea was to create a product targeted to withstand harsh Scandinavian winters by protecting the skin from dryness, roughness, wind and cold. It's suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and atopic ones. The key ingredient as the name suggests is rowanberry as well as shea butter. It's vegan and certified by ECOCERT standards. You can use it on your face, hands, elbows - pretty much anywhere on the body where you have dryness. I use it mostly on my face to combat dry patches and redness.

Consistency of Mádara Pihlaja Daily Defence Protection Cream 

As for the product itself, it's amazing. It comes in a nice squeeze tube which is extremely handy for carrying it around in a bag or travelling. It's of a thicker consistency but absorbs like a dream so it won't interfere with your makeup application. As a matter of fact it acts as a great base. It won't leave that annoying greasy feeling on your skin. It does have a distinct non-perfumy scent which doesn't bother me but if you are sensitive to scents give it a sniff beforehand. 

If you have an atopic skin prone to eczema (like yours truly) and/or dry patches in general and you live in a cold climate this would be your best friend. It doesn't irritate the skin, calms it down and provides a protective barrier. It's also extremely affordable (around 15,00 EUR and you can get it on offer occasionally). I am not sure about its availability outside Finland but if you happen to see it grab it. In Finland you can get it at: Sokos, Stockmann, Ruohonjuuri and Jolie just to name a few.

Even though we are heading into spring I figured this could be something to keep in mind when winter rolls around next time!

Cheers,
Muffy

Behind the Scenes of CosmEthics

Remember I told you that I will be digging deeper into CosmEthics App? Well, I did. I actually contacted the company and had the pleasure of visiting them at their office in Helsinki. Having worked in a startup myself I really enjoy the cosy and friendly atmosphere that it comes with. I had the opportunity to chat with a few people and I am bringing your way some interesting insight into the app and its development. 

The first thing I was curious to discover was what is happening at their end once I attach the pictures for analysis and press the send button. They get a tremendous amount of new products sent to them daily. Hence the time it takes for a product to be added to their database depends on the amount of products they have waiting in a pipeline. They keep track of the time it takes to analyse the product and are aiming to improve it constantly. The actual process consists of three steps: typing the ingredients, verifying the ingredients and checking for toxicity by the in-house bio-scientitsts and referencing scientific research. I really appreciate that they have an actual science team working with them. It is comprised of people from various backgrounds such as chemistry, biochemistry and toxicology. This gives at least reasonable credibility to the validity of their information.

What is also interesting is how they compile their default lists. I asked about the Vegan one in particular. They have put it together based on the concerns vegans usually have and also feedback they received from people who are vegan. I think it is fantastic that they listen to people and want to continuously meet their needs better. A good example of this gesture was also when I mentioned having an atopic eczema. They immediately suggested that I talk with their scientists and see if they can make a corresponding list. Despite their main market currently being Europe they are planning on expanding. You can already get the app in several languages: Finnish, Chinese, Portuguese and French. 

Overall I think this app has a lot of potential. It is not only important for educating people but also increasing visibility for niche brands that have good quality products and ethics, but not necessarily millions to allocate for marketing. It can become a viral hit like Uber (biggest taxi company in the world that doesn't  own a single taxi but provides a platform) bringing a positive impact on how people consume and discover products.

This app is definitely worth checking out if you still haven't. With our society becoming more conscious of what it consumes in terms of food and cosmetics, I believe this app responds to this newfound awareness. 

If you've tried this app I would love to hear your thoughts! What are the things you enjoyed and what could be developed better?

Cheers,
Muffy

Disclaimer : I was not sponsored by ComsEthics to write this post, I wrote it out of my own interest.

Visit My Stash - Dusty Rose / Mauve Lippies

I am sure if you have been following the blogging world for some time you have heard about the dusty rose / mauve lipstick trend. Everyone is talking about it and you see tons of pictures on instagram and pinterest inspired by the hype. I have always gravitated towards darker nude colours (regardless of the conventions) and have accumulated quite a bit over the years. I thought why not give you a sneak peek into my dusty rose / mauve lipstick collection in case you were thinking of joining the ranks.

Let's start with traditional lipsticks in a bullet and move to the liquid lipsticks. Up fist is Mac Creme in Your Coffee lipstick, I have a separate review on Mac lipsticks here. It is a creamy formula, glides on nicely, but I would suggest using a lipliner for a more precise application. The colour is what I would call a classic mauve: it has hints of rose and brown. Kiko Smart Lipstick in 918 Classic Rose is very similar but has more pink undertones which are barely noticeable. It is a relatively sheer formula, so you would need to put a few layers to achieve the colour that you see in the bullet. The formula is creamy, non-drying and it has the same distinct scent of vanilla as the Mac lipsticks. The staying power is not too impressive but as it is a sheer formula it is easy to reapply on the go. Last but not least is the YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 9 Caress Pink. This one is a beauty! I have nothing like it in my collection. In my eyes it still falls under the dusty rose, mauve colour scheme but it has more rosy, pinky or even berry undertones. It has no brown it in whatsoever. It is a unique colour for sure. The formula is extremely creamy, thus you need to use a lipliner with it.

L-R: Mac Creme in Your Coffee, Kiko Classic Rose, YSl Rouge Volupte Caress Pink

L-R: YSL Kiss & Blush Nude Insolent, Sephora Marvelous Mauve, Stila Patina, 
Lush Perspective

When it comes to the liquid lipsticks, let me present you the Oh-So-Famous Stila Stay All Day liquid Lipstick in Patina. It has been pretty impossible to get your hands on it since people went ballistic over it, myself included. It is a lovely dark mauve colour that leans more towards rose rather than brown. Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 13 Marvelous Mauve is almost an identical dupe. The only difference I could see, if I want to be super picky, is that Stila Patina is more muted and darker on the lips. Both last incredibly long but they can be drying as expected with any matte liquid lipsticks. If you are looking for an alternative that is vegan but is still in the same colour family I would suggest checking out Lush Liquid Lipstick in Perspective. It is not as opaque or long lasting as Sephora or Stila, but a good everyday choice. The last one is YSL Baby Doll Kiss & Blush in 10 Nude Insolent. This is a multitasker that can be used as a blush and as a lip stain. The colour has way more reddish brown in it compared to the rest. I haven't used it as a blush but as a lip stain it works pretty good. I think this colour would be especially flattering in the fall.

L-R: YSL Rouge Volupte Caress Pink, Kiko Classic Rose, Lush Perspective
Mac Creme in Your Coffee, Sephora Marvelous Mauve, Stila Patina,
YSL Kiss & Blush Nude Insolent

I know this can appear excessive but these are the colours that I wear the most. I like to have a few options here and there in terms of finishes and shades. If you are interested in giving the dusty rose/mauve trend a go, I would recommend Kiko Classic Rose as a starting point. It is cruelty free, reasonably priced and you can build up the colour to your liking. For you vegans out there, Lush Perspective is a winner. 

I hope you had fun exploring what is in my stash. Let me know if you would like me to make similar posts in the future. I am thinking purple lippies could be next, maybe? Let me know!

Cheers,
Muffy

Discovering CosmEthics

Don't get me wrong, I did not just make a massive typo in the title, I purposefully meant to say CosmEthics. I was introduced to CosmEthics by a friend, while I was vividly and passionately describing my recent initiative to start a beauty blog. She told me to check out CosmEthics, a new startup from Finland that has created an App to help consumers be more aware of the ingredients in the products they buy and eventually put on their bodies. 

CosmEthics App

Today I would like to focus on my experience with the app, things that I liked, why I think it is worth checking out and some things that I wish to see in the future. I assure you this wouldn't be the last time you hear about this new find of mine, as I am planning to dig deeper! CosmEthics is an App for your phone. It is free to download and currently available in Europe for iOS and Android platforms. You can learn more about various features and how to get started here. I got mine a few weeks ago to make sure I had the time to play with it before I give you my two cents. First and foremost it is an app that, in my opinion, has the potential to disrupt the consumer goods industry. When I used it for the first time, the thought crossed my mind as to why the heck I haven't thought about this! Here you need to remember that I am suffering with an atopic eczema, and I need to be very careful with what I put on my body and what ingredients to avoid. Therefore, this app was pretty much a Godsend! So how does is it work and can an average non-techy person use it? Yes, these guys ensured that a Joe Average can use this application without trouble. If you ask me, it is pretty straightforward and you can easily tailor it to your own needs. Let me give you an example. We already established that I have an atopic eczema. Hence, I need to be on a look out for chemical sensitisers and fragrances. To do this I need to understand what products contain these ingredients. That is where the app gets handy. I can select ingredients from a readymade list they have compiled based on the most common concerns, or create my own Alert List. In their readymade lists they've already taken chemical sensitisers and fragrance allergens into consideration. But if you just want to dodge certain chemicals you can make a more specific list containing only methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone. Once you have done that, you can start searching for products in their database. Those that have a green approval mark next to them are winners while those that have a personal alert mark next to them have failed to meet your requirements. The app also suggests a better alternative for the product that contains unwanted ingredients.

Your Profile in CosmEthics App

Your Alerts Including Default Lists and Own Lists 

Product with a Personal Alert

Personal Alert Indicates the Unwanted Ingredient

Another way that I have been utilising this app is by scanning the products I already have at home and seeing what ingredients they contain. You can scan any product that has a barcode. To do this you just press a scan button and it actives the camera on your phone that acts as a barcode reader. Ingenious, right! Since it is a new app and still growing they naturally don't have all the products in their database. Therefore, once you have scanned the product it gives you a description of that product in case it's in their database. If not, you can send two pictures of the product to CosmEthics and they will do an analysis of ingredients for you and add it to their database. That is pretty much how they expand the selection. 

 When the Product Is not in the Database

Taking Two Pictures and Sending Them for Analysis

Obviously these are just two ways of using this app. It has way more features that you can test out and possibilities to learn in more detail about certain ingredients. It all depends on your needs and how much you already know about the topic. Things that I would like to see in the future would be, for example, a cruelty free list, an eczema list, or even a possibility to educate myself on the product's manufacturing- and expiration date. Truth be told, very often when you buy a product, especially on sale, you don't know how long it's been on the shelf!

To wrap up, I would say if you have allergies, sensitivity, ethical concerns or simply want to be more aware of various ingredients, do yourself a favour and get this app, it does not cost anything!

Let me know if you have tried this app or would you be interested in giving it a go!

Cheers,
Muffy

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 vs Lush Honey Trap

Nobody likes the look and feel of dry lips. Lip balm is an essential product in anybody's everyday routine. Despite being such a staple, it is difficult to find one that actually works. Now I became even more picky as I want it to be cruelty free, paraben free and do it's job. Lately I have been testing out Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 and Lush's Honey Trap lip balm. If you want to hear my thoughts, then keep on reading!

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 and Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm

Kiehl's lip balm comes in a squeeze tube which I think is a big plus, as you don't have to dip your finger to get the product out. You get 15ml of product, and it retails for 8,00€, which is reasonable. It doesn't have any distinguishable fragrance, but to me it is very reminiscent of vaseline scent. My biggest problem with this lip balm is the consistency. It is very slippery, it doesn't absorb into my lips and just pretty much sits on top of them. Hence, you are left with a glossy finish on your lips. The list of ingredients is not too impressive either. At the very top you get Petrolatum and a few natural ingredients appear at the end like the Aloe Leaf Extract. Kiehl's is considered a brand that tests on animals since its products are sold in China, which requires imported cosmetics be tested on animals.

Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm and Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 Packaging

Next up is the Honey Trap lip balm from Lush. Unlike Kiehl's lip balm it comes in a pot so you have to scoop the product out, which I am a little bit iffy about. It comes with 8g of product and is sold for 11,50€. I really like the consistency, it is very moisturising without feeling greasy. It gives your lips a slight sheen but nothing too glossy. I personally really like the scent, I can definitely pick up the notes of honey and vanilla. In term of ingredients it is packed with nourishing goodies like shea butter, almond oil, honey and extra virgin olive oil. It does contain Beeswax, so it is not suitable for vegans. But don't you despair, Lush also has a vegan version called None of Your Beesewax. It replaces beeswax with an extra virgin coconut oil and shea butter to give it a light texture and a slip. Among other ingredients are exotic mandarin oil, murumuru and cupuaçu butters. I don't own this one but I tried it at the store and I think I will be picking it up when I run out of the Honey Trap.

Overall my verdict is that Kiehl's lip balm #1 is an overrated vaseline with not so good ingredients. Honey Trap on the other hand
ticks all the boxes for me: it is cruelty free, paraben free and helps my dry lips. If you are looking to try a new lip balm, I say skip Kiehl's and check out Lush's Honey Trap instead! You can get it at your nearest Lush store or online. 

If you know of a good cruelty free, paraben free lip balm with an spf, let me know!

Cheers,
Muffy

Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Ethical Pick

If you want to jump on the matte liquid lipsticks bandwagon but you are unable to find a brand that is cruelty free and has no nasties, look no further! Recently I came across an indie brand Aromi that produces liquid lipsticks in an ethical manner without compromising the longevity and quality of the product. Aromi is a US based  company which strongly believes that testing on animals is completely unnecessary. Their products are handcrafted in the USA and are made with vegan and cruelty free materials. These products are formulated without parabens, phthalates, gluten, animal-derived ingredients, triclosan, mineral oil, or sodium lauryl sulfate.

Aromi Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Sweet Marsala and Desert Taupe

Aromi Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Desert Taupe and Sweet Marsala

I placed an order with Aromi a few months ago, hence I had some time to test these products out. I decided to get two colours, Sweet Marsala and Desert Taupe. One is more on the brighter side and the other one is an everyday type of shade. Each lipstick contains 4g of product and retails for $17,00. They have a flat shipping rate of $10,95 to Finland and the rest of Europe. This differs depending on your location, therefore double check the shipping information here. 

Top to Botton: Sweet Marsala and Desert Taupe

Lip Swatch : Sweet Marsala

Lip Swatch: Desert Taupe

I have accumulated quite a substantial number of matte liquid lipsticks over time from different brands like Sephora, La Splash, Sleek, Stila, and in my opinion all of them perform pretty much the same. They do vary in terms of consistency; some are more liquidy, others are creamy or mousse-like. Aromi falls into the liquidy category, which feels nice on the lips upon application. When it sets it becomes kiss proof. It has a slight scent of vanilla, which does not bother me. Based on my experience there is no such thing as a non-drying matte liquid lipstick. Any matte lipstick will dry out your lips to a certain degree, it is part of the deal. Aromi is no exception. As with any liquid to matte formula these lipsticks will start to fade at the centre of your lips when you eat greasy or oily food. However, due to their runny consistency you can easily reapply without them crumbling off your lips.  

To my knowledge Aromi has been expanding the colour range for their matte liquid lipsticks based on public demand. This shows that they are open to suggestions and take their customers' opinions into account. If you want to rock a greige lip, Desert Taupe is definitely the way to go, plus it is surprisingly wearable! Marsala has been chosen as the colour of the year 2015, therefore you can't go wrong with picking Sweet Marsala. As for me, I am thinking of getting Toasted Almond shade next.

Do you know of any other similar brands that I should try? 
If you want me to review other liquid lipsticks in my stash just let me know!

Cheers,
Muffy

Vegan Dupe for MAC 217

I would imagine if you are reading this blog you have heard about the famous blending brush MAC 217 in one way or another. 

Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan

I gave into the hype and purchased mine almost a year ago. It has served me well and changed my eyeshadow blending game for the better. That is until I came across a Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan. The two brushes are almost if not completely identical. They have the same oval rounded shape and the hairs are quite densely packed. I would say the Zoeva 227 brush is a little bit more flat, but you can't really see it unless you are super picky. The bristles of both brushes are very soft and gentle on the skin. It does not tag or pull on your eyelids when blending. Both can be used for multiple purposes. I have used them for depositing a wash of colour over my lids when I am going for a one eyeshadow kinda look, or you can use them for blending out cream eyeshadows.

The only major difference between the two is the source of bristles and price. MAC 217 is made of white goat hairs while Zoeva 227 is made of vegan taklon hairs. Moreover, MAC 217 retails for $24,00 or around 22,00€, while Zoeva 227 comes at a very affordable price of 7,80€. Besides the obvious cruelty aspect, animal derived bristles tend to accumulate more bacteria, so you need to wash them more frequently. Also white hairs get stained easily after prolonged use meaning your brush will not look so stark white as when you purchased it.  

MAC 217 and Zoeva 227 side by side

MAC 217 vs Zoeva 227

R-L : Zoeva 227 and MAC 217

Zoeva is a German brand that is best known for their brushes, but they are also carrying makeup nowadays. I have tried a few of their brushes and lipsticks and was never disappointed. It ships worldwide and it costs 7,50€ to ship to Finland. Even with shipping it totals only to 15,30€, which is still cheaper than MAC 217. 

If you are looking for a new blending brush, I say Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan is as good as MAC 217. I have had mine for at least six months and it is as soft and fluffy as when I bought it. It does not shed and is easy to clean. If you are vegan or simply conscious about animal welfare, Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan is what you want to be looking at.

What are your favourite blending brushes?

Cheers,

Muffy