Review: Lumiere Duo Fiber Optic Blush Brush
I’ve been using the same 4 brushes to apply makeup for a few years now, nearly 7 years if I were to guess. I haven’t understood how important using different brushes can help me to achieve different application results. It wasn’t until I started reading Vanessa’s site (you enabler you!) that I started thinking, “Hmm, maybe I should throw in a few more brushes into my makeup bag.”
Here’s what I use everday (from top to bottom):
Prescriptives blush, MAC 266 angled (brows), Benefit small fluffy shadow, and Benefit angled shadow
After deciding that I wanted to expand on my brush collection, I asked Vanessa and Karen what their top basic brushes were and they each named MAC 187 for blush. When I looked for it on the MAC site, I gasped - $42 US for a brush?? Yikes!
Thankfully for me, I read Memoirs of a Shopping Addict and found a post that just happened to list a dupe for MAC 187. And it was only gonna cost me $15 during a sale Lumiere was having - uh, hello?! Sign me up! The sale is over now, but you can still pick up the Duo Fiber Optic brush for $22 - still a great deal!
While I don’t have the 187 to compare side-by-side, I will say that I’m enjoying my Duo Fiber Optic brush. It’s made with synthetic fibers, whereas MACs version is made from a blend of goat hairs and synthetic fibers. Lumiere’s brush is soft, and picks up color from creme blushes nicely. I’m also finding that the brush allows me to apply color more precisely on my cheeks as well.
Overall, I really like it. And although I’ve never used MACs 187, I don’t think I’m missing out.
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On March 26th, 2008 Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said:
I hear it’s a good brush also. I definitely am eyeing the pink flat top brush from Camellia Rose. But I’m such a MAC snob (taking your word, hah) though, lol. Gotta get off me MAC cloud one of these days.
On March 26th, 2008 tricia said:
ha this post is so funny to me why? because u just described me, this past december i just started using more brushes. and yes i was also influenced by reading makeup sites. everything in this post was totally me it is like i wrote it, only that u did. thought i was alone in this, until i discover using different brushes for different applications really works. also i was using 4 brushes that looks exactly like the 4 u was using.
On March 26th, 2008 kia said:
i LOVE the 187 also! i have another brush post coming up that i’ve had on hold for about a week lol… check it out when you get a chance
On March 26th, 2008 beautytalk said:
I’ve been building up my brush collection too lately. A good brush really does make a world of difference! It’s just so hard because it’s so expensive. I’m glad you found a good replacement.
On March 26th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Mrs. Lynne,
I’ve never tried anything from Camellia Rose. Is it a good brand? I’ve read a couple reviews from Vanessa.
I dunno if I can ever build up the brush collection you have - it’s extensive!! Is there a brush that you have that you never ever use??
On March 26th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi tricia,
Boy, I’m glad I’m not the only one out there!! Which brushes have you recently added to your collection? I think my next one needs to be a good blending brush - what do you think?
On March 26th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Kia,
I’m definitely making my rounds around the beauty blogs soon - I’m so behind! It’s good to know that the 187 is a good one, I just hope I’m not missing out with this dupe. Although, I am liking it a lot!
What are your other favorite brushes?
On March 26th, 2008 Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said:
The ones I don’t use are the SE ones (gold handle). I have no need now for a 190SE since I buff my foundation, I use my ring finger instead of the 192SE for concealer, the 168SE is a no-no, and the 187SE (I have a full-size 188 that I use on the rare occasion that I bust out my liquid foundation). I have a 209 that I only used once after I discovered my HG 208 angle brush. The remaining I use more frequent although I have more routine ones in that bunch. Yah, I’m a little brush crazy, lol.
On March 27th, 2008 Karen said:
Girl, you still gotta try it. Seriously, that and the 182 kabuki brush… ta die for!
On March 27th, 2008 Girl-Woman said:
Great minds think alike. I recently started building my brush collection, too.
On March 27th, 2008 Lilan said:
Holy MAC brush lingo, Batman!!
LOL, Mrs. Lynne - I have no clue what all of the brushes are! They all have numbers and I’m just not that savvy. Oh well! I’ll never be at your status Mrs. Lynne, no wonder why your makeup looks flawless all the time!
On March 27th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hiya Karen,
I think I definitely need some kind of buffing brush in the near future. I just love how your makeup looks all the time - do you use it everyday?
Hope you’re Thursday is rockin’ with more of my favorite 80s pop divas!!
On March 27th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Girl-Woman,
Great minds DO think alike! LOL
What brushes have you recently added to your collection??
On March 27th, 2008 Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said:
You can say I’m a little brush loco
On April 3rd, 2008 Jennifer said:
Hi Lilan!
So this is the brush you bought! Much better price than the MAC…where were you a year ago when I bought mine? : )
On April 4th, 2008 Lilan said:
LOL, sorry Jennifer! But now you’ll be the one saving us all from brush overload with your upcoming post
Can’t wait to read it!