You guys know my love for the IT Cosmetics brushes, so it’s no surprise that I was curious, investigated, and have fallen in love with the IT Brushes for ULTA line that is available at Ulta Beauty. It can be a little confusing, with all the different collections and brushes within the IT Brushes for ULTA line….which is why I am bringing you this post today! I have been looking forward to sharing this comprehensive guide for weeks now so let’s dive right in!
I do not have every brush in the IT Brushes for ULTA line, but I have several brushes from each of the different lines so I feel like this will be helpful if you want to try something from this line but (like me) are overwhelmed or unsure where to start.
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IT Brushes for ULTA – A Comprehensive Review
The 3 Collections in the IT Brushes for ULTA Line
Airbrush Essentials Collection | 28 Brushes within this collection. Bristles are synthetic brush hair and the handles are simple, making it ‘makeup bag friendly’, as they say. It’s lightweight, durable, and practical.
Love Beauty Fully | 18 Brushes within this collection. Bristles are the award-winning IT Cosmetics Heavenly luxe ultra soft synthetic hair. The handles are silver, streamlined, and tapered toward the end for an artistic flair. With every brush you purchase from this line, IT Cosmetics donates one brush to the Look Good, Feel Better program that helps women face the affects of cancer treatments with confidence. Now that’s Loving Beauty Fully. 🙂
Velvet Luxe | 16 Brushes within this collection. These give you highend quality and expeirence with each brush. The hairs are ultra-dense, micro-fine hair that utilizes cutting edge technology. The handles are all custom molded, soft-touch grip with an ergonomic design.
My Review of the Airbrush Essentials Collection
Airbrush Mega Powder Brush #127 | Retail: $30
They aren’t joking about this being a ‘mega’ brush — it is double the size of the brush that used to be my largest face brush, haha! It feels nice on the face and I haven’t experienced any shedding. They market this as being good for powder, bronzer, or highlight…which, to be honest, seems like a joke for highlight — unless you’re doing the full face using only highlighter challenge! 😛 Seriously, though, this brush feels just a little too large for my setting powder, so unless you want to use this brush for makeup application for your body, I think opting for the #126 brush would be the more sensible option. They’re both marketed as the same thing, one is just a little smaller…and cheaper!
Airbrush Serum Foundation Brush #131 | Retail: $24
I wasn’t sure what to think about this brush, because it was so small and flat, but it exceeded all my expectations at applying serum foundation. It made it very easy, effortless, and I really, really like the finish it gave me. I don’t wear serum foundation often, but when I do this is the brush I reach for automatically now. Very, very nice!
Airbrush Soft Focus Blush to Go #113 | Retail: $13
Many times travel size brushes seem to loose some of the quality the brand is known for, so I was very curious to try a few of IT Brushes for Ulta’s travel sizes. This blush brush feels no different than the other brushes in their line, and it’s nice and petite for travel! I have also used this brush for foundation when I just wanted a very light coverage and it performed beautifully. Multi-use brushes for the win! If you like the idea of this brush, but not the short handle (it makes it difficult to store in makeup cups), they also sell the same brush in the regular size.
Airbrush Blurring Foundation Brush #102.2GO | Retail: Unsure
The only other travel size brush I have from the IT Brushes for ULTA line. This was sent to me and when I try to look up informmation on the Ulta website, I can’t find it anywhere, just the original brush that has the regular-sized handle. So, I am unsure if they stopped making this. Again, I don’t have the full size brush, but if the amount of bristles is the same…I would personally pass on it. It’s at least half the size of my other brushes that I use for liquid foundation (it’s even smaller than my Real Techniques one, and that one is small in my eyes!). I mean, it still applies your foundation just fine, it just takes a bit longer to buff it all out. 🙂
Airbrush All Over Shadow Brush #119 | Retail: $14
Marketed as the perfect brush for your base shade, I agree with that. It’s too large and fluffy to be used to place shadow with any accuracy, but if you like to set your primer or concealer on your eyes before you start your eye look, this one performs beautifully! And honestly, not a bad priced. They’re more affordable than IT Cosmetics other eye brushes and almost the same price as Sigma (and I, personally, think IT Brushes for ULTA Airbrushed Essentials are better quality than Sigma).
Airbrush Smokey Liner #125 | Retail: $12
This brush is nice, but for my personal use I don’t find myself reaching for it as much since getting the #124 brush. It’s very pointy and is marketed as the perfect tool to smoke out your liner. But I am not into messy eye looks like that, and it is a bit too stiff for under eye smudging. So…depending on what you like to do this may or may not be worth looking into. Price point, as with all the Airbrush Essential brushes, is fantastic for a highend brush!
Airbrush Angled Shadow Crease #117 | Retail: $13
Perfect if you want to blend out the outer corner. I wouldn’t say it gives you a precise blend (unless my eyes are just uncommonly small), so I like to use this to blend out the outer corner after applying the shade more precisely into the corner or in the crease. But it works beautifully at blending. I’ve washed this several times and haven’t lost any bristles.
Airbrush Precision Smudger #124 | Retail: $12
This has instantly become my favorite brush to smudge out shadows on my lower lash line. I don’t like the more pointed brushes to use there as it often feels too harsh or pointy, and this one has a dome shape that is tapered perfectly to make blending effortless and also feel good. 🙂
Airbrush Ultra Fine Liner Brush #130 | Retail: $12
This brush is great for lining the eyes. I find it still a bit too thick if I want that really thin winged out liner, but it can still be achieved by flattening the bristles a bit against the side of the pot before creating the wing. I, personally, am stuck on using a tiny angled liner brush to create my wings — it just makes it so much easier — so this type of brush isn’t my first option. And this reminds me so much of the fine liner brush in a Real Techniques set, so I would say just go for that brush and save a few dollars.
Airbrush Blending Crease Brush #105 | Retail: $14
This was the first IT Brushes for ULTA brush I ever tried, and it’s the reason I am SO hooked on this brand! 🙂 I originally picked this up during a sale when it was half off…and I plan to purchase a few more when another sale comes around. This is the best brush to blend out a transition color into your crease. It is so fantastic and I feel like it was MADE for my eye shape and size. I’ve probably washed this 100 times (I’ve owned it for almost 2 years now) and it has never lost a single bristle or lost it’s shape at all: I can’t recommend this brush enough — YOU NEED IT!
My Review of the Love Beauty Fully Collection
Love Beauty Fully Highlight & Blending Brush #223 | Retail: $26
Maybe I have a small face, but I found this brush a little too large to use for my highlight…unless I wanted it all over my cheek, essentially. I do, however, like to use this to apply blush when I want a very defused look. The bristles feel nice and soft, as most duo-fiber brushes feel like, but I have notified a few wonky hairs. Not sure if this is because of the duo-fiber aspect of it, but…this brush was just okay for me.
Love Beauty Fully Eye Smudger Brush #221 | Retail: $18
The bristles seem like they’re soft when feeling it, but using it on my lower lash line it felt too stiff and rough. It wasn’t horrible and was definitely a better experience than other drugstore smudger brushes (*cough* like ELF). I did like it for smudging out the liner on my top lash line, however, or if I wanted to place color into my crease or outer V very precisely. So, this brush is good, just not for what (I felt) was it’s most obvious job.
Love Beauty Fully Creme Gel Liner Brush #218 | Retail: $16
Okay, you guys know the type of wing I like to do if you’ve been reading this blog for a while or if you follow me on Instagram, so for me this brush was a big no all around. I love the slanted-tip-aspect — it really does make it easier to apply liner — but the tip is just so fat. Even using my trick of flattening the bristles on either side with the side of the gel pot, it still gave me a thick liner. Again, this is coming from someone who loves thin lines and wing tips that seem to just fade away effortlessly. If you are looking for an eyeliner brush just to line your lash line, this might be ideal for you. The handle feels fancy!
My Review of the Velvet Luxe Collection
Velvet Luxe Plush Powder Brush #313 | Retail: $38
I thought I owned soft brushes….and then I got this guy! Oh my goodness, this feels like silk. Like you’re being kissed with angels wings. Seriously, the next time you are at Ulta you have GOT to feel this brush. The first time I used this brush it became an instant favorite! This brush is a great multi-tasker, too! I’ve applied setting powder, wiped away bake, applied blush, buffed out my contour….all with just this brush! If you’ve been wanting to splurge on a luxury brush, THIS IS THE ONE TO GET!
Velvet Luxe Precision Complexion Brush #310 | Retail: $34
Definitely one of those unique-shaped brushes that are in this collection, I was very curious about this brush. It’s about half the side — in density — of the Morphe G2 brush, but much more pointed. It feels very soft, but also stiff. Because of this I don’t really like it to blend out concealer under my eyes. However, as I type this I just realized it might be ideal for blending out a cream contour. I have yet to get into cream contour (it’s on my to-do list!) so I can’t say for sure, but I can definitely say I would pass on this one if you want it for your under eyes. It just feels too stiff and it takes additional blending to get the streaks out.
Velvet Luxe Goddess Kabuki Brush #306 | Retail: $54
I apologize if I sound extra critical of this brush…but it’s pricey! This brush feels amazing — not exactly like angels kisses like the #313 brush, but almost. 🙂 I found it more densely packed than any other kabuki brush I’ve owned or played with before, which is great for a more full coverage with your powder foundation. It’s a bit large (like the Airbrush Mega brush) for my face and was a little cumbersome to get into the creases of my face. So…my concluding thoughts are that it works beautifully, doesn’t shed, and looks luxurious but isn’t a “can’t live without” brush for me…at least not like the #313! 😉
Velvet Luxe Effortless Crease Brush #320 | Retail: $26
More domed and stiff than my #105 brush, this is really nice at blending out color in my outer corner or crease. It’s better at giving a more precise blend than the #117 brush, which is really nice if you are wanting to place and blend out a certain color, but not blend it into the whole look. Is it softer than the eye brushes in the Airbrush Essentials collection? Yes. Does it work better than those brushes….maybe. Do I think this is a must have…ehh, depends. If you enjoy doing your eyes and want to splurge on a fancy brush — then I say go for it! I’ve loved using this, but can’t say I would ever repurchase, or even purchase again to have duplicates. Again, though, this is coming from someone who owns a lot of eye brushes from the Airbrush Essentials collection and find that they work fantastic. 🙂
My Review of the Beautifully Basics Airbrush 101 Brush Set
Retail: $58 | Click for More Info
Like travel brushes, I tend to not like brush sets. I don’t like that they’re smaller and they tend to not be as good as other brushes from that brand. But these…oh my goodness, they’re so good! They are small, don’t get me wrong — the Airbrush foundation brush is almost the same size as the #101.2GO — but I’ve found great uses for them.
I’ve been using the Airbrush powder brush to blend out my bronzer for months and always love the results! The Airbrush concealer blends out my under eye powders beautifully. Both the Airbrush shadow and Airbrush crease are fantastic, as well. I’ve owned this set for a good year now and haven’t had any issues with shedding or loosing shape. And if you’re a simply makeup gal (which I am not) this set would seriously be all you need when you travel. The travel case is also a nice bonus. 🙂 Love this gorgeous prom gown from lilyhair.co.nz
My Final Thoughts & Recommendations
I am a girl who likes to get quality but not break the bank, so in my eyes the Airbrush Essentials collection is absolutely fantastic. Of the 6 eyebrushes that I own from this collection, I use 4 of them every day
(if they’re clean, lol)
If I’m talking about splurging or gifting myself (or someone you love) a nice gift, I do recommend the Velvet Luxe line. There’s just something special about owning a brush that gives you joy just brushing it across your face! 🙂 They’re pricey, yes, but you are getting outstanding quality that will hold up for years (if not forever, lol).
I only have 3 brushes from the Love Beauty Fully line, so I feel bad saying this line is just okay for me…but I honestly feel just so-so about it. If you like the idea of giving back or helping Look Good, Feel Better then this might be worth it to you. For me, though, I think the Airbrushed Essentials line is just as good, if not better, and it’s a few dollars cheaper.
Whew! Guys, this was a long one! If you made it to the end…THANK YOU! You are the real MVP, seriously! Let me know if you’ve tried anything from the IT Brushes for ULTA line, or what brush you’d like to see me try out next! 🙂
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Some products in this post were sent to me for editorial consideration. Some affiliate links are used. Any questions about my disclosure, please read here. Thank you for your support!