I saw the Too Faced Mr Perfect Foundation Brush and it was love at first sight. My other foundation tools were meh. But did Mr Perfect sweep me off my feet?
I learned how to apply makeup from makeup artists in my town. They mostly used sponges, and it looked like makeup sponges applied foundation just fine. Of course, I had no basis for comparison.
On YouTube, every beauty influencer hawks beauty tools
Telling us they’re “the latest must-have,” these tools always pique my interest. ‘New’ must mean new and improved, new discoveries, better technology, better overall product. Better than what I’m using.
We want what we don’t have.
I tried a bunch of these tools. Yet each one had issues. One left streaks, while another developed mold. A certain brush seemed to work well but absorbed a lot of foundation.
One silicone thing wasn’t porous, so no mold worries. Except it didn’t apply foundation well—as if it didn’t understand pores at all. In effect, failing to serve its only function.
There were so many products that I had to draw the line somewhere. And this was at using latex (yes, the one for protection, to apply foundation). Anyone remember that era? Don’t use that on your face.
And so when I got an Ulta gift card for my birthday…
I paid $30+ for Mr Perfect, and had my mail-order maybe soulmate shipped to me. This was a splurge. Because I tend to gravitate towards cheap things that work well. And I don’t like being sold to.
But the gift card was just for Ulta, and I figured this foundation brush should blow all the other foundation application tools out of the water. I mean, it’s pricier, and people always say that “you get what you pay for.” Besides, he’s called Mr Perfect. So he must be the right one..?
PROS / What I LIKE about the Mr Perfect Foundation Brush
Seeing Mr Perfect Foundation Brush for the first time was, of course, love at first sight.
How does one not fall in love with Mr Perfect?
The bow tie, the robin’s egg blue or muted teal, the gold on the handle. This is the brush version of Casablanca’s Rick Blaine, Funny Girl’s Nick Arnstein.
In a world of makeup brushes that are just randos, Mr Perfect has a strong, unique, breathtaking identity.
Kudos to Too Faced for this good marketing strategy.
The Mr Perfect Foundation Brush doesn’t absorb foundation like dairy cattle
Natural brush bristles seem to absorb foundation in a way that really soaks up the product. And I think this is why it’s easier for those other brush types to stain.
Mr Perfect, on the other hand, seems to use some type of brush material that does not absorb foundation into its bristles.
And while I’m not sure exactly what this artificial material is, the ProArte article “Natural Vs Synthetic Makeup Brushes: What’s The Difference?” tells us that synthetic hairs are usually made of “nylon, polyester, or other synthetic materials.”
It maintains its form
Almost as if Mr Perfect goes to the gym. The brush, with its synthetic bristles, seems to wash fine and maintain its form.
Will probably last a long time—maybe a decade or so
While the bow tie comes off and is likely to get lost, the brush itself does seem durable. This does seem to be a foundation brush that will last a long time.
me after getting each paycheck
Although in shopping-crazy America, do we still buy cheaper things that we expect to last forever?
I feel like many of us sometimes buy new things to fill that void from being overworked. 🤷🏻♀️
CONS / What I DON’T LIKE about the Mr Perfect Foundation Brush
As I used this foundation brush daily, I got to know Mr Perfect. And I realized that with its synthetic bristles, foundation stays on the bristles. In theory, this might be a good thing. No stains, less bacteria buildup, and it’s easier to clean the brush. But because I don’t clean my brush after each use, foundationtends to build up andclump on the brush.
And I’m probably not alone in doing this. Google results tell us that it’s best to wash our makeup brushes about once every two weeks. You could probably bump that up to once every 3 days, if you’re thorough. As for this working mama with a toddler, no. Gurl. I just can’t find the time.
It felt plasticky on my face
Since the brushes are synthetic, it probably makes sense that the hairs will feel like plastic on your face. Yeah. Like using tiny plastic bristles on your face.
Mr Perfect Foundation Brush vs Mr Whatever
I compared the result of the Mr Perfect brush to the cheap, flat contour brush that I’ve used to apply foundation before writing this review. Just to remember and confirm. And yep, the cheaper brush is better. Which is just unfortunate because I paid much, much more for Mr Perfect.
I feel a bit scammed, really.
big bucks vs pocket change
And then there were streaks
This is likely from the residue foundation on the brush, which makes the bristles clump in places and create spaces between them. I remember seeing the streaks even after buffing out my foundation for a bit.
I stopped seeing Mr Perfect…
If Mr Perfect were human
Whenever it came time to apply foundation, I would just use whatever brush or tool was available. This was something I did for a while without realizing it. Until one day, I woke up and came to realize that…
Sadly, the romantic appeal of Mr Perfect is its biggest selling point.
Now, at any given time, I’m ready to profess my undying love to Estée Lauder, the brand that owns Too Faced, because they make the Double Wear foundation and eyeliner that I swear by. But I really feel like the Mr Perfect Foundation Brush is hyped and overpriced.
Reminds me of that time I visited a cute NYC café…
This NYC café is popular because of a cute rom-com that was filmed there. People who loved the movie make a pilgrimage to this place. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t convince myself that their special chocolate drink was anything to write home about. So when my mom called, I told her it was just OK.
Sometimes it’s just the storythat makes people feel goodabout a product and deem the product special.
And I guess that goes for many things with a good story. And Mr Perfect is no exception.
Similar Foundation Brushes
Now that my whirlwind romance with Mr Perfect is over and mascara tears have run down my face from regret, here are 2 similar foundation brushes to consider.
Real Techniques Expert Face Makeup Brush $
Tarte Shape Tape™ Double-Ended Complexion Brush $
Tarte The Buffer™ Brush $$
I can’t recommend the Too Faced Mr. Perfect Foundation Brush
⭐⭐⭐ (3 / 5)
At the end of the day, I feel like the Mr Perfect Foundation Brush is a lot like that one good-looking person you once dated. A lot of us have dated someone like that. You know the one—the cutie we were always excited to introduce to random people. Until it dawned on us that since day one, we’ve been paying for everything.
Expectation vs reality
I think I never needed the Mr Perfect Foundation Brush. What I thought was the perfect solution turned out to be a broken promise. I’d just dreamt up a fairytale.
So it wasn’t a happily ever after with the Mr Perfect Foundation Brush
At this point, I’ve gone back to my meh foundation tools and often use the cheap flat contour brush to apply foundation. The one that absorbs a lot of product. But at least it doesn’t streak leave streaks. I’ve gone full circle and also sometimes use makeup sponges—the flat ones.
The cheap contour brush I came crawling back to is loose around the ferrule and is barely hanging on to the handle. Nothing some hot glue can’t fix. 😉
But I think I can live with that. This is my knight in non-shining armor rn. I don’t care what people think anymore.
Maybe perfection doesn’t exist…
Or maybe I say that because I haven’t found it.
Maybe sometimes someone something seems perfect, and it all seems as advertised and looks good on paper.
Then you run into them at a remote breakfast nook at 4:14AM after a night out with your friends, and they’re wearing the same immaculately fitted oxford shirt as the guy they’re with that looks a lot like them.
You realize they’re really not the person—err—brush you thought they were.
Letting go of Mr Perfect Foundation Brush
I started this review years back. Never got to finish it because life happened. I tried finding the Mr Perfect foundation brush again, just so I could post additional pictures, like of the streaky foundation, etc. But idk. I can’t find Mr Perfect anymore.
Maybe that’s OK. Because Mr Perfect was never what I was looking for. And somewhere in the deep corners of my mind, I hope Mr Perfect is out there, happy to have found their Mr Perfect.
when your friend be like, “gurl! you. need. to. leave. him. stat.”
Got any foundation brushes or tools to recommend? Please share in the comments.
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