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Love for Lacquer

Sharing Real Mom Moments

February 10, 2015

e.l.f. Studio Ultimate Kabuki Brush vs. NARS Ita and Becca The One | Review & Comparison

Press Sample Affiliate Link

Hello gorgeous! Last week on my Instagram, I had posted that I had received the e.l.f. Studio Ultimate Kabuki Brush and there were SO many questions regarding how it compared to a few other brushes. I posted a quick snap shot between this & the NARS Ita Brush & Becca The One, but I figured you would want to see a little bit more in depth shots & my thoughts on if it does or doesn’t compare at all! So let’s do this!

e.l.f. Studio Kabuki Comparison

e.l.f. Studio Ultimate Kabuki Brush – $10 (Available on the ELF Site)

Let’s start off by talking about the e.l.f. Studio Brush. This is described as a true beauty multi-tasker and works for blending, contouring, highlighting and stippling. It has densely packed bristles that distribute powder evenly to create a smooth and soft-focused finish on the face.

ELF Studio Kabuki Comparison

Let me just say – This brush is H-U-G-E! Much bigger than I thought it would be.  The bristles on this baby are insanely soft – Much softer than any ELF brush I have (And that’s quite a lot!) Now because of that, would I use this for a precise contour? Probably not. I have an extremely small face so my contour would be a hot mess. But highlighting and warming up the face with my favorite bronzer? Absolutely! I have even been using it with my Urban Decay Naked Skin Powder Foundation and it gives me such a flawless finish.

ELF Studio Kabuki Comparison

So how does it compare to the NARS ITA? As you can see, the brush head on the ITA is MUCH smaller as is the handle.  The ITA is one of those brushes that people have been going crazy after. I took the plunge during a Sephora VIB 20% off sale and to be honest – I’m not all that crazy about it. For the price, I expected the bristles to feel like newborn unicorn baby tears and change my life. I rarely reach for it so I should have just thrown $55 out the window. Unless you’re a HUGE contour person, the ITA isn’t worth the money.

ELF Studio Kabuki Comparison

This is a super awkward photo, but I wanted you guys to really see the size comparison and just how large the ELF brush is.

ELF Studio Kabuki Comparison

The other brush I want to compare it to is the Becca The One brush. This one retails for $49 and claims to cut time in half & replace 10 makeup brushes. Much like the ELF brush, you can use it for powder, cream, highlighting, contour ect.

ELF Studio Kabuki Comparison

I have such a love / hate relationship with my Becca brush. It really is a great multi-tasking tool (It definitely doesn’t replace 10 brushes in my collection) but the bristles shed like crazy.  Once again, the brush hairs on the ELF are 10x softer and I haven’t experienced any shedding at all.  The Becca bristles are more dense and stiff which would probably make it easier to apply cream foundations and products.

ELF Studio Kabuki Comparison

Size Comparison – While the ELF brush is definitely fatter and bulkier than the Becca, I do appreciate the fact that I can stand up the ELF brush on my vanity for easy access and display purposes. The Becca is rounded at the bottom, so it does not stand up (Nor does the ITA brush)

ELF Studio Kabuki Comparison

The Line Up : 

ELF Studio Kabuki Comparison

Overall, what it’s going to come down to for most people is price, quality and how you want it to perform on your face. Like I said, if you want the ELF brush for really chiseling out your cheekbones, it probably won’t happen because of how huge the brush head is. If you want to do a soft contour, bronze and highlight the face – it’s definitely something I would pick up.

ELF Studio Kabuki Comparison

So who wins the battle here? I’m going to have to give this one to ELF by a landslide. I am actually surprised ELF isn’t making this brush more expensive than $10.

Who do you think wins the battle? Do you see yourself picking up the ELF Studio Ultimate Kabuki?

Availability : ELF Website | (Not sure when this will be hitting stores such as Target, Walgreens ect)

Price : $10

Social Media : Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

*Provided for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Post contains affiliate links*

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Comments

  1. amber.m says

    February 10, 2015 at 1:04 pm

    ummm, yes to ELF Dang, the size comparison is insane! And the price comparison, elf wins in my book too!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 10, 2015 at 2:56 pm

      Woo! ELF for the win!

      Reply
  2. Allison says

    February 10, 2015 at 1:06 pm

    I always felt bad that I missed out on getting the Becca brush, and in spite of the thickness I think I will give the elf brush a try. Thanks for this informative post!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 10, 2015 at 2:56 pm

      Girl no don’t feel bad – The ELF needs to be in your life!

      Reply
  3. Kim says

    February 10, 2015 at 1:23 pm

    Thanks to your IG post, I am definitely picking up the ELF brush.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 10, 2015 at 2:56 pm

      Yay! You’re so welcome! <3

      Reply
  4. Eugenia says

    February 10, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    I wish the ELF was a tad bit smaller! Maybe in the future they will come out with a smaller one!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 10, 2015 at 2:56 pm

      Ooh I hope so!

      Reply
  5. victoria says

    February 10, 2015 at 1:59 pm

    Unicorn baby tears. Done. Almost couldn’t keep reading after that! HAHA. Great review, and very helpful!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 10, 2015 at 2:55 pm

      LOL this made me laugh out loud. Love you! Thanks so much Vic! xo

      Reply
  6. Emily Lacquerologist says

    February 10, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    That ELF brush is giant! But I love the price! Great post!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:05 am

      So much bigger than I expected – but well worth the $10!

      Reply
  7. Aleya Bamdad says

    February 10, 2015 at 4:09 pm

    That ELF brush sounds like it’s really amazing on so many levels.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:04 am

      Trust me – It is!

      Reply
  8. Liesl says

    February 10, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    Well, you’ve sold me another e.l.f. brush! Would it work as a soft blush brush, do you think? I always feel true blush brushes are on the small, thin side.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:04 am

      I don’t see why not! It may be a little too big, but you may be able to make it work!

      Reply
  9. Chelsea says

    February 10, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    I wish the ELF brush was a teeeny bit smaller, but when you’re saving that much on a single brush, you really can’t complain!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:03 am

      Hopefully they make a smaller one in the future!

      Reply
  10. Samantha says

    February 10, 2015 at 4:50 pm

    So next question, how do these compare to the new sephora contour brush ($16)

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:03 am

      Hm.. I haven’t seen that one yet? Can you send me a link & I’ll see what I can find out? Thanks!

      Reply
  11. kelliegonzo says

    February 10, 2015 at 5:01 pm

    This is a great comparison post! I don’t use makeup brushes so I can’t really pick, but the ELF one sounds like a winner 🙂

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:02 am

      Thanks Kellie!

      Reply
  12. Carleen says

    February 10, 2015 at 5:44 pm

    I have other elf brushes that were a great value. This one looks perfect for the price!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:02 am

      It is! I’m surprised at how affordable this is!

      Reply
  13. Phyrra says

    February 10, 2015 at 5:49 pm

    I need the elf brush!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:01 am

      YES you totally do!

      Reply
  14. Courtney Pies says

    February 10, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    I have always been a huge fan of ELF products. So that would definitely be the one I go to.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:01 am

      Woo! ELF FTW! I love it!

      Reply
  15. Brianna says

    February 10, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    I don’t have any brush like this in my collection, mainly because it looks like it would be scratchy on my skin. But now my interest is piqued!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:01 am

      I’m telling you – The bristles are CRAZY soft!

      Reply
  16. Shipra says

    February 10, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    Great review and comparisons! It looks like it’s worth a shot. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:00 am

      Totally! Especially for $10!

      Reply
  17. coolchillmom says

    February 10, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    total win this ELF brush! thanks for all the angles of analysis

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:00 am

      You’re welcome! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Cindy (Prime Beauty) says

    February 10, 2015 at 6:47 pm

    Great post! I have the BECCA brush but don’t reach for it often.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:00 am

      Thanks Cindy! 🙂

      Reply
  19. Kristin Bassett says

    February 10, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    That ELF brush is so huge! How could they think you could use it for contouring?! This review is great – so thorough and just saved me a bunch of money on brushes I was considering but probably won’t buy now.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:00 am

      lol I have no idea! It’s definitely worth picking up though!

      Reply
  20. Caitlin says

    February 10, 2015 at 8:19 pm

    I like the elf brush, great post 🙂

    Beauty & Colour

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:59 am

      Thanks Caitlin! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Color Me So Crazy says

    February 10, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    Fantastic comparison! I have super small features so I’m wondering how this would work? I mean for $10, I’m definitely going to try it out!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:59 am

      I have small features as well, so it definitely doesn’t work as a contour brush for me – but for everything else, it’s fab!

      Reply
  22. Sarah says

    February 10, 2015 at 10:08 pm

    i love elf! Affordable and nice. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:59 am

      Me too! They make awesome products!

      Reply
  23. Justina says

    February 10, 2015 at 10:29 pm

    I think I would be crying if I bought the Ita and then noticed the Elf afterwards. Thanks for an awesome review! I know what I’m going to buy!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:59 am

      My pleasure!! 🙂

      Reply
  24. Lola Seicento says

    February 10, 2015 at 11:12 pm

    The Becca brush being a heavy shedder would definitely be a bit of a deal breaker for me. Way to go, Elf! This sounds like a great brush to have! Excellent comparison and review!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:58 am

      Thanks so much Lola! ELF nailed it!

      Reply
  25. Kendra says

    February 11, 2015 at 12:32 am

    Awesome! I haven’t tried any Elf brushes yet.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:58 am

      Oh girl you don’t know what you’re missing! Super affordable brushes & they work great!

      Reply
  26. Kath TheFabZilla says

    February 11, 2015 at 12:46 am

    that BECCA brush sheds like crazy. I threw it away!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:58 am

      Right?! Its ridiculous!

      Reply
  27. Bailey says

    February 11, 2015 at 3:28 am

    I was never really interested in this style brush, but for $10 I’d totally give it a try. Great comparisons!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:57 am

      For the price, it’s definitely worth taking a shot!

      Reply
  28. Dorothy says

    February 11, 2015 at 6:17 am

    I’m sure you realize that you could return the Becca and Nars brushes to Sephora for a store credit.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:56 am

      Oh I totally know that – I’m just lazy lol They are good to have for brush comparison posts & such though! 😉

      Reply
  29. ashley says

    February 11, 2015 at 7:41 am

    I’ve been needing a new brush for awhile! Thanks for comparing them!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:56 am

      My pleasure!

      Reply
  30. Brooke @ Blushing Noir says

    February 11, 2015 at 8:43 am

    This is such a fantastic post! I haven’t tried the NARS but I do have the Becca and it def does NOT replace 10, like you said. I do like my brushes to be on the denser side but for the extreme savings the ELF gets the job done well.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:56 am

      Thanks Brooke! <3

      Reply
  31. Anastasia says

    February 11, 2015 at 9:02 am

    What a lovely comparison! I think I’d still pick up the elf version because I have a weak spot for brushes with soft bristles.

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 11, 2015 at 9:05 am

      Thanks! And yes – for $10, it’s a must!

      Reply
  32. Destany says

    February 11, 2015 at 9:46 am

    I don’t have many brushes, but it’s always nice to know which is the best for the value!

    Reply
  33. Laura MyNewestAddiction says

    February 11, 2015 at 10:06 am

    LOVE elf but I still want ITA! I can’t help it

    Reply
  34. Ashley says

    February 11, 2015 at 12:31 pm

    I love ELF brushes and I’m not surprised it’s better than or comparable to the higher end options. I didn’t get all the hype surrounding the ITA brush either.

    Reply
  35. Honeygirlk says

    February 11, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    I have been swooning over the ELF brush since I seen photos of it on Instagram. I also have been wanting the Becca one. So many great options. I have the ita and while I do love it, I wish I loved it more to use it more.

    Reply
  36. Deborah says

    February 11, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    I’d go with the ELF brush! Looks like an easy tool to slap on some bronzer without loosing control over where it goes 🙂

    Reply
  37. Nidia - Lit From Within says

    February 11, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    Great comparison! I have lots of ELF brushes that I love, with the concealer brush being my HG for nail polish cleanup.

    Reply
  38. Tiffany Cutcliff says

    February 11, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    This is great! I love good brushes. I will have to check out Elf’s brushes now!

    Reply
  39. Stephanie Louise (@StephLouiseATB) says

    February 11, 2015 at 11:17 pm

    ELF it is then!

    Reply
  40. Lisa Heath says

    February 12, 2015 at 12:32 am

    The BECCA brush is my favorite, but not the gold one – the original one

    Reply
  41. betzy says

    February 12, 2015 at 1:38 am

    I received the ita as a bday gift and I also expected the bristles to be just as soft but nope

    Reply
  42. Krystal E says

    February 12, 2015 at 10:18 am

    I got a BECCA brush from iFabbo but I haven’t had the shedding issue. I wonder if it’s a defect? But I also don’t use mine more than maybe once a month if that. Thank you for the comparison though! Always helpful!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 12, 2015 at 11:29 am

      No idea! Mine sheds like CRAZY. I have heard from a few other girls theirs had the same problem :\

      Reply
  43. Melody says

    February 12, 2015 at 11:52 am

    This is why I stay away from hyped up Makeup Tools unless i’ve had a chance to see an artist use it themselves or use it on me. Sorry you feel like you wasted your money but hey girl you got that from Sephora and they accept returns!

    Reply
    • Jess says

      February 12, 2015 at 6:21 pm

      EXCELLENT point! I will most likely return it – I don’t have the box though, so I hope it won’t be an issue :\

      Reply
  44. Dani FromPolishwithLove says

    February 16, 2015 at 12:06 pm

    I’m so happy to see this review because I’ve wanted the ITA brush for a long time but if you rarely use it than I probably won’t either, especially since it’s not cheap. E.L.F brush for the win! Definitely picking that up next time I’m in Target!

    Reply
  45. lisa says

    February 28, 2015 at 2:52 pm

    That elf brush looks just like ecotools face and body sculpting brush! I love it for body bronzing.

    Reply
  46. Kelly says

    April 14, 2015 at 5:45 pm

    Wonderful review and comparison ! Very helpful. Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  47. Nnah says

    April 6, 2019 at 4:20 pm

    Hey, great post. I’m looking for the widest, softest brush for applying foundation in less than 6 strokes, the way that geikos/maikos do. You mentioned the bristles are “insanely soft,” and, since ELF uses synthetic bristles, they’re closer towards what I’m looking for. I do not have the budget to purchase an authentic >$40 brush from Kyoto, and, from my experience, natural bristles absorb liquid foundation. In your experience, does the ELF brush absorb liquid foundation?

    Thanks!

    Reply

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