Stila's #28

Stila's double-ended brushes are soooo cute and I've had a long-standing crush on them for that reason alone, though I've resisted (somehow) buying one. Maybe it's their hefty price tag, or maybe it's the fact that I really do not need anymore brushes. A few weeks ago I caved. I was in Oxnard's Ulta and a Stila MA was in the store that day, and, of course, I couldn't resist letting her do a look for me. What can I say? Letting MAs do my makeup lets me have a total princess moment, which I freakin' love. Anyway, she used Stila's Gift of Glow, which I'd been meaning to buy. The highlight of the entire look was by far the smudgepot liner, because somehow she magically achieved a soft cat-eye. The end of the liner was almost like a shadow of cat eye—it was there, but not (I know, I know, pictures would be helpful)—and it was winged eyeliner that was actually appropriate for my conservative workplace. Turns out the magic was in the brush: Stila's #28. So, reluctantly, I threw it in my basket. I've been more than thrilled with this brush ever since. I have struggled to smoothly apply any gel liner in a thin line, and I have tried my fair share of liner brushes. After trying MAC's #212, #263, #266 and Sephora's Professionnel #17, I concluded the problem was just me and I would never be able to achieve the thin line my mom so easily drew every morning with liquid liner. However, all is well now that I've found Stila's #28. Its liner end comes to a sharp point and its bristles are firm enough to make a thin, precise line. Perfect! On top of that, the smudge end, which is much smaller than Sephora's Professionel #14, pulls the end of the line out into that gorgeous, shadowy hint of a cat eye. I think I'm in love, seriously you guys, the 28 could quite possible be the most amazing liner brush of all time and is totally worth the $32 price tag.