Sonia G. The Lotus Set Review (Initial Impressions)

Hi H! I use both Sonia G and Wayne Goss brushes daily and have both this set and the new Goss edit collection. I like both Sonia G and Wayne Goss brushes in general. But they are a bit different from one another. And pull in a bit different directions. Sonia G’s brushes are in general a bit more dense and have less give compared to Wayne G’s who’s brushes usually are more soft and he focuses a lot on finding the sweet spot before softness surpasses into flimsiness if that makes sense. His new edit collection is inspired by calligraphy which also is a lot about finding that sweet spot between softness and dense ness. And he has focused a lot this time on making brushes that helps people with hooded eyes with the more tapered heads.
The Sonia G lotus set is both I’d say a collector’s item as it is exquisite with its purple handles and the overall look of the set. But also offers some of her before released brushes but in a smaller size like the Lotus detail which is similar in shape to its much larger big sister the face shape brush from her pro face set. Or the lotus soft defined which is smaller but similar to her soft shader in her sky eye set. It also contains some brushes well known before in her permanent set ups. Which you may or may not need more of. But which can be great if you want to collect all Sonia G brushes,

When it comes to face brushes. Wayne’s brushes are in general softer. Sonia G’s face brushes both in this set and in other parts of her collection are more varied, as in you can find both brushes with quite a bit of dense ness which can be great for harder packed products or cream powder hybrid or baked blushes for instance, but that can be perhaps a bit harder to use if you are not very light handed. She has however with time also made a few really soft and smooth face brushes (in her pro face set and her sky set) that are mixes between goat and synthetic which are more similar to the softness you always find in Wayne Goss’s face brushes. The biggest difference you can find between Sonias and Wayne’s brushes are in the face brushes made for application of foundation and for sculpting and such things as there Sonias brushes are usually quite a bit denser compared to Wayne’s. Both are super high quality but depending on your technique you probably prefer one over the other.

When it comes to the eye brushes. Wayne’s brushes are all about smooth blending ability. And being able to use the same brush for several things. While Sonia G is great at making specific brushes for different things. As her brush style also in general is making brushes a tad bit more dense they are great when you want to do a bit more elaborate make up’s such as the typical American style looks that are common also among Temptalias looks with many different defined and often brighter or more contrasting colours on the eyes where you want to avoid them muddling up together too much. Or if your style is more specific or you are very skilled in your technique and are light handed. Whereas Wayne’s eye brushes are made for more diffused softer and perhaps more everyday wearable less Instagram kind of looks? Or if you know you are a bit heavy handed and perhaps not so skilled in your technique, (or have hooded eyes). Then I think you should definitely look into the new Wayne set, (which also shares a lot of traits with Suratt’s eye brushes and also the newer Beautylish fude made eye set).

I love both Sonia G’s and Wayne Goss’s brushes and enjoy both their brush styles a lot and have found some of my most favourite brushes among both of their different collections. And I am not biased to either brand and would therefore not choose one brand over the other. But if I had to choose i would more look into what kind of looks am I creating the most and what kind of shapes suits me the most? And if do prefer a bit denser brushes or a bit softer?

If I should try and differentiate between them as brands I’d say that they are grounded in different foundations from a creative point of view. Sonia G is to begin with a brush collector and specifically of fude brushes. So her primary skill lies in knowing the fude artisan world to a T and knowing how to make exquisite quality brushes that both can be durable for usage but also which can be collected and desirable that way. (She focuses therefore in general equally much on the brush quality and performance as she does on the look and feel of the brush handle and everything around that as in brush storage and such things).
Wayne’s foundation is being a trained makeup artist and makeup teacher primarily not for the Couture cat walks or fashion magazines but for the general public. And is specifically interested in helping the amateur become and feel more skilled. So he is more focused on different application skills and the usability of the brush. And always with the also not so savvy user in mind. His brushes are less about the aesthetics of the handles and more about the versatility in the usage.

So if you want to choose one over the other I’d say it depends on what kind of technique you are more comfortable with.

When it comes to taking care of your brushes cleaning them with a very mild shampoo preferably one with less harsh surfactants as in less lathering shampoos is the best. As you want to prevent the hair follicles from opening up too much. So shampoos that says non SLS on them or specific brush cleaning soaps are great. (Beautylish sells some brand that only makes soaps for fude brushes if you want that. But other wise I just use a mild SLS free shampoo).

With Sonias brushes they will change their shape a bit after washing which is meant to happen as they are more densely made brushes. So they will splay out a bit making them attain their intended shape. Wayne’s brushes will also splay out a bit after washing but as they are softer from the beginning it is good to shape them a bit when they are dry so they more fo back to their initial look to help keep the taper in place on especially the eye brushes, His new edit collection is made to be hung upside down when drying which is helpful for keeping the shapes of the brushes and avoiding water getting into the ferrule. (You always want to hold your brush facing downwards when cleaning so water doesn’t get into the ferrule where it can dissolve the glue).
Sonia recommends allowing her brushes to dry lying flat on a towel or something else soft. Or preferably on an edge where the bristles can stick out a bit allowing the air all around the brush. (Or that you turn them once in a while during drying time).

Good luck with your brush choices! You can’t really go wrong with either of these brands! ❣️