Please check my previous answers.

Hourglass brushes are 100% synthetic and can be easily cleaned with rubbing alcohol, and it will not harm the brush whatsoever.

I've used foundation brushes before. I would clean it after every few times you use it. They sell brush cleaner out there.

My Sephora told me to purchase the daily brush cleanser

Metal...not plastic, nor wood.

Metal (weighted) feels good in the hands.

Brush could be smaller 4 me but I like the handle

The handle feels/looks like some type of metal (brushed bronze in color)

Gentle clensers w/ water changed the consistency of the taklon bristles. I had great results spot cleaning w/ 70% alcohol. I usually avoid it w/ all my brushes but it actually worked better w/ these sturdy taklon bristles....Which I find practical for travelling. Other cleansers, even soap free ones, leave a residu that works w/ natural brushes and some synthetics but not these taklon bristles. Also water soften them for some reason and each strand become less separated and lose their silkiness. I had really great results w/ alcohol. But I would suggest not using 99% alcohol b/c it apparently evaporates before it actually has time to kill bacteria. 70% rubbing alcohol is perfect IMO. I use it on my retractable one and have had no issues. I also like the fact that I do not need to dip the retractable in water b/c water can rust the ferrule very easily and loosen the glue underneath so it can become to high maintenance and a burden over time especially for cleaning during travel, spot cleaning w/ alcohol saves time drying in an instant, become reusable instantly, is more reliable than soap for bacteria and is mess free.

I already replied earlier, please check my there answers regarding the Hourglass no 2 brush.

Most makeup brushes should be washed weekly. Sephora's antibacterial brush cleaner works great!! Just make sure when you set it to dry to lay the brush flat or upside down so the brushes face down. If you leave it sitting up, the water may seep into to the glue that holds the fibers together.

All brushes have an implicit 1 year warranty. They should all last at least 12 months, if they shed,I would suggest to bring it back.

Sephora guarantees your satisfaction so if you don't like it, even after a few months you can return it.

gentle clensers w/ water actually changed teh consistency of teh taklon bristles. I had great results spot cleaning w/ 70% alcohol. I usually avoid it w/ ALL my brushes but it actually worked better w/ these sturdy taklons....Which I find practical for travelling. Other cleansers, even soap free ones, leave a residu that works w/ natural brushes and synthetics but not these taklon bristles. Also water softens these taklon bristles for some reason and thet become less separated and loose their silkiness. I had great results w/ alchol. Jusyt do not use 99% alcohol b/c it apparently evaporates before it actually has time to kill bacteria. 70% rubbing alcohol is fine. I use it on my retractable one and have no issues. I love teh fact that I do not need to dip the retractable in water. Water can rust the ferrule and loosen teh glue so it can become to high maintenance and a burden in teh long run for cleaning a travel brush!!

No, not at all. The No2's head is much larger and floppier, making it suitable for light veil of loose powder as well as powder foundation. The retractable is very compact, I actually prefer the retractable b/c I bought it for foundation and cream products...the no 2 was useless for me for liquid foundation but excellent for powder and finishing touches on teh foundation, to smooth the edges. I actually preferred buffing w/ the retractable, it is like a small kabuki, denser and much much smaller and the no 2 is more like a fan brush, big head, very loose, fan like compared to the retractable, and softer and fan like. But of course the No 2 is more luxurious and more impressive and also multiuse. The retractable is good if you really need it for your purse. You can open the retractable mid-way and it actually serves as a concealer and highlighter. I highly recommend for touch ups, foundation, conealer and even powder in the T-zone, simply perfection for your purse, and summer travellings.