All posts tagged: tools

Everyday Face Brushes

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Not that I wear makeup everyday, but you know what I mean. I’ve personally amassed a ridiculous amount of brushes, but having dialed back on the makeup obsession, there are just a few brushes that I regularly use now. Here are the face brushes that I’ve been using as of late. I am thinking about making a “Favorite Brushes” or “Most Useful Brushes” post sometime in the near future. Sigma F86 Tapered Kabuki Brush** This is the newest addition to my arsenal and I freaking love it for liquid bases that need more than finger action to blend out properly. The tapered end makes it easy for you to reach weird nooks on your face, like the space around your nose and all around under your eyes, and other places that need precision. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush This was my weapon of choice for liquid bases, but now I find I use it a lot for cream products like blush and bronzers. It still works great for your regular face base, but it also …

Quickie: MAC Fix+

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Marketed as a finishing spray, the MAC Fix+ was actually on my radar for another reason entirely. I knew you could use eyeshadows wet to get more intensity from them, but I also knew that water would destroy most eyeshadows. And then, I found out that a solution like MAC Fix+ was a work around, so after much dilly-dallying, I went and got myself a bottle. Thankfully, it works as an Eyeshadow Intensifier fairly well: Just spritz the brush, or onto a dish, and use the damp (not wet!) brush to apply the eyeshadow onto your eye. So easy, it kind of hurts. Also, please observe how intense that eyeshadow became. It is applied without a primer underneath, on both sides. As a setting spray, it works like a charm, too. The mist is pretty fine, which is not what you would expect when you see its nozzle. My makeup stay put throughout the day—I can’t really say anything else about that. One other cool thing about this is that the nozzle locks in place, …

Quickie: Urban Decay All-Nighter Makeup Setting Spray

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Here’s a quick review of the Urban Decay All-Nighter Makeup Setting Spray, but I don’t really know what to say really other than “it works.” A bullet-point list of its claims: — Long-lasting — Oil free — Paraben free — Temperature Control Technology I don’t have a lot of experience with setting sprays, but I do notice a marked difference with the longevity of my makeup and how nice it still looks by the end of the day. That’s a really big deal because I live in a humid country and I do commute pretty often. The nozzle disperses the product evenly, and I don’t have wet globs of wetness all over my face. It also dries down pretty well and quickly, and doesn’t have a weird smell or anything like that. I can’t really think of how to elaborate on this product; all I can say is that it works. I don’t set my makeup when I don’t have a long day ahead, but I can’t really think of how to go on a …

Eye Basics: Get to know your eye brushes

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Getting into eye makeup past eyeliner and mascara can be a little daunting, especially when picking out the brushes. There are so many brushes out in the market, so here’s a rough guide I cobbled up for you, to help you out. Remember, I’m just going by my meager brush stash, and show you how I use some of the brushes I have. Obviously, you can always use these brushes outside their specific intended function. Let’s hop to it! FLAT SHADER BRUSH — for basic eyeshadow application! Use these brushes to pat on eyeshadow to minimize fallout and get maximum pigmentation. From left to right: MAC 239, Urban Decay Double-Ended Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush (comes with Naked 2 Palette), NARS No. 3 (from the And God Created the Woman Set), Charm Wet/Dry Shadow Brush (from Sonia Travel Pro Set) My favorite of the three is the MAC 239, followed by NARS (which provides a good wash of color instead). Both the UD and Charm brushes work in a pinch, though. The density—or the fullness of …

Quickie: Make Up Store Brush Soap

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I love this stuff. I have been using a facial cleanser for the past few months, but when I ran out of that, I made it a point to give the Make Up Store Brush Soap a shot because I heard somewhere that it was good. Holy crap. This is great. It’s a bit pricey but you only need to swipe your damp brush once or twice on the soap and it works up a pleasant lather that gets rid of all of the makeup. I actually kind of really like the smell, which is sort of a generic soap smell, kind of medicinal… if that makes sense. Like part of an apothecary, but it’s not very herb-y. I don’t know what I am typing, but I like the smell. It comes in a sleek, plastic case that keeps it from melting, which results in less waste. It also rinses out fairly easily, and provides decent conditioning to my brushes. It’s going to be a while before I use the bar I have up, but …