Smoky Eyes Made Simple By Suesh

We all love smoky eyes, don't we? That's why there are hundreds of makeup palettes created to achieve the look. Blame it on the bikini-clad cover girl, the runway model, or that smoldering stare of the red carpet celebrity. With all these palettes, you guys know that even with the best brands out there, without the right tools, makeup is practically useless and the smoky eye may look like panda or smudged-on charcoal eye if not with the proper blending using the right tools. I'm glad that Suesh has made creating makeup brushes that deposits and blends colors so awesome and easily without putting a dent in your wallet with their super-affordable brush sets and individual brushes, just like their newest product, the Smoky Eyes Brush Set. Another thank you to Suesh for giving me a set to try.

Whenever I make tutorials and reviews, I make sure that it's not just makeup artist who would be using the tools or products I review. I keep in mind there are makeup enthusiasts or girls who simply want to create pretty looks for themselves, so I try to make everything simple as possible without sacrificing awesomeness. I'm feeling absolutely inspired tonight, so with this blog post/feature, I'll be doing a follow-up tutorial too.

The set has four brushes, to avoid utmost confusion as to what brushes to use in a pouch so they never get lost in your bag. The pouch also serves to protect your brushes from damages, dents, and dirt and it's roomy enough to hold pencils and mascara, should you wish to take them with you to create your own smokey eye. And it's vinyl so yay to not using leather hide.

There are directions in the pack as to how the brushes are supposed to be used. Of course, as you get better with makeup application, as I say in all my reviews, you will find your own way of using the brushes. Makeup techniques are discovered in time, and can vary from person to person, and you'll get what I mean when you start doing your own looks.

Okay, first up is the large eyeshadow brush - it's dome shaped and flat. it's dense enough to pick up pigment but loose and fluffy enough to make the colors blend easily. I use this to apply all-over color or base color, like a bone or ivory/nude color.

The small eyeshadow brush has also a more tapered dome shape, which fits around the crease better. It's a bit fluffier than the large eyeshadow brush, which aids quite nicely in blending pigments. From its shape, this product is used to apply the contour/crease color or darker lid color (depending on the user's technique). Although the large and small eyeshadow brushes are made of natural hairs, I like that there are no annoying bristles that poke the delicate eyelid skin whenever I deposit or blend pigment. Of course, the user should always take care of her brushes so they retain their proper shape and softness.

The angled eyeliner brush has a lot of uses. It can be used to apply a drop shadow, or the darker shadow on the lower lid, to define brows, or apply gel eyeliner on the top lid.

The dome smudge brush is almost like a pencil brush. It can be used to intensify the contour by depositing a bit of black on the outer V of the eye and blending this with the contour color. Its pencil-like tip (similar to MAC 219) can function to set eyeliner pencil with matching powder or to create the smudgy, sexy smoky eye.

The angled eyeliner brush can also be used wet, if you're the person who's fond of the wet technique in eyeshadow. Personally, I'm still iffy about wetting my brushes but if you are, then fine, this can be used wet to transform eyeshadow to liquid liner for a precise line for instant cat-eye look. As I've said, there is a possibility that these brushes may not be limited to these uses. I've found out that the small eyeshadow brush can function for a bit of nose contouring too.

The Suesh Smoky Eyes Brush Set retails for Php 850. It's available online already at the Suesh websites in Multiply and Facebook or their stores at Greenhills, Trinoma, and the recently-opened Alabang Town Center shop. Yes they do have a new branch for makeup enthusiasts living in the South area of the world.

The new Suesh branch is located at the lower ground floor of the newly opened wing, The Gardens. To get there, you enter the hall with Bench, Penshoppe, Getlaud, etc (the one where the old National Bookstore used to be). When you see Daiso, turn left on this new hallway and you will see Suesh on your right. :) It's near Gong Cha, so while you ooh and aah at the makeup sets while your companions can have milk tea there at Gong Cha.

Be sure to check my follow-up post for a tutorial and also a bit of surprise!

Beautiful Makeup Wherever, Whenever with Charm Travel Pro Makeup Brush Set

My Charm brush sets never fail to make a statement in my gigs. It must be their candy pink handles or their performance and quality that's at par with luxury makeup brands. Nevertheless, Charm brushes are staples in my matching pink toolbelt, thanks to beauty blogger/beauty entrepreneur/makeup artist friend Sophie who introduced them to me ever since, well, practically when we got to know each other. Her products reflect the love she has for her work. Her new product, awakens each and everyone of us to get dolled up no matter where we are in whatever part of the country, or globe.

I never seem to wear makeup whenever I travel, resulting to me masking my un-defined brows under a pair of big shades in my pictures. For me, I'm scared to bring my brushes since packing them can get bulky, and to do a full-production makeup, five brushes aren't enough for me. But not with Charm Travel Pro Makeup Brush set, which houses 14 professional-grade brushes made from high-quality natural and synthetic hairs safely tucked in a pretty black and pink pouch so I can bring on the smoky eyes and loud lips wherever I may go. So say hi to defined brows, cat eye liner, a crease, and contoured cheekbones!

This faux croc pouch really looks so pretty, the bright pink and black contrast, it's a statement on its own. Who would have thought that the tiny patent black pouch houses 14 makeup brushes?

That tiny kit can fit in a traincase, makeup case, a decent-size shoulder bag, and that compartment in your suitcase that stores accessories and toiletries. I was able to try this out first when I did Martha's Drew Barrymore look and it really worked well for me.

I'll let you in with the brushes and their uses, should you guys get overwhelmed and confused with the brushes, starting with the eye brushes (and the lip brush too!). Eye makeup is usually the concern of a lot of girls, and for eye makeup, I don't settle for just any brush. To execute really good makeup means I should use really good tools.

A. Wet/Dry Eyeshadow Brush - The flat paddle head can be used to apply cream/powder eyeshadow or if you're still with the wet eyeshadow technique, you can use this since it grabs pigment quite nicely than fluffy brushes and the shape can be used to deposit pigment on the eye area. You can also use this to spread eyeshadow primers or paint pots.

B. Angled Eyeshadow Brush - To blend eyeshadow to avoid harsh demarcation lines. The angle is great to get the contours. And speaking of contours, you can use this too for nose contour.

C. Pencil Point Brush- This is like MAC 219 brush, which I like using to deposit darker pigment on the crease or for smudging in kohl liner or setting smoky kohl liner with powder so it doesn't run.

D. Blending Brush - As its name suggests, it blends all deposited colors seamlessly so there's a smooth transition of colors. You can use this to put loose powder on the undereye area to catch eyeshadow fallout and then sweeping it out.

E. Flat Liner Brush - I use this to line the bottom lashline with powder or gel liner tightlining. Some like using this to apply gel eyeliner on the top lashline or to define brows. It's up to you.

F. Bent Eyeliner Brush - The bent angle gives it more co

ntrol. This can be used to apply gel or liquid liner for easy cat eye effect.

G. Eyebrow Shading Brush - This tiny angled brush can be used to apply brow powder on the brows for a natural look.

H. Brow Spoolie - It can be used to tame brow hairs, brush off excess brow gel/mascara clumps.

I. Lip Brush - Precision application for the lips. When you store them, be sure to not forget to put the pink cap back on, as this helps keep the insides of the brush pouch clean and free of lipstick smudgies, especially if you like using pigmented lipsticks.

Now it's time for the bigger brushes, the face brushes.

J. Stippling Brush - Stippling brushes are soft, cushy, and pretty. They're great for a nice dusting of glitter, mineral highlight, mineral blush, or setting powder. This could also be used to apply a light airy coat of liquid foundation for even coverage.

K. Powder Brush - This can be used to apply loose/setting powder, pressed powder, powder foundation, or blush. I like that this one is small enough to get in those hard-to-reach areas so everything is all set. This can be used as well to apply powder blush for a nice flush of color

L. Angled Blush Brush - For contouring cheeks for that supermodel shape or applying blush.

M. Foundation Brush- This is made of synthetic hair because it applies liquid or cream foundation to the face. The dome shape makes it easy to get foundation around the eyes and the nose and sides of the mouth

N. Concealer Brush - Can be used to spot-apply concealer or cream eyeshadow.

Aside from being able to apply a face full of makeup without sacrificing baggage space, this can be brought by a pro makeup artist come touch-up time say for a wedding gig or photoshoot since it doesn't occupy that much space in the touch-up kit instead of lugging an entire roll or belt of big brushes, so no more embarassing "lugging-your-entire-house-look" during gigs.

The Charm Travel Pro Makeup Brush set costs only Php 2,200 with free shipping nationwide. You can order this online at the Beauty and Minerals (fill in their order form here) Or you can purchase them yourself at the following stores:

Crossings Shangri-la

PurBeauty, Serendra

Beauty & The Geeks stall, Robinsons Cyberpod Eton 1

Pretty soon, you'll be seeing a less colorless me in my travel shots. :) Well, I just booked my next travel destination!!! I'm glad there are girls who tell us to look pretty wherever we are and make it oh-so-convenient too!

Love Moment With My Charm Flat Top Brush

My friend Sophie truly personifies her passion. Not only does she write for one of the most influential beauty blogs in the country, she also does makeup professionally. After her course at LCI a couple of years ago, Sophie packed her bags and immersed herself in a six-month long course in makeup artistry in Singapore, taking her love for makeup at a different level and harnessed her talents even more. Not only that, she also owns a mineral makeup business and her brand, Beauty and Minerals is present in almost every bazaar there is.

I always make it a point to visit Sophie whenever I'm in a bazaar. It's quite easy to spot her booth - just look for the one that's all pink and pretty :) ! Despite her superstardom in the Internet and international makeup degree tucked under her belt, Sophie still remains the down-to-earth girl I first met at a hair care event a few years ago. She shares her tips and tricks in makeup (shortcuts to creating the perfect brow and base and a whole lot more) when asked, and she loves doing so.

Her baby, Beauty and Minerals has affordable mineral makeup and makeup tools, which makes high quality makeup and tools available for the kikay girl with a limited budget. If you're a lazy daisy with makeup, Sophie could even suggest for you the tools to use plus the colors to choose that could fit the budget.

And speaking of being lazy with makeup, Charm, the brush brand that Sophie sells in her Beauty and Minerals site, has a flat top brush that is becoming my love during my own lazy daisy day. You know, times when we need to put on makeup but we're too lazy to.

Don't Charm brushes bring out your absolute kikay-ness with the whimsical font of the logo and cotton candy pink color?
Clients and friends remark at how I could manage to fish out my Charm brushes from my KSP-pink toolbelt, but somehow I do. Sanay na.

Okay so back to the flat-top brush. Admitedtly, I didn't know where I could use the flat top brush at first, since I'm used to the notion that I should have a dome-shaped brush. Heck even my kabuki brushes (all 3 of them) have a subtle dome shape. Anyway, Sophie suggested I could use this for skincare too, such as moisturizer and primer for clients, should I want the moisturizer be absorbed by the client's skin. It worked quite well though. Check out the flat head's detail there.

Since the head was flat, it was easy for me to pick up product and sort of deposit the product on the skin before buffing it on the face. I figured this procedure is better than using my hands, since it's more hygienic. But as long as my hands are clean and 100% sanitized though, it's okay. I'm just OC.

Anyway, I thought also though, that some people, especially those who are buying this for personal use could find it a tad expensive to buy a separate brush for skincare. I then asked to myself how this could also be used for makeup?

Sophie suggested to me that it works really well on mineral powders, most especially the pressed mineral powders (hmmm, like MAC MSF powder, perhaps?). The fibers grab the product more and then from there, they could swirl the brush on the face for more coverage.

I tried this on my Studiofix powder a few times, and it actually worked quite well. It deposits like a sponge and blends like a natural powder brush with good compromise. What I do is deposit a bit first on the area that I feel needs some help in coverage and just blend the product in with the same product. The coverage is a bit denser than using a kabuki brush or a dual fiber brush, but if I want more coverage, then I guess I could use this. Since the fibers are made of synthetic fiber, it's quite soft too on the face and it didn't leave any itchy-scratchy feel.

This brush could also be used on loose mineral powders, but I won't suggest to use this for blush or contour. I would still prefer a soft and dome shaped brush for the blush for a subtle and just-been-kissed look. Since the shape of the brush is flat and round, it wouldn't make a good contour brush either.

I suggest also, if you're using this both for skincare and powder/dry makeup, to wipe the bristles first so that none of the oily residue from the skincare could go to the pressed makeup to avoid contamination. We want our brushes and makeup to last longer, of course. This could also be used in theater makeup where we want thick coverage with the minimal time we have to do makeup for theater.

The Flat Top Brush is around Php 600. You could order from the Beauty and Minerals website or check out the Beauty and Minerals booth at the bazaars.

[Disclaimer: Product provided for review.]

Avy's Brush Luuuurve

Just sharing my friend Avy's brush collection, her most precious possessions and the envy of many makeup artists. Avy's a makeup artist friend of mine who regularly guests at MAC. Her addiction happens to be, as she would tell us to be brushes and lashes. When she posted her collection in Facebook, I was gawking at her brushes. While hanging out with her at the mall earlier, I asked her if I could blog about her brush collection and feature them here and I'm glad she agreed. And so my friends, I am sharing pictures of them to you for inspiration.

Here's a close-up view of the smaller MAC brushes for eyes, lips, and face.

However, that picture is only about a quarter of her entire MAC brush collection. Those are all original MAC brushes and some are backups of brushes still in their protective coverings.Huwaaaaawwwwww!!!!! Check out the stippling bruses, the face brushes, kabuki brushes, and eye brushes. Avy shares too that she gets asked a lot by customs when she shows her brush collection. But guys, brushes are our best friends!

Aside from MAC, she also has completed the Bobbi Brown brush collection:
Bobbi + MAC brushes = Bambi's dream come true. I could just stare at her collection all day. She takes care of them really well. I've seen the brushes up close and they are in excellent condition. She shares too that she uses Joy dishwashing liquid for cleaning brushes stained with heavily pigmented makeup to get rid of all of that gunk and keep her babies in top condition that's absolutely germ and stain-free.

Aside from MAC and Bobbi Brown, Avy also collects brushes from Body Shop, Chanel, and Make Up For Ever.

Avy loves the foundation brush of The Body Shop. It was Avy who also introduced me to this Make Up For Ever nose contour brush that fits exactly the sides of the nose for a perfect nose line.

Sometimes looking at makeup and brush hauls uplifts the mood. How I do wish my brush haul was as fantastic as hers? Maybe soon. ;-)

Thanks for letting me feature your brush collection, Avy!

Brush Review: MAC 188 Brush

I guess every MAC or makeup addict agrees that a stippling brush is considered a "cordless airbrush, no electricity or PSI computation involved" when it comes to foundation application. I'm a fan of the stippling brush, and I've had two SE 187 brushes since I collected the red brush collection and I absolutely love how it quickly blends to the skin so foundation does not look like makeup and the skin looks like skin. Blend properly and we no longer get the "brush streak" marks.

Mikey, a good friend of mine, who's my birthday twin (his birthday is next to mine) got me an early birthday present when he came home from his US summer vacation, and it's the mini but full-sized version of the 187 brush. Called the 188 brush or the Small Duo Fibre Face Brush, this is also one favorite of MAC makeup artists, and delivers quite fantastically, even if it's half the width of the 187 brush.

Here's a picture of my baby, which I just washed, so it's pretty clean. This is actually a blend of natural goat hair (the black part) and synthetic fibres (the white part), hence the name duo fibre face brush. It's used to usually blend liquid foundation on the face in a smooth, airbrush finish. The width is actually very small. Here, let me show you the comparison between a 188 and a 187. I used here my SH 187 from the red holiday collection a few years back, which is actually quite similar to the full-size one.

Its size actually works up to its advantage since that means it could reach hard-to-reach areas a regular 187 couldn't. I've had times where I still need to smoothen in the foundation at the corners of the nose and the undereye area with a wedge sponge or my index finger should my 187 not reach that.

Here's how we could use the 188 brush:

• For-all-over foundation application. It can be a bit more time-consuming though than a 187 brush because of its size, but it really provides excellent coverage especially on the hard-to reach areas. This is perfect for beauty editorials or for 1 or two faces when we have more time since perfect coverage is easier to achieve with this brush. When applied correctly, up close, foundation could be almost undetectable.
• For blending in concealer and foundation. Its width is perfect for the undereye area. For a perfect finish, "stipple" concealer on a blemish with your 188 brush. Blend edges till no brush streaks are seen and set with powder
• In conjunction with other brushes. Use a flat foundation brush like the 190 or 191 or the 188 brush to apply foundation first and fine-tune areas with the 188 brush. This works when you're pressed for time like in a fashion show or a play.
• Application of strong-colored blush. If you want the bright fushia to appear just raspberry windburnt pink on the cheeks rather than clownish, here's where the 188 brush helps. Lightly tap the brush on the pan, tap off excess, and blend in the color to the face. The result is more subtle than using a densely-packed brush. The same way goes for mineral highlighters.

This currently costs Php2,050 at all MAC counters. I actually like it and I would highly recommend this for foundation application especially if I'm doing makeup on a bride or a beauty editorial. It works excellent for liquid foundaton such as Studiofix, Select Sheer, Mineralize Skinfinish, and Studiosculpt. For cream-based foundations like Studio Tech or Full Coverage, a flat paddle brush like 191 or 190 would be much suited.

Review: MAC 129 Brush

Last Christmas, Santa fulfilled one of my wish lists that got scrapped off my must-have list since I already have it - A MAC full-sized brush. I'm happy to have had one more MAC full-sized brush, and something more dual-purpose.

MAC 129 brush, Php 2,050 at MAC counters.

I have a MAC 129 powder/blush brush. This brush is not only used to apply blush on the apples of the cheeks for a cheery pink glow but also powder foundation, loose powder, and highlight. This brush is made of natural hairs and the brush has a tapered and full, round head to get on those hard-to-reach areas. I prefer this size of brush too, for my powders since they get on the hard-to-reach areas like the undereye, sides of the nose, and ear areas more than a bigger and fluffier brush would do.



As a blush brush, this picks up pigment quite nicely and the blush results into a natural glow instead of a streaky and solid line of pink or red. It blends well and the super soft bristles do not hurt the facial skin.
It's also small enough to be used as a highlighter brush for a pop of glow on the skin. I use Mineralize Skinfinish powders to highlight the cheeks after a sweep of blush and blend these together.

As a warning though: when washing the brush, you might see some black on the water when you rinse it, even if you didn't use dark makeup that day. That's actually the dyes on the hair though. The hair was originally white but they decided to have it dyed for uniformity.

The full-sized one is definitely softer and rounder than the short-handled one, so quality-wise, this one is better than the short-handled one. To maintain its shape, I suggest keeping the plastic it comes with it and placing the brush inside the plastic guard so the bristles stay in shape. As with all brushes, maintenance and proper care is the key for making them last us a lifetime.

My Top 3 Eye Blending Brushes

One of the key techniques in creating flawless eye makeup is blending. Blending could make the colors flow naturally on the skin instead of the ugly, harsh, clownish, highlighting-pen lines we always see. Blending colors impeccably is achieved not just with the perfect blending hand but also the perfect tools. The #1 spot to blend colors is the crease. As we all know, Asians have a very shallow crease as compared with Caucassians hence the obsession of simulating hollows with contours. Done the proper way, a proper crease contour could result in an eye-opening subtle contour. Done wrongly, it's just going to look weird, clownish, and drawn-in.

So what's one secret of good eye makeup? TOOLS! I believe in investing in the right tools because they really make a difference. I've bought cheap makeup brushes but I end up hurting my face or getting really bad makeup blending because they weren't the right tools to use. For blending, it's best to use a fluffy brush. A dense, flat brush is good for depositing color. Fluffier brushes are best for blending. Plus, they poke the eye less.

Here are my top 3 weapons for eye blending, which have been tried and tested. I only got to reviewing this now (one of them I've owned for a year) since I really do test runs plus discover new ways of maximizing them.

As you can see, they've been already used for quite a while, and so I've got more to say with these babies. :)

First up is MAC 217.

MAC 217 retails for Php 1,100. I've had this for a year now, and in fact, it's my first MAC brush ever. I love how soft it feels, and also, it's very much raved about by a lot of people but I only got to really discovering its efficacy from MAC artist Owen Sarmiento. He used it to blend color, especially if I'm using only two colors on my eye. It's fluffy enough to blend colors seamlesly, yet it still picks up product so I could use this for sheer deposits of color. He even uses this to blend paint pots and MAC Prep+Prime eye. MAC artists call it the Harry Potter wand, and it sure is. I guess it was the right choice when I chose this as the first MAC brush to own. It's just stained from colors yet the quality of the hair is still the same from when I first bought it.

This pink baby caught my eye during the Rockwell Moonlit Bazaar last October when I visited the Beauty and Minerals booth. I was looking for a new tool since I was then gonna be off to do makeup for Spring Awakening that day when I saw this baby. Made of goat hair, this can deposit pigment since it's stiff enough to grab products such as powder eyeshadow (like the blue blush in my Feathers post) yet it's fluffy enough to blend crease and contours for smoky effect. Another use for this is nose contour. I dab it a bit on my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in dark and run it lightly on the sides of my nose. It looks like a hybrid of MAC 217 and 224. The pink handle is cute in my brush roll too.

Another thing to love about Charm is that they're affordable. This baby retails for only Php250. However, this does not sacrifice quality, as they've performed at par with my expensive brushes.

For those who are having a hard time maneuvering with the 217, I recommend this deluxe eye brush, which retails for Php380, also from Beauty and Minerals.

I like the fact that it's small so those with smaller eyes and shallow creases could use this better. The hair is made of pony hair, which is softer. It could deposit color too but it's soft enough to blend. I use this to put color and blend on my outer crease and further blend colors with my 217. This is helpful for creating my 3d smokey eyes. since after I do my contour color, I deposit a tad of black on the outer edge of my eye and blend upwards.

Always remember though, that to make sure the brushes really last a lifetime, that we should always take care of them by cleaning them at least once a week and storing them safe in brush rolls so they retain their shape. :)

Brush Review: Bobbi Brown Eye Contour Brush

This brush I haven't reviewed right after I bought it, considering I bought it as a birthday gift to myself last June. Actually, I guess now's the right time to review it after being my companion in a whole lot of gigs and even experiencing it personally.

This in fact is my first Bobbi Brown purchase, after the book, which was a gift to me for my birthday. I guess my birthday was Bobbi-sponsored heehehehee. I chose the brush since I needed a brush that wasn't similar to any of my existing brushes and of course, something long-handled with good quality.

So here's my Bobbi Brown Eye Contour brush:

The handle's a bit too long, since I got the professional brush size, and the Bobbi Brown handles are usually longer than other brushes. It couldn't even fit the frame. I actually hold the brush closer to the bristles, like before the "B" in the Bobbi part of the logo.

The use of this brush is to apply a greater amount of shadow in the crease to contour the eye. The bristles are flat here, as shown in the closer view as compared the the eyeshadow brushes wth a tapered or dome tip. The shape of the brush is round and flat, and the bristles are made of super-soft natural fibers (goat, I think for this type of brush)

The head is dense so it serves best to deposit products. For me, I recommend this to deposit color and then I still use my tapered brush to blend the color for seamless gradiation. Although using this particular brush to deposit and blend could work for girls with larger eyes, Smaller eyes can shrink more with a heavily-deposited dark contour color. I could also use this brush to sweep browbone highlight since it fits my browbone area well.

Another use for this brush is for nose contour/nose line. To fake a high bridge, I dab this brush on a matte dark contour color and tap off excess. When I make nose lines, I want to create subtle shadows instead of a super-fake line hence using little product at first and then adding more if needed before blending. I draw the line from the eyebrow head down to the side of the nose tip and blend the contour color with the highlight color on the bridge of the nose and the foundation so everything looks natural.

For the bristle texture, I get the same comments: the hairs are super-soft, up to now. So i try to maintain the softness by washing my brushes regularly with gentle shampoo and then conditioning them.

Overall, this is one brush I like due to the double purpose it has plus the texture. Plus with the high quality of this brush, this sure would last me a long time (provided I take good care of it, which I do).

Estee Lauder Sale Haul

Warning: Picture-heavy post up ahead :P

Last week, I was guest artist for the MAC booth when the Estee Lauder group of companies had a big sale held at the Mandarin Hotel. Aside from the huge discounts (50-70% off), I also got the chance to be surrounded with makeup, make huge sales, and uhmm... of course I can't help but make a few buys.

What's being sold are actually limited edition collections and extra stocks that are still good (of course! they're unused) but they have to get rid of them to make way for new collections. Participating brands were Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Origins, DKNY, Dolce and Gabanna, and of course, MAC! The sale lasted for 3 days with brush sets, makeup, and fragrances flying off the tables. Sales like these only happen once in a blue moon (I don't know if they'll have this next year though, so we sure took advantage).

And my own hauls by the end of the sale period:

Colorforms advanced brush set. Wheee!

Nail polish at 70 off. I was glad that there was a basecoat as I don't have basecoat and I need something to protect my nails especially since I like wearing dark polish. I also got nail lacquer in black, which I'm wearing now.

I got a can of leg spray, which could be used as a body bronzer (thanks to Sam, plus it was 70 off) I was advised to get the dark shade. The dark wasn't really clownish. I used this on a photoshoot with my model. She's actually very fair, about an NC25 but when I bronzed her, the bronzing didn't look muddy. She looked sunkissed. Very good buy, and one to review soon.

The following day, I was glad that they had new stocks of mineralize satinfinish foundation. I'm more of a fan of mineralize satinfinish since I like the dewy glow it gives. I got one in NC42 and since it was 50 off... I just had to say yes.

Foundation is important! And I was glad to get a very universal Asian shade.

Since I've been yearning for MAC brushes for the longest time, the Colorforms Advanced Brush Set was the tip top of my buys. Retail price for this is 3,600 but I got it at half off. It's actually a good buy since a MAC brush costs really expensive at the store. I got really premium brushes look!

168 Brush for blush and contouring

275 for eyeshadow lid and nose contour

219 brush AKA pencil brush for setting pencil eyeliner so they don't run or slide

212 brush for tightlining, eyebrows, gel liner, and also setting powder shadow

187 brush... NEED I SAY MORE WITH A MAC STIPPLING BRUSH?!?!?!?!?!

The purple case (that also comes with the makeup case) that holds the brushes also doesn't hurt. So pretty and at least my brushes stay in top condition. :)

The brushes are all short handled brushes, meaning travel-sized but the performance is still the same with full-length brushes. They're okay to travel too, so I get to have more space on my purse or makeup bag.

These are purchases that I surely can't wait to use, and this also means I have to work ten times as hard. :)

Oh, and my MAC collection as of this day (not shown: MAC pencil in lingering and MAC Mineralize Satinfinish Foundation NC35 backup)

;-) Makeup Addict!

Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

On the first day of December, I got an early Christmas present! Well, not really a present because I pre-ordered it a month ago and just got it this December and I'm just so happy and giddy!

It arrived yesterday morning while I was busy uploading pix in my folio but everything had to stop first for this... :D I couldn't resist opening it!

Ooooooohhhh! It's REEEED!

And look at all the brushes!

22 pcs of pure delight!

I've finally gotten another brush set from my experience of having back-to-back shoots. sometimes, my brushes don't have time to dry especially during the rainy weather. As of now, they're just newly washed and now waiting for them to dry.....

Review coming soon!

Brush Review: The Body Shop Foundation Brush

As obsessed I am with makeup, I'm also crazy about the tools used to apply it. Hence, brushes have become my best friends. I'm always on the lookout for inexpensive but quality makeup brushes, since I know how expensive brushes can be. For foundation, I used to use sponges since it was cheaper than a foundation brush. However, I've gotten problems with sponges since they tend to "eat up" the foundation so a lot of product is wasted. A friend advised me to get a foundation brush since this eats up the foundation less so I can maximize my products.



During the Lipton and Body Shop event I attended last summer along with several other beauty and fashion/lifestyle bloggers, we were asked to choose 3 gift items from The Body Shop that make us very happy. I immediately went to the brushes and chose the Foundation Brush among the two other stuff I got (A moisturizing foundation and an Olive Bath Set). When the surprise came that these stuff are ours, I was more than thrilled.



I haven't gotten to reviewing the foundation brush even though it has been with me in quite a number of shoots. It's even my tool of choice when I did my first-ever magazine shoot. So here's what I have to say about it... after 20+ shoots:

Price: Php 895.00 (Appx US $21.00)

Knowing how The Body Shop is all about cruelty-free beauty, all their brushes are made of synthetic fibers and not animal hair. For foundation brushes, synthetic fibers are actually better since foundations are usually in cream or liquid formulations. It's also easier to clean (I use cleansing oil to clean it first followed by facial wash with tea tree oil to remove bacteria) that way. Since it's made of synthetic fiber, it feels absolutely soft on the skin. No pricking, no ouchies, no scratchies.

I first tried this brush during a photoshoot and I'm amazed to say as how I was able to use more product. It did not "drink" my foundation, and this was a problem I've had with my sponges (not to mention sponges are harder to clean to immaculately white status). The length for me was okay and comfortable enough. The only problem I've had with it is the handle shape, which is too bulky to fit on my brush case, so what I do is wrap it in plastic and place it in my makeup train case. Before, I thought sponges are cheaper, but since they're disposable, brush is the way to go. I also use sponges still, for fine-tuning my foundation application if I want a smoother and flawless finish. :)

You can use The Body Shop Foundation Brush with the following foundations:

• The Body Shop Flawless Skin Protecting Foundation
• The Body Shop Moisture Foundation
• The Body Shop All-In-One Face Base
• The Body Shop Oil-Free Balancing Foundation

It also performs well with my other foundations! So far, I'm getting the hang of using brushes for foundation application, and it made my life so much easier!

Top 7 Reasons Why I Love the Charm Dual Fibre Brush

(photo from Beauty and Minerals)

1. It's got a pink handle. It looks so bright and kikay amidst the serious black-handled or wood finish brushes I have.


2. It feels so soft on the skin. Unlike other brushes that prick and scratch, this one does not. My models even commented on how soft it feels on the skin as I brushed their foundation, even when there's pressure.


3. It's reminescent of a very popular and best-selling makeup brush yet it costs so much less. However, costing way less does not sacrifice quality. It performs just as good too.


4. It cuts foundation application in half without eating up the product. It's so tipid and economical.


5. It's easy to clean. I use cleansing oil/brush cleaner to remove foundation residue then shampoo and conditioner as usual.


6. It can be used to apply liquid foundation, shimmer cream, bronzer, blush, mineral makeup, and loose powder and the result would be a flawless, almost airbrushed finish.


7. There's minimal shedding, so it lasts long provided you take good care of it.





(The Charm Dual Fibre Brush is available online at http://beautyandminerals.multiply.com/)