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5 Fantastic Drugstore Makeup Brushes

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5 fantastic drugstore makeup brushes

I was cleaning my makeup brushes yesterday when I remembered a recent email exchange across the Northern border. Canadian reader Siobhan asked…

Hi Karen,

Family members are in the States right now and have offered to bring me back a little present. 🙂

I’m thinking about asking for some makeup brushes, and you have stores there that we don’t have here in Canada (Target and CVS come to mind). What kinds of drugstore brushes do you recommend? Thanks!
–Siobhan

Heya Siobhan,

Smart thinking! Makeup brushes are lightweight, easy to pack, and make fantastic little travel gifts. Both of the chains you mentioned, Target and CVS, carry several affordable, high quality brushes like the…

1. EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer Brush

This cruelty-free brush has a dense head (there’s a pun in there somewhere) and super soft bristles. It’s designed to be used with bronzer, but I prefer to use it to buff loose powder on top of my foundation for an airbrushed look. $12

eco tools bamboo bronzer brush review 3

2. Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush

An affordable, all-purpose eyeliner brush with an angled barrel, a long handle and a pointed brush head made with soft, yet firm, synthetic fibers. I think it’s a star with gel liners like MAC Fluidline and makes winged cat eye flicks super easy to do. $6

Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush Review closeup

3. Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Blusher Brush

My local Target has a tough time keeping this brush in stock; it’s usually sold out! Forged in the fires of Mt. Kashuk by the mighty SK to apply cream blush, this multitasking tool also tackles liquid foundation, cream/liquid highlighters and powder products, too. It’s totally worth the hunt. $15

Sonia Kashuk Flat Top Blusher Brush
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Where to Buy Asian Beauty Brands

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Anna

Friend me on FacebookWritten by Anna

Today we’re bringing the Far East closer by way of Germany (a bit of a detour) with today’s guest post from Anna, a 19-year-old makeup artist and student blogging from Berlin. Are you ready? Hajime!

Where to buy Asian beauty brands

To me Asian cosmetics are like heavenly gifts from above. Some of the cutest AND most effective makeup in the world comes from Asia. Just think of Japan’s Shiseido or Korea’s Etude House, and the attitude towards cosmetics there, especially in Japan and Korea, totally differs from ours in the West. There, it’s all about traditional skin care, like from the Edo period, with products like the popular BB (Blemish Balm) cream.

Unfortunately, most of the awesome stuff is hard to get here (in Europe), or hilariously over-priced. Today, I’d like to share a few of my favourite places to shop for Asian cosmetics, if you don’t already happen to be one of the lucky addicts living in Asia. 🙂

Ladies, please know your rights regarding identify theft and fraud before using a credit or debit card to make an international purchase. Some rules may not apply to international purchases. If you’re unsure, check with your credit card company BEFORE you do the deed. -Karen

Whenever Shiseido’s sub-brand ‘Majolica Majorca’ releases something new, I rush over to Ichibankao to place an order. Ichibankao offer a broad range of Asian cosmetics, like Jill Stuart, Paul & Joe, Koji, Sofina, Cosme Decorte and many more. The thing I like best about them is that shipping fees are already included in the price, no matter where you live.

Jill Stuart

They mark things up 100 yen above the regular retail price, which is actually very generous, and parcels usually take up to 11 days to arrive to me here.

Holika Holika Aqua Petit

Broad range of brands
Shipping fees included
Fast shipping
Listings in English

Not exact retail prices
Payment in yen

Good Dealer is a Hong Kong-based online shop that’s always up to date. They accept reservations and offer exclusive items to their members — and membership is free.

Hot Body Slimming Patch
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The Supersonic Ultrasonic Clarisonic Passes with Flying Colors

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Sam

Written by Sam

I hope you studied last night because I hear we’re having a POP quiz. No worries. Makeup artist and blogger Sam will help us study in today’s guest post.

The Clarisonic Skincare System

You tap your pencil rhythmically on the desk, eyes flitting around the classroom. Checking out the other test subjects. Did she live in the room across the hall in college? For the fourth time, you check your watch. Maybe it’s broken.

The exam administrator walks in, her black heels clacking on the linoleum floor. She checks to make sure everyone has a pencil; you ask for a second one, just in case.

The girl in front of you hands back a stack of packets (I can’t forget to ask her what polish she’s wearing before we leave…), the three or so pages crowned with a gold staple at the upper left corner. You slip one onto your desk and hand the rest back.

You read the first question: “Name the one beauty product currently in production you would bring with you on a week-long business trip.” Hmm… Oh! — no, wait. That’s not it. Ah! Yes, I remember now.

The second question: “The name of the beauty tool you hear the most buzz about in your daily readings and discussions…” Yes! Finally, an easy one!

Makeup and Beauty Exam

The Clarisonic Skincare System is probably one of the hottest beauty tools around, flying from shelves and receiving more press than many celebrity scandals (have there been any good ones lately?). Touted by everyone from top skincare gurus to red-carpet divas and humble bloggers (myself included), this mechanized innovation is a simple concept that is simply wonderful to use.

From the creators of the Sonicare toothbrush, the Clarisonic is a mini-marvel of engineering. What appears to be the blurred buzzing motion of the brush head is actually three hundred small back-and-forth vibrations per second. Rather than simply brushing over the skin, it flexes each and every pore, loosening impurities and built-up sebum and skin cells, and then encourages these to rise to the surface to be whisked away by those quick vibrations.

After a few failed attempts at buying this magic system and a frustrating series of calls to my credit card company, I finally lugged the rather large — though nice and glossy — box home, and extracted the much smaller tool from its cage of instruction manuals and packaging materials.

I purchased mine from Sephora, and received the Philosophy skincare set, which came with three minis from that brand’s permanent collection. Also nestled in among the white cardboard maze was a surprisingly nice mesh travel case, an inductive charging cradle, and two extra brush heads (Sensitive and Body).
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What Are the Best Drugstores for Beauty Products?

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What are the best drugstores for beauty products?

What a coincidence! Reader Aimee must have known I was planning a jaunt to Tar-ghay today. 🙂

Hi Karen!

I’m traveling to Miami in the US next month, and I’d like to hear about your favorite drugstores in the US…

Which of these are best for make up (price and variety): CVS, Target or Walgreens? Thanks!
–Aimee

Hi Aimee,

You’re a girl after my own heart. Whenever I travel, I always try to do a bit of beauty research beforehand, and I’m stoked about your enthusiasm for drugstore makeup. I’ve been a Rite Aid regular (aka a Walgreens wallflower) since as far back as I can remember. Drugstores are veritable cosmetics cornucopias!

I’ve shopped all three of the stores you mention — CVS, Target and Walgreens — and have generally had good experiences with each.

Target

I end up going to Target a lot because of 1) how close and 2) how big it is. In addition to carrying the big drugstore beauty lines (your Revlon, Cover Girl, L’Oreal, etc.), they also carry “higher end” drugstore brands, some of them exclusive to Target (at least in the US), like Sonia Kashuk, JK Jemma Kidd, NP Set and Boots.

Target also has testers, which makes swatching easy, but I’m not crazy about their makeup return policy. Most of the time products have to be new, unused and in their original packaging.

CVS

With more than 7,000 stores in 45 states, chances are there’s a CVS somewhere nearby. They have a great selection of drugstore brands and a fantastic product return policy. Truth be told, I’d shop at CVS more often if there wasn’t a Target so close. They accept returns on any opened or unopened beauty products and will refund the full purchase price, no questions asked. Just be sure to bring your receipt or invoice. Oh, and some CVS stores carry the awesome NYX line, which is one of my favorite drugstore brands for colorful eyeshadows and blushes.

Walgreens

No joke, but I used to haunt the Walgreens beauty department back when I worked in downtown San Francisco. Walgreens carries many of the same beauty lines that CVS and Rite Aid do at very nearly the same prices, but I don’t visit as often as I used to (there isn’t one close).
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What Are Your Top 5 MAC Must-Haves?

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mac viva glam V
MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick

I was digging through my MAC favorites this morning when I remembered a question asked by reader Sheila Z in the comments yesterday.

“Karen, I’ll be getting my makeup done this saturday at MAC for my brother-in-law’s engagement party. Part of the process requires that I buy at least 5 items. What are the top 5 you recommend?”

— Sheila Z

Hey Sheila,

Pardon me for this, but right now I feel Ready For The World! “Oh, oh, oh, oh, Sheila!”

(Please tell me you’re familiar with that song.)

With that out of the way, let’s get back to beauty. 🙂 You’re going to have such a blast at the MAC counter on Saturday. For what it’s worth, here are my five (current) MAC must-haves.

  • 217 Blending Brush ($22.50)

    I wield this multi-tasking goat hair fiber brush Every. Single. Day. It has its way with both cream and powder products, and I use it for everything from loose pigments to under-eye concealer.

  • Fluidline in Blacktrack ($15)

    This black gel liner stays put no matter what! I’ve shed a million tears with this stuff on, and it doesn’t budge for nothin’.

  • Pro Longwear Concealer ($16.50)

    I really fancy this miracle working liquid concealer. Not only does it cover my dark circles well with its water-resistant formula, but it lasts all day long without fading, too. My one caveat? — it has a tricky pump.

  • Soft Brown Eyeshadow ($14.50)

    If you like the look of browns with orange undertones, this matte shadow could be your new best friend. I wear it in the crease with smokey looks to give my eyes depth and dimension.

  • Viva Glam V Lipstick ($14.50)

    LOVE love this shimmery neutral pink! I think it looks great on almost everyone, and 100% of the proceeds go to support men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.

I also asked the gals on Twitter what their MAC must-haves are, and here’s what they had to say:
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Hate Makeup Hair Triggers? Try This Simple Tip to Waste Less

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I love love MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, but that dang pump dispenser’s hair trigger has given me trouble from day one.

Even when I carefully apply the slightest pressure it dispenses way more product than I need, which means I’m wasting, grr… Seriously, MAC, what happened to my doe foot? Anyone?

I’ve tried to remove the pump to no avail (thing’s securely fastened), and it looks like I’d have to crack the plastic to pull it off.

At the MAC counter the other day, I vented about it to one of the makeup artists, and she handed me an empty sample jar with a smile. 🙂
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5 Fantastic Makeup and Beauty Products to Help with Oily Skin

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Is your skin slicker than a used car salesman? Do your pores ooze oil all day and night? If you suffer from oily skin, you’re not the only one. I did for years (and still do at times).

Rule No. 1: Don’t despair. There’s hope. 🙂

“Hi, Karen. You’ve said before that you have oily skin, as do I, so I was wondering what you do (what products you use/have used) to combat it?

I have literally tried EVERYTHING, but my skin is still an oil slick!

HELP!”
— Ashley

Hi Ashley,

I feel your pain! I was constantly struggling with oily skin throughout my 20s. I know it’s all natural, but I’m still a little grossed out by it, that greasy feeling and the relentless shine. I remember back in college when I’d fall asleep in my books. I’d wake up, peel my face away and see oily patches on the page. Awesome!

Now that I’m in my 30s, my skin’s a combination of oily and dry. Some spots are dry, but others are oily, like my forehead and cheeks. I use (and love) several products to keep the oil slicks at bay.

1. Basis Cleaner Clean Face Wash, $5 for a 6.7-oz tube

This citrus-scented cleanser for normal-to-oily skin removes everything — oil, makeup, dirt, you name it. Yet it doesn’t feel harsh or leave my skin feeling tight or dry, thanks to botanicals like aloe vera, rosemary and spearmint. I loved it so much that I stockpile it when it’s sale. Plus, it’s only five bucks and carried in most drugstores.

2. DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew, $38 for a 1.7-oz tube

Okay, it’s totally expensive, but DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew is both oil- and fragrance-free, feels light as air, sinks into my skin quickly and packs just enough moisture for my skin. Even oily skin likes moisture, and a good moisturizer slows the evaporation of water from the skin (see: Moisturizer For Oily Skin). It also never, ever gives me breakouts.

3. Olay Facial Lotion Oil Free SPF 15, $12 for a 6-oz bottle

When I was in college I went through an awful bout of acne, and a dermatologist recommended Olay Facial Lotion Oil Free. I used it for years and still love it to this day. It feels light on my skin, can be worn beneath makeup and, like DDF Ultra-Light, doesn’t give me breakouts. I don’t use it anymore because I don’t think it’s moisturizing enough for my dry parts.

4. MAC Blot, $22 for a 0.42-oz compact

If MAC ever discontinued this oil-absorbing pressed powder I’d cry a thousand tears. It comes in five shades (Light, Medium, Medium Dark, Deep and Deep Dark) and works overtime to absorb oil, reduce shine and set makeup. love
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What’s Your Skin Care Routine? Here’s What I’m Doing Now

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I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours. 🙂 Every so often I’m asked about my skin care routine, and because I make little adjustments to it all the time, I thought I’d share the process and products I’m using now.

Heya Milkmaid21!

(Love your Twitter handle, BTW)

Although I try new skin care products and techniques all the time, I find myself returning to many of the same core products and tactics over and over again, especially when my combination dry/oily/acne-prone skin goes ballistic.

My Skin Care Routine: The Abridged Version

In the morning…

In the evening…

Then, one or two nights a week…

My Skin Care Routine: The Unabridged Version

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