Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

How Many Makeup Brushes Do You Use on a Daily Basis?

September 20th, 2013 by Karen 29 Comments

Have you ever counted ’em up? For me it depends. Sometimes, it’s up to 30 (!) if I do multiple looks in the same day.

Once, though, I was able to pull off a makeup look with just two brushes, but that was a small miracle brought on by extreme circumstances…namely, me forgetting my entire brush bag at home before leaving for a trip.

But yeah, on a day-to-day basis, I typically use the following:

1 domed eyeshadow brush to apply and blend (usually the MAC 217)
1 tapered blending brush, again to apply and blend eyeshadow (MAC 224)
1 flat eyeshadow to do more of the same (MAC 239)
1 foundation brush to apply foundation (Hourglass No 2. Foundation/Blush Brush)
1 kabuki brush to blend my foundation (MAC 182)
1 additional domed eyeshadow brush to apply under-eye concealer (another MAC 217)
1 fluffy powder brush for face powder (I have one from Burberry that I like, although I can’t remember the exact name)
1 contour brush for bronzer (MAC 109)
1 blush brush (MAC 129)
1 tapered face brush for highlighter (MAC 139, or another 224. It depends on the product I’m applying.)

Hmm… That’s still 10 brushes.

I guess my attempts to streamline are a work in progress.

How about you? How many makeup brushes do you use on a daily basis?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

My Cat Eyes Spy Jordana’s Fabulously Affordable $2.99 FabuLiner Bold Felt-Tip Liquid Liner

September 20th, 2013 by Karen 5 Comments

Jordana Fabuliner Bold Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner — Jordana’s Fabuliner Bold Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner

I feel like my makeup universe has been out of balance lately — like something’s off kilter, out of whack.

I’m not sure, but I think it has something to do with liquid liner…

And Tom Ford.

I haven’t gotten over the price of Tom’s Eye Defining Pen in Deeper, and I don’t know if I ever will.

I mean, it’s $55…

WHICH IS CRAZY! But other than that, it’s almost perfect in every single way. The whole universe is confused…

There has to be a drugstore liquid liner equivalent out there to restore the makeup planetary balance.

Maybe it’s Jordana’s new $2.99 Fabuliner Bold Felt-Tip Liquid Eyeliner.

Available now at Walgreens in a single shade called Black, it’s long-wearing, deep and intense, without any red or blue undertones, and it dries to a slightly shiny finish.

It also dries fast! I’m talking Roadrunner fast, like the moment it touches my lids, BAM! It’s dry within seconds.

I love that I can plop it on, blink, and not have to worry about it transferring into my crease. It’s instant cat eye gratification, and I don’t even have to wear primer, since it lasts like a mutha’.

And then there’s the tip.

THE TIP! It’s firm and felt, kind of like an art marker, but…

[Continue reading…]

MAC’s Tease Your Tastes Cremeblend Blush, a Delicious Treat for Cheeks

September 20th, 2013 by Karen 5 Comments

Mmm, tasty! This delicious neutral pink cream blush adds a hint of flavor to fall’s bold eye and lip looks.

You can find it now with the rest of the Indulge collection at MAC counters, stores and online.

The MAC Indulge Collection Lipglasses Revel in Delightfully Pampering Pigment

September 20th, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

Wow. Just… WOW. I can see why half the MAC Indulge Lipglasses are already sold out on maccosmetics.com. The five glosses from the fall collection are a beautiful balance of nude and intense colors, and each and every shade delivers the goods. Just smooth, even color with pigment to spare!

Not to worry if you missed ordering your favorite shade online. All five are still available now at bloomingdales.com (for now at least).

Toss any of these on with your favorite smokey eye and you’re good to go!

MAC Fashion Punch Lipglass — Fashion Punch, a mid-tone neutral pink

MAC Utterly Tart Lipglass — Utterly Tart, a deep red

MAC Liquer Lipglass — Liqueur, a shimmering taupe

[Continue reading…]

This Diva’s a Lightweight: Michael Kors Lip Lacquer in Diva

September 20th, 2013 by Karen 19 Comments

In the time it takes to grill a cheese sandwich and watch the new episode of Project Runway, a layer of lovely Lip Lacquer in Diva by Michael Kors comes and goes…

That’s about 90 minutes, give or take.

Diva — a sheer, golden rosy pink with a slick, glossy texture — is part of the new Michael Kors Beauty line available now exclusively at Macy’s.

The line is comprised of three sub collections — Sexy, Sporty and Glam — which, um, kinda remind me Spice Girls names. I guess the ’90s really are making a comeback. 🙂

In each, you’ll find lipsticks, glosses, fragrances, nail polishes and bronzing powders in shades based on the mood of the sub collection. Prices are around the Chanel/Dior range, with $18 for a bottle of nail polish, $24 for a lipstick/gloss and $50 for a bronzing powder. Fragrances are between $50-$95.

But back to Diva…
[Continue reading…]

A Bronze, Purple and Blue Face of the Day With the MAC Indulge Fall Collection

September 19th, 2013 by Karen 48 Comments

Indulging in the MAC Indulge Collection on my eyes and lips…

Wish I could say I wore this look to someplace fabulous this week, like an exclusive after-hours vampire club (assuming I didn’t get eaten, of course), but alas, no.

No vampire clubs, but I did wear it someplace fun — namely DSW, to look at boots. 🙂

SIDE NOTE: You know you’re a cat lady when you see a pair of boots with a tiny pocket on them, and the first things you think of putting in the pocket are cat treats.

I posted this smokey eye earlier today but neglected to list a breakdown, so hurr goes.

It features bronze smokey eyes with black cat eye liner, purple eyeshadow along the lower lash lines and a flash of blue on the lids. And the eyes are paired with a glossy plum/berry lip for extra drama-for-your-mama.

Since the eyes and lips pack some punch, I kept the cheeks mellow with a bit of contouring, a matte peachy pink blush and a sprinkling of peachy bronze highlighter.

Most of the products I used are from MAC’s fall Indulge collection, which has been available for a hot second. Some of them are sold out on MAC’s site, but you may be able to track them down at macys.com, bloomingdales.com or nordstrom.com.

Or maybe at your nearby MAC counter or MAC Pro store.

As for the breakdown…

Eyes

I love this eye look because it has a surprise. When you see it from straight on, it looks pretty basic, right? Like a basic bronze smokey eye with purple along the lower lash line. But then I close my eyes and SURPRISE! — a flash of blue and cat eye liner.

I love stuff like that. 🙂

[Continue reading…]

Look in This Forest and What do You See? Gold, Khaki and Taupe! The New Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Forest

September 19th, 2013 by Karen 13 Comments

Keep looking up! (BTW, that’s the Clarins Forest Eye Quartet on my eyes.)

I was conducting “research” at a Nordie’s MAC counter a few weeks ago, playing with lipsticks and chatting with the gals who work there (They’re all so nice at the Corte Madera counter!), when I overheard a woman discussing her philosophy on makeup.

Ohhhh-kay. So maybe I was eavesdropping. 😉

The woman was looking for false lashes, and one of the makeup artists asked if she wanted a bold look or something more natural. Her response was something along the lines of, “If I’m gonna wear fall lashes, I want people to notice!” She wanted to go bold all the way! Otherwise, why bother?

“Hell, yeah,” I thought to myself, nodding in silent approval as I secretly swatched berry-colored lippies on the back of my hand. “I hear that!”

Having been in a smokey eye phase for a while, her take on makeup really resonated with me.

Of course, there’s a time and place to tone it down, too. Not every hallway is a catwalk, after all, and runway makeup isn’t always appropriate. Plus, some makeup lovers just don’t do bold.

When you don’t have a runway to strut, or you’re just looking to wear something noticeable, but not overwhelming, on your eyes, there’s the new Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in Forest ($42).

Recently released for fall, the four-pan palette of powdered eyeshadows has a shimmmery golden khaki, a satiny taupe, a blackened khaki with the faintest flecks of golden glitter (SO CUTE) and a sheer, pale gold, any of which can be applied wet or dry, and still look great. Whatever suits yo’ fancy!

All four shadows, which range from sheer to medium coverage, have a lovely, soft reflective shimmer that catches the light juuust enough, so that you’re compelled to take a closer look.

It’s perfect for that watercolor effect — subtle, but you can definitely tell you’re wearing makeup.

Clarins Forest swatches — Swatches from the left: Khaki, gold, blackened khaki and taupe

[Continue reading…]

A Workhorse Gloss to Wear to the Office: Le Metier de Beaute’s Cafe Creme Lip Creme Lip Gloss

September 19th, 2013 by Karen 9 Comments

Le MÃ©tier de BeautÃ© Cafe Creme Lip Creme Lip Gloss

Le Metier de Beaute Cafe Creme Lip Creme Lip Gloss — Le Metier de Beaute’s gorgeous Lip Creme Lip Gloss in Cafe Creme ($36)

Le Metier de Beaute’s gorgeous Lip Creme Lip Gloss in Cafe Creme ($36), a flattering rosy brown, has all the elements of an everyday gloss you could finish to the very last drop — medium coverage, a color that works with a ton of different eye looks, and a finish that isn’t too shiny for the office.

Tabs insists that I wear it when he needs me to look responsible, like when foreign kitty dignitaries visit the corporate office. 😉

Le Metier de Beaute Cafe Creme

It’s available now at Le Metier de Beaute counters and also online.