January 6, 2010

The Muse’s Year End Review 2009: The Muse’s Fav Beauty Tools

Ahhh tools!� Anyone that does some sort of trade has a set of tools.� Mechanics, Carpenters, and of course, most important, Make Up Artists.�� These tools are used to sometimes fix something or create something entirely new.

Although I’m not a make up artist I still have my fair share of beauty tools that I favor each and everyday to apply my makeup and create my eye looks.

As the New Year starts, take a step back with me as I look through some of my very favorite beauty tools.

Jump!

The Muse has millions and millions of brushes and beauty tools of all kinds but the following are some of her very favorites.

This year I got an incredible birthday gift from a friend, needless to say this gift introduced me to my now favorite, can’t live without it beauty tool of choice. I give to you the Bobbi Brown Blush Brush. I simply cannot live without this. I’ve tried ALOT of blush brushes but this brush has simplified my life so much. It just works. It expertly applies blush without overdoing it, look mum, no more clown cheeks. It taps blush into place and seamlessly blends it out to create a soft focused looks that’s so flawless, so beautiful, I sometimes can’t believe I applied my own blush. I’ve tried many a blush brush including MAC and I have to say that Bobbi tops it hands down. You shouldn’t be living your makeup life without it.

Beauty Tools 13

It devastates me that the Bare Escentuals Eye Buki brush is virtually unknown by many a fan of the brand. This was included with a kit a while back ago and it’s become one of my very favorite tools for blending out shadow. Like a kabuki brush it sports full, bushy bristles. It blends like a dream and truly is a fond favorite. I wish BE would see it’s potential and bring it in as an item you can purchase. If you’re lemming it I highly suggest checking out E-bay as it’s a tad tricky to find.

Beauty Tools 14

Kids, you don’t want to live your makeup life without sponge tip applicators. They are a fav beauty tool and a must have in my train case. I highly suggest snagging them from Claires.

Beauty Tools 1

The MAC 187 doesn’t leave my side for long. I use it with all my MAC MSF, couldn’t apply them right without it!

Beauty Tools 5

MAC 227 always makes it’s way on my fav list for blending upwards.

Beauty Tools 6

Count MAC insane for not adding the 226 to the general catalog. It’s a Muse Approved favorite and seriously needs to stop making these LE appearances.

Beauty Tools 11

MAC 224 a given for every makeup bag.

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MAC 217 another given for easy, flawless blending!

Beauty Tools 8

MAC 210 for precision work, def a Muse fav.

Beauty Tools 12

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler still remains the Cadillac of curlers for this Muse.

Beauty Tools 4

Bobbi Brown Dual End Concealer and Blender Brush, must have!

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Too Faced FlatBuki for ease of bronzer and blush application.

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The MAC 181 SE, another one that MAC seriously needs to consider adding to the general catalog.

Beauty Tools 2

These are just a few of my favorite beauty tools of the year. I hope you enjoyed this look into my fav beauty tools.

Do see the Muse’s Year End Review 2009: The Muse’s Fav Blushes as well.

What are some of yours?

Any beauty tools that made a huge impact on your application skills?

Share ’em!

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Bakeneko

    I love my Smashbox fan brush 🙂 I’m very pale so some blushers can be difficult for me to wear – this lets me build up more intense colours in sheer layers so I don’t look like a clown hehe 🙂

    I also love my Royal & Langnickel eyelash comb. The metal teeth are really good for separating lashes – I find the plastic ones are useless.

    • the Muse

      oh bakeneko! I have a sephora one and really like using it for intense colors myself, really works well and keeps me from being heavy handed! I always poke myself when I use a comb LOL

  • suz

    my ONLY tool at the moment is my hands/and or fingers…for everything. I am still………………………………………………waiting to buy brushes…..and haven’t since I see other products which are more important and wanted badly!! I will definitely get them before the year ends…..:/

    • the Muse

      suz I do alot of hands and finger work myself! def indulge in a few b/c they always make life easier if you wanna go cheap I hear ELF brushes are fab plus hey it’s $1!!!!!

      • Bakeneko

        I think the ELF eye shadow brush is brilliant – also the sponge smudge brush is useful.

        I wasn’t so keen on the total face brush or the eye liner brush…

        • the Muse

          hey bakeneko really need to take the elf road..I’ve dabbled but not fully played with them and only b/c my sis has a few of them 😀

    • the Muse

      i happen to be a finger girl too suz! 😀 brushes are def important but good old fingers blend my foundation like no other brush hehe!

  • Emily

    Thanks for sharing your list of fav tools, Muse! I still haven’t been able to bring myself to jump on the MAC brush bandwagon, but I doubt I will be able to resist much longer… I think what I worry about is ruining them (by cleaning, especially). Any suggestions for a MAC brush noob as to what her first brush should be?

    I didn’t know that bare escentuals made an eye buki brush! It’s so cute. It looks a lot like the Everyday Minerals Eye Kabuki brush, which is sooooooooo soft and fat and squishy. It’s way too big to use for eyeshadow, in my opinion, but I use it to gently sweep setting powder on my under eye concealer. The synthetic bristles are just perfect for that delicate area. I really love this brush and highly recommend it if you ever need a replacement for the bare escentuals brush! Is the BE eye buki soft? And how big would you say it is? As always, thanks Muse!

    • the Muse

      hi emily my pleasure dear! 🙂 oh don’t worry they are good for many years to come with proper care! what sort of looks do you create? I can rec something upon that. Most I rec the blending brushes to start with 🙂 They do indeed a while ago in a kit but not in the general catalog grrr 🙂 I really need to try the EM one sounds adorable! This is too big for using on shadows too but I like blending out with it 😀 Sounds heavenly must track one down 😀 It is soft but indeed! Mmmm how big not sure what to compare it to really but it’s considerably bushier than your regular blending brush 😀 Thanks for sharing the EM one must try it!

      Thank YOU for the comment! Sorry for the delayed reply!

  • Kristina

    As one who considers herself blush-challenged, I will have to get the Bobbi Brown Blush brush. Any tips for application?
    My fave tool is the BeautyBlender sponge. Some foundations that I hated and were sitting unused in my makeup bag I ended up loving when applied with that little miracle sponge.

    • the Muse

      kristina it’s AMAZINGGGGGGGGGG Well…I find it’s best to load it up, tap off excess and lightly tap the brush on your face. Tap, tap, tap be sure you’re smiling big, apples of the cheeks is where you wanna tap. After that just stroke it upwards to blend…presto perfect!

      I gotta get a beautyblender seriously need that.

  • jackieg02

    My favorite tool of 2009 is the Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush. It has seriously changed my life. I love it and cannot do crese work without it!

  • Lisa Kate

    Everyday Minerals has an eye kabuki that looks very similar to the BE one! Except its bamboo. I have two and I love them though!

    I think I need to check out some of those MAC brushes XD

    • the Muse

      oh cool beans Lisa I have to go check that out thanks babe!

      MAC brushes=perfect makeup skillz!

  • Renata

    I’d love to read more about tools here in your blog. I’m taking a break in buying makeup and spend some money in tools, brushes in particular.

    One thing I miss is a good blush brush, and this Bobby Brown seems to be the perfect choice. 🙂

    And I have a question about the Bobbi Brown Dual End Concealer. One end is for applying the cream and the other for powder? Or is the second end to blend? I ask this because I would love to find a brush to blend concealer. Any suggestions?

    Thank you!

    • the Muse

      hey renata I’ll try to get a round up doll! Bobbi Brown Blush Brush=AMAZING! So saved my life. I over blush and this really makes it easy not to overdo stuff!

      One end is to apply cream and the other powder to set yes. Nope not to blend just to use a powder such as a whitening powder to set the powder 🙂 mmmmmmm any foundation brush with a flat end will do a good job of blending it for you hun. I def wouldn’t use a little guy as it may streak but something larger would be good also small mini size blush brushes would do well to blend out too.

  • Renata

    Ah! One more thing: I got the Philosophy Supernatural Airbrush and it’s the best thing I’ve tried to blend cream foundations. Really. It is impressive. It’s small, so it won’t work to apply evenly, or it would but it would take you too much time. So I apply cream foundation with my fingers and blend with the brush. Any foundation will work if you blend with this brush, even the cheapest ones. Impressive.

    (thanks again for this post)

    • the Muse

      reneta I need that brush, it’s been on my list for ages but never got it, sounds like the awesome 😀 I have the bourjois paris one and I love that think and this kinda reminds me of that!

      Aw thank YOU for commenting on the post!

  • Aimee

    The 181 isn’t permanent? Say it ain’t so!

    I can’t remember when I bought it but dang, I can’t believe other people may not have as easy access to it as I do! I love that brush so!

    • the Muse

      oh no aimee that is def not. sad 🙁 they have a big one, can’t recall the number, but I like the 181 as it’s small and handy!

  • Christine

    At the moment, I don’t have any good brushes. Do you happened to know a really good website that lists brush type and their use?

    • the Muse

      hi christine hmmmm I’d go to the source hun! MAC gives a good description of what to use brushes for as does Bobbi Brown!

  • Su

    I am a brush fanatic..seriously I have way too many brushes…but i have 3 MAC brushes and I am not really in love with them
    right now my favourites are from HAKUHODO brushes they are AMAZING!!! I am all about soft brushes so I have tried a lot which claim to be soft.. I love shu uemura brushes as well..but compared to hakuhodo..they fail…
    and I buy brushes from painter brush shop ( but I only buy pure kolinsky/sable/squirrel hair brushes from them since I am obsessed with soft brushes lol) and I find them really nice and they cost less
    I like too faced retractable kabuki as well..it is so convenient for traveling and cute packaging is a major plus =]

    • the Muse

      hey su. I like mac they are prob a fav of mine but I def cheap 😀 I haven’t tried the hakuhodo brushes 😀 I love the flat kabuki from too faced!

  • Honor

    How come I do not know this bobbi brown blush brush in black? a LE? personnally I have almost all the BB brushes…the only one I do not have is the blush brush ( strangely it is the longest one, and it does not fit my kit :(, I know, how ridiculous one can be) I am using BB face blender brush, and the result is perfect… somedays it is so easy to apply and it is blended so well, that I ma wondering if I have blush on 🙂 but I always resist the urge of putting a second serving..with apricot, peony or rasperry pink, my fav. you have to have a very light hand or work in a circus …

    • the Muse

      hey honor COULD be LE as it came in a kit 😀 awww LOL that normally happens with blush brushes for me too! god I know what you mean I tend to over do it ALOT! it’s hard!

  • Honor

    Yes i kind of remember this kit… I may try a mini BB blush brush…. Just to see if it’ s better than thé face blender brush