The Muse happens to be a firm believer that splurging on certain makeup items is a good thing that includes makeup brushes.
Brushes are such an important start to makeup application so dropping a little cash on some good ones is always in order as far as I’m concerned.
Not everyone has a lot of cash hanging around to splurge on a $30-$45 dollar blush brush though which is completely understandable particularly in this economy.
Solution?
The E.L.F. Studio Brush Collection will set you back $3 for a brush and they are pretty nice!
You’re simply gagging to own a MAC 224 so you can get in on all that window wiping motion blending that everyone else is up on. But…you really can’t afford to shell out $28 bucks GASP!
Now what?
You get yourself a Sonia Kashuk Blending Brush for $3.99 at Target and call it a day dude.
Is it to late to ask for Christmas pressies? Maybe you can get me a new Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System and next year deduct it from my other gifts.
k?
Anyone see the new Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System?
A-hem. I want a Miraclear Adjustable Facial Cleansing Tool. Is that kinda like saying I want Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle! Yeah, I thought so too.
No but seriously I want one of these Miraclear gadgets. Dude, for serious, I need it in my life like today.
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.
I’m so on board with the new Napoleon Perdis Gilty Pleasures Holiday Collection. One item that particularly has me crazed is the Napoleon Perdis Bronze Bonanza Set, must order this and own this and has it for my very own. I got the Napoleon Perdis French Riviera Gift Set on clearance last year and loved it so of course the Bronze Bonanza Set caught my eye right away!
Anyway…today isn’t about bronze.
It’s about the Napoleon Perdis Shake, Rattle and Brush Roll Set released as part of the Gilty Pleasures Holiday Collection!
Today the Muse is all about buffing powder onto my face with the new Sonia Kashuk Twist & Shout Kabuki Brush for Holiday 2009.
It’s ok, it’s ok everyone remain calm I promise I will not go into a long rant about how much I love the Beatles and how Twist and Shout was one of thee greatest songs circa their 60′s era (don’t get me started on the 70′s or John era that story is way too long for this post).
But!
I will bring you some Ferris.
I mean come on how 80′s-tastic was that scene? Almost as good as when he started lipping Wayne Newton’s Danke Schoen.
Bueller, Bueller, Anyone?
Jump ahead to learn more about the Twist & Shout Brush.
I know you’re all very, very excited about the release of the Sonia Kashuk Holiday Collection 2009 as I got dozens of e-mails requesting a review and asking when it’ll be in stores.
Here’s the deets.
I traveled through Target late Sunday night to pick up some last minute party stuff for Halloween and of course I hit up the makeup section. As of yet it hasn’t been updated with Holiday and as of last look it was displayed on Target’s site as having a 3-4 week wait prior to shipping. Good news is it’s available for shipping on Target when I checked today and a reader even said she got her stuff in the mail already plus you can get free shipping with your $50 purchase (don’t forget to shop around for coupons as Target has 10% ones hanging around), bad news is as of yet it’s not available in store from what I’ve seen but have no fear I imagine that situation will be redeemed very, very shortly.
Even better news is I have an early preview of the collection and I’m hear to say wow…elegant and inexpensive, unheard of right? But indeed Sonia managed to combine budget friendly options plus a beautiful air of elegance to each piece.
For my first review of the collection I’ll be showing you the brand new Sonia Kashuk Twist of Fate Brush Set.
The Muse is all about easy clean up when it comes to fall out. I have a serious problem with fall out. Ugh. I’ve taken to wrapping a finger in scotch tape and using it to pick up any glittery bits and bobs but occasionally I do run out of the house with all sorts of wack on my face. Shrug. Oh wells.
Anyway.
Over a year ago I discovered and reviewed for you life saving Shadow Shields. My god these so changed the way I did makeup. They are basically a thin cotton pad cut in a half moon shape with a stick back. You stick this under your eye and it easily captures your shadow fall out for easy clean up. Loves it!
Now get this.
Sephora has shadow shields! ha!
Yup, yup now you can get ‘em at Sephora. Interesting right?
I do suggest getting them directly from Shadow Shields though as you get 30 for $9.99 where as the Sephora Brand are 30 for $16. But hey I think it’s awesome that Sephora has ‘em now since it’s easy enough to hop in store and snag some when I run low rather than waiting on shipping.
I’m a want to create the perfect smoky eye for Fall.
In order to obtain my ideal smoky eye I think I shall indulge in the Sephora The Smokey Eye Brush Set…..
See here?
Everything I need to create said smoky eye…btw is it smokey or smoky…hmm…
Jump for it!
$42 bucks and a near 5 star rating on Sephora has me wanting this kit…I’m such a bloody mush when it comes to brush sets. I always tell myself, “You so don’t need another brush set…” but my evil side proceeds to reply with, “Yes you do, what could one more hurt?”
This six piece set contains tools for creating a perfect smoked out eye. I actually do a fair job of a smoky eye on myself and don’t need a brush set to do it but hey….my evil side said it’s ok to indulge.
You’ll get a total of five Sephora Professionelle (I wonder if the “le” on the end of Professional makes these more important) Brushes and a how-to booklet plus a chic faux leather case for toting around your tools.
The brushes included are a wide smudger, an all over shadow brush, a small domed smudger, and a dual sided brow brush and comb. Plus did I mention you get Volume Mascara too? Sweetness!
I think I wants it if that’s ok. I just don’t think I needs it but hey who’s keeping track of that!
Gather round kids time to battle some brushes! I get alot of questions about which is the best blending brush for creating good eye looks. When I first started out with MAC I was recommended two brushes from a Specktra member that changed my life (and I’m sure yours if you own them). The 217 and 224 are recommended far and wide by MAC lovers everywhere as the perfect brush for blending color to a fine finish. They are two of my very favorite brushes and I probably wouldn’t want to face the makeup world without either.
Placing them in the ring together to battle it out isn’t such a fine idea as they are both very good brushes and should both be in your arsenal but who follows rules anyway! Might as well stir thing up.
Our beauty battle will begin after the jump as I pit the MAC 224 up against the MAC 217. Who’ll be the victor? You’ll see have to read to find out more!
As I mentioned above both the MAC 224 and the MAC 217 are incredible blending brushes but of course one has to be the winner in this battle. Which will it be?
In this corner we have the MAC 224 which is a fluffy shadow brush specifically designed to blend out shadow color particularly in the crease. I wouldn’t recommend it for applying color directly to the lid but it’s a treat for blending shadow out especially if your contrasting shadow within the crease or towards the V of the eye. I reach for it often when blending and find it does a very good job of gently blending color together without creating a muddy mess. It’s $28.50 price tag is well worth it however the MAC 217 has a bit of an advantage with a cheaper price tag.
The MAC 217 is smaller compared to the 224 with fluffy bristles that are just a bit more denser. It works incredibly well at blending within the crease or all over the eye. It’s small size makes it a shoe in for fitting over the eye socket for a seamless blend. At $22.50 it’s $5.50 less than $28.50. With it’s cheaper price tag and ability to blend colors evenly while fitting nicely into the curve of the eye this could prove to be a major kick in the 224′s face.
Picking between two incredible brushes like these is a difficult task but I award the final knockdown to the MAC 217. It’s smaller size fits my crease quite well and allows me to blend easily without creating fall out which I find happens with the 224. It fits neatly all over my eye particularly my crease. It blends shadow like a dream and allows me to press as lightly or as hard as I like without having to worry about screwing up the entire eye look I am trying to accomplish. For the most part I think it’s advantage is the smaller length of the bristles when compared to the longer ones of the 224. For controlled application and blending the 217 wins this beauty battle hands down!
What do you think?
Does the MAC 217 or the MAC 224 win your beauty battle?
Brush hauling ahead peeps. Three new brushes were released with the MAC Colour Craft Collection, two of which I hauled!
Jump ahead for a peep and a babble about the new brushes!
When I was plotting my haul for MAC Colour Craft I got so obsessed with snagging the 131 that I almost missed out on the 226. The 226 was originally released with MAC BBR and it was sold out by the time I made up my mind I must have. Thank gawd the MAC gods were shining down upon me as it’s been re-released with this latest color story.
The 226 is quite like the younger sister of the 224. It’s slimmer, far less bushy, and denser. I love my 224 and couldn’t live without it but the 226 has alot going for it. The brush fits beautifully into the crease of my eye and blends shadow a treat. The bristles are light and dense enough so my heavy hand doesn’t overdo my eye makeup. I’m absolutely in love with this brush at the moment. It’s worthy of a look at and a pick up if you adore the 224.
The second brush I knew I had to have was the 131. The 131 reminds me of a fiber optic brush that I reviewed for you a while back ago. Although the 131 isn’t as bushy it’s almost an exact dupe for this brush so if you’d like a cheaper alternative grab the Aromaleigh version. As for me I’m loving the 131 for picking up a light wash of MSF or it’s rather ideal for deeply pigmented blushes as it applies very gently. Really a great brush and also worthy of a look at. Of course it contours and highlights beautifully as well but for the most part I’ll be using it with MSF.
Overall, these are two not to be missed brushes in my opinion particularly the 226 if you’re looking for a good, dense blending brush!
The Muse has confessed on occasion her elbows do indeed get dry and rough however she’s unsure if she’s up for removing that roughness with a…horny remover?
This simple tool will get rid of all that horny on your elbows. Ah the joys of Asian beauty tools!
Possibly multitasking for the hub or the boyfriend on nights you have a headache….”here honey use the horny remover!” See? Relationship help and a beauty tool all in one wonder!
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