Tag Archives: brushes

If You Don’t Know, Now You Know: You Need Good Brushes for Good Eye Makeup.

| 8 Responses

When I first got into makeup, I’d heard many times that tools make all the difference.  At first I didn’t believe them.  As a makeup novice, I didn’t know squat about colour placement or the basics of blending, so how could I possibly go from amateur to pro by using makeup brushes?

It turns out that even up to this day, even though I consider myself pretty good at applying my own makeup, I need a good set of makeup brushes to create polished look, and easily too!

Case in point: I don’t have a single eye makeup brush :| in my boyfriend’s place.  I have resorted to using Q-tips and my fingers only, and all of a sudden I am back in twelfth grade, practising my prom look (turquoise and blue eyeshadow, no less!).  Oh the horror! :P

So, whether you are just starting to get into makeup (warning: you will be addicted! :P ) or are looking for solid new additions to your makeup brush collection, here are my absolute essentials.  That means that 99.99% of the time, these are the only brushes I will use for my eye makeup.  They are that good, I promise! ;)

Fluffy Shader Brush

This is great for patting on colour all over the lid or brow highlight.  Because it is a fluffy brush and not a stiff flat shader brush, you can apply and blend colour at the same time.  Who doesn’t like a multi-tasking product?  Oh, and who doesn’t like the word ‘fluff’?  Fluff is so fun to say! :)

Recommendations: Crown C209 Chisel Pointed Fluff Brush ($2-3 at IMATS), Quo All Over Shadow Brush (Canada only, I think $7 at Shoppers Drugmart), MAC 213 Fluff Brush ($27).

Angled Liner / Brow Brush

Another good multi-tasking brush is the angled liner / brow brush.  Look for something that is firm and very tightly packed so you can vary the thickness of your lines easily.

Recommendations: Crown PP11 Taklon Angle Liner Brush ($2-$3 in IMATS), MAC 266 Small Angle Brush ($23.50).

Smudging Brush

My favourite kind of smudging brush is wide with short firm bristles.  They are great for smoking out a creamy pencil, or smudging a dark colour along the lash lines for a smoky eye.

Recommendations: Quo Eye Smudger Brush (Canada only, I think $7 at Shoppers Drugmart), MAC 214 Short Shader Brush ($29.50).

Fluffy Blending Brush

If you have to have just one brush, let this be it.  A fluffy blending brush is essential for flawlessly blending out your eyeshadows.  Look for one that is not flimsy, you want the brush to be firm but soft against your skin.  The MAC 217 is my holy grail!  It also works great for buffing in a cream concealer.

Recommendations: Sephora Collection Professionnel Blending Eye Brush #29 ($20, a MAC 217 dupe according to Donna Marie), MAC 217 Blending Brush ($27).

Tapered Crease Brush

This one is essential for smaller eyes for precise eyeshadow placement.  It also takes a little bit of time to get used to, but you can either use the pointed tip for sharper definition, or apply on its side to blend out your crease colour.  It’s not going to blend as much as a fluffy blending brush because it’s meant to add definition.  Look for some firmness in the brush.  If it is flimsy, it is a no go!  LOL. ;)

Recommendations: MAC 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush ($29, not part of the permanent collection :( but hopefully they will bring it back soon!).

What Are Your Must-have Eye Makeup Brushes?

See anything I mentioned here? :)  Any others you would add to the list?

Glitter Geek’s Top 10 Products of Summer 2010.

| 39 Responses

10. MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Concealer #350.

When the weather is hot, my cream concealer just won’t do because of caking issues. Instead I have been using this great click pen liquid concealer by MAKE UP FOR EVER, and I really like this one. It takes care of dark circles without the need for setting powder. It dries completely without any stickiness, so it is excellent for minimal makeup summer days when I just don’t want to fuss with too many products.

9. Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge.

Sonia Kashuk is my #1 reason why I am annoyed that Target is still not in Canada.  The Sonia Kashuk blending sponge is an essential tool in my makeup bag for perfecting the skin on my face and under eye area.  Used wet with my MAC Fix+ Rose, about 10 swipes of my tinted moisturizer or foundation all over my face and I’m done.  Flip it over to the pointed side and blend out under eye concealer in a jiff.  It is really that easy.

8. MAC Eyeshadow in Arena.

Many a summer day my eye makeup was very minimal.  Some days eyeliner was not even used.  When I felt like putting on a “me but better” face, 9 times out of 10 I wore MAC Arena.  This shade is so versatile on my skin tone (about NC35 – NC37) because I can use it as a light lid colour or as a highlight.  If I am really pressed for time, I just highlight my eyes’ inner corners and brow bone and I instantly look more awake. :)

7. MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam V.

Here I am again, telling the world about my undying love for MAC Viva Glam V lipstick.  Seriously, if I were to have a BFF in lipstick form, Viva Glam V would be it.  The shimmery mauve is oh so easy to wear, and the Lustre finish makes it more comfortable to wear than other MAC formulas.  Oh, and did you know proceeds from all Viva Glam products go towards MAC AIDS fund to support those living with HIV and AIDS?  Now I won’t feel so bad getting backups of this amazing lipstick.

6. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free in Almond.

On days when I want to even out my skin tone more than usual, I reach for this instead of my usual foundation.  Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizers are well-known in the beauty universe, and rightly so.  This one provides a heavier coverage than your regular tinted moisturizers, so it covers your minor imperfections while still letting your skin show through.  I find the oil free formula is great for oily skin like mine and it has never broken me out.  This was a great buy!

5. MAC Hipness Blush.

This has become my default blush. The almost-matte coral is incredibly flattering on any complexion. It’s not the most pigmented blush I have, but it can be built up to a super intense colour when layered.  The nice thing about Hipness is that it works with a warm look as well as cool colours.  So if someone were to ask me which one blush I would take with me on a deserted island — obviously this someone is not in their right mind! :P — I would definitely pick my Hipness blush.  Because we’re tight like that.

4. Dior Addict Shine Eau de Toilette.

This is the latest addition (I almost typed addiction, ha!) to my small perfume collection.  I like to switch to a lighter scent in the summer months and this is what I’ve been wearing this scent all summer long.  I’m not fluent in perfume-speak, but it smells like a fresh floral on me.  It starts off more citrusy, but as it wears through the day, it begins to smell like a fresh field of flowers.  It is always a nice surprise whenever I catch a whiff of this scent.  It is summer in a bottle. :)

3. Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Powder in Haute Gold.

What a great bronzer and a great price!  Everyone I know who has used this — fair and tan — shares my love for this bronzer.  Fact: I totally cracked up when some Glitter Geek readers were fooled into thinking I wasn’t wearing bronzer in my original review. ;)  I looked like I had naturally glowing skin like I’m not wearing any makeup. That is all.

2. Pure + simple All Natural SPF 30 for Oily/Impure Skin.

I don’t know why I haven’t yet posted a review on this, but it has seriously saved my face from those horrible itchy patches I got last summer.  It’s a physical sunscreen, which means that I look like a powder-face geisha after I put it on, but it works.  On most days I just wear my MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural (Medium Dark) over it and everything looks as it should.  Non-greasy and doesn’t smell revolting.  It can be found at Pure + simple spas in the Greater Toronto Area or online.

1. Cover FX ClearPrep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment Gel.

My favourite primer continues to save my face from turning into a greaseball every day I wear it.  It is pricy, but if you have oily skin and think there is nothing out there that’ll help you, you should really give this ClearPrep FX a try.  And normal to dry skinned beauties, be not afraid! I didn’t find ClearPrep FX to be drying, either.  I tell everyone about it, so tell your friends! :)

Now That I’ve Shared Mine, What Are Your Go-To Products This Summer?

Disclosure: The bronzer was sent to me for review, and I bought everything else. Wow, that’s a lot of new products! ;)

Ergonomics 1O1 with Sonia Kashuk Bent Liner Brush.

| 14 Responses

Ever since I bought my first MAC Blacktrack Fluidline, I had always used an angled liner brush for all my lining needs.

Of course I’d heard of pointed liner brushes, but I always shy away from them because they seemed tricky to me. Because no matter how good I get at applying my own makeup, every now and then I still find myself in a mascara-wand-in-the-eye situation. (Tell me I’m not alone.)

I bought the Sonia Kashuk Bent Liner Brush (US$5.39) after reading many positive reviews. And I agree — this brush is an essential tool, especially for makeup novices. :)

There are two things that make the bent liner brush fool-proof. First, the brush bristles. Unlike the flimsy brush that comes in most liquid liners, this brush is firm. It’s not a poke-your-eye-out firm, but firm enough to create different line weights. So whether you like your lines thin or thick, this will let you do that easily.

Second, what seems like an awkward bend is there for a purpose: it let’s you hold the handle farther down without sacrificing control. I was really surprised when I first used this. Being able to hold the handle farther lets me see what the heck I am lining, instead of crowding my mirror.

Lining with angled liner

Lining with Sonia Kashuk bent liner

I really adore this brush. If you are in Canada and can’t get to Target easily, the Quo from Shoppers Drug Mart does just as fine. Rating: A+.

So Hot in Herre!

See that shine on my face? That’s my heat wave skin! Toronto has been scorching hot and humid these past couple of days and well, my oily skin just got oilier. So pardon the oilies!  How’s the weather in your neck of the woods? :)