Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Top 2019 Makeup Trends - Look 3 (series)


I am feeling so inspired these days! With so many fun makeup trends to try this year, I have been doing a lot of playing with colors & textures. 

For my third look in this series, I decided to focus on glossy skin.

If you are over the age of 35, like I am, this trend may sound intimidating. Don't worry! I can show you how to make this trend more wearable, no matter what your age is.

The Look: Glossy cheekbones & shimmery eyelids

What you need:

  • Moisturizer 
  • Facial spray 
  • Liquid highlighter 
  • Cream blush or creamy lipstick 
  • Bronzer
  • Powder highlighter or shimmery eyeshadow 
  • Cream to powder eyeshadow with lots of shimmer 

The technique: Skin prep is essential for this look. The goal is hydrated, glossy cheekbones, NOT greasy. Start with a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type. I used Mario Badescu Buttermilk Moisturizer

From the same brand, I then sprayed on a light mist of Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater

Now you are ready for foundation. Use whatever brand you normally would use, as long as it has a satin or luminous finish. Do not use anything matte. A tinted moisturizer or BB cream will work as well. 

Apply your usual concealer where needed. Set with loose setting powder, only under the eyes, and areas where you really need it. Use the smallest amount of powder you can. 

Optional: If you normally contour, do so now. I recommend a cream product such as Fenty Beauty Match Stix. I used the color Amber, blending it upward on to my cheeks using a Crown Pro C504 brush. 

Now let's get glossy! For highlighter,  I opted for Wet n Wild's Megaglow Hello Halo Liquid Highlighter in Halo, Goodbye. This is an inexpensive product that comes in a few colors and looks great on pretty much everyone. Gently tap on a few dots to the high points of your cheekbones, and just below or above the brow. Pat the product in with a damp beauty sponge, or your fingers. I used my trusty E.L.F. Total Face Sponge, a other inexpensive gem. This is the main base for our glossy cheekbones,  so apply as much, or as little as you are comfortable with. 

To keep the gloss going, use a cream blush. I chose Charlotte Tilbury Colour of Youth Healthy, Happy Lip & Cheek Glow. Cream blushes are becoming more difficult to find these days. If you don't have one, don't fret. Simply grab a creamy lipstick and use that as cream blush instead! You can tap and blend the color in with your fingers, or use a brush. I used the Sephora Airbrush Precision Foundation Brush

For an allover glow that complements the look, I used Milani Bronzer XL All Over Glow.  This bronzer has two sides; one matte, and one satin. I applied the matte side anywhere the sun would naturally hit my face. The satin side was lightly dusted up along my cheekbones and temple to enhance the glossy effect.

To keep those cheekbones popping all day long, I grabbed my E.L.F. Baked Blush in Pinktastic. While technically this product is labeled as a blush, it works more like a powder highlighter on me. The trick to getting that extra shine, is to spray your brush with facial spray, dip into the blush/highlighter and gently tap the product on your cheekbones. I used the Morphe x Jeffree Star JS3 brush for this step. To keep things looking smooth, grab your damp Total Face Sponge and pat along the edges of where you just applied the blush/highlighter to blend. 

Shimmery Eyelids: No brand does shimmery eyeshadow quite like Colourpop. Using my Kelley Quan #12 brush, I patted on Colourpop's Super Shock Shadow in XO. Use any flat synthetic eye brush that you have and fully coat one side of the brush with this shimmery shadow. No eye primer is needed, and trust me this stuff lasts all day without creasing. XO is a light shimmering gold that is appropriate for day or nighttime wear. 

For lips, you can really wear whatever you like. Try the lipstick that you used as a cream blush or opt for a sheer glossy formula like I did. I chose E.L.F. Luscious Liquid Lipstick to keep with the glossy theme.  


As always, use whatever products you have in your stash that are of similar texture. 

Here are some other options I recommend:

  • NYX cream blush (I don't know if they still make these, but if you still have some these are perfect)
  • Stila Dual Lip & Cheek Cream (these come in a variety of colors and are favorites among makeup artists)
  • IT Cosmetics Hello Light Cream Illuminator is a great option if you prefer cream to a liquid highlighter. 
  • NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator is another favorite liquid highlighter of mine. This stuff is affordable, long lasting, and blends out beautifully. 
  • Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector is a higher end liquid highlighter, but is very popular for a reason. This gives a very natural, lit from within glow. 
  • IT Cosmetics Vitality Flush Color Stain Stick is a very dewy blush that adds color and a glow all in one convenient twist up stick. 
  • Jeffree Star Cosmetics Supreme Frost is a gel/powder hybrid type highlighter. This is not for someone who wants a subtle look. If you want your cheekbones to look glossy from outer space, this one is a good pick. It really gives that wet, glossy look to the skin. 

Tips & Tricks: Remember, anything you highlight is going to look like it is being brought forward. Highlighting products can emphasize texture and fine lines, so it is important to consider exactly where you want the glow to be. Add shine strategically, such as on the inner corner of the eye, just below the arch of the brow, or the bridge of the nose. Use highlighter sparingly. Glossy not greasy is our mantra. When in doubt, blend it out. Grab your beauty sponge, wet it with some of your facial spray and pat over any areas you want to remove excess product, or ensure a more even blend.

The final look:

To keep the focus on my cheekbones and eyelids, I kept the rest of my makeup very minimal. I simply brushed brows in place with a clear brow gel, and applied a few coats of mascara to curled lashes. 

You can make this look as glossy or shimmery as you would like. My look is more toned down, making it office appropriate and making sure I didn't highlight any fine lines. 

What do you think of look number three? Show me your 2019 makeup trends on Twitter @MakeupMatters1


*Some products in this post may have been sent for consideration by the company. This is not a sponsored post. I do not get paid to write reviews. All opinions are my own. I am a Crown Brush affiliate, but did not get asked to use their brush in this post, nor did I get paid for mentioning the brand. 

Monday, February 18, 2019

Top 2019 Makeup Trends - Look 2 (series)


Welcome to part two of my 2019 Makeup Trends series. Today's look incorporates two of this year's trends; a lighter looking contour, and glossy lips.

To get started, here is what you will need:

  1. A matte bronzer
  2. Large tapered powder brush 
  3. Lipstick (I used Urban Decay 1993)
  4. Lip liner (I used Urban Decay 1993)
  5. Lip gloss (I used NYX Sweet Heart) 
  6. Lip brush

The Trend: Last year contouring and highlighting were pretty extreme. While this can look lovely in photos, it doesn't always look as good in real life. Don't worry, contour isn't going away, it is simply getting a makeover. This year, contour is applied more softly and blended. It is also taken a bit higher up, almost in place of blush. Therefore you will want to use a warmer contour color than usual. Matte bronzer works perfectly for this look. Swap out your precision contour brush for something larger and softer. 

Glossy lips are back! The glosses of 2019, are not sticky, but rather give lips a soft hydrating appearance. 

How to get the look: This look pairs well with any eye look, so apply the rest of your makeup in the way you normally would. Start by prepping lips with a hydrating lip balm and let that sink in while you apply your base. 

After your base, brows, and eyes are done, wipe off any excess lip balm with a tissue. Apply your lipstick of choice with a lip brush. Blot with a tissue. Take your lip liner (chose one that matches your lipstick) and use it to correct the shape of your lips. If your lips are perfectly even already, simply outline them. This will prevent your lip color from bleeding. Blot again, to remove any excess.

Apply a thin layer of lip gloss with your lip brush. I put some of the gloss on a palette before picking it up with a lip brush. Start at the center of your pout, brushing the gloss outward toward the corners of your lips. You want to apply your lip color before contour to make sure you don't over apply the bronzer. Depending on your lip color, it may brighten the face a bit, requiring less bronzing. 


Tips & Tricks: I have been loving Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara. However the fat mascara brush makes it hard to reach those lower lashes. In a previous post, I mentioned using a mini fan brush. Lately, I have been using a spoolie that can simply be washed after use. This creates less waste than using a disposable mascara wand, and is even easier to clean than a mini fan brush. 

Contour: For my contour, I used a Wayne Goss 25S brush and Too Faced Milk Chocolate Bronzer. Starting slightly above where I normally place my cheekbone contour, I sweep the powder on, buffing and blending it upward. Pat a bit more on the cheekbones and temples until you get the desired effect. If done properly, you won't need to add a separate blush. 

The Final Look:


Above is the final look. My face still looks contoured, but it has a nice warmth to it. My lips have a healthy shine, without being sticky or tacky. 


What do you think of look number two? 


*All products in this post were purchased by me. I do not get paid to write reviews. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 


Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Top 2019 Makeup Trends - Look 1 (series)


If you love trying new trends, then this series is for you! The 2019 makeup trends truly have something for everyone.  Rather than wearing every single trend at once, I decided to create a series of posts teaching you how to make each one wearable. 

Look #1

  1. Chose a single matte eyeshadow in a bright, pastel or even neon color. 
  2. The color you choose doesn't have to be super bright, just pick something slightly brighter than you normally would wear. 
  3. Get out your favorite blending brush.

The Trend: Forget all the usual fuss about transition shades, contour colors and highlight. This trend involves wearing a single color on the lid. How easy is that?

The best part about this trend is that it doesn't have to be neat or perfect. The idea is to blend on a sheer wash of color.

I chose Peach Punch from the Too Faced Just Peachy Mattes palette. It is somewhere between bright and pastel, plus peachy hues bring out the blue in my eyes. Using a Wayne Goss 26S brush, I blended the color along my lid, layering more on until I reached the desired opacity. 

While you really only need one eyeshadow and one brush for this look, some may feel more comfortable with an extra brush handy. If you really want the edges to be extra hazy, grab a clean fluffy brush and blend to get rid of any harsh lines.  The key to wearing a color like this is to make sure your base is even to eliminate any redness in the skin.  

Optional: If you suffer from redness under the eyes, or on the waterline, like I do, you may want to use a nude pencil on your lower inner rim to cancel it out. I also took a mixture of Peach Tea and Peach Tart (light & dark brown) along the lower lash line. You don't want this to look too done, keep it very light and blended so it just looks like a shadow. I applied the color beneath my lower lashes with a Furless Cosmetics PPE2 brush, and blended it with a Wayne Goss 27S brush. 

Finishing Touches: Tightline your upper lashes with a brown pencil (I used Urban Decay Demolition) to make your lashes look thicker. Apply just a single coat of mascara to curled lashes, combining out any clumps with a lash comb. 

Tips & Tricks: To get the color applied more evenly to the inner corner of the eye, you can use a small flat angled brush. Just be sure to blend, keeping the color to just a wash. 

Glossy lips are also very much on trend this year. I chose a sheer peachy gloss from Tarte, brushing a single layer on my lips. 

For blush, I used my current favorite Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous

The Final Look:

I kept brows natural, using just a clear brow gel to brush them in place. Feel free to brush on an even sheerer application of color if it makes you feel more comfortable. The important part of this trend is a matte shadow in a bright, pastel or neon color applied lightly.

For added points, this shadow is peach but leans coral and as you may know from my previous post Living Coral is the 2019 Pantone color of the year.

Make sure you are subscribed so that you don't miss out on the other looks in my 2019 Trend Series. 

*This post is not sponsored. It may or may not include some products sent for consideration. I do not get paid to write reviews. All opinions are my own. 

Sunday, February 10, 2019

The Morphe x Jeffree Star Brush Set Guide You Need to Read


Morphe recently launched a collaboration with Jeffree Star. This is not to be confused with Jeffree Star Cosmetics, the brand. This collab is with Morphe and Jeffree Star the person. The set includes four synthetic bristled brushes and three animal hair brushes, housed in a plastic brush bag. All of the brushes and the bag are also available individually. However buying the set offers a significant discount. 

The brushes with pink bristles are synthetic, the ones with white bristles are made of animal hair. The synthetic brushes include; a rounded, tapered powder brush, buffing-style foundation brush,  contour brush, and double sided brow brush with spoolie.  

I am going to discuss the animal hair brushes in this set so that I can offer cruelty-free dupes if you like the shapes. The animal hair brushes include; a blending eyeshadow brush, a tapered eyeshadow crease brush, and a highlighter brush. Separately, Morphe also put out a beauty sponge set as part of this collaboration. 

Comparisons:

The synthetic bristled brushes are very soft. This is the first time I ever purchased anything from Morphe. The brush set with bag retails for $49. This is what I consider to be a mid-priced set. That being said, I did not expect these to be very luxurious. I would say the set is priced properly given the quality and Jeffree Star name attached. 

For comparison, the Bdellium Tools 959 Pink Bambu brush is very similar in shape, as is the Coastal Scents BR-C-S28. As expected, given the price points, the Bdellium Tools is of higher quality and ideal for professional use. The Coastal Scents version is more budget friendly, and feels more cheaply made than the Morphe version. 

The contour brush is a small dome shaped brush that can also be used for blending concealer under the eye, or applying setting powder. The shape is comparable to the above E.L.F. and Bdellium Tools brushes.

The bristles on most of these brushes border on top soft. They have a lot of give to them, so I find holding the brush closer to the bristles is needed when picking up cream product, such as the Fenty Match Stix for contouring. 

The brow brush is probably my favorite in the collection. The bristles come to a very fine point allowing for the most natural looking application of brow powder or pomade. I would compare the brush head to my Aveda brow brush, or the IT Cosmetics brush above in terms of shape. 

I do not have a brush in my collection that is shaped the same as the large powder brush in this collection.

The highlight brush, which is made of animal hair, looks nearly identical to my Wet n Wild brush above. I purchased this Wet n Wild brush as part of a  10-piece set on sale for $15 at the end of 2018. As you can see the Morphe brush looks like it comes to a more tapered tip,  but that is only because the Wet n Wild brush has been used extensively. If I were to wash it and keep it in a brush guard, the bristles would appear just as tight. 

The animal hair brushes in. This set feel quite scratchy, and are nowhere near as soft as the synthetics in this collection. 

If you are looking for a cruelty-free dupe for the tapered eyeshadow brush in this collection I have a few good ones. The My Kitco My Tapered Crease brush,  Real Techniques PowderBleu B04 eyeshadow brush, and the Cozzette brush pictured above are all great options. All are superior to the Morphe version.

The eyeshadow blending brush in this collection (also made with animal hair) is $8 when purchased individually. For less money, you could buy the. Bdellium Tools 776 brush, which is much higher quality and nearly identical in shape. Cruelty-free dupes include the Wet n Wild P15, and Real Techniques Bold Metals #203 brush. 

In Action:

The foundation brush did give a nice even appearance to my foundation. However, the bristles are so soft that I had to hold the brush quite close to the bristles when blending. 

The large tapered powder brush is a unique shape & size to my collection. It is very rounded all the way through, and picks up powder products better than anticipated. The brushes are also a bit heavier than I expected. I used this brush to apply setting powder, and powder bronzer to the face and neck.

The double sided brow brush works beautifully to draw on hair like strokes with brow powder, and blend with the spoolie end. I really enjoy this brush and I believe I will get a lot of use out of it.

I used the contour brush with my Fenty Match Stix in Amber. Because the bristles are so soft and flexible, it was difficult to pick up product directly from the stick onto the brush. Once I did manage to get enough product on the bristles, it worked well to apply and blend. I wish this brush was just a tad larger, as it took quite a bit of time to contour certain areas of the face with it. 

The finished look:

Above is the finished look. Due to the size and shape of the brushes included in this set, I found it difficult to do a full face with just these brushes, even when using the synthetic dupes in place of the animal hair brushes. I think the set could have used a pencil brush, and a smaller face brush for blush application. 

Who are these brushes for?

I enjoy watching Jeffree Star videos on YouTube. I find him quite entertaining. Jeffree Star Cosmetics, the brand, puts out the best eyeshadow on the market. If you want some cute pink brushes, and want to support Jeffree Star, these brushes are at a price point that justifies buying them. I like that the synthetic brushes are available individually. The brush bag is a nice shape, and holds a good amount of brushes. 

If you are expecting very high quality makeup brushes, I suggest looking elsewhere. However, at this price point, I do not think these brushes are pretending to be a very high end set. They are not cheaply made garbage either, but are sort of your middle of the road brushes that are more than adequate for personal use.

I hope this guide helps you decide what to do when Morphe restocks. These brushes were purchased at morphe.com and are available at Morphe retail stores. It is my understanding that they are now sold out online, but there will be a restock at some point.

Note: I only purchased the synthetic brushes from this set and the bag individually. I borrowed the animal hair brushes from a friend in order to show synthetic dupes in case any of my readers are looking for synthetic versions in similar shapes. 

Did you buy any of these brushes? 

What are your thoughts? 

*I do not get paid to write reviews. This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own. 


Friday, February 8, 2019

Why the Wayne Goss Synthetic Makeup Brush Set Beats Them All

Why the Wayne Goss Synthetic Makeup Brush Set beats Them All

I know some who see this post may dismiss it as just another one of my many brush posts. Yes, I make a lot of posts about makeup brushes that I like.  These days, many of them have been on the more luxurious side.  However, this post is different. This post is really special to me. 

Wayne Goss is a professional makeup artist who has been sharing his tips, tricks, reviews and techniques with the world via his YouTube channel.  I have watched him for years, and he is one of the few who I almost always learn something from.

These days there are a lot of YouTube personalities, makeup artists, and beauty gurus launching brush lines and/or makeup lines. Sometimes it feels like everyone is trying to sell you something. That is why this post is so very important to me. I am not going to lie.  I get sucked in too. I have jumped online and ordered something just because it is a collaboration with a YouTube personality that I find entertaining. Sometimes I am happy with my purchase, sometimes I am not. Wayne Goss is different. Many years ago, he did a video on his channel about top quality synthetic makeup brushes.  I remember him clearly discussing the brushes from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, which I purchased at his recommendation. You see, Wayne loves makeup brushes. I have followed the launch of his first brush line (which was made with animal hair) and I look forward to his upcoming makeup line. I wish him all of the success in the world. 

Now let's look at the brushes! 

The Packaging


I pre-ordered the Wayne Goss Synthetic Set from Beautylish.  The set arrived in a cardboard cylinder, closed with a label on front. This cylinder can be used to store the brushes, and protect them from dust. A velvet carrying pouch, and a brush guard on the fan brush were also included. All of the brushes were individually wrapped. The set contains four brushes; two for the face, and two for the eyes.  Wayne says that this is really all that one needs for a full face. I will be honest, I use a lot of brushes when applying makeup. This is largely due to the fact that I have a lot of brushes handy. If I only had these four brushes, could I apply a full face of makeup beautifully?  The answer is yes. While I have not had these brushes very long, I put them to the test. I used each brush in a variety of ways, and attempted to do a full face of makeup without bringing in any outside brushes. 


This four-piece set retails for $140.00 plus tax.  I realize some people may think this price is a bit expensive.  It is a lot of money for makeup brushes, but it is not a lot of money for these particular brushes. Like his animal hair brushes, Wayne Goss had the synthetic sets hand made in Japan by artisans. I would also like to note, that Wayne fully funded his initial brush line with his own savings.  He did not have any outside investors, or any company backing him. Some are under the misguided impression that animal hair brushes cost more to make, and expect to pay less for synthetics. However, according to Wayne, the synthetic bristles were just as expensive as animal hair. I believe this to be true.  Many brushes are made with goat hair.  Last time I checked, goats were not rare animals, so I can't imagine why their hair would cost more than technologically advanced human made bristles. The older synthetic bristles that used to be available (and still are on cheap brushes) felt like cheap plastic.  These days synthetic bristles are so advanced, they look and feel just like animal hair. 

The Brushes


The first brush in the set is the 24S brush. It is a fan brush, that can be used for foundation, bronzer, and highlighter. I personally like it for contouring, especially around the hair line. Like all of the brushes in this set, the bristles are very soft, and work well with powder, liquid and cream products. They feel comfortable in the hand, and are very high quality. 


The second brush in the set is the 25S.  It is a large tapered powder brush, great for applying setting powder to the face. It immediately reminded me of the holiday brush that Wayne launched in the past. That brush is made out of animal hair, and a friend of mine allowed me to borrow it (along with other animal hair brushes) for comparison. I did not use the animal hair brushes on my face, but I did touch the bristles, and with my eyes closed the synthetic bristles feel just as soft as the animal hair, if not softer. 


Now, it is time for the eye brushes.  The 26S is my favorite type of eyeshadow brush. It is perfect for nearly any eye look.  If I could only use one eye brush for the rest of my life, this would be it. This is shaped like the MAC 217 (or 217S if you prefer), which is a staple in most makeup artist's kits. The flat side can be used to apply pigment to the lid, and the tapered tip to apply shadow to the crease. If you turn the brush vertically, it works perfectly for blending.The tapered tip also allow for blending along the lower lash line. I love this type of brush with powder and cream eyeshadows, but it can also be used to apply concealer or setting powder under the eyes. 


The second eye brush in the set is the 27S, a small pencil brush. This works beautifully for blending shadow along the lower lash line. It can be used to blend out eye pencil, powder shadow, or even spot conceal. This brush style is another must-have for most makeup artists, and it is easy to understand why Wayne included it. 

Truthfully, I would not have minded a few more eye brushes in this set.  His spoolie is not made with animal hair, and it would have been nice if he included it along with these four brushes. I personally already own that spoolie, and use it regularly. It is my favorite tool for grooming brows. 

Comparisons:



The bristles on all of the brushes are very soft and smooth. I pulled out every brush in my stash (all synthetic bristled of course) and felt them, comparing them to the Wayne Goss brushes. If I have to make a comparison, the bristles remind me of those on my new Tom Ford brushes (made with synthetic bristles), and the set I own from BeautyCounter.  Pictured above, from left to right; Tom Ford, Wayne Goss, and BeautyCounter.  I also would have appreciated it if Wayne included a small flat eyeshadow brush, similar to the BeautyCounter brush pictured above. I know he favors brushes with a tapered tip, or point, as they can be used for just about anything. However, I do like a smaller flat brush for some types of eyeshadow application, such as patting on more shimmery pigments. 


The fan brush immediately reminded me of a baby version of my BeautyCounter Powder Fan brush. The bristles are softer than my Real Techniques Bold Metals #100 brush, but slightly less dense than my BeautyCounter Powder Fan brush. The fact that the Wayne Goss brush is a bit flatter than the BeautyCounter brush makes it nice for contouring, and patting on setting powder. However, I like the larger BeautyCounter brush for blending. The two together, result in the most perfect application of face powders. 

Here is a closer look:


The Wayne Goss bristles are obviously much whiter looking because the brush is new. Since I just got them, I do not know exactly how they will hold up over time.  I must admit that I have a little bit of concern about them staining with all of the higher pigment products on the market these days. That being said, most white bristled brushes do clean up well as long as they are cleaned properly, and with proper frequency. 



The picture above is my new Wayne Goss Synthetic Fan brush next to one of the original brushes from Wayne's original (animal hair set).  I borrowed the animal hair brush from a close friend for the purpose of this post. On my new brush, the brush number and Wayne Goss are embossed.  The lettering is raised, while Wayne's original brushes had any writing on the brush hot stamped.  He did this initially to cut down on costs, and as you can see, the writing is now almost completely worn off the original brush.  I suspect this will not happen with the newer brushes. 


The only negative thing I can possibly say about these brushes, if I am really being picky, is that the handles are extremely short. This brush set is closer in size to my travel brush sets.  Above is a collection of similarly shaped brushes from different brands to demonstrate handle length.  I suspect that most people, like myself, will be using this set for personal makeup application. If that is the case, a shorter handle is often preferable.  However, when I use brushes to apply makeup on someone else, I strongly prefer a longer handle.This is a matter of personal preference, and the Wayne Goss brush length is very similar to the length of Tom Ford brushes. 


Above is a comparison of tapered powder brushes.  The first one on top is the Wayne Goss holiday brush (animal hair) that I borrowed from my friend. It is nearly identical to the Wayne Goss synthetic brush in this set.  The animal hair version is a tiny bit more fluffy, but they are equally as soft. The brush on the bottom is another newer brush to my collection.  It is made with synthetic bristles and also made in Japan by artisans.  It is from the Hakuhodo X Sephora Pro collection.  I LOVE the brush pictured above with the red handle.  It is so soft and smooth, and applies beautifully, but the Wayne Goss synthetic brush is even better!


Finally, the Wayne Goss synthetic pencil brush, is really not like any other in my collection. From top to bottom pictured above; Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics small tapered brush, BeautyCounter, Wayne Goss, Sigma Pencil Brush. As you can see, the Wayne Goss brush has a gently tapered tip. It is not too pointy, nor too rounded, and the perfect size for adding an inner corner highlight to your eyeshadow look, or smudging out product along the lower lash line. 

Brushes in Action


Pictured above are the brushes in action. I used the large tapered powder brush to set my under eye concealer with powder.  The fan brush, I used for contouring, and especially loved it for placing powder along my hair line.  The larger eyeshadow brush works well for applying shadow to the lid, and also for blending. I used the pencil brush to blend shadow along my lower lash line.  I do agree that I could have done a full face using just these four brushes.  However, I did find myself reaching for others in my set.  I don't know if it was out of habit, or because I really felt like I needed additional brushes. I needed to use an angled brush from a different brand to fill in my brows, because one wasn't included in this set. I would have loved if Wayne added an angled brow brush with a spoolie on the other end. I know a lot of people are using brow pencils and markers these days, but I still favor brow powder and or pomades. I also like a small dense brush for blending out my under eye concealer.  Again, I know many people use a beauty sponge for their face and will be fine with just these four. 

Here is the finished look:


With so many makeup brushes on the market, I know it can be difficult to know how and when to spend your money. I strongly feel these brushes are well worth the price tag.  These are an investment, for someone who wants to stop wasting money on cheap brushes, and have a good quality set that will last for years. If you love makeup, and wear it most days, $140 is not a lot of money. If I think about all of the money that I have wasted over the years on crappy brushes that gave my makeup a streaky appearance, or broke after a short time, I can only say that I wish Wayne made this set sooner. 

I sincerely hope that this set sells, and others see the true value of investing in quality brushes. I also hope that Wayne expands this line a bit. If he does, these will be the only brushes I will likely want to spend my money on because they are far superior to most others on the market. 

Do you own the Wayne Goss Synthetic Set? Do you plan on buying it? 
Let me know in the comments below!


*The Wayne Goss Synthetic Brush Set in this post was purchased by me. I do not write paid reviews. This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own. 





















Monday, February 4, 2019

How to Say Bye to a Dry Under Eye

I am so excited to share my new under eye routine with all of you.  The other week, I texted my cousin who is also a makeup artist asking her for help. I had run through a number of skincare, concealer, powder combinations and no matter what the skin under my eyes looked scary. 

Skincare: 

There are a number of good eye creams on the market. My cousin recommended I use something with hyralaunic acid and skip gel formulas.  I have been loving the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Cream. A little goes a long way, and this stuff leaves my under eye area hydrated and glowy. 

As you may have heard, here in Chicago we recently experienced some less than stellar weather. Surviving the Polar Vortex required amping things up a bit. Lately, I have been adding just a drop of face oil to my routine as well. Applying a tiny bit under the eye area at night really gets rid of that flakiness. I have been adding one or two drops to my liquid foundation and/or tinted moisturizer for extra hydration allover my face. My longtime favorite is Tarte Maracuja Oil. Using a brush to apply a touch of moisturizing facial setting spray just before your concealer adds another layer of moisture. 

Concealer:

Using a drying concealer around the delicate under eye area can prove disastrous. I tested every concealer that I own, and found several that work.

While I love Fenty Beauty, the Match Stix do not work well under my eyes. I love them for highlighting & contouring, but I need more hydration under my eyes. 

Oddly, the Wet n Wild Makeup Stick does work for me. The key is applying just a tiny bit after warming up the product on the back of my hand. I gently pat it on to correct and cover my dark circles. The slight peachy tone to this really brightens things up. 

If you prefer something a bit more high-end, Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer is a great choice. I use the same method and warm it up on the back of my hand before applying with my ring finger. 

For a more natural look, the Aveda Inner Light Concealer is a liquid formula with a sponge-tip applicator. I think this concealer is truly underrated, and find it pairs perfectly with the Inner Light Tinted Moisturizer & Foundation from the brand.

Need something with really full coverage that is also waterproof? IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye glides well over the eye cream I use from the brand. 

If you need something more budget friendly, Wet n Wild also offers a cushion formula that I pat on with the included mini puff. 

Powder:

One of the most important parts of this recipe is the powder.

I recommend using a very finely milled powder, preferably one designed specifically for the under eye area. If using a loose powder, I find applying it with a damp beauty blender yields the best results. I like the High Definition Undereye Setting Powder from E.L.F. It is a light pink in color, which helps with color correcting. However, the powder that really works the best with my skin is the Marc Jacobs Beauty Dream Filter Light Filtering Contouring Powder. The left side of this very soft pressed powder has a creamy texture an1d really acts like a filter under my eyes. It is the perfect color for my skintone, and sets my concealer perfectly. The other side is a great contour powder. I do not recommend using a Beauty Blender with pressed powder. Apply this one with a Sigma F64, or Sedona Lace Synthetic 217 brush for an even more airbrushed look. If you prefer a classic powder puff, use only a small amount, and brush off any excess. 

The Final Look:

In the above photograph, I used my old method on the right side. On my left side (the right side of the photo) I used the method outlined in this post.  You can really see how prepping the skin properly, using a hydrating concealer and the right powder hides the lines under my eyes. The other side shows a more drying concealer with an average setting powder brushed over top. Everything settled into my lines making the under eye area look dry and dehydrated. 

Still feeling dry? Finish with a hydrating facial spray to take down any flakiness or powdery look. 


*Some of the items in this post may have been sent for consideration by the company. I do not do sponsored posts. I do not get paid to write reviews. All opinions are my own. 

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Mascara Wand Too Large To Hit Those Lower Lashes? Here Is How To Fix It!

Some of my favorite mascaras have a big fat wand with tiny bristles. Recently I have been loving the Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Hydrofuge one in the orange tube. It is waterproof,  creates volume & length. 

Problem? That chubby brush head makes it a tad difficult to hit my lower lash line without smudging. Of course on clients I use a disposable mascara wand or spoolie. I could do the same for myself, but I have found a better way. 

The solution? A mini mascara fan brush. This type of brush is available from many brands, plus it is washable, so it creates less waste than using something disposable. Simply paint your mascara wand onto the bristles of the fan brush. Then gently stroke the product onto your lashes. 

Still worried about smudges? Simply place a tissue under your lower lashes before painting on your mascara. After a little practice,  I am sure it won't be long before you can skip the tissue.

While a lot of companies make mascaras specifically for bottom lashes, I find this method prevents me from needing two separate tubes.


What do you think of my fan brush method? 

What is your favorite mascara?


*This post is not sponsored. All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me.