1 Brand Tutorial - Hourglass, Get The Luxury Look

Hourglass is a brand that I have used and loved for years. This brand is a reminder that shopping cruelty-free does not mean you have to sacrifice luxury. 

I rounded up some of my favorite products from to demonstrate how to get the look of luxury with Hourglass.

To start, I applied Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint in Shell (light with neutral undertone). I dot it around my face then blend it in using the Hourglass retractable kabuki brush. 

This foundation is medium coverage with a luminous finish. It is ideal for those with dry skin. A little goes a long way, and once it is on, it feels like you aren't wearing any.

The retractable kabuki brush feels nice too. The bristles are soft, but dense so they provide a very airbrushed look.

Next, I warm up the Hidden Corrective Concealer on the back of my hand before applying it under my eyes with the No. 5 Concealer brush. This is a stick concealer that is very smooth. It is a bit on the thick side, which is why I recommend warming it up on the back of your hand. It provides medium coverage.

If you need a more full coverage foundation or concealer, I recommend the Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick. This product blends so beautifully into the skin and creates a truly flawless base. Since my skin seems to be cooperating today (knock on wood), I opted for medium coverage.

To set my concealer, I applied Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light (warm, pale yellow). Then I went in with 2 other Ambient Lighting Powders; Mood Light (lavender/pink) to the cheekbones using it almost like a blush, and Radiant (golden beige) as bronzer. Radiant really adds a nice glow to the face, but it is a grownup glow.

For brows, I love the Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil. If you like the full brow look, this is a great product to own. 

For eyeshadow, I used the Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Graphite.  It is a 5-color compact palette with a great mirror inside. Some people may take issue with the metallic colors being next to the matte, but I like how easy it is to mix colors together with this style of palette.

To begin with the eyes, I used a No. 3 brush to apply the ivory shadow all over the lid, blending it up to just under my brow. Taking the No.4 brush, I patted on some of the dark brown shadow. I first stamped it onto the outer corner of my eyelid, and then gently blended it inward, and ran it through the crease. 

The No. 4 brush is a wonderful eyeshadow brush from Hourglass. Something about the size and shape makes it super easy to blend eyeshadow with.

Next, I went back to my No. 3 brush and picked up that beautiful shimmery golden copper. I sprayed my brush with a touch of facial spray (optional) for added shine. Using a packing motion, I pressed the pigment onto my eyelids, begining at the inner corner, and stopping 2/3 of the way out. I picked up a little bit more of the same color and tapped a bit more on, leaving the brush dry this time. 

For the lower lash line, I used my No. 9 brush to sweep on a mixture of the dark brown and gunmetal.  If you want to, you can use a tiny bit of the silver in the palette on the very inner corner of the eye (optional). For my top lash line, I applied a very thin line of mechanical gel liner in Obsidian, using it to tight line as well. I used their kohl pencil in Espresso on the lower water line.

The only product that I used that wasn't from Hourglass was my Mascara. Unfortunately, I simply do not own one from the brand. I applied a thin coat of Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara to top & bottom lashes. 

To brighten my face, I applied Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush using the No. 1 brush.

For lips, I used lip liner in Canvas with Child gloss (photos above from Sephora.com)

Here is the finished look:

A closer look:

I hope you enjoyed this post. All products in this post were purchased by me. I do not get paid to write reviews. All opinions are my own.

You can purchase Hourglass at beautylish.com or Sephora.com.

Related posts:

 http://www.makeupmatters.blog/2012/12/spotlight-hourglass-cosmetics.html?m=1

 http://www.makeupmatters.blog/2013/03/spotlight-hourglass-ambient-lighting.html?m=1

Best Cruelty-Free Dupes for M.A.C. 239

Best Cruelty-Free Dupes for M.A.C. 239

Sadly M.A.C. is not a cruelty-free brand.  Many makeup artists and YouTube creators use their makeup brushes.  While the brand has switched over to synthetic bristles for many of their brushes, there are still a lot of consumers who do not want to shop at M.A.C. until they become a truly cruelty-free brand. 

Don't worry, I have sifted through my collection, to find the best cruelty-free dupes.  Today's post features dupes for M.A.C.'s popular 239 (or now 239s) brush, which is a flat shader brush that works well for packing pigment onto the eyelid.  The bristles come to a taper at the top, which makes it useful for working along the lower lash line as well. The brush head is a nice compact size, which is ideal for those with smaller eyelids, or anyone wishing for more precise placement.

The three brushes in my collection that most closely resemble the 239, and work well for packing on eyeshadow are my Bdellium Tools 777 (green bambu line), Sigma Medium Sweeper E54, and Furless Cosmetics PE2. Let's dig a little deeper to see which of these is the best dupe, and why.

When it comes to handle length all of these brushes are about the same, except for the Bdellium Tools 777 from the green bambu line. The Green Bambu Series 777 brush is 5.6 inches (14cm) in length. However, if you prefer the longer handle, the same brush is available from Bdellium Tools in their Pink Bambu Series with a handle length of 6.6 inches (17cm).  The M.A.C.239 is just a little bit longer coming in at 7.3 inches (18.5cm).  

What I really looked for in this comparison, was soft dense bristles, that work well for packing pigment onto the eye lid.  M.A.C. brushes are known to be long lasting, so this was another important factor in deciding which brush is the best dupe.

I am happy to report that I have had the Bdellium Tools, Sigma and Furless brushes for a number of years. I actually have multiples of all three for my kit and the quality for all of these absolutely meets my high standards. All three brushes also have soft, dense bristles and work well for eyeshadow application.  Therefore, it really came down to the minor details when picking which brush was the closest to the 239.

Before I get into those details, I want to give an honorable mention to the Christopher Drummond Beauty Eye Color brush (pictured above along side the M.A.C. 239s). The reason this brush did not make the cut, is that it is my understanding that these brushes have been discontinued.  This really makes me sad because I have several full size and travel size Christopher Drummond Beauty brushes that I have owned for many years, and they are absolutely wonderful.  That being said, the bristles are just a bit too long for this brush to be a true 239 dupe.  However, it really is a wonderful brush!

Above is a side view of all of the brushes (from left to right): M.A.C. 239s, Bdellium Tools 777 Green Bambu Series, Sigma Medium Sweeper E54, and Furless Cosmetics PE2.  This photo is where a clear dupe begins to emerge. One of the key features of the 239 is that the bristles come to a tapered tip.  As you can see from the above photo, the only brush that is cut the same way is the Bdellium Tools 777.  The Sigma E54 is close, but the head is just a little fuller, with a more rounded tip.  The Furless PE2 has a brush head that is the same size as the 239, but the bristles do not come to a taper.  By no means does that mean any of these brushes are not worth buying. As I stated previously, I own multiples of each. The Furless brush is the fluffiest, making it very multipurpose. I can apply eyeshadow and blend all with the same brush.  The Sigma brush, works best for sweeping pigment on, which a lot of shimmery eyeshadows require for their best performance.  However, the Bdellium Tools 777 gives me that perfect packing brush, with the tapered tip that can blend shadow along the lower lash line as well. 

For this reason, the Bdellium Tools 777 Green and/or Pink Bambu Series ($9.00 each) wins as the best cruelty-free and vegan option for a M.A.C. 239. Looking for a set? Bdellium Tools offers their 777 Yellow Bambu brush as part of their 5 piece smoky eyes set ($27.00). Looking for a complete brush set? The 777 is also available in their Purple Bambu Precision 17 piece brush set ($130.00). All of the Bambu brushes from Bdellium Tools, regardless of color, are made with 100% vegan bristles. I own brushes from all of their bambu series, and am confident in their quality and performance. 

I hope you found this post helpful. If you are looking for a cruelty-free dupe for the M.A.C. 217, you can read my picks here: Best 217 Dupes. Is there an animal hair makeup brush that you want to find a synthetic-bristled dupe for? Let me know in the comments below.  Your question just may answered in my next post!

*This post contains brushes purchased by me, as well as brushes sent by the company for consideration.  I do not get paid to write reviews.  Any links in this post are NOT affiliate links, and are simply included for the reader's convenience. All opinions are my own. 

5 September 2018 Favorites You Should Try

Last month there were a handful of products that really stood out. Some of these products are new to my kit, some are old favorites that I rediscovered. As far as pricing goes, I try to spend money on products that I think I will really use. As long as the pigment is plentiful and the formula is easy to blend, I shop budget friendly items as well as high-end. With a collection like mine, I know that I really love a product when I reach for it over and over. 

1. Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint in Shell is a foundation that I have continued to repurchase. It is a nice alternative to BB or CC Cream, and feels absolutely luxurious on the skin. My favorite way to apply this is with a damp beauty sponge. As I have gotten older, products that provide hydration and offer a luminous finish become more and more important to my beauty routine. I highly recommend this product to anyone with dry, dehydrated skin who still wants a base that provides good coverage and SPF. 

2. Beaty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder is a product that I wanted to try for a long time. However, due to the brand's popularity many of the products I wanted were sold out when I tried to buy them. Luckily, I had good timing and caught a tweet from the company about a restock on their Flour Setting Powder. I have been testing out this product on myself and recently started using it on my clients in the shade Translucent. The powder is very finley milled. It glides onto the skin beautifully and provides the most flawless finish to any makeup look. The Best part is this works on a variety of skin types. I have had success using it on normal to oily skin, but it also works on my dry skin! With several color choices to pick from, I highly recommend this product anytime you can find it in stock. With the adorable packaging and baking theme that runs throughout the line, I assure you that you will want to snag a few of their products to satisfy your cosmetics craving. 

3. Crown Pro C531 Brush is my favorite brush to apply the Flour Setting Powder with. The pointed tip fits perfectly under my eyes and in the corners on the side of my nose. The soft, luxurious bristles feel like they belong on a much more expensive brush. I haven't had this brush too long, but I use it nearly everyday. Crown Brush has been the go-to place for artists to buy brushes at a reasonable price long before Morphe had discount codes. 

4. Perception ShaylaxColourpop Palette is probably my most used eyeshadow palette of the year. I used it a lot in September because a lot of the colors are on trend for the Fall season. With a good assortment of mattes, metallics and duochromes this palette has something for everyone. There are enough neutrals to put together a variety of everyday looks, but just enough pops of color to inspire my creative side. The high pigmentation is unexpected due to the low price point. You get quality shadows, a good sized mirror and your purchase helps support a great YouTube content creator (Shayla). 

5. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in Mannequin is another favorite that was created by a YouTube star. Jeffree Star really hit it out of the park with these full coverage lip products. The color Mannequin is a cool tan nude with a matte finish. I ordered some lip liners from the brand but they are a little delayed in getting to me. In the meantime, I have been pairing this color with Urban Decay's lip liner in Midnight Cowboy. This feels so comftorable on the lips, comes in a ton of colors and is transfer resistant. If you still haven't tried them, go place an order now and thank me later.

Here is a quick look that I put together using all of my September 2018 Favorites:

After applying my Hourglass Skin Tint with a beauty sponge, I applied just a touch of concealer under my eyes and to any dark spots on my face. I set my concealer with my Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder,  applying it with the Crown Pro C531 Brush.

For eyes, I started with NYX Eye Shadow Base in Skin Tone before applying the colors Culture and Revenge from the Perception palette as a transition. I used my Furless ME3 fluffy brush to blend them together. Next, I applied Played Out in the deeper crease with a Sigma E36 Blending Brush.  Then I switched to a Sigma E45 Small Tapered Blending Brush to make the color more concentrated in my crease.

I stamped on more Played Out on the outer corner of my lid with an Ecotools by Alicia Silverstone angled eyeshadow brush. I also swept a bit along the lower lash line.

The color I.E. was then packed on my lid with a flat brush from Antonym, stopping where Played Out starts.

I used a mix of the colors Titus & Stallion as liner, applying it with my ItsLikelyMakeupxFurless PRO7M angled brush.

Sassy was blended onto the center of lower lash line with an ULTA Crease Brush.

For mascara I used Milani Lash Trifecta (a cruelty-free dupe for Benefit Roller Lash). To brighten up my face I used the Sleek Makeup Blush By 3 Palette - Take a Cheeky Peek. I blended the last 2 colors together using a Furless angled blush brush

I hope you enjoyed this post. What were your favorite products in September? Do you own any of the products mentioned in this post? 

*All of the products in this post were purchased by me. I did recieve a discount on the Crown Brush, as I am a Crown Brush Affiliate. However I do not get paid to write reviews. If you wish to purchase anything from Crown Brush through my affiliate link (in my synthetic brush guide and Twitter bio) I will earn a small commission, which helps support the site. You can recieve a discount by entering code: LIZACHUNG in the promo code box at checkout. 

7 Worth-It Buys from Beautylish

As I wait for my next haul from Beautylish to arrive, I decided to share some truly outstanding items from my last purchase.

First is the MYKITCO My Essential Makeup Brush Set ($72). This set includes an angled foundation brush, a powder brush, a sharp angled brush for brows, a tapered crease brush (which has become a favorite of mine for eyeshadow crease work), and an all over eyeshadow brush. The set comes in a clear plastic carrying bag. These brushes are professional quality and a great choice for makeup artists.

The second & third items I bought were also makeup brushes. I purchased the Chikuhodo  AF Series AF-2 Foundation Brush ($43) and the Chikuhodo AF-5 Eye Shadow S Brush ($22). These are made with the newer synthetic fiber called AG-TAfrE. While these brushes are much smaller than I originally anticipated, the quality is far better than I'd hoped. I am not sure exactly what makes these brushes so special, but I have been using them quite a bit lately and their performance is truly remarkable. I intend to buy more brushes from this series. 

For my fourth item.....you guessed it, another makeup brush. The Smith Cosmetics #302 Lip Brush ($21) is made out of synthetic sable bristles. This is the fourth brush I have purchased from Smith Cosmetics. I only wish that they offered more of their eyeshadow brushes with synthetic bristles. 

Finally moving on to other items, the fifth must-have item I bought is the MYKITCO My on Point Sharpener ($6). If you only buy one item that I mention in this post, it should be this one. I saw the positive review from Wayne Goss on Beautylish and I had to have it. As usual, Wayne's review was spot on. This is hands down the best sharpener that I have ever used! It sharpens my lip & eye pencils to the sharpest point. I plan to purchase a few more of these for my kit. 

The sixth totally worth-it item I ordered was actually a repurchase for me. I first bought the Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint ($56) a few years ago at Sephora in Puerto Rico. I bought this in several shades at the time for my kit. This time, I bought it in Shell to use as my personal foundation. This is available in 12 shades and has an SPF of 15. It provides a luminous, hydrating finish which I really appreciate as I am getting older.

Finally, I purchased Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in Dominatrix ($18). The liquid lipsticks from this brand are my absolute favorite liquid lipsticks of all time. I already own several colors, and purchased this one because of the color. This dark chocolate brown goodness has a matte finish and is also eye safe. I love how full coverage these are. In addition to being long wearing, they are extremely comftorable. They are also vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free. What more could I ask for? 

I highly recommend all of the products mentioned in this post with 100% confidence. 

I bought them at beautylish.com. I have purchased countless items from this site over the years. Their customer service and the care they take to package their items is outstanding. They offer a unique assortment of brands that you won't find at Sephora. I highly recommend shopping with them. You won't be disappointed. 

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

Cherry on Top - Using Naked Cherry Dupes

The Naked Cherry Palette from Urban Decay is the very first Naked palette from the brand that I did not purchase. While I love the concept of the palette, I honestly feel that I have most of these colors in my collection already, some several times over. To test out this theory, I visited the best place on the web to find makeup dupes, Temptalia.com. 

Here is the link to check out dupes for yourself:

www.temptalia.com/makeup-dupe-list/urban-decay-eyeshadow-palette/naked-cherry/ 

I used a combination of looking at swatch photos on Pinterest and Temptalia's dupe list to figure out which color combinations I wanted to use. After sifting through my collection and picking out the colors that matched the best, I got to work creating an eyeshadow look.

It should be noted that since I have not actually seen the Naked Cherry Palette in person, it is hard for me to say for sure if the colors I chose are true dupes. However, I feel that the colors I used were in line with other pictures that I have seen online.

It seems like many of the matte shades in Naked Cherry can also be found in the Too Faced Just Peachy Mattes Palette. In fact, after seeing some of the looks people created on YouTube, this palette seems more Peach than Cherry to me.

From the Too Faced palette (pictured above), I used the following colors: Just Peachy (dupe for Juicy) in the crease, Just Ripe (dupe for Devilish) on the outer corner of my eye lid, and Peach Sangria (dupe for Bing) along the lower lash line.

To the left of the Too Faced Peachy Mattes Palette is the Wet n Wild Rose in the Air eyeshadow palette. Color #8 in this palette is also a dupe for Bing, which I used on the inner 1/3rd of my lower lash line.

In the picture above, the bottom 2 individual pans are Makeup Geek Tuscan Sun (dupe for Feelz) & Mai Tai (dupe for Bang Bang). I started my look with Tuscan Sun on the outer 1/3rd of my eye lid, taking it just slightly into the crease. I used just a touch of Mai Tai on the inner corner of my lower lash line.

The 2 individual eyeshadows in the top of the above picture are Urban Decay ABC Gum (dupe for Caution), and Urban Decay X (another dupe for Bang Bang). ABC Gum will work as an under brow highlight for some. However, it is just a little bit too dark for my skin tone. I mixed in with a little bit of Super Mom eyeshadow from Tarte to lighten it before using it to down blend. 

For my main lid color, I used Warning from the Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette, which is a dupe for Ambitious. 

I had a hard time finding a cruelty-free dupe for Urban Decay Privacy. I settled on Passion from the Anastasia Norvina palette. In reality, Passion probably leans a little more plum, while Privacy is more of a reddish brown. I used this to darken the very outer corner of my eye look, and took it along the outer portion of the lower lash line.

If you have the Anastasia Subculture palette, Dawn is also a possible dupe for Caution according to Temptalia's dupe list. 

For my lower water line, I used Trish McEvoy Glamorous 24-Hour Eye Shadow Pencil (pictured above). I used a black Kohl Pencil from Milani to tight line. 

As I was going through my eyeshadow collection, I came across a discontinued eyeshadow from Urban Decay called Cherry. I wonder why Urban Decay didn't use this palette as an opportunity to bring this color back using their new formula. I always loved the color of their Cherry eyeshadow. It is a bright super light pink that reminds me of the lipstick that was popular in the 80s. The only issue some had with it was the fallout from the chunky glitter, a problem that could be remedied by using their current formula. 

Many have noted that the Naked Cherry Palette could use another darker eyeshadow in this palette. I agree that adding a deeper shade that could be used as liner, or to darken the outer corners of the eye would probably add more versatility. This is especially true for those with a deeper skin tone. This palette has a lot more light to medium shades than I would have liked. Most notably, it is missing a true cherry red in my opinion

 

Here is the final look:

My first thought when I was done, was that this looked quite similar to a look I created using the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette. I intentionally stayed away from the Naked Heat Palette when looking for dupes to ensure that I wasn't trying to convince myself the colors in it were too close to Naked Cherry. 

I also think I have created similar looks with my Wet n Wild Rose in the Air eyeshadow palette.

Creating this look has only confirmed that I do not need to run out and buy the Naked Cherry Palette. Perhaps if I see & swatch this palette in person it will change my mind.

What do you think? Do you own the Naked Cherry Palette?

Also, don't worry my review of the Jeffree Star Cosmetics Lip Liners will be coming. Since I added one of the new highlighters from the brand to my order, it has been slightly delayed. 

Thank you for reading. Do you think the Naked Cherry Palette is more 🍒 or 🍑? Comment below.

All of the products in this post were purchased by me. I do not get paid to write reviews. All opinions are my own.

The Best Advice About Liquid Liner

While I am waiting for my Jeffree Star Cosmetics Lip Liners to arrive, I thought I would share with you how one of his other products has improved my makeup game. 

Liquid eyeliner application is one of those things that requires practice. Some people continue to struggle even after years of attempting the perfect cat eye. I've included some tips & tricks for you below, as well as a couple of products to make life easier.

1. Choose your tools wisely. I recently started using Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in Weirdo (blackest black with a matte finish) as liquid eyeliner. I know this sounds a bit odd, but the formula is 100% eye safe. At $18 each, the brand offers a large assortment of colors and textures. The finish is opaque, and the formula is high-pigment, and long wear. This product is also vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free. The reason this works so well as eyeliner for me is that it doesn't smudge! Once it sets after a few seconds, it will not rub off. This is a life saver for those with watery eyes. I apply it with a Smith Cosmetics 212 Tightliner Brush ($18), which is made with soft synthetic bristles. 
2. Rest your elbow on a table. Keeping a steady hand is key for a precise line. 
3. Sketch it out with a pencil first. If you are more comftorable with a pencil eyeliner, lightly sketch out your desired liner shape with a pencil first. Then go over it with liquid liner. 
4. Use a guide. I am sure you have all seen the tape trick. Using a little piece of scotch tape can help create even wings. 
5. Stabilize the skin. If you are a bit older, or have hooded eyes, be sure the skin is held taught before drawing your line.
6. Have helpers handy. Cotton buds & makeup remover wipes are your friend. They can help clean up any edges in a pinch. 
7. Start in the middle. I don't usually take my liquid liner all the way to the inner corner of my eye. Starting at the center, makes it easier for me to draw a line in one swoop. If you struggle with painting the product on, try pushing it into your lash line with a flat brush.

I hope you find these tips helpful. What is your favorite liquid liner? 

I purchased the products mentioned in this post at beautylish.com. 

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

Full Face of Drugstore Favorites

Yesterday, I went to the movies. The cashier was so sweet. She complimented me on my eye makeup, and shared her makeup struggles with me. She told me that she struggles with her eyeshadow looking ashey. I decided to include some tips & tricks in this post to help prevent that in case you share her struggles.

Here is the eyeshadow look I wore last night:

For today, I not only used drugstore makeup, but also included brushes that can be purchased at a drugstore, or are extremely affordable. While this makeup look is created on myself, I have clients with a large variety of skin tones. I have included ways to adapt the look for different skin tones, still using affordable products. 

For my foundation, I started with Wet n Wild Dewy face primer. I wanted to sheer out my Milani Foundation, so I mixed in a tiny bit of liquid highlighter from Wet n Wild. I applied a thin layer with a Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. 

Next, I moved onto eyes before concealer or any other face products were applied. 

Step 1: Apply a Base 

I always apply an eyeshadow base, regardless of skin tone. However if you have a deeper skin tone, I highly recommend starting with an eyeshadow base. I do not recommend pure white for darker skin as that can increase the chances of an ashey looking eye. Instead, opt for a tan eye primer, or concealer. For colorful eyeshadow looks, try a creamy eyeshadow or NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils in a similar shade to the powder eyeshadow you are wearing over it. 

Since I am fair, I used NYX eye primer in Milk (white) as my base, blending over the top & bottom eye lids with a short dome brush. Be sure to only use a very thin layer to prevent creasing. 

Step 2: Brows 

There are some great brow products at the drugstore these days. I can find good quality products ranging from powders to pommade. For this look, I used a brow pencil from Wet n Wild, as well as a pommade from Milani. I applied the pommade using a small angled brush from Real Techniques.

To carve out the brow, I used a flat brush, and a concealer palette from The Icing. This palette was very inexpensive, and has colors to fit a variety of skin tones plus a few color correcting shades as well. 

Step 3: Powder Eyeshadow

To ensure that your eyeshadow appears true to color on your eyes, it is important to choose a product with good pigmentation. Wet n Wild's eyeshadow palettes are truly impressive. They are available in a wide variety of color combinations, and the price is a steal given how pigmented and easy to blend they are. For this look, I chose the Rose in the Air eyeshadow palette. I have used this on my site before, but I really love the quality of this palette and feel it works well for a variety of looks. 

If you want to highlight under the brow area, start with a matte or shimmer pencil, such as the below from Milani (optional). 

Next, I picked up the warm transition shade on a fluffy brush, and blended it through my crease. If you want an affordable makeup brush set, Amazon.com has a lot of options available.  

For deeper skin tones, try a transition color close to your natural skin tone. When applied over the lighter base, it will help define the eyelid. 

To warm things up, I used the orange shadow in the palette, running it through my crease.

Warm colors look best on most skin tones and help prevent the ashey look that some cool tones can leave behind. 

Use a clean brush to blend.

Using a large flat eyeshadow brush from Wet n Wild, I patted on some of the brick color, concentrating it on the outer corner of the eyelid.

For the inner part of the eye lid, I applied a light shimmery gold. Mixing in some satin or shimmer shadows with your mattes can also help decrease the chances of your shadow appearing ashey. 

Eco Tools is one of the first makeup brush brands I recall buying from the drugstore. They offer a good variety of brush sizes and shapes, selling single brushes as well as sets. 

I used a very small brush from this brand to define the very outer portion of the eye I used a dark matte brown from the palette, sweeping it along the lower lash line as well. 

A full eyeshadow look can be achieved using just this one palette. However, this would not be a true drugstore favorites post without mentioning Milani eyeshadows. Their singles and palettes offer great pigmentation and a variety of finishes. I used a bright white to highlight the inner corner of the eye. Those with a deeper skin tone should opt for a light gold or champagne instead. 

Step 4: Conceal 

After all of the powder eyeshadow is in place, apply a creamy concealer to the under eye area. The one I used from Wet n Wild is a little on the thicker side, so a little bit goes a long way. The coverage is pretty full-on so I did not need a color corrector underneath. Using a Deluxe Crease Brush from Real Techniques, I buffed and patted the concealer over any dark areas. 

Step 5: Blush 

When it comes to blush Milani is the clear winner at the drugstore. Their blush quality rivals higher end brands in my kit.  I swept a mixture of colors from their blush palette onto my cheekbones using a Wet n Wild angled blush brush. 

*At This point I did go back in with a Milani black Kohl Pencil to tight line and fill in my water line. I also applied a few coats of mascara to my top & bottom lashes. 

Step 6: Lips

Good quality lip products are very easy to find at the drugstore. It is the one makeup section that most brands are good at. NYX has some of the best lip liners, and I have a lot of them in my professional kit. 

Wet n Wild lipsticks are a win for me because they have the best color options. You can find a lot of MAC dupes in their permanent range. Milani lipsticks are also a big winner in my book, as are those from NYX.  

 For gloss, I used a clear squeeze tube from Nuance (available at CVS), applying it with a small brush.

Companies like BH Cosmetics, Coastal Scents & Crown Brush offer very affordable makeup brushes online. I did not have a large fan brush from the drugstore  handy, so I used the below brush from Crown, which is still super affordable. 

This is my brush of choice to apply powder highlighter. Wet n Wild & Physicians Formula sell great powder highlighters for every skin tone. 

In the picture above (lower right corner) you can see some good choices for eyeliner or eyeshadow bases. 

Step 7: Bronzer

I don't always wear bronzer, but when I do, I like a warm matte formula. Physicians Formula offers good choices for light to medium skin tones. For deeper skin tones, I prefer a bronzer with a touch of shimmer, such as the below baked bronzer in Gingersnap from Black Radiance. 

Step 8: Powder

For fair to medium skin tones, Physicians Formula offers a nice selection of pressed powders. I used a translucent powder by Nuance Salma Hayek. For deeper skin tones, I highly recommend Milani. Their colored powders offer a nice selection of shades, and their translucent powders are truly translucent without leaving any white cast on the skin.

Step 9: Eyeliner (optional)

Wet n Wild Creme Eyeliner in Carbon My Reach has been a staple in my kit for years. If you are someone who can't live without a winged liner, try this one. 

Step 10: Setting Spray

E.l.f. Make up Mist & Set is another product I have been buying for years. The price is super budget friendly without sacrificing quality.

Here is a look at some of my other drugstore brushes:

Brands like Real Techniques, e.l.f. and Crown Brush give people an affordable option without having to use scratchy bristles. 

Here is the final look:

A closer look:

What do you think? Did I mention any of your favorite products?

*All products in this post were purchased by me. This is not a sponsored post. I do have an affiliate link with Crown Brush, which can be found in my Synthetic Brush Guide and in my Twitter profile. If you chose to shop through this link, I do recieve a very small commission. This helps support the site. 

10 Amazing Old School Favorites and How to Wear Them Today

When it was announced that the Urban Decay Original Naked Palette was going to be discontinued it marked the end of an era for many. The Naked palette was the very first eyeshadow palette that some of us ever purchased. Many YouTubers and Beauty Bloggers revisited that palette recently and created some new looks with an old favorite. 

This inspired me to revisit a number of my old makeup favorites. I generally like to combine a mix of new products and trusted staples in my makeup looks. For this post, I focused on 10 products that I used a lot back in the day, many of which were extremely popular with makeup lovers everywhere. 

Hopefully this post will give you some inspiration on new ways to wear your old school favorites. 

The 10 Products I Focused on for This Look Are:

1. Wet n Wild Coverall Cream Foundation in Light as my base. I love the coverage of this drugstore foundation and used to carry this product in multiple shades in my kit. When I like a product I tend to buy multiples, so I still have a few new tubes of this foundation in my stash. I advise everyone to be mindful of product expiration dates and never use anything on your face that may be old or have gone bad. 

2. Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer - I love this product because it is truly full coverage. I blended just a dot under each eye with a Furless Cosmetics ME3 brush.

3. Milani Secret Cover Concealer in 03 Dark (or 04) used to be my go-to cream contour product. Long before Fenty created Matchstix or EM Cosmetics sold Chiaroscuro sticks, concealer sticks created for deeper skin tones worked wonders as a cream contour on fair skin. The stick format allows me to simply draw on my face and blend the product out with a brush. Today, I used my Furless PRO6F. I like using the brush I applied foundation with to blend my contour because the little bit of foundation left behind on the brush helps to create a more seamless blend.

4. Urban Decay Brow Box in Honey Pot is a little box containing 2 brow powders (one lighter & one darker) as well as a brow wax, mini brush & tweezers. I applied the darker of the two powders with my Aveda brow brush, brushing them in place with the spoolie end. 

5. Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Disobey is really more of a matte bronzer on my skin tone. Back when they sold this brand at Sephora in the U.S. I bought multiple shades of their beautiful face powders. I applied this along my cheekbones with an Everyday Minerals powder brush.

6. Physicians Formula Natural Nude Shimmer Strips All-in-1 Custom Nude Palette For Face & Eyes is truly a multipurpose product. It can be used as eyeshadow, highlighter, and even blush or bronzer depending on your skin tone. I used it in this look as a face highlight applying it with a Crown Brush Jumbo Fan brush.

7. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk was a staple on YouTube for years and with good reason! When applied in a thin layer under powder eyeshadow it really helps pigments appear more bold and lively. It is important to only use a little bit to avoid creasing. I drew it on straight from the pencil, then blended it out with my Furless Cosmetics PRO3M  brush.

8. Urban Decay Electric Pressed Pigments was a palette launch that challenged us all to get more creative. While not all of the colors in this palette are deemed safe for use in the immediate eye area, I was able to create wearable looks for just about everyone using it. In this look I used Chaos (applied with a Real Techniques Pointed liner brush) & Gonzo (both eye safe) close to the lash line. Chaos was applied to the upper and lower lash line. Gonzo was only used on the lower lash line just under Chaos. To brush on Gonzo, I used a Real Techniques accent brush. I then blended the pigments with a Furless PPE2 brush. I applied a couple of layers, blending in between each application for a softer look. 

9. Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lipgloss was the only lipgloss I used to buy. While I did have some problems with the packaging in the past, I liked the sanitary factor of a squeeze tube. The one I used for this look is in the color Midnight Cowboy.

10. Urban Decay Naked Lipstick was my number 1 neutral cream lipstick for a long time. Again, I had a love / hate relationship with the packaging, but the formula feels nice and moisturizing on my lips. 

To modernize the look, I brought in some staples from my stash.

After applying all of the cream products to my face, I set them with Hourglass Ambient Light Lighting Powder in Diffused Light. This was applied with a Sedona Lace 919 brush.

Because the Physicians Formula Nude Palette can be used anywhere on the face, I did apply just a tiny bit just below my brow as a highlight. You can also use the lightest color in the palette to highlight the inner corner of the eye for a brightening effect.

I admit the Urban Decay Electric Pressed Pigments can look intimidating. Pairing it with neutrals from their Naked Basics Palette really helps modernize the look. After blending out NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk on my upper and lower lids, I dipped into the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. I applied a mixture of Foxy & W.O.S. as a base. Then I used a mix of Naked 2 & Faint through the crease of the eye with a Crown Brush blending brush.

After that, I moved on to the Electric Palette. To help balance out the boldness of the blue pigments, I used Crave from the Naked Basics Palette. I applied it to the top lash line with a Sedona Lace 772 brush.

To really make my eyes the focus of this look, I placed Urban Decay Glide-on Eye Pencil in Empire in my waterline and used it to tight line. Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio - Hazel Eyes contains a lovely lavendar eye pencil. I used this color along the lower lash line, pressing and wiggling it in between my lashes. 

Keeping with the theme of this post, I found a fresh tube of Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara, which I painted on my top and bottom lashes. I used about three coats for this look. 

Here is the final look: 

To lock everything in place, a few sprays of Mario Badescu facial spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater over my face did the trick. 

Here is a closer look: 

Some other old school favorites that I used to use religiously back in the day are: 

• Physicians Formula Blushing Berry Multi-colored Blush 
  
• E.l.f. Baked Blush in pinktastic as a highlight 
  
• Physicians Formula Perfecting Concealer Duo yellow/light 
  

To help your look last all day, try using a primer. Too Faced Shadow Insurance & Lip Insurance are always in my kit. 

What do you think? What are some of your old school favorites? 

*All of the products in this post were purchased by me. I do not get paid to write reviews. I do have an affiliate link with Crown Brush. If you wish to shop through this link (which can be found in my Synthetic Brush Guide and in my Twitter profile) I will make a small commission. This helps support the site. 

The Perfect Brush Set for Beginners & Pros

As I looked through all of my brushes, I wondered what it would look like if I put together my ideal set. I sifted through my collection and put together a compilation of brushes from different brands to compile a begginer & pro set.

If buying a brush set from any brand, it is almost always cheaper than buying brushes individually. That being said, many people start with a few brushes at first and then add to their collection over time. 

The set that I compiled on the left side (above) is perfect for beginners/personal use. 

From left to right they are:

• Royal & Langnickel Flat foundation brush from their green line.
  
• The next brush is from Everyday Minerals and can be used to apply any powders to the face.
• Next is the #3 All Over Shadow Brush from Hourglass
• The 776 (green bambu line) blending brush from Bdellium Tools is one that I absolutely can't live without personally, or in my professional kit. 
• The 542 Bold Lip Brush from Bdellium Tools works great as a lip brush, but I also love it for applying concealer, creating a cut crease, and cream eyeshadow.
• Finally a small angled brush from Real Techniques can be used to fill in brows, or draw on winged eyeliner.

While you do not have to buy these specific brands, I do highly recommend these types of brushes. Even if you apply foundation with a sponge, a flat paddle foundation brush is great for applying an even layer of moisturizer or primer to the skin. 

For my professional kit, I included the same types of brushes, but opted for longer handled brushes where possible. In addition to the brushes on the right (above) I still need more for my professional kit.

From left to right (in the right side of the photo above) the brushes pictured are:

• Sedona Lace 727
• Furless Cosmetics Black Beauty Tapered Powder Brush
• Rae Morris #20 Concealer Brush
• Bdellium Tools 776 (pink bambu line) with a longer handle  than the green one.
• Royal & Langnickel Lip GL-12 Brush 
• Beauty Addicts Brow Shaper, which is an angled brush, but has a spoolie on the other end for grooming brows.

For a complete professional brush set, I always bring the below brushes as well.

When doing makeup on others, I find it helpful to have more eyeshadow brushes on hand, especially blending brushes.

Pictured above from left to right:

• Sigma E35 Tapered Blending
• Furless Cosmetics PRO2E 
• Royal & Langnickel S.I.L.K. Pro C450 Flat Eyeliner 
• Cozzette D300 which is a fine liner brush that can be used for eyeliner or pinpoint concealing
• Rae Morris #17 Mascara Applicator, which is a must have for combing through clumpy mascara.
• Bdellium Tools #777 flat eyeshadow brush (green bambu line)  for packing pigment onto the eyelids. I do not have this brush in a longer handle, but check their pink bambu line if you prefer something longer. 
• Antonym flat brush that can be used for concealer or eyeshadow. 
• The newest addition to my kit, the MyKitCo Tapered Crease Brush

While this may seem like a lot of brushes, these are the absolute minimum that I like to have for a complete makeup application. 

When it comes to eyeshadow brushes, I always carry multiples in my professional kit, especially of the 776 from Bdellium Tools. Again, you do not have to purchase these brands specifically. However any of the brushes that I mentioned in this post are ones that I personally swear by and love. I use all of these on a regular basis and you can see most of them pictured in previous posts. 

I wish that more professional brush sets came with more eye brushes than they do. Many only come with one flat eyeshadow brush and one blending brush. When I am working on a client, it is much more efficient to pick up a new clean blending brush rather than having only one that must be cleaned in the middle of application. So even if you buy a pre-made set, I highly recommend purchasing extra blending brushes if you are looking to work as a professional makeup artist.

I hope you find this post helpful. If you have any questions, please ask me in the comments below!

*This post contains both brushes purchased by me and some sent for consideration by the company. I do not get paid to write reviews. This is not a sponsored post.

 

How to Use a Flat Tapered Foundation Brush

With so many different types of foundation brushes on the market, it can be confusing. Many artists have switched to a buffing brush or stippling brush for foundation application. Some skip a foundation brush all together in favor of a cosmetic sponge. 

While there is no "right" way to apply your makeup, here are a few tips on how to use a good old fashioned flat tapered foundation brush: 

• Start on the area of the face that requires the most coverage first.
• Brush on your foundation using downward strokes for the most natural finish.
• After your foundation is applied, wipe off your brush.
• Use the clean brush to blend your foundation into the skin by using a patting motion. 
• Gently press the brush over any streaks to push the product into the skin.

This style of brush also works well for applying moisturizer and primer to the face, pre-foundation. I use it with liquid, creams and even powder foundation formulas. The tapered tip makes it easy to reach the inner corners of the face. I have seen some makeup artists use this style of brush for concealer and even powder on the under eye area.

Nearly every brand sells a foundation brush in this style, and most are made with synthetic bristles.  The brush pictured in this post is Royal and Langnickel S.I.L.K Green Line Foundation Brush GL-7.  I also love the Sedona Lace 727 synthetic foundation brush, which is very similar. The Sedona Lace version has slightly shorter bristles, and the tip is less tapered. 

If you like a flat style brush, but prefer the brush head to be angled, try the e.l.f. Angled Foundation Brush or the Furless Cosmetics PRO1F. 

What brush do you use to apply foundation? Let me know in the comments below.

*All products in this post were purchased by me. I do not get paid to write reviews.