Makeup 101: Beginner Basic Brushes Kit

There are a ton of makeup brushes out there that come in different shapes, forms, and sizes.  Choosing what you believe you would need in your own personal makeup kit can be overwhelming.  This post shows you some options on what you could add to your makeup bag to help you apply makeup.  Of course, you don't have to buy everything I show because not everyone does a full face of makeup every day.  Just use your best judgement in deciding what will work best for you.  I recommend starting out with some E.L.F. (Eyes Lips Face) brushes because they are inexpensive and decent quality.  You can find these at eyeslipsface.com or in the makeup aisle at Target stores. Specifically, you should pick up the E.L.F. $1 eye shadow brush, the $1 blending brush, and the $3 Studio Powder brush. 

Keep in mind that these types of brushes will look different depending on the brand, size, and color...so choose according to what you think will work for you.  For example, don't pick a big, dome-shaped, fluffy blending brush that covers your entire eyelid...if you have a small eyelid... you catch my drift? =P

Foundation Brushes:

The ones shown below are general ones that can be found in most makeup aisles. 

Foundation can be applied using many various techniques.  If you don't know what foundation is, it's a liquid makeup that is applied all over your face and blended down your neck to even out your skin tone and cover any facial imperfections you might have.  You can use your fingers, a synthetic paddle brush, a stippling brush, or just a cosmetic sponge.  Why the variety in application? Well, depending on what kind of foundation you're using and what look you're going for, the way you apply the foundation can vary.  Here's some examples of what I mean:  if you want your foundation to be sheer, or light...you might use a cosmetic sponge because a good percentage of the foundation will be absorbed into the sponge so only a thin layer of foundation will actually apply onto your face. If you're going for an airbrushed look, you might use the stippling brush to continuously stipple on sections of your face until the coverage is to your liking.  If you have a cream foundation, you might use the synthetic powder brush to give you the smoothest, most even application. 

Of course if you don't want or need foundation, skip out on purchasing these brushes!

Fluffy Brushes: 

I call them fluffy because they can be used for multiple purposes. I've labeled each brush as what I use them for, but I always switch it up using the flat top powder brush for blush or the blush brush for bronzer.  You see what I mean? Brushes are multi-purpose.  You don't always have to use them the way that their packaging suggests. I love large paddle brushes for applying bronzer because they help me blend the bronzer into the hollows of my cheeks and into my temples for easy contouring. 

Eye Brushes:

There are a ton of eye makeup brushes out there.  In my opinion, these are the basics that every girl should have IF she wants to increase the number of brushes in her collection. These are also the brushes that I love and use when doing my own eye makeup. However, if you really want to save the money and time, it is possible to do a makeup look with just one eye shadow or shader brush. 

An eye shadow brush, sometimes called a shader brush, helps you deposit color onto your eyelids. They have a flat, paddle shaped look to them and they are usually kind of stiff so that they can pack on more color. 

A blending brush is usually dome shaped and fluffy so that it can help blur the harsh edges that eye shadow can create on our eyelids. 

Angled Eyeliner brushes can be used to apply gel eyeliner, but I love them especially for setting my eyeliner.  After I put eyeliner on my eyes, I use this brush to place dark eye shadow over the eyeliner.  It keeps the eyeliner from smudging or fading throughout the day! It can also work as a great lip brush because the preciseness of the brush can keep you from applying your lipstick or gloss outside the lines of your lips! 

A pencil brush or small precision brush can help you smudge shadow or eyeliner under your lower lash line.  It can also help you create your outer v (the outer corner of your eye) so that your makeup look has more depth and dimension.  You can also use it to blend on certain areas of your eye makeup look or to pop in a shimmery shadow for an inner corner highlight. 

Hope this was helpful for those of you who are new to makeup or want to further your knowledge!

Makeup 101: Concealers

I usually don't like to wear foundation because it makes me feel like I'm wearing a mask.  Even though I love the look of flawless skin, I prefer to let my real skin show. One thing I feel like I can't live without..or would not want to live without..is my concealer.  

I like to use concealer under my eyes to hide dark circles, around my nose to neutralize redness, and over the occasional blemish/zit.  I prefer drugstore concealers because I think you can find affordable ones that work just as well as any overpriced one at Sephora or Ulta.  

When looking for a concealer, you'll find that they come in many different forms.  You might see them in stick form, within a palette, in a pot/jar, in a squeeze tube, etc. One thing you should know is different concealer consistencies perform best for different things.  

Thick, creamy concealers are good for covering up blemishes, zits, or scars.  My Coastal Scents concealer palette is perfect for covering imperfections on my face--however, it's way too thick to use under my eyes.  If I use it under my eyes, I find that my bags are even more obvious because the thickness causes my skin to dry out, flake, and look cakey...ew. Definitely not a pretty look.

This palette includes 4 non-typical concealer shades. The top left shade is shimmery because it is actually a cream highlight color.  Below the shimmery white is a green concealer to counteract redness in your skin.  Below the green, is a lavender, which counteracts yellow tones in your skin, and the top shade in the second column is a yellow that helps counteract purple/blue tones in your skin. Color correctors can be useful if a regular concealer shade alone doesn't do the trick! If you decide to purchase this concealer palette, it retails for 14. 95 on coastalscents.com. The reason my concealers appear to be scratched up is because I felt like my concealers were drying out, so I scraped the top layer off of each concealer pan. I find that it's convenient to use on my clients because it caters to all different skin tones.

Next is my Revlon Age Defying concealer.  I think this retails around $10.00 at drugstores like Rite-Aid, CVS, and Walgreens...but I'm pretty sure you can find it for cheaper at Target or Wal-Mart. I really like this one for under-eye circles because it's a more liquidy consistency AND it's moisturizing!  Because your under-eyes don't contain oil glands, your skin tends to be very dry there..so any extra moisture is good! Also, there is an SPF 25--even more protection! :) 

My Revlon PhotoReady concealer is currently my favorite.  Most concealers that come in stick form are drying and can look caked up on your skin if you add too many layers onto it.  However, this one performs wonders for my dark bags and the redness around my nose.  The texture is smooth, creamy, and blends very naturally into the skin.  It retails for $9.99 in drugstores, but you can save yourself a couple of bucks by purchasing at Target for $8.00.  My shade is in Medium which is perfect for my current tanned complexion. 

Concealer Using TIP: 

To keep your concealer lasting on your face all day, set the concealer using a face powder: pressed or loose.  You can find face powder for really cheap.  Just take a brush/sponge you have or the applicator it comes with and pat a thin layer of powder over the areas you applied concealer.  This is a necessary step in keeping your makeup lasting longer and fresher throughout the whole day..especially in this hot, humid weather!

Makeup 101: What are Primers? (Eye and Face)

What is an Eye Primer and how does it work?

An eye primer works as a barrier between your eyelids and your eye shadow.  A lot of times your eyelids become oily and cause your eye shadow to breakdown and crease.  Creasing occurs when you can see a thin line of skin between your eye shadow on your lid from natural folds in your eye when you open and close them. Having a thin layer of primer over your eyes before applying your eye shadow can keep your makeup from creasing. An eye primer also keeps your eye shadow colors looking vibrant and fresh throughout your day.  

The price of eye shadow primers can range anywhere from $1.00 - $20.00 depending on where you purchase.  Keep in mind that what works for me may not work for you because the level of oiliness produced by your eyelids are unique to you :P Listed below are eye shadow primers that I have/had and know work for me: 

- Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($18.00 Sephora.com)

- Urban Decay Primer Potion ($19.00 Sephora.com)

- Mac Paint Pots ($16.50 maccosmetics.com)

- E.L.F. Mineral Eye shadow Primer ($3.00 eyeslipsface.com)

- NYX HD Eye shadow base ($7.00 nyxcosmetics.com)

Another eye primer that you can find without ordering online that I have not tried is the Palladio Herbal Eye Primer sold at Sally Beauty Supply stores for $8.00. 

While the cost of an eye primer sounds pretty expensive, purchasing one is worth the investment. They last for a good amount of time (at least three months) and prolong your eye makeup so that you don't have to worry about reapplying throughout the day or doing touch-ups to keep the eyes looking fresh. I apply my makeup in the morning, and I don't touch it again until I am getting ready to go to bed.