Makeup Brushes 101: Part I

Makeup brushes can range in price from $2 - $200!! With such a vast price difference, what should you look for when buying a brush?

Whether you pay $2 or $25, you are paying for the materials that have gone into the brush. Make-up brushes consist of three parts: the hair, the ferrule (the metal tube that connects the handle and the hair), and the handle.

A quick lowdown on the handle and ferrule - better quality handles are made out wood. For longer lasting ferrules, typically metals like brass, copper, or aluminum are used. All MAC brushes feature nickel-plated brass ferrules - the nickel makes them look nicer and prevents corrosion.

In terms of hair, the brush will be made out of either synthetic hair or natural hair. Synthetic brushes are made out of two types of material: nylon and taklon. The upside of synthetic hair brushes is that they are inexpensive, but can still be very effective. The downside is that they don't last as long, they stiffen over time, and they don't pick up as much color.

Brushes made from natural hair come from many different sources. The most popular include: goat, pony, sable, badger, and squirrel. What type of hair the brush is made from depends on its purpose. For example, goat hair is best for bluffing and blending while sable hair is great at depositing color. To learn more, check out this article that covers all these hair types:

http://www.bellasugar.com/BellaSugars-Guide-Makeup-Brush-Hair-Types-685574

There are typically three places women go to buy makeup brushes and ,depending on which venue you go to, you'll be looking for different things:

1. Specialty Cosmetic Stores (like MAC or Sephora) - when you shop at places like these, you are automatically spending more money and getting a higher quality brush - even Sephora brand brushes are pretty pricey! The advantage of stores like these is that professionals work there who can help you choose the right brush. They'll recommend different brushes that do the same thing and let you try them all out. Keep in mind that just because you are in a place like this does not automatically mean you are buying a natural hair brush - I know that Sephora sells several Shu Uemura brushes that are synthetic. ALWAYS ASK what the brush is made out of and, if it is made out of synthetic hair, make sure you are getting some cost savings as it likely won't last as long!

2. Drugstores - buying a drugstore brand brush is trickier. Some are decent...others are well, shitty! I personally have bought the $2.00 "Simply Basic" brushes from Wal-mart and I definitely got what I paid for - the hair mats easily and they shed like a sheepdog! When purchasing from a drugstore, I would suggest taking the brush out of the packaging and pulling up on the bristles to see how easily the hair falls out. If you can, use a nearby tester to pick up some product and try it on the back of your hand to see how the brush deposits color. I have checked out Shopper's Quo brand of brushes and I was pretty impressed. These brushes range from $10 - $20 which means they are most likely synthetic. Remember that a synthetic brush does not necessarily mean it won't get the job done - it just means it won't last you as long.

3. Internet - there are a number of websites that sell quality brushes for less. Two examples I can think of are Coastal Scents and Sigma Makeup.  Coastal Scents tells you exactly what type of hair the brush is made out of. Sigma simply says either "synthetic" or "natural bristles". Both of these brands have extensive reviews - do a Google search and there is a review for almost every type of brush these companies make! I personally have not tried either of these brands; however, I did just order a buffer brush and fan brush from Coastal Scents (for less than $15 including shipping and exchange!) so I will keep you posted on how they work out!

Personally, I use MAC brushes almost exclusively and have never been disappointed. In fact, the first MAC brush I bought is just about to celebrate it's 7th birthday (it's #217 in case you're curious)! However, as per my previous post, I do enjoy cheap stuff that gets the job done which is why I am trying out Coastal Scents' brushes. Stay tuned for Part II - I'm going to blog about must-have brushes and brushes you can live without!

On a side note, I may be the only blogger out there who uses a semi-colon in my posts...

My Favorite Drugstore Products

I spend a lot of money on makeup and beauty products so when I stumble upon a product that is fantastic and inexpensive, I get pretty excited! There are a few products that I use regularly and they work so great, I can't see myself ever spending more money on an expensive counterpart. Here are some of my favorite drugstore products:

1. L'Oréal Voluminous Mascara in Black - my friend Diana told me about this product a couple years ago after I asked her how she gets her lashes so luscious! When I bought my first tube, my immediate impressions were pretty mixed. Its consistency is very thick and the first several times you pull the wand out, it's very goopy! However, I stuck with it, wiped the goop off with a kleenex, and used my first tube faithfully. I have never found a mascara that even comes close to how well this brand works for me. It makes my lashes look noticeably thicker and fuller. I wouldn't say it makes my lashes look longer (I have average length lashes) but I have never actually found a mascara that does do that. I love this product and would recommend it to anyone. It does come with this warning however - if you are someone who is very particular about having every single lash separated, this product is probably not for you!

2. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick - this is a massive lip chap that can be used on your lips and dry, patchy skin. I use it every morning and every night after I wash my face. I mainly use it on my lips, but sometimes I put it on my dry cheeks in the winter. It has a creamy texture that absorbs quickly. It also has a subtle chocolate scent which I am all over. I think I bought this tube about 2 years ago and am still working through it!

3. Clean & Clear Morning Burst In-Shower Facial Cleanser - I love this product so much, I have to stop myself from using it every morning! This is a description of the product:"In-Shower Facial is specially formulated to work with the steam of your shower to clean deep down to the pores and lift away dirt, oil, and impurities".  The formula is slightly gritty - for those of you who have used St. Ive's Apricot Scrub, it's not as gritty- however, it still does an excellent job of exfoliating. This product leaves my skin feeling baby soft - the first time I used it, I was completely amazed! The cleanser also contains citrus which makes your skin tingle a bit.  I love this feeling, but I could see how some people may not. 

4. Ardell Accent Lashes #301/#305 - I don't use fake lashes all that often, but when I do, I am horrible at putting them on! I love these lashes because they only fit about the outer third of your lashline which means they are very easy to apply. They are also much more subtle, but still give a nice pop to the eye! Here are a couple pictures that show you the difference:

Wearing #305's

Au Naturale 

5. Pantene Pro-V 5-Minute Beautiful Lengths Strengthening Mask -  I bought this product while I was on the search for a deep conditioner. I have been using it for about two months on my hair from the ears down (my scalp is oily otherwise I would use it on my whole head).  I have not noticed any big change to the health of my hair...BUT then I started using it as a shaving cream and it works awesome! It's thick enough that it doesn't slide off in the shower, it softens the hair so it's easier to shave, and it leaves your skin feeling really smooth. The jar is 225 mL - I use copious amounts whenever I shave and have not even made it a quarter through. The downside - the jar has a screw top which is difficult to get back on once you have a palmful of conditioner in your hand (this is a problem when you are in the shower and you don't want the jar to fill up with water!). 

6. L'Oréal Lineur Intense Felt Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black - this product is fantastic because it's really easy to apply. If you have ever tried to put on liquid liner, you know that it's finicky and, if you're anything like me, you end up making a huge smeared mess on your eyes! I think what makes this liner so easy to apply is the felt tip. The product is also smudge-proof and long-lasting. Warning: it does take about 5 minutes to fully dry so do not apply your mascara until it's dry!

If anyone tries these products out, let me know what you thought. I would also love to hear about some of your favorite drugstore products as I am always on the lookout!

How it all began...

When I turned thirteen years old, my mom took me on an outing to the drugstore. She helped me pick out some really basic make-up and, when we got home, she sat me down at her make-up mirror and showed me how to apply all of it.  This is the day my love affair with make-up began...

Thirteen years later, my love affair is still going strong.  Every morning when I sit down at my make-up mirror and it lights up, I look forward to "transforming" myself.  My husband doesn't understand how it takes me 20 minutes to put all this gunk on my face!  Honestly, I could probably apply my make-up in about 10 minutes, but this is my time to relax and, well, to play! I love playing with colors and trying new looks.

I started this blog on a whim, after one of my friends told me I should start making tutorials on YouTube. I am not there yet, but we will see. I want to use this space to share my ideas and advice.  If you feel intimidated or overwhelmed by make-up, I want to reassure you that make-up is supposed to be fun ! It is just like playing dress-up when we were little girls minus the blue eyeshadow applied from lid to brow!

Make-up is a way each of us can play up our natural beauty. I don't believe in lamenting about what you wish you had. I believe in accepting and cherishing what you do have.  The woman whose beauty I am most inspired by is my mom. She is 52 and fabulous! Her beauty is as much inward as it is outward. Some others I am inspired by include: America Ferrera, Meryl Streep, Sarah Jessica Parker, Audrey Hepburn, and Claire Danes.

Welcome to my blog and stay tuned for my thoughts on make-up and beauty!


"The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy." - Yves Saint-Laurent