How’s it going, girls? Did you do anything fun tonight? I just got back from the movies with El Hub. We saw Rachel Getting Married. I thought Anne Hathaway did a great job. That girl’s got game, but if you decide to see it, make sure you’re in the mood for a long, slow talkie… yep.
Before we left for the movies I was thinking about makeup brushes. If you’re new to makeup or looking to build your collection of makeup brushes, here’s one way to save a few bucks (click here for the video).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
i really love your blog 🙂
Your video’s are always so cute dear. I did the opposite though: I got this fabulous blush brush from Chanel (a present from my mum) that I use for blush, bronzer and powder. It’s pretty cool 🙂 I do need a powder brush though, I find the head is a bit too small to my taste for powder (my new discovery… ^^)
Karen B´s last blog post..a thought
great video–I totally agree, I’m always doing that with my powder brush but eventually, I’ll probably spring for a decent blush brush. I love your earrings by the way!
tanya´s last blog post..great expectations
Hey Karen, I’m a total noob at make up brushes. Could you reccommend me some good brushes for face, cheek (bronzer, blush) and eyes? Oh and i love your videos btw, keep them going! 🙂
Hi Salynn,
Thank you! 🙂 Have a good weekend!
Hi Karen B.,
What a lovely present! I’ve never had a Chanel brush. How do you like it?
Hi Tanya,
Thanks! I got them at H&M a billion years ago. I’m a big fan of their accessories department. 🙂
How do you like using the powder brush as a blush brush?
Hi Yvonne,
For eye brushes, I started off with these from MAC:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/mac-makeup/beginners-mac-makeup-brushes/
As for face and cheek, I like Sonia Kashuk or Eco Tools for drugstore and MAC for department store brushes.
If you purchase the Sonia Kashuk brushes I suggest the ones with the black handles (not the white). The ones with the black handles have softer brush heads. I really like her powder brush for the face!
She also has a fantastic cream blush brush:
Sonia Flat Top Blush Brush Review
For bronzer and blush a good place to start is the MAC 129 Blush Brush or the 187 Duo Fibre (“Skunk”) brush. Here they are in action:
MAC 129 and Blush for Beginners
MAC 187 and How to Apply Bronzer
Hope this helps! 🙂
Thanks, great tips!
I really want to try this brush! There isn’t a Target within a convenient distance in San Francisco, I believe the nearest one is in Colma/Daly City. I really like the Clinique Powder Blush, which I think is very similar to the SK one, sure it was about 30 dollars when I bought it but well worth the money since I use it so often =)
Did you watch ABDC last night? I love Britney, and yes I am watching her when she comes to Oakland to perform in April, but I think that Quest Crew and Beat Freaks really did it for me this week. As JC said, “they’re so hot, it’s crispy!”
I’m glad you enjoyed Rachel Getting Married, my hubby and I watched Doubt… it was also a slower, talkie type movie, but it was well done. Watching it was a good change for Hubby, who loves him his action flicks 😛
I’ve been using the SK eyeshasow brush until I am able to afford the M.A.C one’s you reccomended in one of your videos. It does a pretty good job, of course I don’t really have anything to compare it too. The M.A.C one’s sound fabulous, I can’t wait to get my hands on them 🙂
We recently watched Inkheart, and that was a really fun family movie. I’m glad you enjoyed Rachel Getting Married. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
I’ve always had a powder brush that doubles as a blush brush, like Shu Uemura’s 18R (love it love it love it). Then I finally couldn’t hold out anymore, and I got the tiny mac 181, which I still use for all over powder and blush. I just wish I had two heads then I can use them both at the same time!
Oh and great job on saying “blush brush” without tripping over it. It’s a tall order 😉
Hi Karen!
Great tips!
What kind of brush cleanser do you use?
Hey Karen! I love that tip, and another benefit of using the foundation brush for blush is that the color is less concentrated and therefore softer color payoff! I love that, hehe.
Mad propz for being able to get the Mr. to see Rachel Getting Married, I can’t get mine to see Anne Hathaway movies (or Sandra Bullock movies, for that matter) for the life of me! lol
Hi Karen!
You’re so adorable in your videos! 😀
I really want a skunk brush, but I haven’t been able to find them at any Target around me and MAC’s is so expensive! (Plus, I don’t drive so it’s a little of a challenge to get out there in the first place.)
For cheaper eyeshadow brushes, I LOVE Everyday Mineral’s eye kabuki brush ($7) and their everyday eyeshadow brush. The eye kabuki confused me at first, especially since I have fairly small lid space, but it really is amazing for highlighting the browbone and for a sheer wash over the lid. I also use it for blending out the edges of my eye makeup, especially if I mess up and put shadow too high. The everyday eyeshadow brush is great for color placement and for blending (I have three) and it only costs $5! Honestly, it could do everything, but the eye kabuki makes highlighting and washing like, 10x faster. I’ve had no shedding from either of these, they’re synthetic, renewable and cruelty free. =)
I recently got a few eyeshadow brushes from the vendor fair on campus (I think they’re the same ones as offered on coastalscents.com) but have yet to try them out. I just washed them today, so we’ll see. =)
Great video once again 🙂 Since my switch to liquid foundation, I have been using my SK powder brush for blush!! Woo. I feel so smart for thinking about that on my own 😛 Btw, I just ordered NARS Amour today w/ Sephora’s Superbowl free shipping on EVERYTHING. I can’t wait, thanks for the reccomendation 🙂
I am glad that you enjoyed the movie. I really want to see it. Hopefully I will get to it soon.
I think a good way to start off your collection is by purchasing the MAC brush sets. I think that then you can discover what you like and what you will use. I started out with them and eventually moved to the full size ones. I still have an use the SE brushes too.
Marisol´s last blog post..Start your day the right way
It was my first real blush brush. I love it but it takes a long time to dry out when I clean it…
Karen B´s last blog post..a thought
For those of us against animal cruelty or who just want to start using products that are animal free, there is an OUTSTANDING line taklon brushes that are so low priced it is almost laughable when you realize the quality! Look for Ecotools at RiteAid or Walgreens…maybe some Walmarts have them too…ask if you don’t see them. Just start out with the retractable kabuki. Soft as the clouds in heaven, holds up like iron, no shedding AT ALL, a total joy to touch your face with- I promise you will drop everything and run back to the store for the rest of the line!
Also, as an artist, I have always used art paintbrushes for applying makeup. Go to your local Michaels, they have a half way decent selection. You can find brushes for everything from big fluffy ones for face powder, more dense brushes for blush or foundation, to the tiniest detail brush which you can use for eyeliner. Obviously the better quality brushes that are on the higher priced side are going to last the longest and give you the best performance – believe me! These brushes are made to stand up to turpentine and artist pigments! What is nice is that there is a huge selection, with plenty now that are NOT made from animal fur/hair, but are still as soft and luxurious as the real animal hair brushes.
If you really want the cream of the crop, bypass stores like Michael’s and go to a real artists supply store, they can be found in most major cities – I try to stay out of those places, they tend to be huge and I could get lost for weeks just lusting and drooling over all the beautiful things they sell for creating….
There is no reason to pay a fortune for “real” makeup brushes, most of which I find are very lacking in quality.
Hi Tiffany,
You’re welcome! Glad to help!
Hi Lesley,
Yah… that’s one thing I found challenging about living in SF. I remember that Target always being CRAZY BUSY. If you’re close to the Bay Bridge bridge there’s always the Target in Emeryville!
I love Britney, too. I’m glad that she’s getting her life and career back on track. I saw her years ago in Oakland and it was a lot of fun. 🙂
Hope you’re having a good weekend!
Hi Michelle,
SK’s eye brushes are pretty fab! 🙂 Did you get the one with the black handles?
Inkheart sounds fun! I love watching movies so I’ll probably watch it on DVD.
I hope you’re having a good weekend! Will you be watching the big game today?
Hi Sylvie,
The 181 is cute. I don’t have it but I think I might snag it in the future.
Hi Alexx,
I keep a few on hand. Wet Ones antibacterial wipes are great for quick, interim brush cleansing.
Aussie Opposites Attract also works great if you want to do some heavy duty cleaning. Here’s a link to a review I did a few months ago:
Aussie Opposites Attract Shampoo Does Double Duty as a Fast, Cheap Brush Cleaner
I also like the MAC one, but I don’t use it often because it’s expensive. 🙂
Hi Fabienne,
Yes! You get a really natural flush, right? It’s good stuff. 🙂
LOL, five minutes into the movie poor El Hub leaned over and whispered, “You owe me BIG TIME for this one.” HA HA HA! Whatever, I can’t even begin to count how many crappy shoot ’em ups he’s made me sit through!
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for the recs! Those brushes sound really good and so affordable. Where did you buy them?
Hi Stephie,
Oh yay! I wore that blush the other day, LOL. I have a small box of my makeup “essentials” (stuff I wear every day) and Amour is in there right now, LOL. Do you have Dolce Vita lipstick? It pairs perfectly with that blush!
Hi Marisol,
It’s a Jonathan Demme film so it has a unique style to it. Anne Hathaway was really great. I’d love to meet her someday!
Good tip on the MAC brush sets. I like the affordability of the brushes but find a few of the eye brushes scratchier than the regular MAC brushes. Still, the are a pretty good deal!
Hi Karen B.,
Sounds like a dream. I will definitely put that on my birthday wish list. 🙂
Hi Gena,
Thanks for the tips!
No I have the one with the white handle. One of the beauty mags reccomended it at the time. We are definitely watching the big game today, how about you? My poor hubby’s got to work since he’s in the bar/restaurant business. You know they’re going to be busy! But my son and I will have fun rooting for the Cardinals.
I love using the face brush as a blush brush–the only downside is i have to pinch the brush a bit to help concentrate the amount of pigment that gets on my cheeks. It’s good for now but I’ll definitely spring for an actual blush brush soon! Have a great Sunday!
tanya´s last blog post..pure gluttony
Hi Michelle,
Yes! We are watching it right now. El Hub and I stuffed ourselves silly with our traditional Super Bowl spread: hot dogs, chips and dip, and lots of lil’ salads.
I hope you and your son having fun watching the game!
Hi Tanya,
That’s a good tip. 🙂 What blush brush do you have your eye on?
Happy Sunday!