It’s Makeup, Precisely! The New NARS Artistry Face and Cheek Brushes

I’ve painted several rooms over the years, but each and every time I swear to myself I’m never doing it again.

That’s because painting rooms frickin’ sucks, man, and every room subtracts at least a year off your life, you know, if you take those Real Age online tests, I swear…

Now, painting faces!? That’s totally different. Painting faces is awesome sauce to the Nth degree.

Enter the new 16-piece NARS Artistry Brush line, arriving at NARS boutiques and online April 1, with four face brushes, two cheek brushes, nine eye brushes and one lip brush, all specially crafted for precision makeup application.

These things are pumping me up to paint my mug. 🙂

First, the face and cheek brushes, which I’ve been using and enjoying very much. I’ll have more to say about the eye and lip brushes soon (target: tomorrow), but for now…

The face brushes…

Powder Brush #10 ($52)

Designed, according to NARS, to buff, blend and diffuse loose powder to a lustrous finish, it also works pretty dang well for pressed powders. I tried it with both and like the results equally. It lays down a fine, even veil of product.

The brush head is slightly narrower than typical powder/fluffy face brushes, but I kind of like that, too. Even though it doesn’t cover as much surface area as your run-of-the-mill fluffy powder brush, I think it’s easier to control and, when using it, difficult to over-apply, and I’m digging on that.

Only thing is…it’s a tad scratchy. Not terribly scratchy, but still.

I’m not sure about the bristles on this one, but based on the way they feel, I’m guessing the fibers are natural, and not synthetic.

Bronzing Powder Brush #11 ($52)

If you’re a bonafide bronzing buff, you may want to seriously consider Bronzing Powder Brush #11 and its dense, domed head (looks almost like a regular kabuki brush).

No matter where I place it on my face — under my cheekbones, at the edge of my hair line, or anywhere else I apply bronzer — it just fits. And it lays down a perfect amount of product.

I have also yet to see the soft natural-fiber brush head shed one hair in the few times I’ve used it.

Like the Powder Brush #10, the one’s head is a little smaller than usual for its ilk, making it quite precise. It lays down smooth, even color. Love.

Cream Blending Brush #12 ($28)

A synthetic multi-purpose brush for face and eyes. Use it to apply concealer around the eyes and to blend cream products.

I’ve been using this one to apply and blend MAC Pro Longwear Concealer on my under-eye area, and it works great! The flat, medium-sized paddle-shaped brush head fits nicely into the corners and the space under my lower lash lines, never leaving behind any streaks.

I bet this bad boy would also rock cream eyeshadow bases…

Precision Blending Brush #13 ($26)

Doesn’t the Precision Blending Brush #13 look a little like a pointed liner brush? NARS designed it to precisely apply concealer on small spots and pigmented areas, and it’s ideal for detailed work around the nose and eyes.

Coincidentally, I’d actually been using a pointed liner brush for that, but this brush takes the idea to the next level, as you can use it to apply and blend concealer. I’m pretty sure the fibers are synthetic.

The cheek brushes…

Blush Brush #20 ($42)

Like its siblings in the face brush fam, the Blush Brush #20 also has a smaller-than-average brush head (natural fibers), and yes, I like the petite-ness of it. When I’m in a hurry, I tend to get overzealous with blush, but this tool’s smaller size forces me to be careful and precise about placing product where I want it on the apples.

It’s like tough love…but in brush form.

I’ve tried it with both sheer and intensely pigmented blushes, and I think it works great with either. Grabs powder evenly, and sets it down without patches or streaking.

Contour Brush #2 ($42)

I really like that the angled edge on this undersized, natural-fiber brush head isn’t too steep, because when I set it just below the apples of my cheeks, it caresses my curves… This one’s fantabulous if you’re going for a more sculpted, yet natural-looking effect.

Can I get a reading??

I am weirdly obsessed with this show! Have you seen it? Long Island Medium? Theresa Caputo: mom, medium, big-haired beauty, Long Island resident.

Netflix just added season three, and I spent the better part of last night marathoning it.

Who knows if she can actually channel spirits, but here’s how I see it: if she can help people find peace, get closure, deal with survivor’s guilt or otherwise move on with their lives, why not?

Do you think you’ve ever been visited by spirits? I’m not sure if I have… I have felt something before — like I was being protected by someone or something on several occasions — but I don’t know.

Gonna finish the season tonight, but only after I make dinner. I’m thinkin’ shrimp, asparagus and snow pea stir fry…

I hope you had a good day today. We’re almost to Friday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen