Brushes | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Aug 6, 2012

Makeup Wars Most Expensive Face Challenge

August 6, 2012 By Carleenp 15 Comments

This time around, the Makeup Wars bloggers are putting on our most expensive faces! This one surprised me. I don’t necessarily collect a ton of luxury items, and many of the things I used are more mid-range, yet my total came up to a rather shocking amount that is revealed at the end of the post (I figure some suspense is good for you all). I also suspect that I will be in the bottom half of the group in terms of overall value of the products! It is a bit surprising to add this stuff up and see what it really costs for a full face! I didn't buy all of it, since some were products provided to me for review, but I bought a good amount of it over time. For an interesting comparison at the other end of the price range, see the previous $20 Face Challenge.

Here is my reaction when I added up my total:

The Most Expensive Face Challenge: Products and Look

For this challenge, Makeup Wars bloggers used the most expensive items in our existing collections. We also included skin care and tools that we typically would use. This was a fun challenge, in part because I got to go rediscover some old favorites that I hadn't used in awhile. Here are just few of the makeup items I used for this challenge. I didn’t try to cram everything into the picture!

For my look, I went for a neutral, slightly smoky eye since my Chanel palette worked well for that. My most expensive mascara was blue and that worked OK with the browns in the shadow. I stuck to my favorite daily lip look, which happens to include my priciest lip items anyway. I had to dig out my better brushes. I actually have several daily use favorite brushes that are very affordable from BH Cosmetics. Here is my full face of makeup. The list of products and totals follow.

Here are my products used, their prices, and my thoughts on them for this challenge and look:

Makeup/Foundation

Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer $32: This is often my go to primer, although I also use various silicone based primers fairly often. (See my Laura Mercier Review on Girl Gloss).

Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation $43: I got a bit lucky here. I used to have a more expensive Dior foundation that I didn’t like, but I couldn’t find it for the challenge! I also sometimes have Armani foundation, which I love, but I happen to be out of it at the moment, leaving Laura Mercier as the most expensive that I had on hand. The silk cream must have been matched for me in winter. It was a bit on the light side for me!

Laura Mercier Concealer $30: This is my daily use concealer.

Make Up For Ever Duo Matte Powder $34 (read the MUFE Duo Matte Review): I add MUFE powder foundation over areas where I have hyperpigmentation and often brush it lightly on as a finishing powder.

Eyes and Cheeks

Here is my eye look:

Urban Decay Primer Potion $20: I regularly use this as my eye primer.

Chanel Le Regards de Chanel Palette $80 (see the Chanel swatches): I bought this limited edition palette last year and love the neutral shades in it. It is great for a fairly neutral smoky eye.

Shiseido Cream Eye Liner $26 (read the previous Shiseido liner review). I love this pot liner. I forgot that I had it! I might have had more expensive liners around, but I didn’t try to add those up to figure it out.

Le Metier de Beaute Mascara $34 (read the Le Metier Mascara review): This was an item that was sent to me by a company representative and it happens to be in blue. I love this mascara and fortunately I like blue mascara. The couple of times that I was sent samples from Le Metier they were odd shades (such as black lip gloss), which made doing an objective review difficult. So this was one of the few items I reviewed since I do like blue lashes!

Estee Lauder Brow Kit $32 (see my previous Estee Lauder Brow Kit review) : This kit includes a taupe pencil, highlight pencil, and brow gel. All that you need!

Bobbi Brown Bridal Palette Blush $50: I love the blush in the Bobbi Brown Bridal Palette. In fact I love the palette as a whole. This is a rather pigmented blush, so I wear it light and then blend it well with the next item on the list.

Guerlain Meteorites $58: These little balls of illuminating powder are perfect for blending, highlighting, or for overall illumination. I like to blend my blush with it.

Lips

Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Liner $18: I use a neutral brown/pink lip liner under a stain, followed by lipstick and gloss for a super long wear lip look. The lip look I did here made it through dinner and two glasses of beer before I touched it up!

MAC Pro Longwear Lip Stain Marker (see my review on Girl Goss) $16: I don’t think these are still available. I love this stain as a great under color for lipstick that will wear well.

Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Rouge Orage (see my Girl Gloss Swatches) $33: I love this lipstick and wear it a lot. In fact, I am nearing time to buy another one! I also often wear a YSL lipstick that is about the same price.

Cargo Blu Ray Gloss $24: I think I might have more expensive glosses but I didn't want to try to price my whole collection. This was at least one of the sort of pricier ones and I didn’t have any Dior left, which would have cost more.

Skin Care

Outside of makeup, we have been adding up skin care and tools as well. These are the most expensive items that I typically use, and not including special weekly treatments.

Creme de la Mer $140 (here are 5 great uses for Creme de la Mer): I regularly use Creme de la Mer as an eye cream. I also use it all over when my skin is dry, although right now I have been on the oily side.

M Lab Cleanser $60: M lab makes great products. They are pricy, but I love them!

M Lab Anti-Aging Brightening Serum $65: One of my go to melasma treatment products. Also see my M Lab review of a number of their items). I also regularly use PCA products, but they are not quite to the M Lab price range.

Ole Henriksen Sheet Transformation $45: This is my go to night cream. It is light, which I like when my skin is oily.

Estee Lauder Day Wear $45: This is pretty much my standby product for light moisture with SPF.

Tools

I don’t have an expensive brush collection. The priciest I have are all MAC. I often use cheaper brushes too, such as EcoTools, Essence of Beauty, Crown, or BH Cosmetics. Here the MAC brushes I used for this look:

MAC Large Powder Brush $42

MAC Angled Contour Brush $35

MAC Regular Powder Brush $35

MAC Large Eye Shader Brush $31: I use this on a lot.

MAC Short Shader Brush $25

MAC Blending Brush $23: This is always my go to blending brush.

MAC Retractable Lip Brush $23

Revlon Eyelash Curler $5: I don’t have an expensive curler!

Beauty Blender Sponge $20: I love this for applying foundation!

Totals

Whew! So here are the totals!

Total Makeup: $530

Total Skin Care: $355

Total Tools: $ 259

Grand Total: $1144

You can buy the items listed here at Nordstrom and/or Sephora

Visit the rest of the Makeup Wars bloggers to see their most expensive looks!

Disclosure, some of the items in the post were provided to me by representatives of the company. These are: Several of the Laura Mercier products, M Lab, Shiseido, Le Metier de Beaute, MAC Pro Longwear, and some of the MAC Brushes.

Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

Filed Under: Blush, Concealer, Eye Liner, Eyeshadow, Face Products, Foundation, Makeup, Makeup Primer, Makeup Wars, Mascara, Palettes and Collections, Powder, Skin Care Tagged With: Brushes, Cargo, Chanel, Guerlain, La Mer, Laura Mercier, Le Metier de Beaute, M Lab, M.A.C., Makeup, Makeup Forever, Makeup Wars, Revlon, Shiseido, Skin Care

May 20, 2012

Make-up Tools Every Woman Should Own

May 20, 2012 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Every woman wants to look naturally beautiful, but it takes a lot of work to do so, and the right tools for the job are a must! With so many different brushes and tools on the market, what are the best and what are essential?

30 Days of Beauty Day 19: Choosing the Right Makeup Brushes and Tools

Here is a look at the most vital make-up tools a woman should own:

TWEEZERS

Keeping a pair of tweezers handy is a must for all women. This is the only way to keep your eyebrows neat and your whole face stubble-free. Invest in good quality tweezers with a slant tip and keep in mind that many Tweezers will dull after about six months of weekly use. Be sure to buy a new pair twice a year or so.

EYELASH CURLER

Not every woman uses an eyelash curler. However, the women that do use it will swear by its powers to make eyes look bigger and lashes look longer. All women should at least give the eyelash curler a week-long trial run.

How to use an eyelash curler: 1. Start with clean and dry eyelashes. 2. Only curl your upper lashes. 3. Clamp the curler down on lashes near the root and hold for five seconds. 4. Next move to the tips of the lashes and clamp again. 5. Apply mascara

For extra curling, try using a blow dryer. Blow warm air on the eyelash curler for five seconds to heat it up slightly. Be sure to check how hot the metal rim is before you touch it to your eyelid, then curl your lashes.

EYE SHADOW BRUSH

For every shade of eye shadow you wear, it is helpful to keep a corresponding brush. At the very least, use one brush for lighter shades and a different brush for dark shades and clean the brush often. The little foam applicators that come in most eye shadow containers usually are not particularly effective and can be tossed. The best eye shadow brushes are no larger than the size of your pinky finger and have a slightly rounded end.

LIP BRUSH

You can save an awful lot of lipstick by using a brush to apply it as opposed to smearing the tube directly onto your lips. The most chic and elegant way to apply lipstick is as follows:

1. Line lips with a lip liner that matches your lipstick color as close as possible. 2. Also fill in the lips with the liner color as a primer for the lipstick. 3. Using a small lip brush, dab the brush onto the lipstick tube and fill in the lips. 4. Carefully close lips around a tissue to absorb any excess. 5. Close lips around one finger and pull finger out slowly. This will keep lipstick from rubbing off on your teeth.

When it comes to using a lip brush, Brooke Pakulski from Blushing Noir also has this tip:

A good makeup brush tip, if you don't like using a lip brush, you can use a firm pencil brush (like the MAC 219) to apply and distribute lipstick or gloss. I do this because I can't stand the streaks a lip brush causes and the time it takes to use it! This is especially a good tip if you have medium or full sized lips!

KABUKI BRUSH

The kabuki brush is the very wide and fat brush that is seen in most professional make-up bags. The brush is an absolute must-have for women who use powder to absorb oily spots or who use mineral makeup. The ideal kabuki brush must be very soft and made of nylon fibers to best apply powder. It is best to clean the kabuki brush once a month with shampoo and warm water. Allow it to dry naturally.

EYELINER PRESS BRUSH

This is a very slender flat brush that is intended for applying eyeliner. In the alternative you can try an angled liner brush. Use it to press shadow against the lids to use as eyeliner. The best eyeliner press brush is flat and no longer than ¼ inch in length. As with the kabuki brush, an eyeliner press brush should be cleaned monthly with a bit of soap and warm water.

QUALITY SPONGES OR FOUNDATION BRUSH

Sponges are perfect for the application of makeup and tinted foundation or primer. One favorite in particular is the the Beauty Blender Sponge which is bigger and uniquely shaped. Madeleine Homes of Peace Love Lipgloss says this about it: “For make-up tools, I adore the Beauty Blender Sponge. When used damp any one can easily apply their foundation for a professional airbrushed look.”

If you prefer, you can also use a brush for foundation. Emily Hudspeth of Emily Hudspeth-Bringing the Beauty to You gave us this tip:

There are a number of ways that you can apply foundation. You can use a brush, a sponge, beauty blender, or your fingers. As if those weren't enough options, there are quiet a few foundation brushes that you can pick from.

My favorite brush to use is a stippling brush. In my personal makeup bag, I use the Sephora brand stippling brush, $35. I have the same brush in my professional kit. I also have the more economical option, from ELF $3.

There are a few reasons that I love this brush. You can see that it is multi-layered, the 2 different lengths of soft bristles pick up the perfect amount of foundation (so you waste less) and softly blends the product onto your skin for a soft, airbrushed look. I also love that you can use this brush with both liquid and powder foundations. You can use the same brush to apply your liquid foundation, then set with a loose powder.

Beauty Blogger Brush Tips

Aside from getting a basic kit of tools, you also must care for them. Marcia Friedman from Beauty Info Zone gives these tips for brush cleaning:

Two tips to keep your brushes in excellent shape and save you money

1) Use a ScotchBrite microfiber cloth to wipe eye shadow and blush pigment off your brushes. While its not deep cleaning it gets the brushes clean and ready to reuse instantly.
2) To clean the brush you use with gel liners use an eye makeup remover pad like Almay's Non-oily ones. Fold the pad in half and smooth it over the eyeliner brush. All the gel comes out and your brush never splays.

Stephanie Louise Telford from Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful also provided a couple of great tips:

While traveling, pick up a mini size of baby shampoo to clean brushes. It is clearly visible to the airport security & you won't worry about your good stuff getting everywhere.

Instead of trying to take your favorite cleanser in a tiny bottle on the plane, buy some makeup wipes. These will remove makeup, clean skin, & allow you to "refresh" yourself while traveling as well. These are not subject to the liquid airline rules either. My favorite kind are baby wipes which are also very affordable! You can also wipe dirty makeup brushes on these after use in a pinch.

Want a few more brush buying and care suggestions? See our previous articles:

The Best Makeup Brushes

How to Clean Makeup Brushes (on Girl Gloss)

Need to buy some?

Shop for Makeup Brushes

Day 20, Tomorrow: Covering Up, All About Concealer

Filed Under: 30 Days of Beauty, Brushes Tagged With: 30 Days of Beauty, BeautyBlender, Brushes

May 24, 2011

Back to Basics: How to Apply Blush

May 24, 2011 By Carleenp 1 Comment

Today as part of our back to basics series, we have a guest writer covering how to apply blush. If you enjoy this, you might also like our previous makeup tip posts on How to Apply Eye Shadow and How to Apply Foundation.

The technique for properly applying blush, fully highlighting or creating the illusion of high cheek bones without drawing too much attention to the color itself, has become one of the most coveted pieces of beauty advice in recent years. The trend has moved away from the one-size-fits-all method of applying a quick flush of posy pink, while contouring has taken center stage. Learning how to apply blush, however, doesn't have to be intimidating. Just a bit of planning and finesse, along with a little practice, will bring your technique up to par in no time.

Step 1: Prepare the Surface. After cleansing with a product designed for your skin type, dry thoroughly by gently patting the skin with a clean cloth instead of wiping it in order to retain natural moisture. Next apply a toner and moisturizer to smooth the skin and shrink pores to ensure that blush applies evenly. If you're short on time you might consider using a 3-in-1 product for this step, like Arcona's Cranberry Toner.

Step 2: Select Between Powder or Cream. Dry skin usually does best with cream, while other skin types can generally handle powder quite well. However, there are powders available now that are non-irritating for those with acne or dry skin problems. For a powder that is all-natural but also has a creamy texture, try Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals blush.

Bare Escentuals Blush

Step 3: Choose Your Color. Blush colors can be categorized by their appropriateness for skin tone, making the selection process much simpler. In general, fair skin tones look best with shades of pink, medium tones with peach or brown, and dark tones with reds and berries. However, that still leaves quite a range of options for each category, so be willing to experiment until you find a few that work best for you. Also, remember that your best colors will likely change with the seasons, so update your shade as your complexion warms with the weather.

Step 4: Select the Proper Tools. If you have chosen a cream blush, try never to apply with the fingertips if possible. Rubbing cream in with the fingers can lead to blemishes and can be rough on delicate facial skin, so use a disposable sponge applicator instead. For powders, use a contoured brush designed specifically for blush rather than a powder brush to get a more natural angled effect. You might try Urban Decay's Good Kharma Blush Brush. Or, see our previous article on the Best Makeup Brushes.

Urban Decay Good Karma Brush

Step 5: Apply Blush. In Step 4 we discussed getting an angled effect from your blush, which simply means that the face appears slimmer, younger, and more defined due to the visual effect of highlighting the upper cheekbones instead of the fuller section near the nose. Fortunately, a contoured brush does much of this work for you. For creams, an angled sponge does the same. However, in either case the application is important as well. Color should be stronger near the cheekbones, a bit less pronounced beneath, and should continue toward the hairline without reaching it, stopping just outside the eyes. Apply a single layer of blush at a time, adding and blending slowly until the desired color intensity is reached.

While more advanced techniques for applying blush are available, these steps outline the basic foundation to creating a modern look.

Filed Under: Blush, Makeup Tagged With: Arcona, Bare Escentuals, Blush, Brushes, Urban Decay