Let’s talk about makeup tools.
You can spend all the money you want on fancy
makeup. Lots of money on YSL, Chanel, Dior etc. But if you got your brushes
from Wal-Mart or the dollar store, you are going to notice that your expensive
makeup still looks icky on your face.
You must have a good “foundation” for that
makeup. And by foundation, I mean application process. There are different
methods and some people like certain ones, while others are adamant about their
method of choice.
Brushes: Spending $20 plus dollars on one brush
might seem absurd. I know that when you are standing there and all you have is
one tiny little brush in your hand, you think “why would I get this when I can
go to Wal-Mart and get a whole set for $20” But let me tell you this….THE
HIGHER QUALITY THE BRUSH THE BETTER APPLICATION YOU WILL HAVE. I have had
numerous people comment that my brushes are so soft and when they look in the
mirror after I finish with their face, they are amazed at what the brushes did
for their eyes/face/lips. You can reuse
them, you MUST clean them. I know so many of you out there do not clean your
brushes. Imagine this: you dip your
brush in your eye shadow/foundation, apply it to your face and then walk away.
The next day you do the same. But you re-dip it in the makeup, depositing
whatever bacteria happened to be growing on that brush overnight. Over and over
you do that, until you realize you are starting to break out. You apply acne
cream, but continue using those dirty brushes. Many of you don't realize that it's essential to clean your brushes at a minimum 1x per week. Many think just professional makeup artists need to clean their
brushes so they don’t transmit between clients. But you should pretend you are
just like me and clean your brushes every time. There are many brush cleaners
out there, or you could just use warm water and a bit of dish soap. Just PLEASE, starting now; can you please clean those brushes? You spent good money on them;
take care of that investment which will in turn take care of that beautiful
skin on your face!
These are some brushes that are great quality, and receive my recommendation.
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| Sedona Lace Brushes |
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| Crown Brushes |
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| Sigma Brushes |
Sponges: They are inexpensive, can be used wet
or dry, come in a variety of textures and shapes, and can get hard to reach
areas like around the nose. They are great for blending foundation into the
hairline. However, they harvest bacteria after their first use, they absorb up
to 50% of your product, making you have to go out and spend more money to buy
the product since half of it is ending up on your sponge. All of this I am
speaking of is referring to the sponges you can buy at target, wal-mart, cvs,
etc.
But let’s talk about the Beauty Blender. It’s expensive, starting around
$20 or more. It’s fairly small too, you expect more for $20. So already when
you buy it, you are kind of resenting it. “Darn you for being so expensive but
so small!”
But then you use it. The sponge is so gentle and
the application is so beautiful. You just stipple the product onto the skin
(stipple means just repeatedly pat over and over). You use the smaller end for
blending concealer and then the bigger end for foundation application. It’s so
flawless. I like to use it a bit damp, but you can also use it dry. As with any
quality product, you need to wash it after every use. After you wash it out
thoroughly, just set it in a well ventilated area for it to dry. It just needs
overnight and you will be good to go. I highly recommend this product. And it
took me FOREVER to get around to buying it, because of the price. But I can’t
speak enough on how awesome it is. I used it on both of my ladies this weekend
who I did makeup on. Flawless, absolutely breathtakingly flawless. Go to www.beautyblender.com to purchase
online, or ULTA, any pro makeup store like Naime’s (Sherman Oaks) or Nigel’s
(North Hollywood). I believe both of those makeup stores ship anywhere in the
country if you go to their websites.
Fingers: Many people love to use fingers to
apply makeup. The natural heat from our fingers warm up the foundation and
provide a nice and even coverage. However, there is a reason your mom told you
not to touch your face as a teenager. Our fingers are oily and have bacteria on
them. So buy putting them in your makeup and on your face, they become a transportation
for bacteria to breed and cause acne. If you do prefer using your fingers as a
way to apply your makeup, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before and
after application.
What’s my favorite? I like a combination. I’ve
been using my Beauty Blender for foundation and concealer blending. I use a
brush for my eyeshadows, eyebrows, blushes, bronzer etc. If I use my fingers,
it’s my ring fingers to pat out/blend my concealer is around my eyes. I’m like
a mutt, a Heinz 57 mix of all the tools.
What do you use? Are you inspired to try
something different?
Here are some links to the products I've mentioned:
Don't forget
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XOXO,
Amelia St. John
