My FAVORITE brush!

(I had to take a break from reading and learning... a blog post would be a picker upper and fix)

Anyone who knows me or has at least seen my makeup stash, you'd know that I have an obsession for nice makeup brushes. I never realized how important or how big of a difference a makeup brush can make. When I was younger, inexperienced... long before the day I fell in love and the birth of my obsession , I thought that people overpayed for makeup brushes and were ridiculous. Seriously... I was like, "who the heck would pay that much for some hair glued to a stick?"

I was WRONG. So, so SOOOOOO wrong!

Why do I love good brushes? Let me count the ways... or reasons... LOL!

1. You don't shed on me. Seriously... an annoyance of mine is when the makeup regime is going smoothly and then you look closer and see that a few strands from your makeup brush have found their ways and stuck on to your face below the otherwise would have been flawless foundation. FML moment, right? Ugh... then you have to pick it off your skin... then the once nearly flawless foundation had lost its smooth. Grrr!

2. You don't make me look like a kid had just got done playing finger painting on my face.

3. You allow me to blend so smoothly and freely. Ladies (and some boys)... come on... BLEND, BLEND, BLEND!! Hard lines to separate your foundation, blush, eyeshadows, bronzers... they are NOT okay!

4. You don't make my hands sticky and dirty. Imagine if brushes didn't exist. You'd have to use your hands to apply something... then wash it in between every product application... and so on, and so forth. We were only given two hands. Brushes... we are given (or sold) hundreds if we'd like!

5. I just love you, okay!?!?!

I have tried using some cheap brushes... you know, the ones that you can get for 99 cents? Or often times, free!? (Don't get me wrong... there are some great quality brushes for cheap, but you know what I mean? The ones that you only purchase just because its cheaper! You'd be lucky to get good quality brushes for free... I always do a happy dance if that is ever the case and so should you!) Anyway, there are some brushes that LOOK good, but are horrible!

Do NOT go for hard bristles that can possibly scratch your skin! Okay... I ordered these brushes from eBay once and I swear, I felt like a cactus just jogged across my face. Never again am I ordering brushes that I have never felt or tried... I don't care if its $1 with free shipping... never ever again! Thats a waste of a dollar I could have spent on a McChicken!

Do NOT just look for soft brushes. Yes, I know it sounds contradicting, but finding the right brushes can be difficult. There are many soft brushes up there... but do they pick up any pigment? Nope. So... why do you have them again?

What do YOU look for when you shop for brushes? Just curious.

My favorite brush that I actually am needing another one of at the moment?

Yes, I do realize that its $42 for a full sized brush. BUT... if you find it in a set (usually the anniversary or half yearly sale at Nordstrom or other MAC stores), then jump on it right away! Sure, its $49.50, but you get 5 brushes (usually) and if it comes with this duo fibre brush, then you can't go wrong. TRUST ME! I have tried a few other "duo fibre" brushes, but they are just not the same. People use these for powders... which works great! But personally, I like it for liquid foundation because it gives you a nice, soft blend and it doesn't cake on thick like how most other brushes that are made for liquid foundations. If you are looking for something to apply a heavy look, this might not be for you, but it is for someone who wants something light and natural looking.

I've been through so many of these... not because they fall apart or anything, but because I usually lose them by misplacing them or mixing them up with friends' when they come over or we go out or on vacation or something. (Sucks, I know) I used to give this baby away to my sister whenever it came with a set that I buy because I figured I already have one, but man... these things are precious and I will never ever give one away again. Not because I am selfish but because... okay fine... I am selfish and I want to keep it for myself. Sue me!

I still have an old one that came with the first set I've ever bought in 2002... and I still use it today... 2 days before it flips 2010! 8 years... I need to put that baby to rest. Its also frustrating because when I use liquid foundations, you know that it gets dirty in the brush and I'd have to wash it EVERY day and this can get harsh on the bristles. BUT... I love it too much to apply foundation any other way. Therefore, I should just have more of these and switch them up, right?

Give it a shot, and if you don't like it, hand it my way! OR... you can just get two... one for you and one for me? THANKS... you are so kind! ;)

PRIME... all the TIME!

A few years ago, I participated in a Smashbox Model Search type competition online. It wasn't anything serious and honestly, I just wanted to win some free makeup after a photographer told me about the contest and prize and encouraged me to enter. Yes, I did remind people to vote for me (thanks, by the way) and I made it to the Top 50 nationally and won about $300 worth of makeup! YAY me!!

One of the products that I won was this:



I fell in LOVE with it and it was the first time I had ever used a face primer and since then, I swear by face primers! They really do make a huge difference and they are great to wear alone!

After spending how much ever dollars at Sephora, I was rewarded with a sample.... and one of them was this:


Okay... I found a new love! The other day while I was at Sephora, I treated myself to a full bottle of this baby and am currently stroking my face as I type this! (You're welcome for the visuals... lol) I love the feel of it because its so silky feeling and absorbs so well!

Don't get me wrong... I love the Smashbox primer still, but I go through those things so quickly that it can get really expensive! Another thing that I don't like about both of these is the packaging. You usually can't use it to the last drop unless you are lucky enough to find it in a pressure type of pump (not the regular one, but the one that actually literally pushes the product out of there). Good luck with that!

Anyway, I highly recommend both of these, but if you are like me and want to save a few bucks, go with Tarte! They're both fabulous but I feel that the Smashbox one is lighter if you don't want anything too heavy. However, the Tarte one is extra smooth and silky feeling and the heavier side might be beneficial for those with rough/dry spots on your face (like me around my nose area).

Let me know what you think about them! Happy face priming!

Hope... my new obsession!

I've always loved philosophy's line... especially with their cute packaging that was simple, yet catchy and different and interesting. I always felt like their product was too expensive (though I have spent more on other stuff, unfortunately), so I never really gave it a shot except for gift sets I would get from people or small gift sets that I would get for myself.

After trying a small sample of this, I was in love:



I just HAD to go back and get some more because it was something that really worked for my dry skin that seemed to be more of a problem in cold weather (as it is for most). Its the only thing that really keeps my nose area hydrated all day long without making my face feel sticky, heavy, or icky. I love this thing!! I admit... the smell isn't very pleasant, but you get kind of used to it and its not that bad after awhile considering the miracles that its doing for my skin, bring on a skunk and I'd be okay with it! (Okay not really)

Its a moisturizer that hydrates, exfoliates, and protects... what more can you ask for? LOVE it!

If you haven't already, give it a try and let me know what you think because personally, I love it! Sure, its a bit more expensive than the moisturizers that I can afford, but it really is an investment if I only have to use a quarter as much prodct as I would my usuals. And to find something that actually works? Priceless!!

Have you tried it? Use it? Love it? Hate it? What do you think! Do share!

OGRE!!

Feeling a bit OGRE status lately. Okay fine... A LOT ogre status. Ugh. I love food too much and am too damn lazy for my own good.

Hopefully with the help of my new online workout coach/nutritionist, that can change. She seems very healthy and from what I see... WISE!

Now, if only I can actually follow through on all that she's taught me.

I need someone to kick my ass and I need to rekindle my love for my gym again. What ever happened to the sparks and flames we once had? WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO!?!

(one of my all time favorites)