Makeup Brushes -MAC - #217 Blending
ilurvemakeup 2/8/2009 12:04:00 AM
This is by far my favorite MAC eye brush! I can use it all by itself to do a variety of different colored eye makeup look. I love it even more for undereye concealers! It blends way better than the other MAC blending brushes. There are drugstore blending brushes that do just a good job as the 217, but the 217 is a multipurpose all in one brush unlike some blending brushes. It can pack on color and smooth away color for a flawless gradient effect. I started using this brush more and more because I neglected it for so long due to my obsessiveness in purchasing so many different (brands) blending brushes. I don't use anything else now that I purchased 2 more of this - it's that good!
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - 227 Large Fluff Brush
ilurvemakeup 2/7/2009 11:58:00 PM
I was really hesitant to buy this brush at first thinking I don't really use a fluffy brush as much. After reading and watching reviews about this brush I decided to just go for it and I'm so glad I did! This brush performs like a pro and I wish I've gotten it sooner! I purchased a similar dome fluffy shaped brush from Coastal Scents thinking it was a 'dupe' but it was garbage! So don't get the one from CS the black handled one! Get this one, it will not disappoint! :) I did a smokey look and got a little carried away with my black eyeshadow and this brush smoothed it out for me! It also applies highlight very well and I use it to highlight the bridge of my nose when I contour. I love LURVE this brush! Don't let the price tag get in the way of you owning this amazing brush!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation
ilurvemakeup 2/7/2009 10:58:00 PM
>>> INITIAL REVIEW 2/7/2009: I've been using this foundation since its release and I am extremely happy with it! I normally stay far away from MAC liquid foundations cuz they tend to break me out so I am crossing my fingers that the formulation of this wonderful foundation doesn't do the same. I set it with my mineralize skinfinish & together (with the new Studio Sculpt Concealer) it gives my face a flawless look! I've applied it using my MAC 109, 188, 187 & Coastal Scents wide buffer brush and the results are flawless no matter which brush I used! It blends nicely and the coverage is buildable. Since it's winter time right now I tend to get dry & flaky skin and this foundation smooths out that problem for me (while using Aloe Vera Gel as a moisturizer & primer - great for winter dry skin! Gives my skin a smooth canvas for my foundation). Longest I've worn it is 7 hours and I didn't have to do a single touch up! My skin still looked flawless as if I just applied it :) I'm normally a NC30, but for some reason the NCs for this foundation are way too yellow! The NWs which normally looks way off on me are perfect with this foundation only - so weird lol! I got NW25 since NW30 seemed a bit darker, but I'm sure I will get it anyway as my summer shade. I absolutely LURVE this foundation - actually I love the whole Well Defined collection especially the creamy pot concealers! >>> UPDATE 6/29/09: This year, the summer weather is on and off, sometimes cold and then the next day extremely hot! The lower part of my face from my jawline, chin and half way through my cheeks is now dry. The rest is oily like it normally is in the summer. I find using a brush for the humid weather with this foundation gives me an oily feel, thick, unnatural look. I mixed this with moisturizer and I was not a fan of the texture at all! I also used my fingers, did not like it. So instead I've been using a damp sponge and I get a very nice thin layer with a nice dewy look. The NW25 still matches me, but I noticed it seems to darken as the day goes on when I'm exposed to the sun *shrugs* With the humid weather I like the natural dewy look it gives with the sponge and it doesn't look oily either! I have not broken out from this foundation since I got it back in February. >>> UPDATE 12/30/09: I've been using this foundation throughout the cold weather this year, two words - STILL AMAZING! This foundation has worked 10000x more to my benefit during the winter with my excessive dry flaky skin. My forehead has been a huge problem with tons of dry, flaky skin (which is hard to layer with makeup no matter how much moisturizer I pile on), the foundation has managed to not only make my skin look even and one tone, but kept moisture locked :D I've tried this with the wet sponge I was doing during the summer, but since my dry patches are horribad this season using synthetic foundation brush worked the best! I'm almost out of this foundation and it's been added to my 'MUST BUY' list! >>> UPDATE 3/1/10: I've been getting compliments throughout my flaky dry skin disaster this past winter '09-'10! This will be my last update and highly doubt it will change ever! Have not broken out once with this foundation since the day I purchased it! The only change since my initial review is that the tools used for application. During normal to oily days, any brush worked for me (I loved using a wet sponge for a dewy healthy look). Dry and flaky skin, the best tool for me was a synthetic brush. Dry with zero flaky skin, wet sponge worked great! So depending on your skins' behavior you get different results depending on the tools you use to apply it with. When you recognize the different finishes you get with which tool application, it really does work with any skin type. This is a buildable type foundation so do be careful when packing it on, little at a time works best! A+++++++++++ MAC STUDIO SCULPT FOUNDATION! OFFICIALLY MY HG FOUNDATION!
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Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance, Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
ilurvemakeup 5/25/2008 7:21:00 PM
I always used UDPP (Urban Decay Primer Potion) and after branching out to new eyeshadow brands I noticed it didn't blend as well. It would always leave harsh lines and I'd always have to pack on more shadows on to my brush just to blend it out. I also have oily lids so I always needed to use a secondary base like MAC Paint Pots just to keep my shadows from fading and creasing :( With Too Faced it makes blending heavenly!!! Plus the staying power is superb! Way better than UDPP! I did a before and after demonstration between UDPP and Too Faced, let's just say Too Faced passed with flying colors! :) You can find my demo review here: http://ilurvemakeup.blogspot.com/2008/05/demo-udpp-vs-too-faced-shadow-insurance.html
6 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No