Irina, over at The Beauty Vault, really lays it down when it comes to solid, affordable brushes. Around the 9 minute mark here in her Part I brush video, she even takes you secret shopping at Michaels Arts & Craft store! She’s a treat! Part I And as if to prove how complicated the subject […] Read more…
Archive of ‘Buying Advice’ category
The Pretty Forget-You-Nars-Ita-Brush
Tired of waiting for the Nars Ita or scrambling to get it during one of the small windows of inventory-opportunity? Well, here is what you’ve been waiting for. This is our recommended Forget-You-Nars-Ita-Brush! This brush is BETTER and even more artsy and cool than the Nars Ita! And it costs almost the same — $60 […] Read more…
Boo! Hoo! The Nars Ita is (apparently) Sold Out — Again!
In early March, we reported that the Nars Ita #21 was back in stock, as part of an update on our January story about how Nars can’t keep up with demand on this brush. When the brush returned to the market — only on the Nars website — the price had jumped to $55, up […] Read more…
Dear Becca: We Knew Your Brush Was Too Good to Be True
Let’s start with the *big* promise of Becca’s “The One Perfecting Brush,” which sells for $49. According to the claim on Sephora’s website: “This patent-pending brush cuts makeup application time in half by replacing 10 other brushes and tools.” Sounds great — if true! On its own website, Becca further states: “From start to finish, […] Read more…
Look Into My Sultry, Smoky Eyes …
And get out your notebooks, because smoky eyes can be complicated! But first, is it smoky or smokey, with the “e”, as many cosmetics marketers seem to believe? It definitely feels more Old English with the extra vowel, even though it’s not the preferred spelling anymore … Oh, bother. Smoky, smokey – you get the […] Read more…
OMG-to-the-WOW! – More Brush Videos We Love
We love All Things Tashia, who delivers an excellent and entertaining review of Real Techniques makeup brushes! In particular, she raves about the blush brush. You go, girl! Read more…
Is Exxy Sexy? Claudio Riaz – The Collection
Here’s the thing with paying a lot for something: It really raises your expectations. In the case of the Claudio Riaz Collection, which comes in at the heavyweight price of $1,525 — or, one thousand, five hundred and twenty-five dollars — that means that the bar is set very, very high relative to other brushes. […] Read more…
Brush Watch! INSTYLE’s Big Brush Spread
Don’t you love when your big fat ladies mag shows up in the mail! What treats inside! Spring is coming! Spring is coming! Anyway … InStyle dedicated FIVE pages to makeup brushes in its March issue, featuring the lovely Nicole Kidman on the cover. Highlights: Page One Beauty Shot of brushes – no real information. […] Read more…
What is the *Very* Best Brush for Applying Mineral Makeup?
Mineral makeup — tiny particles of mineral, such as iron oxide or talc, that have been ground, milled or micronized — has become one of the most popular types of foundation on the market, and its sellers proclaim many benefits for the skin. But the finish you achieve with those teensy-weensy particles has a great deal to […] Read more…
Don’t Care How, I Want it Now!
We love Sonia over at Sweet Makeup Temptations, and her absolute and epic dedication to Japanese makeup brushes. She recently wrote about her adventures, frustration and, essentially, gambling when it comes to buying makeup brushes off Japanese websites, without speaking a lick of Japanese and with a little help from Google Chrome. In her “Lost […] Read more…