So I went to Marshalls today. Sooo not looking for makeup. I happen to walk in a small section of beauty. Well I couldn't just walk pass and not see whats out there. Then, there it was all alone. The only one there.....calling me. I looked and saw it was e.l.f. and was going to pass on it because I already have an e.l.f. palette and an palette from Belk that looks just like this but bigger. How ever....knowing all of that I still felt that this one may be different in some way. So I looked at the price and it had a BIG red sticker that said $16. So my decision was made and here we are.
When I started touching the colors, I was amazed at how soft and pigmented they were. First I touched the 4 shades in the center which are the 4 bronzers. They were very soft and easy to blend. So I was hoping the eyeshadows would be just as soft and .......they are. There are only a hand full of matte colors and the rest are all shimmer or a satin finish. There are 64 eyeshadow shades so....lots to play with. The blushes are the for on the left side. I can see me using some of these as eyeshadows as well. Too lite for a stand alone blush....on my skintone but pretty as a highlight. Then last but not least....the 8 glosses on the right side. i have not had a chance to swatch them yet but. I will definitely keep you posted when I try them.
This is the cleanser I just started using today! So far I like the way it foams and its leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean and not dry. I will review this product once Ive been using it for a while but so far so good. Below is a small description on the product to explain a bit more about it and what it claims to do..
A soap-free, foaming gel designed to thoroughly remove impurities without disturbing the skin's natural moisture balance. Calming Balm Mint and Lavender extracts soothe the skin, while natural Quillaja Saponaria gently foams away toxins and deep-cleanses debris. Fragrance free. Professional recommendation advised.
So these are just a few of my many brushes. Over the past 2 or three years I have been buying brushes here and there. I would just buy because the price is rite. I don't have a bunch of expensive M.A.C. brushes. I have to work with my budget and what I can afford. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having all M.A.C. brushes. They are just not in MY budget. (like I would like them to be)
I will share what my faves are as it changes as I learn. Mind you these are not all of my brushes, but my go to brushes lately.
FOUNDATION
These are my favorite brushes for applying foundations. I always use a liquid or a cream. Both of these brushes gives a airbrush finish and makes blending easy and quick. At the top is an e.l.f. powder brush but I find it awesome for blending out foundation. The brush on the bottom is a Real Techniques brushes by Samantha Chapman or you may now her as pixiwoo on youtube. Loooooooove these brushes. For the most part they are all very affordable. The e.l.f. Brush is $3 at Target and the Real Techniques brush was about $7.99 and I got it at Ulta.
POWDER
So these are my go to brushes for powder. I use the Real Techniques brush to buff in powder or miniralized skin finish from M.A.C. I have also used this brush for liquids as well. The Real Techniques brush is very soft and is awesome for multitasking. I'm so in love with that brush. The Brush above is a C108 Flat Bronzer brush from Crown Brush. I forget how much is was but I'm sure it was under $10 I have had this brush for about 3 to 4 weeks and I love it to buff in the mineralized skin finish and buff it in. I wished it was a bit softer but I love it anyway.
CONCEALER
As far as concealers go. These are my go to brushes.
This is a Amazing Cosmetics concealer brush. I got a starter kit and in it was a concealer with the brush, a mineral foundations and a pressed setting powder. This is a good brush for applying the perfect amount of concealer to what ever area you need it applied to. I use to apply too much and really didn't like the outcome. But using this brush deposits the perfect amount. Its synthetic and easy to clean.
This is a Real Techniques pointed foundation brush. I have never used it as a foundation brush but i have used it to blend out concealer under the eye area. It fits perfect in that area and blends very well. I find that the bristles kind of stick me a little but. Other than that...love that brush.
This is the contour brush. I love using this brush for setting my concealer. It also fits under the eye area perfectly. This brush is very soft. Its also good for liquid foundations as well as great or contouring the cheek bones.
BLUSH
This is the Real Techniques Blush brush. I love how fluffy and soft this brush is. it is perfect for applying any loose powder for setting foundation or just a light dust of powder. It applies blush very well and is very easy to use with just one swipe. This was the first Real Techniques brushes I bought. It was about $7.99 Very affordable.
This blush Brush is a C141 Chisel Blush brush from Crown. I don't remember how much this was. But again I'm thinking it was under $10 This brush is very firm and not one the my softer brushes....how ever. It is great for contouring the face as well as applying blush. I would only use this for applying powders and not liquids.
EYES
These are just a few a my favorite go to eye brushes. They range from paint brushes to regular eye brushes. They consist of eyeshadow, crease, and highlight brushes.
These are the type of crease brushes i usually go to. The one on the left is a Revlon crease brush. If i remember rite I got it from Walmart for like $5 Revlon makes awesome brushes. They was well and I never have a shedding problem. Love them. The one on the right is a studio tools crease brush from Target. This brush was probably about $2 and some change. I love studio tools brushes......They are awesome for beginners.
This is the type of eyeshadow brushes I tend to go to. Its not shown but the Sonia Kashuk is a part of my go to brushes. On the left is a Lowel Cornelle paint brush from Michales craft store. Awesome eyeshadow brush. The brush in the middle is a studio tools Medium eyeshadow brush and the brush on the right is a e.l.f. eyeshadow brush. The e.l.f. brush is the only brush that sheds. But for $1 i can deal with that.
These brushes i use for a number of things. The brush on the left is a Lowel Cornell brush from Michael's craft store. I use it for smudging and getting into small areas of the eye. The brush on the right is a Avon round crease brush. It also get into small areas and smudges really well.
LIPS
I don't use lip brushes much but if I do, these are my go to.......the brush on the left is a Real Techniques detailer brush this is awesome for apply any lip color. The brush on the rite is a paint brush from Michales craft store. I also have a smaller version of this brush as well. They are
e synthetic and easy to clean. Love them.
These are probably my most favorite brushes. The brush on the left is the e.l.f. "C" brush. The brush on the right is a Bed Head "Love" brush. They are kind of similar but the Bed Head brush is more dense. I also love it for applying highlight on the brown bone.
Well that concludes my favorite go to brushes.....I hope this helps you decide
on what brushes you may need or what to do with the brushes you have. Thanks much!
The Real Techniques brushes comes in this cute little brush holder. The two on the left i bought separately but the four on the right is what came in the set. Cute brush holder.
So, I'm so in love with this palette. As you can see it has 17 beautiful colors and also comes with a lid primer, eyeliner and mascara. This is my first time owning any of the tarte eye shadows And it is limited addition as well. I had to have this palette as I am a huge TrueBlood fan. In this collection (not shown) It also has a limited-edition cheek stain and lip stain. Not sure if I will be getting those but I'm thinking about it.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND TO THIS PALETTE
This is an exclusive, limited-edition palette packed with 17 killer new richly pigmented eye shadows infused with Amazonian clay for pure color payoff, silky application and ling wear. (Amazonian clay helps balance skin moisture and oil levels) From ethereal goddess to vampy vixen, you can create countless looks using these shimmering, matte and smoky shades. Includes a full size emphasEYES aqua-gel eyeliner in black, a deluxe lights, camera, lashes! clinically-proven natural mascara and a deluxe lifted natural eye primer with firmitol to help you complete your look. (firmatol is a natural eye primer "by tarte" that is clinically proven to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Now that you know a little a bout tarte. Below I swatched the palette for you. They are all swatched on bare skin and no primer or base.
Top: the light
Bottom: dawn
From top to Bottom: fair, werewolf, charmer, bayou
From top to Bottom: dusk, waitress, glamour me, telepath moss
From top to Bottom: noctural, stake, the true death, legend
