How To Wash Your Makeup Brushes

 I know a lot of you have asked for it and I was finally able to settle down and do it =). Enjoy!!!

Quick Looks Green & Pink

 If you'll notice I have one pink and one green eye. The fun never stops here! Hope everyone is having a fabulous March! I wanted to do more looks utilizing the 88 palette because there really are SO many different combinations. The possibilities are ENDLESS!!! =)

Buyer's Remorse

Sad but true, we all spend money on products that we regret. Here are a few of my impulse (and some not so impulse) buys that I regret. What are yours?

Christmas Is Coming!!!

So, being married, I know that sometimes our husbands need a little help with what we may want. I know sometimes my hubby gets this panicked look near Christmas Eve and asks for some "alone" time. Out he whisks to the store, frantically calling my mother and all of my friends. I think he's learned, somewhat, that to start earlier in the month is goooooooood....say it with me hunny....gooooooooood!!!! For basic makeup needs I enlisted that same darling husband to help design this Christmas list. These are things that I would ask for if I were just starting out. You can click on the list and print it out and give it to your someone or buy it yourself, be powerful =). It comes out somewhat small so it can be travel size. If you have any questions on what to get from MAC or Sephora please ask. I could go on forever of what to get and what NOT to spend money on! Merry Christmas!!! 

AM 590 Tips Cosmetics Brushes

Cosmetics brushes can make or break your look but they can be pricey when purchased at department stores. Well never fear!!!! You can buy duplicate craft store brushes made from the same natural fibers (goat hair) as you will find at MAC. Here is a list of ones I use EvErYday:

Maxine's Mop (by Loew Cornell) 3/8" is a duplicate for MAC's #239 brush. The 239 is $24.50 and the Maxine's Mop is $3.95. What a STEAL right??? Right now till June 20th if you click here you can get it for $2.77 and even enter the code DAD1 and get 10% off your entire order!!!!! This also applies for the Maxine's Mini Mop, the 1/2" and 1" Mops. Love them all!!! I even got mine signed by Maxine...yeah, I'm a nerd =).

This is the Loew Cornell 1/4" Rose Petal Brush. I use this for my eyebrows and couldn't AdOrE it more!!! You can buy it in stores for around $5.00 but click here to get it for $3.09!!!

You can click on that most recent link to also find these great Loew Cornell brushes for powder and blush needs. The XXL Round Mop at $10.25 (on sale at the second link for $6.15) compares to MAC's #150 which will run you $42. For blush, MAC has the #129 at $34 but good 'ole Loew Cornell comes through with the Large Round Mop at $7.89 (on sale at the second link for $4.73).

Now this next one is also one of my all time FAVS as this is what I use EvErYday for my liquid last liner from MAC. This is the Loew Cornell 1/8" Angular Shader brush. In stores for $5.79, but here for $2.90.

There are also some great brush sets that can be found at the Coastal Scents site. This 13 piece set is only $16.95 and got a 4 out of 5 star rating.

At Target I LOVE the Sonia Kashuk line, especially this brush which I mostly use for cream blush application. It was $14.99 and worth every penny!!!

I want to stress that there are cheap brushes everywhere but with most, you get what you pay for. These I have used, tested and reviewed and have found them to be worthy of notice. I haven't had ANY bristles fall out (HUGE pet peeve!) and they all blend really well. I recommend them and hope to hear how you liked them as well.

My Must Have Brushes For Leigh Anne =)

Having purchased quite a few brushes good and bad these are my must haves starting from #1 most important on down. If you are just building up your brush supply then start at the top =)!!!

#239

#217

#272

#187

#222
These are the brushes that I LOVE and use ALL the time. I have 2 #17s and the #239. The 239 can also be found at the craft store for only $4.95!!!!!!!!! It is not the same brush but just as good. It is the Maxine's Mop 3/4" Loew Cornell brand. I have also gotten my eyeliner brush (see below) and many more paint brushes there. See older post: Brushes Can Be Cheap.

Answers For Becky =)

Great questions!!! To see what she asked, look at the comments under the last post. I LOVE the craft store brushes and recommend the Maxine's Mop 1/4" and the Mini Mop also from Maxine. The Mini Mop is PeRfEcT for doing shadow on the bottom lash line and the 1/4" is comparable to the MAC #239 brush. When going to the department store, I would ask any of the girls to do your makeup!!!! Try not to ask on Friday or the weekend when they might be busier or all of a sudden Prom has come to town =). It seems Kev and I always decide to finally go out to eat and prom is going on.....annoying =). Make sure to tell them what you want and more importantly what you do NOT want. If you know that too much color looks AWEFUL on you to close to your eyebrows then TELL them!!! If you want to try something crazy, bring in a picture. Sometimes they will try to not go too crazy so that you will like it and maybe they don't know that you are super adventurous and really did want something CRAZY!!! For the eyebrows, I went in with makeup done and really just had questions and asked her to show me the way to use the stencil. She took off what I had and did it for me...no charge!!! MAC girls are not commissions based but if one of them is helping you it is good etiquette to let them be the one to help you till you purchase. Try to choose someone who has makeup on that you actually like, maybe they could do that look on you. You can go with or without makeup because if they do your eyes then they can take whatever you have off. If you go to an actual MAC store, then you get your whole face done and you need to spend at least $50 for it.

I MET MAXINE!!!!

So remember that I LOVE craft store paint brushes? Remember how I have encouraged you ALL to go out and get Maxine's Mop? Remember how Maxine is a friend of my Mother-In-Law's? Okay, enough of the remembers...I MET HER!!!!!! Let me just say that she is spunky, fun and FaBuLoUs!!!!! She was teaching a painting workshop out where my M-I-L also teaches so I went out there...and maybe I was a geek and got her to sign my brushes....and I was able to tell her about the blog and how we all love her brushes. I made sure to only use her brushes that morning too...I really am a nerd =). She was absolutely tickled and will be visiting the blog =). Isn't she lovely?

Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

When I said that the brush handle would mold eventually, I meant rot. Boy I am making lots of oops today =).

Makeup Brushes Can Be Cheap!!!!!

Well, let me clarify. They need to be made well but you don't have to spend your (or in my case) your husband's whole paycheck to get those quality bristles. These are paint brushes that I picked up at Michael's. They are Loew-Cornell brand and are made from the same fibers as MAC brushes. No, you cannot find a duplicate for every brush that MAC offers but here are some of the basics offered there. To see the details of exactly which ones you can get, visit the link on the side of the blog entitled Paint Brushes vs MAC Brushes. It will take you to EnKore. He is very gifted and teaches many things. I even made my own brush cleanser so that I didn't have to pay $10 at MAC. I love these brushes and use them soooo much. There is no fall out with the bristles and the handles are basically the same too!!!!