Showing posts with label brushes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brushes. Show all posts

Monday, September 12, 2016

ESSENTIAL TWEEZERMAN BEAUTY TOOLS!

When you think of beauty tools what's the first thing that comes to your mind?

I instantly think of makeup brushes, tweezers and razors! Now imagine if you had to be without these tools? No way! I'm so dependant on beauty tools that I would be a complete mess, literally! 

As a makeup artist, makeup wearer and beauty lover I understand the importance of having reliable tools to achieve your look. I own several brands of brushes, lash glue and makeup but I tend to gravitate towards a select few tools that I know can rely on because I've done so in the past to help me get the job done with little fuss! That's why I was so happy when the good folks at Tweezerman sent me a few of their beauty tools to test out. I received 3 eyelash curlers, the iQ eye defining brush set and a funky print tweezer.



This set includes the iQ Line Glider brush , Shader brush and Blender brush. I used all 3 brushes on a model last weekend ( click here to view pictures on Instagram) and I was impressed by the quality of all the brushes, but the one that stole my heart was the Glider brush. The curved shape of the brush is really unique. I used gel liner and was able to pick up the product from my palette easily. I lightly lined the models' eyes and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to create a precise wing even with a curved tip brush. A wing liner is a bit tricky for me but the curve and the tip of the brush made it easier. I used the multifunctional Blender brush to pack on shadow to the lid and blend colours, then used the Shader brush to very lightly smoke out the bottom lash line. 




For years I've used the same lash curler from the drugstore on myself and clients. I have one in my kit and a similar one in my personal makeup bag. It never dawned on me ,until I was exposed to the ProCurl and ProMaster lash curlers, that the lash curler I've been using for years is a one size fits all. Does that make sense? How is that possible when we don't all have the same eye shape! Once I realized this, I did a quick search online to see if all other lash curlers from various brands were a one size fits all , and yes they were! 

The ProCurl and ProMaster are not a one size fits all beauty tool. They are part of Tweezerman Lash Logic series. These are specially tailored to suite diverse eye shapes such as almond, deep set and round eyes. ProCurl is created for round eyes and the ProMaster is for almond or deep set eyes. I have almond and deep set eyes so the ProMaster has become my new best friend. I've used it everyday since receiving it. I've also changed the silicone pad and used it on my almond eyed clients. It really does make a difference. The ProMaster is designed with an extra wide opening as almond eyes are typically larger and longer in length. The larger opening is designed to reach every lash and give it a nice curl.It really does reach every single lash!

ProCurl won Allure Magazines 2105 Best of Beauty Award and is for round eyes and opens to a 60 degree angle. It has the same comfort grip as the ProMaster and comes with 2 silicone pads. For best results the silicone pad should be changed every 3 months. I'm obsessed with rose gold so the ProCurl has been on display on my vanity since I received it! It adds a very nice touch to the space. YES! I do display beauty tools, especially if they look this pretty and shiny! I love the construction of both the ProCurl and ProMaster. They are sturdy and don't feel flimsy while I'm using them. 

As a makeup artist I always curl my clients lashes, regardless if they already have a natural curl. If I am applying false lashes, I curl the natural lashes first, then curl the false lashes before applying them for that extra oomph!

In my day to day makeup wear I used to curl my lashes 60% of the time, but now with the ProMaster I notice a really big difference so I started doing it everyday! Even if I'm not planning on wearing mascara that day I still curl them!



Tweezerman has created a portable version of their Classic lash curler. It folds in half and is very lightweight. It has a wide opening, but not as wide as the ProMaster. I particiulary love the bright pink handle and because it folds in half you don't have to compromise great lashes for space in your makeup bag!  This is a must have product for all you jet setters out there!



My eyebrows grow at a very unique rate, i.e. lightning speed , so I'm constantly trimming and tweezing my full brows. I instantly loved this mini tweezer for it's unique fun print and because the slant on the tweezers as well as the the size of the tweezer allow me to get really close to the short stubborn hairs I have. This print along with other funky prints also come in a full size but I personally prefer the mini for travelling convenience. 

I really enjoyed using these products and will invest in this and this from Tweezerman as well this gorgeous gun metal set ( giveaway anyone!!!!). You can buy Tweezerman products in all major drugstores around the globe.


Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review. The products were provided to me free of charge, however I was not asked for a favourable review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

8 Essential Brushes

Let's talk brushes!

You can buy the most expensive makeup on the market, but if you don't have the proper tools to apply that makeup, it's useless. Makeup brushes are the most important product in your makeup collection.  Since there are so many out there I've compiled a list of 8 Essential Makeup Brushes that you need to have in your makeup bag right now!







Real Techniques Powder Brush

This brush is used to dust powder on your face. Using a brush to apply powder vs using a puff will save you a lot of product and you'll achieve a more natural look. The brush has synthetic bristles, is hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free. I like that it's a fluffy brush and allows for even distribution of the product on to the face.  I really love this RT brush. I would say I'm kind of a super fan. I own all of the RT brushes and use them often. Makeup artists and YouTube stars Samantha and Nicola Chapman, also known as PixiWoo, are behind the successful line ( they're sisters as well)! The best part is this is such a high quality brush and it only costs $15. Another brush I recommend and I'm sure a lot of you have seen this brush before is the MAC 134 brush, $63. 



Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush

This brush can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. The F80 brush doesn't absorb product due to it's soft but dense bristles. I personally like to use this brush to apply cream foundation. I can build the coverage up without any streaking on my face . I prefer to pat the foundation onto my skin first and then in a buffing motion distribute the product all over. This brush allows me to do this effortlessly and leaves me with airbrushed smooth finish, $30 CAD. Another foundation brush that I find works really well with liquid or cream foundation is BareMineral Buffing Brush, $35.



I use this brush in the morning when I'm in a hurry to get out the door. Because of the large flat fibre bristles I'm able to cover more space quickly but still achieve an even and flawless coat of liquid foundation. Some flat foundation brushes will give you a "streaky" look when you're working quickly but I haven't experienced any streaks with this brush. I use MUF large foundation brush mostly with liquid foundation, $41. A budget-friendly foundation brush is the Sigma F60, $26.


Another RT brush! This blush brush ( say that 10 times fast! ) is very soft and picks up the perfect amount of blush. I love the cut of the brush as it sits really nicely on your cheeks and allows for a smooth application with one swipe. I've washed this brush a few times and it didn't shed and dried very quickly. This RT blush brush gets the job done, $11.14. An alternate blush brush that I also enjoy using is the MAC 116 Blush Brush, $42.




Sephora Pro Bronzer Brush

This is a great versatile brush. It can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation as well as bronzer. The synthetic bristles are soft yet dense enough to give you a smooth and natural glow. I love this brush so much that I'm not quite sure what I was using before the Sephora Pro Bronzer, $45.


This is my new favourite concealer brush. My sis-in law introduced me to it  ( Hi Foots!!). I have been in love with it since the first use. I use it to colour correct or conceal under eye dark circles or redness. The short synthetic bristles are great for buffing the concealer onto the skin and you can build up the coverage from light to heavy. The only downside to this brush is the long handle. Besides that, I highly recommend the Sephora Pro Airbrush Concealer Brush, $30. Another great concealer brush is the MAC 266 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush, $38.50. This brush is marketed as eyeshadow blending brush but trust me you can use it as a concealer brush as well!


This was the very first brush I ever bought! In the past 15 years, I've owned 2 of these brushes. Yes , if taken care of properly this brush will last a long time! This brush is superb for blending several cream or powder eye shadows together on the crease but can also be used to apply and shade shadows. Because of it's versatility and longevity the MAC 217 brush is worth the investment, $28.50.


This is the only brush I've ever used for eyeliner. It's always worked for me so I never needed a reason to look for a comparable brush. I use it with Makeup Forever gel eyeliner. The synthetic fibres are very firm so you're almost guaranteed a perfect wing every time and the angle on the brush let's you experiment easily with different wing shapes. To save on costs I also use this brush to fill in my eyebrows. It works beautifully with any eyebrow powder product. For its versatility and ease of use I would recommend picking up the MAC 263 Angle Brush, $20.


Leave me a comment below if there is a brush that you have in you collection and cannot live without! 





 
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