E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush & Pointed Foundation Brush Review!

E.L.F. Studio Small Stipple Brush & Pointed Foundation Brush

There are so many new products by E.L.F. since the last time I placed an order a year ago. I've been meaning to purchase a MAC 130 Short Duo Fiber Brush ($42) and when I spotted this new E.L.F Studio Small Stipple Brush ($3), I had to get it.

It's much smaller than your average stippling brush (such as the MAC 187 or E.L.F. Studio Stipple Brush) and it's slightly more dense because of the shorter bristles. The bristles are synthetic, so it's ideal for liquid and cream products but can also work well with powder products.

It's a great brush for liquid foundation, and because of it's smaller brush head, it can maneuver around small areas such as under and around the eyes, around the brows and hairline. Whereas a large brush might not be able to blend small areas as well, and it's harder to avoid coating the brows in foundation, etc.

I also really like using it to apply cream blush. It's the perfect size to apply the blush precisely to the cheekbones and blend it in with the extra soft bristles. Also, because it's not super dense, it won't pick up too much product, so if you have an uber pigmented blush, a stippling brush always works the best. The same goes for applying highlighter. It picks up just the right amount of product and it's small enough so you won't apply too much. There are really so many uses for this brush!

I'm kind of kicking myself that I only purchased one, because I can see myself using it often for many different things.

The E.L.F Studio Pointed Foundation Brush ($3) is a great brush to have as well. I love pointed foundation brushes, especially for applying concealer, because again, it can reach small areas and blend the area around the eyes really well. You can also use it with a cream contour product, as the tapered tips allows you apply the product very precise under your cheekbones, or wherever you want it.

The bristles are super soft and it's dense, but also has a little "give" to it.

Both are fabulous brushes and I highly recommend both of them!

The quality of E.L.F Studio Brushes are very good for the price and they hold up fairly well. Some of my brushes have held up better than others. The ferrules have gotten loose on some of my Studio Brushes (which is expected with the price point) and with very frequent use, washes and being dinged around my bag, the glossy finish on the ferrules may start to chip.

You can't beat the price though! And they are great for those on a budget, or for those who want some "starter brushes" before investing in more expensive options. E.L.F often has sales on their website for 50% off all Studio Products. I got 50% off my order (bringing the brushes down to only $1.50 each) with the code: ECD2.

Here's the small stippling brush next to my cheek so you can get a better idea of the size.

The Round-Up
Pros:

• The stippling brush in particular has many uses - it's a very versatile brush that can be useful in anyone's daily makeup routine.
• Soft bristles.
• Both brushes apply the product well without being streaky.
• Easy to clean
• Very inexpensive - great value
• Cruelty-free

Cons:

• None!

Price: $3 each, Target & E.L.F. Get 50% off all E.L.F Studio Products with code ECD2.

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush Review!

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush ($48) is a large ultra-plush, dense synthetic brush that can be used in a variety of ways for an always-flawless application. Did I mention that it's OMG soft?

The benefit to using such a large brush is that it covers a larger surface area at once, so application goes by much quicker. The ultra, soft and luxurious bristles create a seamless finish, so not only does it apply product quicker, but completely even with less work than a standard size brush.

I've used this brush in a few different ways - to apply liquid and cream foundation, setting powder, liquid/cream body bronzer and as a finishing brush to help blend everything together.

I love using it for liquid and cream foundation, but because it is so large, you have to use a separate brush to get to the small areas (around the eyes, nose hairline, etc.) so my favorite use for this brush is using it as a finishing brush.

I'm often on-the-go, and when I don't have enough time to adequately blend in my foundation, I always grab my IT Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush and quickly run it across my face working the brush in circular motions. It ensures my foundation is seamless, free of any streaks or blotches.

It's also perfect for blending foundation down the neck, and for applying cream illuminator/bronzer down the neck and decollete.

Although it's intended to use as a powder brush, I rarely use it for that reason because I love it so much for blending in my foundation. BUT, it is an amazing powder brush. It feels so nice on the skin, and does a excellent job at diffusing powder into the skin. Also because it's fairly dense, it'd work good for powder foundations to provide a fuller coverage.

I've had this brush for several months, and after handfuls of washes, you can see that it still looks brand-spanking new from the photos. The brush handle is very sturdy and I haven't experienced any shedding. The brush is still in the same perfect condition it was when I first used it.

This is definitely one of my favorite brushes, and I think it's worth the investment if you like to splurge on pricey makeup brushes.

This brush is sold solo for $48, but it's also available in a few different value sets from QVC. Your best bet is to purchase a set, because the total cost of the sets are actually cheaper than the brush alone (Set #1, Set #2, Set #3). Figure that!

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Ultra soft bristles - feels dreamy on the skin
• Dense - blends liquid and powders very well
• Large size blends product quickly and efficiently
• Good quality - feels very sturdy, no shedding, discolorations, etc. 
• Comes completely clean when washed, and doesn't take forever to dry
• Vegan

Cons:

• The price point isn't for everyone - $48 is a lot to shell out for a brush
• Some may find that it's too large to be a practical everyday brush

Price: $48, QVC or itcosmetics.

Have you tried any makeup brushes from IT Cosmetics?

Sigma Tapered Highlighter and Face Brushes Review!

Sigma F25 Tapered Face Brush & F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush

You might remember me talking recently about wanting a domed shaped powder brush, and how I've had my eye on the Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush. I'm not sure if it's the unique shape of the brush head, or the fact that you don't see them around too often and I wanted something different (you mostly see the regular, standard, boring brush shapes) - All I knew was that I needed one (or two) in my collection even if I don't really need it.

So, I went ahead and ordered both brushes after not being able to choose one over the other.

F25 Tapered Face Brush - Designed for precise product placement of powder, blush and contour shades to the face. ($22)
F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush -Designed for precise product placement of highlighter to the face. ($16)

Upon waiting for my order, I was a little nervous that the brushes wouldn't be soft. I own a few sets of Sigma brushes and they are for the most part very soft, but I also have a couple duds that aren't very soft at all (F50 Duo Fiber and F05 Small Contour).

I was really excited to see that these brushes are ultra soft and luxurious.

As with all of my other Sigma Brushes, they are of great quality. You can tell just by holding the brush in your hand that it's a well made brush. They feel very sturdy and are comparable to higher end brushes.

The handles are a shiny black, and the lettering has changed from their previous plain silver to holographic silver lettering - a nice touch that makes the brush look additionally attractive.

A few people told me that they don't find much use for the F25 Tapered Face Brush because they find it too large, so I was expecting an awkwardly large brush - but it's actually the perfect size for a powder brush.

I've been using the F25 mostly for applying bronzer all over my face, as well as using it for setting powder. It works wonderful for both, especially since it's not too dense where it's going to deposit too much color in one spot, and it's super soft so it glides like a feather across the face. The pointed tip is great because it allows me to reach small areas (under my eyes, corners of my nose, etc) and around the frame of my face. I can see how some think it's too large to work as a contour brush for the cheeks - if you want really precise application of your contour powder or bronzer, you may want to opt for the smaller option - the F30 Brush.

The F30 works great for very precise application of contour powder in the hollows of the cheeks. The size is absolutely perfect for it - it's not too small or too big. It also works wonderfully for powder highlighter for applying the product precisely across the highest point of the cheeks. Lastly, it's also very useful for setting the under-eyes with powder as it can reach small areas with it's domed tip.

As with many brushes, with daily use, they can start to lose their shape, and expand outward. Of course it hasn't happened to mine yet, but to keep the bristles together, I like storing them in Coastal Scents Brush Guards. Sigma also has something called the "Dry'N Shape" that is also used to keep the bristles together once they're washed.

As far as shedding goes, they both shed a few bristles during washing, but I haven't noticed any since. Also, neither brush released dye when washed which really surprised me - till this day the water still runs gray when washing my F30 and F50 and I've had them for one year.

Here's a photo of the brushes against my face for scale.

Overall, I'm really happy with these brushes and I'm sure I'll be using both on a regular basis. If you're in a rut and don't know which one to choose, I'd recommend the F35 as I think due to it's smaller shape, it applies product more precise and is a little more versatile than the F25.

Sigma Brushes are sold exclusively on their website, at http://www.sigmabeauty.com.

Sigma Mr. Bunny Travel Kit Review!

Sigma Mr. Bunny Black Travel Kit

The Sigma Mr. Bunny Brush Sets are Sigma's synthetic, or vegan version of their Make Me Up Brush (which I own and love) Collection.

If you're familiar with Sigma Brushes, this set uses the same "Sigmax HD Fibers" as the popular F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki. The bristles are super soft and fluffy, and although they are synthetic, the bristles higher quality than synthetic brushes you may find at the drugstore (Ecotools, etc).

This set includes:

Pencil E30 - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, upper and lower lash line.
Tapered Blending E40 - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease.
Eye Shading E55 - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments.
Small Angle E65 - Essential for the application of gel or cream eye liner on the upper and lower lash line.
Large Powder F30 - Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body.
Large Angled Contour F40 - The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades.
Foundation F60 - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. Recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas.

All of the brushes have the same name as the regular Sigma brushes, so it might be a little confusing, but you can't actually order these brushes separately, which may be the reason.

Sigma Mr. Bunny Black Travel Kit

Sigma Mr. Bunny Black Travel Kit

I've been using these brushes all week, and I'm excited to share my thoughts with you!

Firstly in most brush sets, I don't care what the brand is, there's always a dud in the brush set - meaning there's usually a brush in the set that doesn't perform as well as the others, the quality isn't as good or it's just a brush you wouldn't have much use for. I'm really pleased with this set as every single brush is useful and they are all of very good quality.

I've had lots of experience with Sigma Brushes and I'm really happy with the quality of the handles. With many lower-end brushes, the ferrules (metal part) will come loose, or come apart completely. I haven't experienced it with any of my Sigma brushes, and you can tell from holding these brushes that they will last a very long time.

My favorite brush of the set is the F30 Large Powder Brush. So far I've used it for setting powder and for liquid foundation, and I really like this brush for applying foundation. Although it's not very dense, it does a really good job blending in the foundation for a really soft, natural finish. 

I don't really like using synthetic bristle brushes for powder blushes and bronzers - my personal preference is natural bristles, as they typically apply the product lighter and disperse the product more evenly. I've been using the F30 Large Angled Brush for powder bronzer and blush, and it actually performs very well, applying the product evenly. 

I've been using the F60 Foundation Brush for applying liquid concealer and the bristles are very soft and remain soft even after the bristles are covered in product. I've also been using the E40 Tapered Blending Brush for concealer and I absolutely love it. I use to really love using my MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush for concealer, but after having the brush shed each time I used it, I stopped using it for liquid products and now only use it for powder. I'm so happy to have a good quality synthetic brush to use for concealer. The tapered tip works wonderfully for lightly buffing the product in and distributing product evenly on the skin.

As far as the other three brushes, I've been using the E55 Eye Shading brush to apply my eyeshadow base to my lids, or to pack color on the lids (I find synthetic brushes work best for heavy color application). It's also great for applying a wash of color to my lids or for applying my MAC Paint Pots.

The E30 Brush is a bit small and dense for a crease brush (but still works) and I actually really like using it to smudge eyeshadow across my lashline for a "smokey" look. 

The E65 Small Angle Brush is your typical angle brush, and works great for filling in the brows and applying eyeliner.

Here's a comparison of the regular F30 and F40 Brush to see the difference in the size of the brush head and the length of the handles. Because the Mr. Bunny Set is a travel brush kit, the handles are shorter and the brush heads are a bit smaller.

Here's a comparison to the regular Sigma Brush Cup. As you can see, it's about half the size.

The set retails for $59 for seven brushes and a brush cup. If you divide it by the number of brushes (minus the cup), it's about $8.43 a brush. Of course there are other options out there for inexpensive brushes (Coastal Scents, Ecotools, ELF, Forever 21, etc.) but there will definitely be a difference in the quality of the bristles. If you're looking for a basic synthetic brush set, I'd say this is a great set to look into.

Price: $59, Sigma.

Also, I placed an order for the Sigma Tapered Highlighter and Tapered Face Brush, so I should have reviews for those up soon. I used the code 'APRIL2012' for 10% off!

Real Techniques Stippling Brush Review!

 Real Techniques Stippling Brush

I've been meaning to literally buy this brush ever since it came out, but I rarely ever go to ULTA. I've had the Real Techniques Blush Brush for a while now, and use it often to apply my powder blush. I've always been interested in trying the stippling brush as well considering Nic and Sam, or "Pixiwoo" (Sam - the creator of Real Techniques and sister Nic) are always using it to apply their foundation in their YouTube tutorials and their skin always looks flawless! I swear, when I'm on the computer, I sometimes just play their vids and minimize the screen and go about my work, just because I love their voices. Weird?

Nicola applying foundation with Real Techniques Stippling Brush (Image Credit)

The head is much shorter than the MAC 187 Brush and smaller overall in comparison to the Sigma F80 Brush (which I lost.. boo!!!) and the Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush. The size is probably the most comparable to the Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Blusher Brush (I like this brush better).

The synthetic taklon bristles are super soft, and it's dense enough to stipple your foundation, but it's not super dense for those that like a somewhat dense (dense enough to provide good coverage), yet pliable brush. I think Sam did a fabulous job designing this brush as it's just perfect for applying foundation. The shorter bristles and smaller size make it perfect for covering small areas of the face.

You don't only have to use this brush for foundation - it's also useful for cream and powder blush, as well as bronzer. Because it is fairly small, you can apply color precisely to the apples of your cheeks.

 Real Techniques Stippling Brush

All of Real Techniques Brushes are cruelty-free!

This brush retails for around $9.99 at ULTA and it's worth every penny! (that's only my opinion, of course.)

For more information about Real Techniques Brushes, visit http://realtechniques.com.

What's your favorite brush for applying foundation?

Get 'em before they're gone.

I know, I know, makeup brushes again. But I just wanted to share that Coastal Scents recently launched some new brushes (or newly designed brushes) and put all of their current brushes on Clearance. The brushes were already inexpensive to begin with, so the extra discount (I believe it's 50%) is quite the steal on several of them.

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of them, but some of my favorites include: The Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush, Black Sable Buffer Brush, Destiny Kabuki on a Stick and Fan Brush Black. Most of their eye brushes are quite good. I use The Pro Blending Fluff Brush and Destiny Blender often, and I would say they are very comparable to higher end makeup brushes.

 Assorted Coastal Scents Brushes

*With any new makeup brushes, I recommend washing them before use to release any loose bristles, and rid the bristles of any dust that they may have came in contact with during manufacturing. Also, brushes typically feel softer after a good wash.

I've been ordering from Coastal Scents from the past couple of years and I'm really happy with their service and shipping time. I typically always receive my order within three business days, and my order has never been wrong. (No affiliation)

Check out all of their brushes, by clicking here.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set!

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

I've been interested in trying makeup brushes from Costco for a while now, after repeatedly hearing about how awesome some of the sets have been over the past few years.

I don't have a membership to Costco, so as far as inventory goes, I'm not really sure how often the selection of brushes changes. The location near me only had this set available, and of course, it could differ from location. I really wanted to try a Borghese Brush set, and I didn't know until now that they aren't sold all year round. Apparently they are available around the holidays, and there is a new set each year. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I don't want to give out false information).

The Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set includes: Contour Kabuki Brush, Highlighting Fan Brush, Finishing Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Powder Brush, Cheek Brush, All Over Eye Brush, Angled Eye Brush, Crease Eye Brush, Liner Brush and Cosmetic Bag/Brush Roll.

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

 On the Costco website, the set retails for $29.99. But, at my local Costco, this set was only $13.97! (My amazing friend picked it up for me. Hi May!) I wouldn't necessarily purchase this set for $30, but $14 is an absolute bargain (A little over a dollar a brush + the brushroll/cosmetic bag!)

My favorite brushes include: The Finishing Brush and Pointed Foundation Brush. The finishing brush is one of the softest brushes in the set and feels wonderful on the face. The pointed foundation brush is also very soft and doesn't make the foundation application streaky. Also, because of the pointed shape, it applies the foundation well in small areas (around the the nose, brows and hairline) and it works well for applying concealer.

My least favorite brushes include: The Contour Kabuki Brush and Highlighting Fan Brush. These are my least favorite of the bunch and I probably won't use them often. They are incredibly soft, but almost too soft for my taste. They are synthetic, but the cheap synthetic, where the fibers are shiny and plasticy. I prefer natural bristles unless it's for foundation. I may use them for setting powder, though.

READ MORE!

 I like all of the face brushes in this set, and like I already mentioned, the finishing and foundation brushes are my favorite. All of the brushes are soft, but the powder and cheek brush aren't luxuriously soft. I don't mind that though, and I'm sure they will feel better with a couple of washes. They are dense, and the powder brush works really well for application of loose powder and the cheek brush works great for bronzer.

All of the eye brushes in the set work wonderfully and I have no complaints with any of them. My favorite eye brush in the set is the crease brush. I have a thing for tapered blending brushes, and it's the perfect size for blending color in the crease and it can also work for applying powder under the eyes.

 

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

Kirkland Signature Cosmetic Brush Set

I was a little hesitant about this set at first because purple is actually my least favorite color in the color spectrum, but these brushes are a very deep, elegant eggplant purple and they don't seem to clash with my other black handle brushes in my kit. 

The quality is very good, and all of the brushes are really sturdy.

If you can nab this set for $14, it really is a good deal. I'd pay $14 alone for the foundation and finishing brush!

To view more details about this set, check it out on the Costco website by clicking here. 

Essence of Beauty Starter Brush Kit for the Face!

Essence of Beauty Starter Brush Kit

I rarely ever look at the brushes on my weekly trips to CVS, but on a visit, some new packaging for the Essence of Beauty brushes caught my eye. I know this is old news, as they introduced the new packaging mid-2011, but I believe my CVS was pretty late on the bandwagon and haven't stocked any of the newly packaged brushed until recently.

You may be familiar with the older style brushes - a beige handle with a black ferrule (reminiscent of Bobbi Brown brushes). It looks like they might be phasing out that style for a sleeker black brush with silver textured ferrule. Kinda nice if you're particular about having all of your brush handles the same color. I personally prefer black handles.

If you're not familiar with Essence of Beauty, it's basically the Ecotools of CVS - they are affordable and good quality for the price you pay. They range from around $5-$10 each. I only own a couple, and I really dig them.

Anyway, I had a few extra-cash bucks to blow, so I decided to pick up the Starter Brush Kit and give it a whirl.

The Essence of Beauty Starter Kit comes with three brushes (a foundation brush, blush/powder brush, double-sided eye brush) and a small brush roll.What drew my attention to that particular kit, was the small foundation brush. I figured it'd be the perfect size brush to apply my under-eye concealer since it's smaller than a standard foundation brush and much larger than a standard concealer brush.

Essence of Beauty Starter Brush Kit

READ MORE!

 Essence of Beauty Starter Brush Kit

Essence of Beauty Starter Brush Kit

The brush roll closed

The quality seems very good as the brushes are sturdy, and the bristles are soft. I've used the foundation brush for applying concealer under my eyes, around my eyebrows and blemishes and it works very well. For a full-face of foundation, it's a bit too small and I'd imagine would take forever. The powder brush is a great brush for powder blush, as it's a perfect size for the cheeks and has very soft bristles. The eye brush works very well too. (This kit reminds me a lot of the Designer Perfect Kit I purchased at Big Lots a while back, but with sturdier handles)

I like that this little kit is travel friendly and can be tossed in my handbag with no worries of dirtying my lining. It's a kit I'm definitely going to keep in the pocket of my bag just in-case I'll need a touch-up during the day.

 I'm happy with the kit, but there are better Essence of Beauty brushes for the same price. The Kabuki brush (pictured below) is around $10 and is dense, and super-soft and dreamy. A very good brush for buffing in a setting powder. I also think the powder brush is a great buy (also $10) as it has a nice rounded, tapered tip and is very soft - definitely one of the softer brushes in the selection.

Every now and then they have sales on Essence of Beauty, so I'm going to keep my eye out so I can try a couple more!

For the full brush selection, you can view them in the CVS Catalog here. (no affiliation)

Have any bargain brushes you'd recommend?

Guest Post: Real Techniques Powder and Blush Brush!

 
Guest Post Written by Ashley
Today the beautiful Ashley of Lashes Anyone? shares her thoughts about some of her favorite Real Techniques makeup brushes!

Hello Beauties!

About two years ago I fell hard for the infamous Sigma brushes that had every beauty guru in beauty craze. I did adore the face brushes, until the bristles started shedding on a daily basis. I do love the Sigma eye brushes, as they have impeccable quality and have held up nicely.

I was in need of a serious powder and blush brush rescue, considering those are my primary brushes for everyday use. About a month ago, I was wandering through the lit up aisles of ULTA and came across the Real Techniques brush line created by Samantha Chapman of YouTube.

 Real Techniques Powder and Blush Brush

 Real Techniques Powder and Blush Brush

READ MORE!

The beautifully crafted brushes have feather soft bristles that glide gracefully across the skin. I've ran the brushes through many washes and dipped them in all sorts of powders, and they are still perfectly in tact.

They are affordably priced and deliver professional quality. The brushes distribute all powder products evenly to the skin with a natural finish. I also don't waste as much product as a densely packed brush.

The handles have a sturdy rubber grip that's easy to clean. The brush handle is normal length and easy to hold and maneuver for precise application. The bright chromatic handles are easy to find in the bottom of your make up bag and will glisten in your brush holder. Sigma has met their match but at an affordable price!

Bristle texture: Smooth, synthetic fiber blend.

Handle texture: Sturdy, sleek and easy to grip.

Appearance: Chromatic, colorful, professional and unique.

Price: Under $10.00 per individual brush.

Have you indulged in any of the Real Technique's brushes?

Love,
Ashley

Guest Post Written by Ashley

My name is Ashley Palms and I am 21 year old Seattle native that�s been dropped in the heart of sunny Arizona. My obsessionn with all things beautiful and fierce has hit an all time high. I believe the blogging world is a community of beautiful people that can openly share their intellectual passion for beauty. I am the director and owner of Lashes, Anyone on YouTube and love talking with my viewers on Twitter. I do freelance makeup for weddings and in the process of creating my own cosmetic line predicted to launch in early spring of 2013. I am always excited to help friends and followers with new innovative ways to do makeup, reviews and tutorials on all things beautiful.  

Where you can find me: 

Real Techniques Blush Brush + A Fav Lip Combo!

Real Techniques Blush Brush

PRODUCT DETAILS:
Ultra-plush, synthetic taklon bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free
Self-standing for easy storage
Extended aluminum handle is light and easy to use

If you're a fan of the Pixiwoo sisters on YouTube, Sam and Nic, you're probably already familiar with Sam's line of makeup brushes, Real Techniques.

Real Techniques Makeup Brushes can be found at ULTA stores (in-store and online) throughout the USA. There are also a few online retailers that cater to International users. (click here for a location list)

What really stands out about the brushes are the unique designs. They have a professional look and most of the brushes have a tapered tip, for a perfectly airbrushed finish. The fibers are also incredibly soft, and the brush seems very sturdy. I've had mine for three months now, and the brush doesn't show any signs of wear and tear. The best part of all, the brushes are very affordable. The blush brush retails for $8.99, and ULTA always has $3.50 off $10 coupons, which is always a plus.



CONTINUE READING FOR A SHORT REVIEW AND ADDITIONAL PHOTOS!


The reason I chose purchasing the blush brush over any of the other brushes, was that I didn't own any other brush like it. It has a really unique tapered egg shape, which deposits just the right amount of product on the cheeks and the fluffiness and softness of the brush diffuses the color, so there are no harsh edges.

All of the RT Brushes are synthetic, and although I prefer natural bristle brushes for powder blush, I really like this brush for blush and bronzer. It works specifically well for bronzer, as it gives such a natural finish. I'd assume it would work well with creme blushes, as the bristles don't shed.

If you're in the market for a new blush brush, I'd definitely recommend checking this brush out. I'm really interested in trying out the stippling brush next!

To view all of the Real Techniques Brushes, click here.

And, here are a couple photos with my little munchkin. Isn't he so goofy? He loves sitting on his bum. Any dog I've ever known would leap out of my arm in one second, but Rocky just goes along with whatever. haha!

And just for fun.. 

I'm loving this lip combo at the moment. It's MAC Morange mixed with Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Cha Cha. It looks a lot like MAC Vegas Volt, but slightly more orange. 

Hope you all are having a good weekend! 

I'm feeling a little down because it will be my Dad's birthday this Monday. I think my Mom, Brother and I will go out to dinner, and maybe still have a cake. Like others told me, it doesn't have to be a sad thing, it will be a celebration of his life and being happy and thankful for having him for as long as we did. I am remaining strong, but it is pretty depressing, especially during the holidays.