Photo via Sephora.com
If you've been in the market to try out any/all Too Faced bronzers, the
Passport to Bronze is the answer to your prayers. I stumbled upon it online before going into Sephora, and immediately picked one up.
The bronzers are pretty big for the price ($25) and you get THREE. A Milk Chocolate Soleil, Chocolate Soleil, and Sun Bunny. You also get a little "Flatbuki" brush, which isn't useless, but isn't super useful, either.
I've been dying to try out Too Faced bronzers, but didn't want to spend that $30+ on one pan. I'm definitely a happy camper, and am obsessed with Sephora's sample-sized "on the go" packages.
Image via Groupon.
Makeup brushes are one of those things that I understand, but I also just don't get. For example, I understand the value of NOT using your (probably) dirty hands to apply product. Makes total sense. Also for eye looks--brushes are worth their weight in gold.
The main piece I don't understand about brushes is why they cost so stinking much! Why am I paying $50 for some bristles. Why? I mean, kudos to them I'd probably try to max out my margins too, but I just don't see the value there. I find it hard to believe that, while Wet n Wild makes some kick ass vegan brushes for $5, other high-end brands MUST charge $40 for something very comparable.
But I'm no pro, so feel free to argue. All I'm saying is that the Wet n Wild flat-top brush is one of the only brushes I use on the regs along with a crease brush for shadow. The rest are touch and go.
If you're going to spend on brushes, definitely check some of these out before you feel the need to splurge. While I haven't tried the Artis brushes, I find it hard to believe that the set is worth $350+.
Wet n Wild Flat Top Brush -- its $2.99 and blends everything from contour to highlight and liquid foundation. Also, I love their aesthetic with the pink and white.
Wet n Wild Flat Top Shadow Brush -- IT'S 99 CENTS. I CAN'T NOT RECOMMEND THIS. Also v good for lining the lower lash line with shadow and packing product onto the lid.
Beauty Blender -- OK so this isn't "cheap," but its just too dang good. This is a great tool for liquid foundation, blotting and diffusing highlight, and dabbing powder into traditionally oily spots on the face.
To be honest, I think you could do all your makeup with these four tools.
*drops the mic*
Image via Ulta.com.
In my humble opinion, if there are a few things you should splurge on, they're as follows:
- Eyeshadow
- Eyeshadow
- Eye shadow
There are dupes for virtually every other makeup items:
- Foundation -- Nyx, Maybelline and Revlon have some amazing options, all of which are waaay cheaper than high end picks.
- Mascara -- CoverGirl and L'Oreal have some of the best in the game.
- Highlighter -- Wet n Wild MegaGlo collection is more pigmented than Laura Mercier and many other lauded brighteners. Not to say that Laura is bad (because her products rock), its just that you can find more affordable options that are just as dope.
- Bronzer -- Honestly, NYC's bronzer has been my go-to for years. Never fails.
- Blush -- CoverGirl or Nyx deliver.
- Eyebrows -- Glossier's Boy Brow is $6, and Essence's "Make Me Brow" is $3 bucks.
- Eyeliner -- Drugstore options abound...there isn't enough time in the day to name them all. But Rimmel and L'Oreal have some of my favorites.
- Lips -- Nyx butter lipsticks are insanely good, as are their lip suedes. ColourPop's liquid lipsticks are dope as well (and almost identical to Kylie's--no shade though love me some Lip Kits).
But eyeshadow? More crucially, eyeshadow palettes? I have yet to find drugstore options that stack up to the likes of Too Faced, Urban Decay, NARS and Tarte.
That's not the say that the higher in price you go, the better it gets. I have a Cle de Peau shadow that makes little to no sense (and its $40 per shade, gasp). BUT, I do think its work dropping $40-$55 on a good palette that you can create easy, versatile looks with and not have to dot your lids with scratchy shadows.
Personally, I am in love with the Tartelette palette--I think it could work for all eye colors and tones, and it has a ton of killer matte shades. Too Faced also makes incredibly creamy and pigmented shadows, as does Urban Decay (Naked palette's are their main shadow score).
If you're up for something a bit more out-of-the-box (read: not everyday), hit up shades like Urban Decay's Lounge, a deep green-red (yes thats possible) duo chrome that is absolutely STUNNING, along with any of their other duo chrome shadows.
For my one-and-done shadow looks, I'll just sweep NARs dual-intensity shadow in Himalia all over the lid. And if you want to get realll fancy, you can apply the shadow with a slightly wet brush towards the center of the lid. It'll make the shimmer and overall pigment pop.
Moral of the story--shadows are trivial. They're some of the most playful and creative parts of makeup. For me, I'd rather splurge on a palette thats going to last me a few years and have a bunch of kick-ass colors, then test out five $9 palettes that are crappy, and end up giving them to a random friend of a friend.
Makeup, makeup, makeup.
Some people wear it, some people don't. I'm a fan of everyone doing their own thing. If you want to rock a natural look day in and day out, props to you.
For me, makeup is more about art than anything else. Covering a few bumps and red spots here and there is great, but I'm all about expression and creativity.
But, like most 20-somethings, I ain't got the ca$h flow to go around buying each Anastasia Glow Kit as they come out (believe me, if I did I would be ALL over that).
So, whats the purpose of this blog? Why should you read? Well, the main point is to encourage you to do, wear, flaunt what makes you feel good. If its a fierce highlight or a dark blue lip, you glow girl. If its learning about a cool new eyeshadow look, then you go. And if its not, I'm here to provide some color commentary on whats new and noteworthy in the makeup world.
So, lets begin.
