My Favorite Brushes

Hey y'all!!

I told you guys I'd be back with 2 posts today! For a makeup related post I wanted to show you some of my favorite brushes! I chose to omit my specialty set that I own for makeup artistry (I got it as a gift) as it is MUCH more expensive than anyone should ever spend on brushes unless they are a makeup artist. So, these are composed of mostly my favorite drugstore brushes!

Target Tweezers 

So as I am terrified of having someone else touch my eyebrows I choose to pluck them myself. I pluck because waxing I mess up and having someone else there's them terrifies me! So I am a fan of these $3 target brand tweezers. They are heavy duty and small enough to carry around with you. Plus they come in some really cute patterns!

Elf total face brush

This is the large brush I use for my powder everyday! It's large, soft and easy to wash! My only problem is that it does shed and it takes a while to dry because it's so big.

Elf powder brush

This is probably my favorite brush out of my collection. I use it everyday without fail. Ironically, I ise it for not only powder but liquid foundation as well! It just blends beautifully, evenly and easily. For me at least, the flat top helps to give a more airbrushed effect! It doesn't shed and holds it shape well even after washing.

Elf Blush Brush

This taperd brush is great for apply blush and bronzer. It lets you easily target certain area and apply a lot of color! It's an easy brush to manipulate around the face and to clean. 

Bare minerals Flawless Face Brush

For those using a mineralized foundation and looking for a very natural, even coverage this is a great brush. It's a nice splurge item. Extremely soft and easy to clean; it retains its shape! It's small enough the you can bring it along in a makeup bag for touch ups. I also use this for my powder in the morning because it provides a more natural coverage.

Elf small angled brush 

Normally used for eyeliner; this angled brush is very small and allows you to easily fill in your brows. Gives you an easy and even application. 

Bare minerals Full Flawless Face Brush

Again, this is a great splurge item. A soft and easy to clean brush that an be used with powder products. It's awesome for applying mineral foundations when you want a fuller coverage! I also used this to buff out my bronzer and blush as sometimes the taperd brush can leave harsh lines. This blends and buffs those colors into my face to give a wonderful look!

Hopefully I showed you some brushes you would like to get! If you own and love these brushes oleaseeave a comment! Also, you can now share this blog on Facebook, Twitter and other social network sites via the top of the page! PLEASE do that if you enjoy my content! 

Until next time!

Cheers! <3 :)

-K

Battle Of the BB Creams!!!

Hey y'all!!!!!

Today I'm goiing to show you a battle between two affordable drugstore bb creams! In one corner in the NYC smooth skin parfait and in the other is Maybelline dream fresh bb! Both make high claims, but which one delivers????

The products:

The Maybelline dream fresh bb is an 8 in 1 skin profector with SPF 30. It's $7.99 and contains 1.0fl of product. Today we are testing the regular formula that does not include salycilic acid.

The NYC smooth skin parfait is a 5 in 1 beauty balm that is $3.50 and contains 1fl of product. It has no SPF and contains light shimmer.

The claims:

Maybelline promises to:

1. Blur imperfections

2. Enhances

3. Brightens

4. Adjust to skin tone

5. Smooth

6. Hydrate

7. Protect skin

8. Contain 0 oils or heavy ingrediants

the NYC bb cream promises:

1. Protect skin

2. Minimize pores

3. Erase imperfections

5. Smooth skin

6. Brighten skin

Here is my skin with no product and this will be our guide to testing the bb creams.

You see my obvious acne, scars, and dark circles. Now we can easily see how well these products preform.

Maybelline

For a while this was my go to bb! The SPF is great because it does not require a sun tan lotion before application. I use the shade light/medium. The coverage is very sheer. It's also very light and great for summer use! My face with Maybelline:

You can clearly see some of my imperfections on my chin peaking out. However, my dark circles are not as noticeable and my skin looks fairly even! 

I give this product an 8 out of 10! It lives up to most claims and the formula is great! 

NYC

I recently picked up the bb as a chaper alternative to my Maybelline. This product is also good. It doesn't have SPF which bums me out but it does have a slight shimmer. The shimmer is nice and light, not overpowering, and I think it gives a nice glow to skin. It has more coverage than the Maybelline but it is a little heavier of a formula. My face with smooth skin parfait:

My acne is less noticeable here and I can see how layering a green concar underneath would make them literally invisible. However, my dark circles are a little less covered. Overall, I give this a 9 out of 10. It only doesn't live up to the protecting claim. Otherwise I believe it lives up. 

The verdict:

Both crams are very close but it seems that prefer the NYC smooth skin parfait! The formula covers more and I love the shimmer! Although it doesn't have SPF is rather layer a lotion underneath than have breakout popping through my makeup! I still love the dream fresh and it's great for hot and humid days but I have to say that I do prefer the NYC for daily summer use!!!

Hope that was helpful for y'all! I so adore both products and maybe one will work better for you but these are my thoughts and opinions for my face! For those with sensitive acne prone skin who have a lot of scarring and discoloration like me. Y'all might do better with the parfai from NYC than the dream fresh from maybelline. Those with better skin only looking for light coverage might prefer the dream fresh! Hope this review was helpful for you! Until next time!

Cheers <3 :)

-K

*disckaimer: thoughts and opinions are all my own I'm never associated with any companies meantioned!*

My Drugstore Reviews: Dream Smooth Mousse

Hey y'all!!!!! 

It's time for another one of my drugstore reviews! Today, I'm talking about the dream smooth mousse that is made by Maybelline! It comes in a round container that contains .49 ounces of product.it also has a lift up compartment with a small makeup sponge:

Here's the container:

The flip up compartment: 

So, first I used to adore this product and I still do! About a year ago Maybelline said they has discontinued this product and I could t find it anywhere. However, I recently found it at a Kmart and at my local CVS and they keep getting new shipments so I think they may have brought it back. It is a medium coverage that is buildable. It comes on about 8 shades and costs about $9. The container is easy to carry for touch ups and I use it as both foundation and concealer. This product is more pink than yellow based so it doesn't give that very dark look.

Swatch:

Rubbed in:

As you can see it gives a very natural look. I would give you a comparison using my face but I am unable to as I am not wearing makeup today because of work :/

This product covers redness well and takes a few applications to cover acne; also acne scars are covered in one application. It's also a great light product for sensation skin. If you have dry skin this is a great product that you can use instead of the dream matte mouse; it also have a better shade selection.

As much as I love this product there is one thing that I don't enjoy. When you don't use it for a while a little bit of oil gets onto the top of the product; almost as if it has separated. I just pour the oil off or mix it back into the product and it is fine. I so think that it is because it does deprecate and the consistency returns to normal if the oil/water is mixed back in. I also have a hard time applying it with my fingers . Here is an example of what happens when you try to apply with a finger instead of a brush... The product just does not stick to your finger: 

I also would not recommend this for anyone with oil skin because of the oil already in the product. I personally use the color porcelain ivory as I am very pale and it does match very close to my skin tone only being a smidge too dark but that is easily corrected with some translucent powder. It lasts me about 3 months with everyday use... So a good amount of product for the price you pay. 

Here is one last look at the product:

Hope this helped someone! I do enjoy this over the dream matte mousse. so if you need a new foundation that is light but gives great coverage I do recommend this product. For me, dream smooth mousse is a go!

Cheers! <3 :)

-K