I cannot stress ENOUGH how much this book is worth!!!!! It is called Making Faces by Kevin Aucoin. This man is a genius and I learned almost everything from his books. I highly recommend you get this in paperback at any Barnes and Noble store!!!!! Long live the smoky eye!!!!!
Monica’s question: When to use a sponge and when to use a brush?
It all depends on what type of coverage you are going for. A sponge will give you more of a full coverage whereas a brush will, most of the time, be less. If I really want to pack color on my lid I will use the applicator instead of a brush. If I want a more natural look, not only will I use a brush but I won’t use a base either. For foundations it is the same but you can still get great coverage with the 187 brush if you put on more. I hope that helps!!!
I did it a bit more neutral that the above picture but you can achieve the same look with the same products. Also, when I was speaking about using water for the liner I said you don’t want too much color on your brush but I meant to say water….oops =).
Jennifer brings up a common problem, one that I for sure had before I found eyeshadow palettes from MAC. I had many colors and loved them but hated always needing to sift through all my “pots” to find the right one. By pots, I am referring to the original casings that MAC eyeshadows come in. MAC palettes can be found in all MAC stores (not the counters)……and EBAY!!!!! Don’t you just love that place? That’s where I got mine. They will run you about 12-15 dollars and are VERY worth it!!! They hold up to 15 shadows and you can start organizing them like the ones you see here by color. When you get your palette you no longer need to buy the shadows in their pots. Now you just order the refills or buy them (only) at a MAC store and they are only $10.50 so it’s a better deal. Right now on coastalscents.com they are claiming to have a palette that has openings the same size as MAC for only $8, but after shipping you are basically paying the same price only like 50 cents less. So I would personally get MAC ones because you know you are getting quality. A great way to “depot” your colors that you have now so that you can put them in your new palette is found on the side bar. It will explain everything so that you do it in a way to not harm or crack your colors that you love. Hope that helps!!!!
A hard task to be sure….the Perfect Jean. I used to get ALL of my jeans from Express. They were the best fit and not too badly priced for a pair that could last you quite a few years. Notice I said that I USED to. No longer. I have found that Express (for the most part) has deemed themselves worthy to charge boutique prices for less than desirable clothes……sadly including jeans. Don’t get me wrong, I have still found things in there and I will continue to shop at Express Men for Kevin but I have been let down in the jean department.
After searching far and wide I am happy to say that I have found salvation in higher end stores. I know some of you are like,”Hello Jen. We have known about that for forever!!!” But I am just now finding that stores like White House Black Market and Harold’s are GREAT for jeans!!!!! They are a bit pricey but if you go at sale times you can get away with a STEAL!!! Normally $120, I found some jeans at WHBM marked down over and over again till they cost me a total of $34!!!!! And a sign caught my eye at Harold’s (how could it not?) 50% off all SALE items. Well of COURSE I hauled my J-Lo right in there and got these bad boys. Cute capris normally $78 and I got them for $19!!!! Sales have not ceased sisters, I had just not been looking for them and holy cow, I am so happy with my purchases. Harold’s, BTW, is still having that sale and I bet you could go online and find some mores steals =). Any other stores you swear by?
Nicole is building up her brush collection and asked which ones I use the most. Here they are =).
From left to right they are:
– MAC 129 for blush and bronzer
– Loew-Cornell (LC) 7450 Chisel Blender for liquid liner (Michael’s Craft Store)
– MAC 239 OR the one above it is the same and cheaper at Michael’s. It is LC 3/8″ Maxine’s Mop.
– MAC 272 HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! For crease work
– MAC 217 HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! For all blending and some crease work
– MAC 187 For foundation (1000x better than the 190!!!)
– Nicole Miller Powder brush and MAC has the 150
The Green handled brushes are the MAC travel sizes. They are the same #’s as the regular brushes just shorter and a different color. They are great starter brushes but I am building up my regular sized ones now. Also you can go to coastalscents.com and see their brush selection. I have heard great reviews on them and you can get up to 13 brushes for only $16.95 plus shipping. Check it out!!!
