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Eye Makeup Brushes Roundup, Part 1

September 8, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Oh hi! Today’s post is the first part of a roundup of my favorite eye makeup brushes. The other half will be posted soon, so stay tuned on my Insta. Some of these brushes are old, while some are kind of new. They’re pretty much what I use up to this day and I usually take some of them during my travels.

Eye makeup brushes for me are somewhat a challenge to choose and probably the most type of brushes I own and usually purchase. That’s because it’s hard for me to find the right size and shape of eye brushes for my small downturned hooded eyes. Every brush needs to be somewhat small and precise enough to contour my lids and further emphasize my crease. So I ended up with some trial and error before I found the ones that sort of worked for me.

For starters, I love Sephora, Sigma, and especially Make Up For Ever brushes because they have versatile small enough brushes for my needs. MUFE’s brushes are soft, well-tapered, and they pick up the eyeshadows well. Sigma also has reliable brushes that you can’t beat the price. If I need a spur-of-the-moment brush, I know Sigma’s quality won’t disappoint. Sephora has interesting and uniquely-shaped brushes that also affordable and they sometimes go on sale.

Sephora Brushes (1-2 years):

Sephora Collection PRO Shader Brush #18 ($18): A versatile small brush eye shader brush that not only packs colors on the lids, but it’s great to line the upper and lower lash line or apply highlighters on the inner crease, especially if you have smaller eyes. It can even highlight the browbones. I love that it’s soft and pretty much easy to use.

Sephora Collection PRO Domed Crease #16 (Discontinued): I bought this brush with the intention of creating or enhancing that outer V on the crease, though it serves its purpose well, it can be too thick if you have very small eyes, and you can’t get too heavy-handed on this because it can pack a punch of colors on the lids.

Sigma Brushes (2-3 years):

Sigma Small Tapered Blending Brush #E45 ($16): If you wanna do a perfectly contoured crease or a nice cut-crease, then this brush is for you. This delivers a very precise effect of achieving that long-desired crease, while the bristles are soft and pliable. Ideal for monolids, smaller eyes, and hooded eyes.

Sigma Firm Blender #E44 ($17): One of my latest Sigma purchases, I bought it because I wanted a good blending brush that can truly soften and blend any dense pigments I may have packed on my lids. This is a bit firm which is nice and each side is tapered, so I also use this for creating that outer V on the crease.

Make Up For Ever Brushes (1 year or less):

MUFE Medium Blender Brush #218 ($25): A soft blender brush that’s not only ideal for blending any cream or powder eyeshadows, it can also be used in the crease and also to highlight the browbone and inner corners of the eye. I also think that this is a great blending brush for smaller eyes, and I like that the brush is pliable enough to layer different eyeshadows on the lids.

MUFE Double-ended Shader & Smudger Brush #204 ($25): This is a longer-than-usual MUFE eye brush because it has different brushes on both ends. One is a tiny eye shader that’s great for lining the lash lines accurately, while the other end is a smudger to create a nice and seamless smokey-eye look. I bought this brush with my desperation to create a perfect Gyaru-style (or Ulzzang in Korean) eye makeup. Gyaru is a Japanese eye makeup technique that’s practiced to lengthen or enlarge the eyes. Because when you have smaller eyes, you get desperate. When you get desperate, you try to do the Gyaru eyes. When you wanna try the Gyaru eyes, you’ll need precise eye makeup brushes. When you need precise eye makeup brushes, you buy the MUFE brushes, especially in #204. Period. End of Story. Hehehe. (P.S. This is not a TV Commercial).

MUFE Medium Precision Eye Blender #216 ($25): This is kinda like a more precise version of the MUFE #218, but I think this is pretty much made to emphasize the crease of the lid and also to create a nice smokey eye look because the brush itself is quite dense yet very soft that it’s ideal for applying it along the upper and lower lash line. This is another great brush if you have smaller eyes and you’d want that smoldering look.

Final words, these brushes are nice to have and they’ve stood the test of time, at least for me. My Sephora brushes pretty much have held up to regular washes and wipes, a few bristles may have been stretched out here and there, but overall, they still work ok. The Sigma brushes are durable, reliable, and well-made as always. The MUFE brushes are more ergonomic, aesthetically-unique because the handles are made of sturdy wood, and the bristles are really soft. They also make high-quality brushes for smaller eyes.

Do you own any of these brushes? What do you like about them the most?

That’s it for now guys, stay tuned for the second part of this review.

The Sephora brushes are available at Sephora.com

Sigma Brushes are available at Amazon.com, Bloomingdale’s, Dermstore, Dillard’s, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters & Sigma Beauty

The MUFE Brushes are also available at Sephora

Ciao!

Happy Friday,

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Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi VS Sole di Positano Eau de Parfum Review

September 6, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hello All! Ever been a fan of Tom Ford scents? Actually, I’m not, and what samples I’ve tried from his line of fragrances before didn’t register much to my memory. Although, in fact, I may have remembered having sniffed the Orchid Soleil and it was little too overwhelming for me. That is, until, I happen to wander inside Sephora and decided to test the Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi Acqua by chance. It literally blew my mind. The first spritz of the scent pretty much made my heart stop for a few minutes. I wanted the scent right then and there, but I had to wait until it completely settled on my skin so that I could judge its dry down. Unfortunately, while the top notes were exhilarating, the dry down was a bit of a letdown because it seemed too acidic for me. The TF Mandarino di Amalfi Acqua (Eau de Toilette) is a perfect fresh harvest of mandarin citrus scent that is SO good but it gets a little bit acetic with time. Yet still, I couldn’t get past my experience with that scent, so I decided to try it’s Eau de Parfum version hoping that the dry down won’t be that disappointing. Yes indeed, it’s a much more pleasing and much more pronounced scent. Because I love the scent very much, I also tried the Tom Ford Sole di Positano which is the latest release in Tom Ford’s Private Blend collection.

I haven’t found a lot of reviews that talked about or compared these two scents, so I hope this review will give you an idea as to how these scents are compared to each other. To start, the Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi and Sole di Positano Eau de Parfums are pretty much similar fresh scents that will jumble your brain synapses the moment you sniff them. I’ve never smelled such perfect scents in my life. They might be kind of alike, but if you pay close attention enough, then you’ll notice that they do have their differences.

Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi (1.7 oz: $230, 3.4 oz: $312, 8.4 oz: $595) – A slightly more intense version of the Mandarino di Amalfi Acqua which smells like fresh bursts of strong mandarins that are slightly sweet and perhaps a bit floral. It’s one of the freshest and strongest mandarin citrus burst I’ve ever tried and its middle notes pretty much stayed strong and fresh for the first one or two hours. Later on, as the scent approaches its dry down, it becomes slightly acidic or herbal-like, but not so much like its Eau de Toilette counterpart (Mandarino di Amalfi Acqua). The scent pretty much lasted a long time on me, probably for a good 4-6 hours until it requires reapplication.

Tom Ford Sole di Positano (1.7 oz: $230, 3.4 oz: $312, 8.4 oz: $595) – Its top notes don’t start as strong as the Mandarino di Amalfi, instead, its moderate citrus scent is more balanced and more steady. It is also more floral and a bit tarty than the Amalfi, with hints of jasmine as it reaches its middle notes. This scent is very clean and very sparkly. It tends to last up to 4 hours on me, give or take, and its dry down remains fresh as the first spritz. It may be a bit milder than TF Mandarino di Amalfi, but this scent is much more reliable as it doesn’t change its notes much from top to end.

If you ask me which scent I would prefer between the two, I think I may be a bit leaning towards Mandarino di Amalfi. Why? because I like that it’s more intense. But, I also love the Sole di Positano because of its clean and balanced scent that I know I could use anywhere and everywhere, and it also seems to be more versatile. For me, the difference between the two is probably just about 0.5 in points. Ha! In fact, there’s a moment where the two of them start to smell the same as they reach their middle notes unless you really pay close attention to their respective scents.

I will definitely still be using these two scents as we get closer to the colder days. They’re simply hard to get enough of, and unless I’ll find a nicer Fall-Winter fragrance soon, I think I’ll definitely come back to these two Tom Ford scents.

As I wrap up my favorite scents this summer, I definitely think that these two TF fragrances are now at the top of my list as my favorite summer scents of all time, aside from the Hermes Garden Collection (reviewed HERE) and the Atelier Cologne Clementine California (also HERE). Both the Mandarino di Amalfi Eau de Parfum and Sole di Positano are such perfect Summer vacay scents that are incredibly fresh, a tiny bit fruity, a bit floral, and most of all, very clean, well-crafted, and well-balanced. The only caveat is that they’re really pricey. However, the 1.7 oz bottle not only looks luxurious and unique, but it also lasts a long time.

If you’re looking for something to remind you of that perfect Summer stroll along the beach, or that enchanting Mediterranean afternoon vibe, look no further, who knows? you might just love these Tom Ford scents as much as I do.

The Tom Ford Sole di Positano & Mandarino di Amalfi Eau de Parfums are available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Net-A-Porter, Barneys NY, Lord & Taylor, Bergdorf Goodman, & Macy’s

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Samples of The Week: Coola, Lancer, Tarte, By Terry, Charlotte Tilbury, Burberry, Boscia, Ren, Laura Geller, & Ciate

September 4, 2017 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Happy Labor Day guys! I hope you’re all having a great time. I have some samples to review today which are quite interesting and somewhat new. So, without further ado, let’s get this Labor Day review started.

Burberry, My Burberry Blush Eau de Parfum (0.25 oz/rollerball: $29, 1 oz: $68, 1.6 oz: $90, 3 oz: $120) – I surprising LOVE THIS SCENT the moment I sprayed it on my wrist. It’s a breathtaking fruity floral scent that is irresistible, yummy, sweet, feminine, and pretty at the same time. I haven’t been a fan of floral scents lately (except YSL Mon Paris) because a lot of them tend to be sickly sweet, but this one is different. It has the right kind of sweetness that is not overbearing because there’s a bit of freshness to it. The pomegranate tone is refreshing to the senses. I’m a fan of Burberry scents like the “My Burberry Eau de Toilette“, “Brit Sheer“, and even the “Mr. Burberry Eau de Parfum” for men, and this My Burberry Blush definitely does not disappoint.

Boscia Charcoal Deep-Pore Exfoliating Peel Gel with Volcanic Sand (5 oz: $34) – This is a mild facial peel gel in which the scent reminds me a lot of Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser (reviewed HERE). This one has a very similar consistency with that cleanser as well, and at first, it has a gritty/exfoliating texture, but once applied on the face, you’ll realize that there’s some kind of tiny leaf residue that sorta balls up or clumps the moment you scrub this black gel on your face. The nice thing is it’s not gonna be a rough scrub, but more like a mild one, but the problem is that the whole process can be messy since the clumpy residues tend to fall off the face easily, making a mess on the floor or on the sink. It does clean and soften the face though.

By Terry Hyaluronic Face Glow in #2 Nude Glow (1.43 oz: $66) – I was so surprised by the amazing powdery jasmine scent of this one. It’s a strong scent, but it’s also a nice one. The type that’s kinda hard to resist. The coverage of this is very sheer, so it’s almost better to layer or mix this with your favorite BB or CC Cream, or any foundation as well. I love the very subtle glow that it gives on the face even if it’s quite sheer.

Coola Mineral Face Spf 30 Matte Tint Unscented (1.7 oz: $36)– A light coverage sunscreen/BB cream that has a whipped texture and it feels cushiony like the Coola Dawn Patrol Primer (reviewed HERE). It is creamy and it slightly blurs some redness on the face. I still use some foundation after using this because the coverage of this is not enough to cover my blemishes or some post acne marks. I love that this feels really lightweight and didn’t break out my skin.

Lancer Dani Glowing Skin Perfector (1 oz: $95) – This luminizing cream has a floral scent, but it’s not extremely strong. Its shimmers are also very fine, thus giving a natural subtle glow on the face. I wish there’s a bit more coverage to it because this one’s really sheer, but it’s great to mix with BB creams or with some other foundations. It really does make the face look luminous and less flat.

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream Treat & Transform Moisturizer (1.7 oz: $100, 5 oz: $255) – This cream has a similar scent to Fresh Rose Face Mask or Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Cream, Serum & Eye Gel. It also reminds me of Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask, both with scent and consistency, although the Sisley one has a more whipped formulation. This one from Charlotte Tilbury is quite balanced in texture and in consistency that is also very hydrating and my skin absorbs this easily. It even kept my face hydrated when I applied this on my face overnight.

Tarte Tarteist PRO Glow Liquid Highlighter in Stunner (0.56 oz: $29) – This liquid highlighter’s glow is blinding and out of this world, but a huge challenge to work around. You don’t need to apply a lot of this because a little bit goes a long way, and it’s also easy to blend, but it sets pretty fast which can make the application patchy. The effect can be blinding like you have too much glitter on because the shimmers are not finely-milled. It’s super glowy and ultra-luminous which makes the glow on the face quite unnatural.

REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream (1.7 oz: $45) – This cream is really moisturizing and it’s great for sensitive skin, but I just couldn’t quite like it, no matter how hard I tried it several times. It’s that after-application scent that’s kinda acidic like a strong lemon and rose mix with some citronella (anti-mosquito). It’s a weird scent and I can’t seem to get used to it. Other than that, this cream really moisturizes any dry skin very well.

Laura Geller Color Luster Lip Gloss in Cookie Dough (0.21 oz: $21) – This is a very lightweight long lasting lip gloss that has a medium coverage. It doesn’t feel sticky at all and has no discernible scent. I’m not usually a fan of shiny pouts but this one gives a natural shine that doesn’t look over the top, and it keeps the lips hydrated all day.

Ciate London Liquid Velvet Moisturizing Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bitter Sweet (0.22 oz: $19) – A brownish gray shade that is simply pretty and quite like in the 90’s. It complements any skin tone, and it’s even more complementing for medium to dark complexions. It has a strong soapy jasmine scent with a true matte finish that’s long lasting and not so drying. It’s pretty much one of the best matte liquid lipsticks out there. More shades reviewed HERE.

These are really interesting set of samples that I’ve played lately, and a lot of them are really nice to have in full sizes, but if I have to narrow them down to my top 3, I’d say, the Burberry Blush Eau de Parfum is really at the top of my list, followed by By Terry Hyaluronic Face Glow and Lancer Dani Glowing Skin Perfector.

Have you tried any of these?

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