Everyday brushes

After posting about my brushes wishlist I also wanted to post about the brushes that I use everyday. And also do an update on the brushes I barely use. 

Brushes Wishlist

Since my last post about the brushes I bought from Hakuhodo, I realized I am still missing some more after watching countless youtube videos and reading reviews. I find I miss a highlighter brush, finishing brush and even more eye brushes. I also want a brush to settle my under-eye concealer. So I am planning to buy the Samantha Chapman Setting Brush and Expert Face Brush because after watching so many Pixiwoo videos I am convinced I need them in my life.
All the other brushes I want are from Hakuhodo because I like the quality and softness of their brushes. The brushes that start with G come from the G Series, B from the Basic Series, J from the J Series, K from the K Series and # from the 200 Series. The price of each series depends on the handle and hair used for each brush. I have spend hours comparing the various brushes from the series with each other both for dimensions and different types of hair in order to make this list. It embodies what I want to buy that I feel I still need.

1. G5533BkSL Eye Shadow Brush round - Blue Squirrel - $24
   I think this brush is similar to MAC 226, I don't own a MAC 226, the Hakuhodo brushes are in my opinion better quality than MAC.
2. G5523BkSL Eye Shadow Brush round flat - Blue Squirrel - $26
   This is similar shape to MAC 217 but with softer hairs.
3. S102 Finishing Brush round and flat - Blue Squirrel - $142
   I want a finishing brush that is soft and has this shape and size, I couldn't find one in their cheaper series.
4. Kokutan Eye Shadow Brush L - Blue Squirrel - $62
   I want a highlighter brush, this looks like the best one in terms of size and density. I saw this in a youtube video and it looks perfect for highlighting.
5. J214R Duo Fibre Eye Shadow Brush Round  - Goat & Synthetic Fiber - $27
   I plan to use this brush for concealer or maybe even foundation application.
6. J214 Eye Shadow Brush Round - Goat - $35
   I want this brush after seeing it in a youtube video.
7. G5507BkSL Eye Shadow Brush round flat - Horse - $18
   I saw this brush in a youtube video and it seems perfect for applying eye shadow, that is what I am planning to use it for.
8. K021 Eye Shadow Brush round and flat - Blue Squirrel - $33
   This brush could also work as a highlighter brush.
9. K007 Eyeliner Brush round - Weasel - $15
   I already own one, I want a backup.
10. K005 Eye Shadow Brush round and flat - Weasel - $18
    I have a similar shaped but denser brush from Samantha Chapman, this looks thinner.
11. J5523 Eye Shadow Brush Round & Flat - Goat - $18
    This is the same as the MAC 217 according to other bloggers. I guess that is why it is always sold out.
12. J5533 Eye Shadow Brush Tapered - Goat - $17
    This looks similar to a MAC 224, I don't own that, I want to test this one.
13. J163HSH Eyebrow Brush H Angled - Horse & Synthetic - $18
    I want to compare this to my MAC 266.
14. J190S Eyeliner Brush Round - Synthetic Fiber - $15
    The hairs are slightly longer than the K007 but seems better for gel eyeliner because it is made from synthetic fiber.
15. G5530BkSL Eyeliner - Polyester - $15
    Another eyeliner brush to test :)
16. 280 Lip · Concealer Brush Flat - Synthetic Fiber - $18
    I want another lip brush that is only synthetic fibers.

Hope this was helpful if you are planning to buying some Hakuhodo brushes.

Various purchases from a long time ago

These are some purchases from last year. I got the stippling brush and shading brush by Samantha Chapman from Love Make Up - I prefer using my MAC 130 instead of the stippling brush. The shading brush is great for using with concealer or for under the lash line shading.
I bought my first Nars blush in the shade Deep Throat from HQhair and I am planning on buying one more - Desire. The blush looks great with my complexion and gives me a nice flush of color, I apply it using my MAC 187, I am hoping that Desire will be the same but then in pink. This has become my go to blush, it just looks perfect every time I wear it.
From Douglas I got the Guerlain Terracotta 4 seasons in 01 Blondes which I use as contour because you can create the color you need depending on the season. I apply the bronzer using Samantha Chapman multitask brush or my Hakuhodo S103.
Finally, I also bought two Clinique gel eyeliners 01 Black Honey(also from Douglas) and 02 True Black(from StrawberryNet), as I stated before they are great, I just have to get used to using gel eyeliner because I always used liquid eyeliner before...

Till next time...

Hakuhodo Brushes

Welcome back!

I know it's been a long time but yeah I've been busy with my studies and work. To recap I bought a lot of stuff since my last post from last year so I am going to start posting again on some past purchases, bare in mind that the pictures are of some used products (I couldn't resist ;-) ). I'll start with my pride and joy the Hakuhodo brushes. Be warned this is a picture heavy post. :)

Recent Beauty Purchases

Recent Purchases from MAC, Illamasqua & Real Techniques

Here is a break down of my recent beauty purchases from MAC, Illamasqua, Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman and La Roche Posay. I tested them all out already and I like them all.

Update MAC Semi-Precious Collection

As soon as I finished work I went to my MAC counter at Douglas to get my goodies. I was really excited and ready to swatch some eyeshadows. As you can see I bought two lipsticks, two Mineralize Blushes, the 234 brush and one Mineralize eyeshadow.

My MAC Semi-precious Purchase

Brushes

So I decided to blog about the brushes I have and the ones that I want and why I have these.
I currently own the MAC brushes 217, 219, 239, 187, 130, 129SH and the 182 - Kabuki Brush. My favourite brush for applying my foundation is the 130 and for applying MSFN powder I use the 182. I also use the kabuki if I want to lighten my blush if I picked up too much product. I bought the 129SH for applying blush but I didn't like it so I don't use that anymore I use the 187 instead. I use the 187 with powders and blushes, it is a multitasking brush. All my eyeshadow brushes are great for my small eyes, the distance between my eyes and brow is short. I want to buy one extra 239 and 213 brush.

From top to bottom MAC brushes nr 130, 129SH, 187, 217, 239, 219 and 182 in the upper right corner

I also own 3 brushes from Guerlain which I got when I bought one Rouge G Lipstick and Terracota Light Bronzing Powder. They came in a small pouch with Guerlain written over it, it containted two eyeshadow brushes and one small face brush. They are great brushes and so soft.

After watching/reading reviews of Hakuhodo brushes on various blogs and youtube I am intrigued and I want to buy some brushes from them. Not right now because they are expensive but I hope later this year. The brushes I want to buy are from the Kokutan series; the Kokutan Finishing Brush LAG(I read it is really soft), Kokutan Eye Shadow Brush T(It's like a better version of the 219) and the Kokutan Eye Shadow Brush M. From the S100 series; the S103 Powder Blush Brush pointed and the S121G Eye Shadow Brush round and flat. I also want to buy the G516 Concealer Brush since I don't own any concealer brushes. The reason I don't want to buy the MAC 109 brush for contouring is that I want to buy the better quality brush from Hakuhodo the S103.

The reason I don't own or want to buy any eyeliner brushes is that I am not a fan of applying gel eyeliners. I want to buy a brow brush but I still haven't decided which one.

I hope this helps,
Alexa

New Shoes!

So today I just went to eat in the city center after I went to the dentist. That is when I decided to just pass by Zara to see their shoes, usually they always have a few that are to die for! They didn't disappoint me this time, I fell in love! The pumps I bought are so cute and quite cheap €69,95. The upper, lining and sock are all leather. I just love them! It has a hidden platform that is just not over the top, I have been wanting to buy pumps like this for quite some time. I think the pumps look better on my feet than on the shelf so my advise would be to always try a shoe on even though you don't quite like how it looks on the shelf. It makes a huge difference when it is on your feet. I also bought a new mac eyeshadow brush, the 239. Also happy with that buy, overall had a great day!

This was all for today,
Alexa

MAC Cosmetics

So I decided that my first real topic will be about MAC Cosmetics, and my love for make-up.

Let's start at the beginning, I have been using make-up since I was around 14 years old. At first I was only using lipstick and lip gloss. When I was about 15/16 years old I went to a modelling and refinement class, there I learned some basics about foundation, eyeshadow and so on. Back then my brand of choice was Revlon, I was using their foundation, eyeshadow and their liquid eyeliner. I still use the liquid eyeliner today since I do not like using kohl pencils because I can't get the line to be thin enough and liquid eyeliner stays put all day long. By the time I was studying abroad I was experimenting with different eyeshadow application from smokey eye to an everyday look. Today I can say that I am confident about my eye shadow application abilities.

Then in November of 2009 I found out I had a wedding to go to in July 2011, in February I received another wedding invitation also for July, for both I was the maid of honor thus soon my costs were getting higher because in the end I had 3 weddings to attend. That is when I decided I will pay to do my hair but not my make up. So I did a little googling about which brands look professional and so on because there were a few things I have not conquered completely yet which are foundation, powder and blush. My everyday look required liquid eyeliner, some eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick or lip gloss, so I don't use foundation etc.

That is when I discovered MAC Cosmetics and their brushes, I was amazed by what I saw and was excited to buy some. There was only one little problem, MAC Cosmetics is expensive, but I didn't want to pay someone to do my makeup. A lot of times they do not match the foundation to my actual skin color so then you have an orange face or a darker/lighter foundation than I actually am cause I have fair skin. My google research brought me to some famous youtuber which only grew my interest even further. When I saw videos by the famous youtuber and blogger Miss Chievous and another known youtuber Richie Nickel, they broaden my knowledge about which brushes were good etc. I found a great website called Lushious Beauty where they had a lot of tips about MAC on their forum. My first purchase was in July a week before one of the weddings! I went with my boyfriend and the MAC makeup artist was really nice and did my whole face. She used the 130 brush to apply the Mineralize Skinfinish SPF 15 foundation in NC20, she first asked which foundation I wanted to use, I love cream foundation, HATE liquid foundation. She then put Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in the shade Medium Plus and Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul. By the end I bought them all including the brushes number 217, 219, 130 and 129SH and also their brush cleanser. Eyeshadow colors I decided prior to going there which ones I wanted based on misschievous recommendations and my own personal choice. I know I should have bought them sooner to test putting on the makeup with brushes since I have never done this before but the months prior were used to buy clothes, bags and shoes for the weddings. I went the next day again to buy some more brushes (the 187 and 182 - the kabuki brush) and one eyeshadow I forgot to buy the day before. I started playing with the makeup a few days before one of the weddings, at first I had difficulty doing the eyeshadows as perfect as I did with regular sponge applicator but soon I got the hang of things. I couldn't believe all these years I didn't know about all this. I also started using an eye primer so the eyeshadow will last longer. Alot of these things I learned from makeup books and youtube videos.

After the weddings I kept buying more MAC products and now I have a small stash of items also some limited edition items and the famous Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish. I am planning to buy more but this makeup brand is expensive and I am still only a student. But my list keeps growing, it's a little bit addictive but oh so fun!

On Sunday I bought Heartless Lipstick, Vainglorious eyeshadow and Sweet Joy eyeshadow from the MAC Venomous Villains Collection. I wanted to buy the My Dark Magic Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo but it was sold out. I am so happy with my purchases!

In retrospect I can't believe I didn't know about MAC sooner! I have always been interested in make up, from my group of friends I am the only one with such a collection. It looks that after all these years I have been living under a rock! But this is all going to change now! :)

Hope you enjoyed reading,

Alexa