~ Coastal Scents Brushes, A Mini Review ~

I recently put in an order with COASTALSCENTS.COM and while I am always skeptical about super inexpensive brushes, I decided I could afford to take a leap of faith on a few items I was curious about…

As always, the brushes came packaged adorably in a drawstring organza bag (colors vary in my experience but this time it was black)  and delicately wrapped in pink tissue paper with a seal to keep everything nice and neat….)

I always enjoy attention to small details that really make getting a package feel more like getting a present;) I was given a small sample of loose shadow which was a nice and generous touch.  Shipping was also super fast and who doesn’t love that? 😉

Ok, so here are my thoughts on the few I received:

BIONIC FLAT TOP BUFFER BRUSH     $13.95     (see link for photo and more information)

The softness of this brush is pretty surprising, but yet it still has a density that makes it perfect for everything from buffing foundations in or applying bronzer or mineral foundations. This is a must-have for any makeup junkie on a budget who desires an excellent quality multi-tasking brush. I am adding a few of these onto my next order as they will now be a staple in my professional kit;) VERY happy with this purchase and even happier with the price! After all, it works as well as my SMASHBOX #19 and I paid over $50 USD for that brush. You do the math! As a side note, I do recommend the   BRUSH GUARDS to keep this brush in the best shape possible. They are a must for those who desire to get the most of their brush investment;)

BIONIC FLAT TOP BUFFER

DESTINY BLENDER BRUSH     $2.49     ( see link for photo and more info)

Another shocker, this little gem is under $3 USD but performs as well ( if not better) than my MAC 222 and MAC 224 brush. I liken the shape to that of the MAC 226 that sometimes appears in limited edition collections as it is very tapered and yet, dense and soft enough to give a beautiful and easy blend. Shorter than the MAC brushes but not so short that they are difficult to control. I think this is a perfect blender to keep on hand ( I will be ordering a few more…) and excellent for a travel brush set. Fast becoming one of my favorites!

DESTINY BLENDER

DIVINE LARGE/MEDIUM EYE SHADOW BRUSH     $2.49     (see link for photo and more info)

I love these brushes. The large is great for applying a base color all over the eye or even the highlight. The medium is perfect for lid color or highlight. Dense enough to pack on color if desired , yet soft enough to deliver a sheer wash when using a gentle hand. Again..smaller than the high end counterparts, but affordable, workable and definite basics for any makeup junkie to have in their stash. The price is nice too! Check out both sizes…at $2.49 each, you can’t afford NOT to;)

DIVINE LARGE DIVINE MEDIUM

BLACK POINTED CREASE BRUSH     $2.95     (see link for photo and more info)

Not my favorite pointed brush ever, but no major complaints. While the tip isn’t the most slender and perfect of pointed crease brushes, this can be worked with in my opinion. I find the tip to be soft enough to not irritate the delicate areas around eyes, but the base of the hair is dense enough to be able to smudge kohl liners into the lashline with ease.

CREASE BRUSH

So there you have it. A few good quality, basic makeup brushes without breaking the piggy bank. I plan to keep these handy on my personal makeup table and order a few for my professional kit as well. Great for traveling as well due to the convenient size and affordable price.  In fact, here is an adorable little bag that would be perfect to hold them all…

GOLD PENCIL AND BRUSH CASE

COASTALSCENTS.COM has so many hidden treasures from cosmetics to moisturizers. I have always been pleased with my purchases and the service at COASTALSCENTS.COM and highly recommend them to beginners and professionals.

As an addition, the already low prices are going even lower on certain items for the Holiday season so check them out!

More reviews coming soon on products from Estee Lauder, MAC, Too Faced, Sephora, Urban Decay, Coastal Scents, Face Atelier and MORE!  Stay updated and be sure to visit:

KRISTINE MARIE MAKEUP ARTISTRY FACEBOOK PAGE

and become a fan for more information and giveaway opportunities!

~ Holiday Beauty Wish List ~

A good friend of mine in Northern, VA always posts a video this time of year that details her Holiday Wish list. The rules are very simple – It must be something material that Santa can put in his sleigh! So, while World Peace and Goodwill to man are nice – they won’t fit into the sleigh;(      So, in her honor , I am doing my very own version.

Here are my items on the Wishlist and feel free to comment or email me yours;)

1. YAZMO LIGHTWEIGHT  rolling train case for makeup jobs ($159.95). I adore the ZUCA PRO ARTIST case , but for $300, I think thats asking a lot…even from the big guy himself. I think I would be quite content with the YAZMO version. The set would be great, but for now I just have my eyes on the large case since I am sure it would work out fine for the size of my current kit. I can always upgrade and pick up the duffle bag portion later. Here it is:

2. ZPalletes ($20) – These great new pallets (designed by an actual Makeup Artist) allow you to actually SEE what is inside your pallets and customize them to your liking. No more limits on blushes for one pallet and shadows for another or fumbling around in a hurry opening up every single pallet…THIS pallet lets you do your own thing AND it fits more (on average) than most others. 2 sizes and 3 designs/colors AND zpallete.com is offering FREE shipping! 

3. No MAC Giftcards;(  Apparently MACPRO members cannot use these with their MACPRO discount and why waste a discount? Pfft!    ULTA Gift Cards, Cash or SEPHORA  gift cards are the way to go this season on gift cards! As a VIB member, I also get great discounts and coupons making it worthwhile and they have some of my favorite beauty items and kit items such as the Sephora spot brush cleaner spray ( never can have too much!) and Urban Decay, Tarte, MakeupForever and Nars…

4. Makeup Brushes! I LOVE makeup brushes and can never have too many. As far as sets, The SIGMA brush sets are a deal that encompass the basics in one affordable purchase ($49.95-$89.95) , but there are still so many brushes by MAC that aren’t duplicated that I love….Oh, the dilemna!  Sigma Brush sets also come with the option of a brushroll and are now available in Black and Pink. They may not be full-on MAC quality, but the price point is certainly affordable in comparison for the differences.

5. Can you ever go wrong with Perfumes? I say “No!”  My top picks are  Donna Karan Cashmere Mist , Very Irresistable by Givenchy and of course….my dear RAPTURE by Victorias Secret which I have never tired of in 15 years;)

6. Ahh, …the MALM Dressing Table from IKEA ($129). A perfect spot to sit and play Queen of Cosmetics. A long simple table with a large pull out drawer for everyday basics. Perfect in every way!

 

7. Scarves! Scarves! Hats, gloves and SCARVES! Can a woman ever over-accessorize? NO!   Really, nothing tickles my fancy more than scarves in every color under the sun. Elbow length knit gloves and matching hats are just bonus but with a scarf, you are not only warm but well styled  even in jeans;) These can be found anywhere, but Forever 21 has many styles for $10 or less! Beat that!

8. FLIP Camera Ultra HD ( $199) These handy little video cams are perfect for quick blog updates, visual tips and so much more. Take anywhere, film anything and update in a matter of moments. Love this ! Love this idea!

9. Comfy Black Shoes! You can NEVER have too many comfy shoes, but these babies are perfect for on the go. Since I am usually wearing all black, it seems the way to go to match and be comfortable all at once. Skechers makes an awesome pair for about $60.

10. The BOBBI BROWN foundation pallet ($250) . OH MY! This wonderful creation has EVERY shade of BB foundation, corrector and concealer making it possible to paint ANYONES face and have a perfect match. One of the best brands in the industry and a super convenient option in terms of size, quality and options. Im breathless with the thought….

Oh jeesh, I could go on and ON! BUT, Santa only has but so much room and I am sure some has to be saved for all those good little boys and girls;) Even without all these wonderful little treasures, I am managing to get the jobs done;) Stay tuned for some beautiful photo updates this week with more models….

Happy Shopping to ALL this Season!

KristineMarie

~ Urban Decay Lip Primer Potion, A Review ~

Urban Decay , known for it’s top quality Eye Primer, has recently offered a few new primer products including an all over face primer and the lip primer (pictured above). What’s a primer you ask? Well, in the simplest of explanations, a primer is a product designed to seal, smooth and prepare the skin for cosmetics giving a smoother application and longer wear. Perfect for days when you want a budge-proof result. Think of primer products as underwear for your makeup;)

I picked up the handy dandy Lip Primer in an effort to make my “cheap” lipcolors stay on a bit longer. I have been experimenting with my Lip Primer and different products from lipcolors to lipglosses and have been quite impressed.

The packaging is classic Urban Decay style -A trendy looking slim metallic tube with the signature purple design and etched design. The product itself is a cream color bullet that twists up and out. It is a bit thick..the consistency of a wax based balm. With a little pressure, this slides right on…invisibly.

I expected it to feel drying, but to my surprise, it was not. I will stress the importance of exfoliated and well moisturized lips to make this your result as well. The product does contain vitamins A, C and nourishing E as well as an SPF of 15.

I usually give it a few moments to set in as I press my lips together gently, then apply my lipcolor on as usual. My lipcolor seems more vibrant, goes on smoother and lasts SO much longer without touch ups. No cracking, fading, or bleeding. I am impressed!

You can find this product here:

So, stop wasting money on buying more lip products. Get the one that makes them all worthwhile and turn any everyday lip product into an *All Day* Product;)

Kristine Marie