Two for Thursday: Quick Drugstore Holiday Picks

Since it's the end of the month and I'll also be posting a monthly favorites, I wanted to share two quick reviews on drugstore (or drugstore-priced) beauty holiday kits.

First up is the Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color Collection.

This set is marked at $4.99, but I found it last weekend on sale for $2.99 at both Rite Aid and CVS, with $2 rewards attached to it. Yes, that makes this set $0.99.

In this set, you receive nine of the Megalast nail polishes, each weighing in at 0.17fl/5ml. This is one of the cheapest formulas at the drugstore, but one of my favorites. It lasts and lasts on my nails.

I thought so much of it that I picked up one for me, and one for my mother for Christmas. If that's not a stamp of approval, I'm not sure what is.

I feel like this kit has neutrals, bolds, brights, and classic shades- essentially, all you'd need for any number of looks. I think that this is a great kit.

Next up, the Real Techniques Fresh Face Favorites Kit.

This retails for $19.99 at Ulta, but I found this kit for $6.99 at my local TJMaxx.

This set comes with three brushes: a BB/CC brush,a contour brush, and a detailer brush.

It also comes with a sponge wedge.

Do I think this is worth $19.99? Nope. But if you spot it at your local TJMaxx like I did, remember that it's this year's kit and totally worth it. I love Real Techniques brushes, and I find them to be really high quality.

Sorry for the quick post, but I wanted to share two kits I've picked up recently with you.

Marc Jacobs The Conceal Full Cover Correcting Brush

Today I'm happy to share with you one of the best purchases I've made in some time.  It's one thing to buy high-end cosmetics, but having the right tools to maximize them is another thing.

I've been using the Marc Jacobs Beauty The Conceal Full Cover Correcting Brush #14 ($30, Sephora exclusive) for about six weeks now and it has truly changed my life.

I'm normally a natural bristle fan, but this synthetic-hair brush has changed both the application and performance of my concealer.

The brush itself is sleek and shiny, like a sportscar. It has a metal cap on the end, and Marc Jacobs embossed in silver lettering on the brush handle.  I suspect that the shape of the brush head is the secret to its success.

Here's a close-up of the brush head. There are shorter and longer bristles that allow for the concealer to be spread evenly.

Although the price tag is high, this has totally changed my concealer game.  I use less concealer and it is spread far more evenly than my usual mode of concealer application (fingers).  I've tried other concealer brushes, but this works best with any of the concealers that I use.  I'm able to create an even skintone easier with this brush and skip my usual second concealer application.

I find that it's difficult to  clean but worth it. It provides a flawless finish.  I highly recommend this brush as an addition to your brush collection.

Burberry Beauty #09 Socket Line Eye Brush

Today's Burberry item is a bit different than all of the others.  Currently there are only two brushes available from Burberry, the kabuki and Brush #09, the Socket Line Eye Brush.

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a brush collector. I try to purchase at least one brush from the various makeup lines that I enjoy. After looking at reviews of both brushes, I chose the eye brush.

Burberry's Socket Line Eye Brush retails for $38 and is currently available via Burberry's website. Although Nordstrom previously stocked the full range of Burberry makeup brushes, that's not currently the case.

Burberry's website describes this as "Burberry Socket Line Eye Brush blends and softens eyeshadow for an elegant finish. Classic subtly tapered long bristle brush creates smooth and flawless colour. Handcrafted matte finish handle with polished metallic tip."  The old Nordstrom description reads as folows: "Burberry Eye Brush No. 09 is a long-bristled blending brush with a slight point. Made from ultrasoft goat hair, it is used to apply eyeshadow at the tip to create a deeper, but soft, socket line. Used by Burberry Beauty makeup artists to create an effortless smoky eye look."

I tried my best to get a good photo of the handle, but this was the best that I could manage. This is a lightweight brush (although not as light as Hakukhodos), with a nice shape. It's easy to handle, and has a really fluffy brush head.

Although other bloggers have raved about this brush, I've been left a bit disappointed. I suspect that it's largely due to operator error. This is a blending brush, but I have a hard time picking up sufficient pigment to create a wash of color to blend. I'm going to continue to work with this brush and appreciate the high-quality construction.  I'm not willing to give up yet- so you may see this revisited in the future.

Ulta Eyeshadow Brush #2

Today I'm going to share one of my hidden secrets with you: Ulta's Eyeshadow Brush #2.  It retails for just $10, but it's a staple in my brush wardrobe and outperforms brushes that cost two or three times that!

Ulta Eyeshadow Brush #2 is the smaller of two eyeshadow brushes in Ulta's line.  It has a gunmetal grey handle and short, synthetic bristles.  They're packed somewhat densely, but not like MAC brushes.

Most people would pass on this brush because it's okay at applying powder. They're missing what a hidden gem this is.

Here's a close-up of the brush head:

This is the best brush I've found on the market for dealing with creme eyeshadows such as Chanel Illusion d'Ombre, Dior Diorshow Fusion Mono, Buxom Stay-There Shadow, and Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams.  The synthetic bristles clean up so easily, and it's easy to control the layers.

Even though these retail for $10 each, Ulta often has them on sale.  Consider them a bargain steal and don't think twice about grabbing one to try with your creme shadows.

Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen

When I first spotted the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen, I knew I had to have it in my life.  I've side-eyed Bobbi Brown's Foundation Touch-Up Sticks for years but had never pulled the trigger due to the price.  At $16, this seemed to be a decent compromise.

Here's the basic info:  the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen is a synthetic fiber, fillable pen with a click mechanism that pushes the foundation/BB/CC of your choice through a thin tube into the brush head.  You can then use the brush head to blend out the foundation.  This is touted as the perfect tool for mid-day touch-ups.  For us ladies with 16+ hour days between leaving and coming home, perhaps an economical way to make mid-day touch-ups.

After a few days of testing it, I'm left with a distinct mix of emotions when it comes to the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen.

First, the good.

At $16, it's affordable.  If one wanted to invest in several of these with different liquid makeup products in each, it's not rough on the wallet.

It's customizable.  Whereas I drooled over the Bobbi Brown stick that matched my old HG foundation, not everyone has a perfect color match in that line or particularly likes a stick foundation.  This allows you to take your favorite product with you.

Each click dispenses a small amount, which is excellent.  This is truly meant for touch-ups.  You don't get a face-sized amount with one click, you get enough to cover about half a hand.

This photo shows the width of the line of foundation you get with one click:

Here's the dispensing mechanism:

The synthetic brush is shockingly effective as a blending tool.  I wouldn't want to do my entire face with it, but it would work well in a small area- just as designed.  I'm a huge brush snob, so for me to enjoy this inexpensive synthetic brush is a bit out of character.

A close-up of the brush head:

Now, the not-so-good.

Look carefully at the size of that reservoir.  The fill line (which is essentially required in order to get it to function properly, as I learned from testing) is about 90% up.  It's a foundation hog!  If you're not sure if this product really will work for you, it could be an expensive endeavor.  In that photo, the ends that fit into each other are both facing the bottom of the image.

The refillable reservoir is also held in place by screwing it into the body of the pen.  It doesn't feel substantial to the touch, and I can easily envision a scenario where those small plastic grooves become stripped with usage and the two pieces separate in your bag.  The grooves are inside of the main body; the reservoir is smooth.

Speaking of the plastic body, there's no "hard click" with the lid.  I didn't attempt to break it, but I have my reservations about this will hold up in a purse.  If one of the major upsides to this product is portability, how much is lost if it needs to be within (preferably) a plastic bag or something else that you wouldn't mind getting foundation on.

Overall, I like the concept.  At $16, it's not hard on the wallet and worth a try. However, I'm still cautious about the durability of the product and protect my handbag and makeup cases accordingly.

The Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen retails for $16, and is available exclusively at Sephora.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Angled/Spooley 7 Brush

One of the items I made sure to pick up from the recent Sephora VIB sale is this wonderful tool from Anastasia Beverly Hills.

I received a mini version of this with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Bold and the Beautiful Kit, and it's become a staple in my morning routine.

At $18, it may seem a bit pricey but I find it to be useful. My Anastasia tools have all held up well to normal care and cleaning.  They don't shed, and pick up color evenly.  This is a key tool for keeping your brows in top shape.

Pricing/Availability: $18 via Sephora, Ulta, or Anastasia Beverly Hills

Sephora Party Starter Brush Set (Holiday 2013)

Sephora has introduced a number of limited edition brush sets for Holiday 2013. Today I bring you the Party Starter brush set.  It retails for $16, and is exclusively available at Sephora.

Party Starter has 4 mini brushes and is encased in a black glittery case:

The brushes themselves are glittery and adorable:

There is one face brush, and three meant for eyes.  Here's a shot to give you a sense of the size:

They're obviously mini and not appropriate for doing an entire look.  What they're perfect for, however, is tossing in your bag for touch-ups during the day.

Bottom Line: Adorable mini brush set with lots of glitter.  It's more cute than practical, but I found it to be worth the price.

Let's Talk Brushes!

I know that the blog has been a bit light in terms of content the last few days- I'll be working extra hard to make up for that! I pulled back the curtain a bit with the nail posts by admitting that I pre-swatch my NOTDs; due to my career, it's hard to blog outside of the weekends.  I'll do a better job in balancing the posts throughout the week- but this week, I wanted to bring you Chanel holiday 2013 ASAP!

Let's talk brushes for a moment- or at least, brush care.

This is what I'm usually presented with each weekend:

Those are the brushes that I've used throughout the week that are due for a deep cleaning.

I love makeup, but I've also learned that it's vital to have the right tools- and that quality matters.

I have settled into a two-step cleaning program that keeps them in good condition and clean.  I'm a bit of a germophobe, so clean brushes are a must.

There are two products (both very affordable) that keep my brushes clean, healthy, and in good condition:

Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner: After I use a brush, it takes literally a couple of seconds to spray the brush head with this mist, then wipe it with a tissue.  Daily Brush Cleaner is great to remove excess product and give it an antibacterial spritz.  However, after I've used a brush once, it can't go back into my clean brush containers. It goes into a smaller brush holder (you see two of the various glass containers I use for this purpose in the first photo).

Sephora Makeup Brush Shampoo: Once a week (usually on Sunday), I gather up the brushes that have been used at least once during the week for a shampooing/deep cleansing. This is almost gel-like in consistency, much like actual shampoo. I've tried many other brush cleaners, and find this works just as well as far more expensive brands.

Both are carried exclusively at Sephora, and are available in 2 sizes: 2oz ($6) or 6.75 oz ($14).