My Top Makeup Brushes

Hey Guys!
So...about makeup brushes… Do you always know which one to get? Or which one you really need? Sometimes shopping for a brush can be a little overwhelming, there are so many to choose from!
People ask me about brushes all the time, so I thought I’d show you a list of brushes I think you should have or learn about so that next time you go shopping for brushes you know what to look for.
For those that don't know me, Hello I'm Veronica and I'm a M.A.C. addict =) so of course, all my brushes are from M.A.C. but there are many other brands out there that are great as well. Something I would never suggest or recommend is buying your brushes online, specially from Ebay, because most of them are fake, you might be thinking that you are getting a good deal but these brushes are not good quality, they will shed, they will waste more makeup, they won't apply evenly and you will be wasting your money.
Remember! Before purchasing any brush think about what you need it for and what type you prefer before making the decision, brushes can be a bit pricey but if you chose the right one and take good care of them, they will last you for years!

FACE BRUSHES

MAC 130 Short Duo Fiber Brush
This brush is super! it has short bristles, great for packing just the right amount of foundation, blush, concealer etc. Just like the 187 (down) it can be use with cream, liquid and powder formula and you apply it by stippling or padding the foundation into you skin and then blending it by doing soft circular motions. Only dip the foundation onto the white bristles. I love this brush, if you use foundation, this is a must have ;)

MAC 187 Foundation Brush

Great for liquid foundation lightweight application and blending of any formula; fluid, cream, powder or pigment. This brush works great with any product that you don't want to over-apply, like bronzers and shimmery powders. I prefer this brush mostly for liquid foundation; it gives an airbrushed finish to the makeup.

MAC 190 Foundation Brush

Another great foundation brush is this one. You can use it with liquid, creamy foundations for a smooth and even finish.


MAC 129SH Blush Brush (Short Handled)
I have a couple of favorite brushes and this is one of them! The size of this blush brush is perfect, since it can be carried inside your bag for on the go retouches ;) Smile and apply your blush in the apple of your cheeks =) Must have.


MAC 134 Powder Brush
This is a powder brush. It's big and fluffy =) It applies powder very smoothly. Not a must have since most of the time we use the sponge that comes with the powder but applying your powder with a brush, will give you a smooth, natural coverage and the sponge will pick up more powder giving you a heavier coverage.


MAC 168 Angled Contour Brush
The contour brush, for highlighting and contouring, it can be used for blush and bronzer as well. I use this brush all the time, its great to create the illusion of high cheekbones and to give more dimension to the face.

MAC 195 concealer brush

This brush looks like a tiny foundation brush; it's very small with a pointy tip perfect for applying concealer. Though I have to admit, I use my fingers most of the time but this is a good brush to have.

EYE BRUSHES

MAC 209 Eyeliner Brush
If you need a small and pointy eyeliner brush, this is it! I personally prefer flat liners (angled or straight) but this is a great brush to make that perfect line with cream or powder.

MAC #263 Angle Brush
This is another one of my “I can’t live without ” brushes… I use it every day! This brush is great for lining your lashes and filling in your eyebrows. I love it!

MAC 212 Flat Definer
The flat shape and firm / edgy bristles makes it perfect for lining your lower lash line. This brush is very much like the 266 angled lining brush, but flat. See which one works better or is more comfortable to use, but both do the same effect.

MAC - 214 short shader brush
This brush is for smudging and/or blending eye shadow. Blend harsh edges or smudge eyeliner for a smoky eye look.

MAC 213 Fluff Brush
This is by far my favorite brush! The bristles are soft yet dense and pick up just the right amount of color. You can use this for a sheer application or pack it all over your lid for more color. This is a must have.

MAC 217 Blending Brush
Another must have! This brush is for shading / blending powder or creamy shadows. The oval shape makes it perfect for blending over your crease and smooth out harsh edges.

MAC 219 Pencil Brush
This brush has a pencil-shaped tip perfect for blending eyeliner for a smoky eye.

MAC 239 Eye Shading Brush
#239 is the brush for eye shadows. It is very versatile, you can use it to pack eye shadow on your entire lid or lightly over your crease. I would say this one and the #213 do the job!

Always clean your brushes after every application and wash them at least once a month with shampoo and conditioner.

“The key for a great makeup is using the right tools”

Bollywood Princess

HaLlOwEen TiMe!

V's tip of the day!

When shopping for foundation do not test the product on your hand or wrist. To get a good color match you need to match the shade to the skin on your face and neck.
When shopping for concealer, try one shade lighter than your skin color, this will make you look less tired and younger ;) Note: only one shade lighter!

Bye Bye Summer.... Hello fall !!!

I’m back!

Ok so it’s been a fun fun summertime but its coming to and end and with that said I’m happy to be back just in time for the fall/winter time! While summer is a very light & natural makeup season, the fall is where bold & strong colors are allowed and you get to experiment with colors like purples/plums, grays, blues, greens & blacks like in this new collection from M.A.C. “Venomous Villains” inspired by some of the Disney “Evil” Villains to express the inner villain in everyone of us ;) …. it’s okay to be a little evil. = )

For this collection they used same color references from the Disney original villains characters. Check it out!

V's tip of the day!

Kissable Lips!

Apply some Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) on lips, use a toothbrush to exfoliate lips until dry skin is scrubbed off and rinse with warm water. I use it every night before I go to bed. Apply on your lips everynight and wake up to soft kissable lips.
(Protect your lips when you go under the sun... use a chapstick with SPF.)

Summer Summer Summer Time!

Summer is a time to refresh your makeup to a cleaner softer lighter look!

Us Miami girls now that it can get really hot and humid in summer time and the makeup can get a little messy... Try a few tips and trends I'm going to be sharing with all of those girls that want to look great during the summer.

First of all your skin should always look hydrated, so a great moisturizer is key. Skip the thick liquid or cream foundation and switch to a tinted moisturizer or after your moisturizer try a mineral powder foundation... These sheer formulas look and feel light on your skin and are less likely to turn cakey or messy on steamy days. For summer, foundation should be sheer to give you a nice coverage but also that light and fresh look.

If you cant live without concealer (like me) try the "moisture cover" from M.A.C.

Also, ilumination is a hot trend for the summer. create a highlight on your cheekbones with a shimmery bronzer, powder or cream. Also, you can highlight under your brow and inner corner of the eyes with a light shimmery eye shadow.

For blush use one that is sheer and contains a bit of shimmer. Pastel colors are a hit. Try a soft rose, peach, light coral.

For lips , nudes and pastels are big for spring ...For summer try bright lips! like bright orange, hot pinks and corals. A very simple trend for this summer is a neutral eye with a pop of color on your lips, Don't be afraid to try bright lips, but if you do, always go light on your eyes ;)

Also something I absolutely love is a lip stain... perfect for the day, beach, pool. Try Benetint from Benefit I love it! and you can also use it as a blush, giving you natural rosy cheeks!

Great Skin.....Great Makeup ;)

Part of your daily routine should include using a moisturizer with a SPF (sun protection factor). By protecting your skin with a SPF moisturizer, you're not only safer from skin cancer but your skin will often look younger than your age.

Many of these formulas also contain antioxidants that prevent damage from the sun's rays and also protect the rest of your body from aging and disease.

SPF moisturizers not only protect your skin from the sun they also protect you from air pollution and other harmful environmental elements.

You'll have smoother, younger looking skin when you use a moisturizer with SPF.

My recommendation if you spend most of your day outdoors you should use a moisturizer with SPF 35 to 80.

If you don't spend a lot of time outdoors use a moisturizer with SPF 15 to 35.

Here are some of my personal recommendations, Ive used all of these and love them all... remember you don't need to spend a lot of money, these range from $10 to $30.

Spring 2010!!!

Colorful makeup is a hot makeup trend for Spring 2010.

Shades of pastels green, blue, hot pink, yellow and purple add a lot of fun and look fresh for spring 2010!

Spring is all about the pastels and peach lips ! It’s different from the usual pinks and reds to make you stand out but not too bold that you look like a clown or Lady Gaga in the office ! lol (don’t get me wrong - I love Lady Gaga - but hers is a look especially for stage.

Here are some looks....

This is a very dramatic Spring look, this green looks beautiful in any skin color, try "Shimmermoss" from MAC one of my favorites! line with black liner and nude lips..

Yellow is very "IN" this Spring, since yellow is a very light shade, you can make your makeup stand out with some hot pink lips ;)

I love this pastel purple! is edgy and trendy... try it with nude lips.

Heres a look that not a lot of people can pull off, but Christina can! of course! she has some pastels blue, pink and white, kind of like an easter egg look lol If you go for this look make sure you dont put too much or try 2 colors first ;)

Before ...and After

Winter time is here!

Navy, gold, pinks and purples graced on your eyelids, while lipsticks are bright fuchsias, screen siren reds and cherry plums with a sexy matte finish.

HALLOWEEN.... Time to get creative!

Sexy Kitty Cat
Rainbow Brite

Prom Look!

BOLD COLORS FOR SUMMER '09

Experiment with fun colors this summer!!!
Bright colors will bring lots of personality to your look. Eyes are a big focus for this summer; wearing reds, oranges, purple, greens, bright blues and yellows to really stand out. Oranges and yellows are a little hard to pull off, but if you are a darker complexion these colors will complement you.
So many brands offer these shades, here are some I love:

YSL eyeshadow palette a combination of 5 bold colors $62Another one that I love is this Duo palette from Nars $32

Also, If you don't feel like spending much ,you can also find any of these colors in any store like CVS, Walgreens or Target like this cute palette from Max Factor

$4.99

And last but not least, one of my favorite, of course is MAC Cosmetics since their colors are so bold and offers such a variety of colors like the "submarine" which is one of my personal favorites! I love it! $ 14.50

****IMPORTANT**** when wearing bold color shadows, always go light or nude lips! ; )

Have a fashionable summer!

Vero's Summer Tips!

Ok so you want to wear makeup and its hot and humid just like every summer in Miami, Its ok... primer up! You won't regret the few seconds it will take to smooth on a primer, which goes on after moisturizer but before face makeup. It provides a smooth base for whatever goes on next. Primers are definitely the way to go in summer and they really help hold makeup in place. My recommendation; "That Gal" brighting primer ($28, Macy's) contains Raspberry & Chamomile that sooths the skin and helps skin retain its natural moisture. Also, try Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light ($36, Sephora) silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants smoothes and perfects skin, fills in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish proven to be the very best of the bunch.

Tip of the day

Always prepare your skin with moisturizer before applying concealer and foundation for a smoother application.

Before and After - Lisette

First Look (No airbrush)

Second Look (Airbrushed)