Decided on the MAC 188 brush

I’m currently in the market for a good blush brush and I’ve looked into the Eco-Tools blush brush (if it’s anything like my powder brush then it will pick up too much product), the Revlon Blush brush (reviews are not so good on this), the MAC 116 (price is a little too much for me right now) brush and the MAC 187 brush (it’s too big and pricey). I remember people saying on the web that the MAC 187 brush is good for applying powders especially blushers and liquid foundations. I don’t wear liquid foundation (yet – I’m hoping my breakouts and scarring won’t last any longer) so I remembered that the MAC 188 (the smaller version of the 187) is available at my CCO. How nice.

What made me decide on the MAC 187 is that I read that it picks up a small amount of powder products which is nice because my NARS Taj Mahal is very pigmented so using a light brush is exactly what I need. I was using (and will continue to use) my Essence of Beauty Finishing brush (which is an odd brush to use blush for but I do not have a blush brush to use) to apply my NYX blush and it picks up a lot of product all at once and it’s the right amount for my cheek. When I go to use the same brush in my NARS blush the brush picks up too much or my NARS blush is very pigmented. I think it’s a pigmentation issue. The quality and pigmentation of my NARS blush is greater in that compared to my NYX blush, of course. I didn’t realize it because my only blush before my NARS was my NYX blush. No experience until now.

Anyway, what I had to do was go over my face with an MSF to cover up the over use of my NARS blush. It was too much product going my Finishing brush. I used my mineral face brush as well and I found myself in the same position. I’m hoping that the MAC 188 will pick up a small amount of product and will apply just right. I use a light hand in my NARS blush because I don’t want to waste it. I’m very careful with that blush as it cost me $25.00 for the one I have. Yikes!

Lastly, I was going to go ahead and splurge on the 131 brush, but I think it’s uncessary. I don’t really want to spend $40.00 on a brush I’m only going to use for blush. The 188 brush it is!

China Glaze “Cruisin” Nail Polish Swatch

This is a nice Fall color for the nails.  It just so happens that this nail polish matches with my new NARS blush called “Taj Mahal”.   Freaky.

My First Ulta Haul

My best friend and I went on our first visit to Ulta today in Holmdel, NJ (great city by the way) and we thought the place was awesome.  As we walked through the front door we noticed that the cosmetics aisles were located on the left and the fragrances were located on the right.  We headed straight for the cosmetics aisles of course. My best friend said that Ulta reminds her of Sephora, but I don’t think so.  Ulta is so much bigger and they carry a wide range of cosmetic lines from high to low and lots of fragrances, skincare and hair care products…A LOT!

We walked around every aisle that held high-end cosmetics and swatched products here and there.  We then watched a MA make up a customer with Urban Decay cosmetics.  The lady’s face came out really cute.

After our little tour of high-end cosmetics was over we went looking for NYX cosmetics.  We both have been wanting that NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk and we were able to snag a couple.  We’ve been wanting this pencil for a long time and could never find it at our fragrance outlet store or anywhere else for that matter – I cannot wait to try them.   I also picked up a dark brown jumbo eye pencil as well and when I got it home, my 22 month old got a hold of it while I was taking haul pics and yeah, she made a little mess of it.  I won’t be able to line my waterline with it now, but it’s OK.  I need the practice filling in my waterline with a brush anyway.  Price $3.99 each, but I got a buy one get 50% the second deal.

We were then off to look around at more low-end cosmetics and we I found Eco-Tools (which was on my list).  I picked up an angled liner brush and a eye shader brush.  Both brushes are synthetic though, but soft and I’ve heard great things about both brushes so I thought I’d give it a try before I go for the MAC equivalent brushes.  I already have the Eco-Tools Powder brush (which is my favorite brush) so why not get more brushes in the same family?? Price $4.99 for each brush.

So, we were off again and I wanted to check out the nail polishes because I’ve been wanting to get my first bottle of China Glaze nail polish and the only color I found interesting within the inventory left was a burn orangey color called “Cruisin”.  It’s a beautiful, sheeny undertone type of burn orange and I love it. *****TOTALLY OFF-TOPIC, BUT I MUST SHARE***I was like I had to get it because today I ordered NARS Blusher in Taj Mahal which is a burnt orange blush and though I have never seen it in real life before, I love it.  I love NYX Cinnamon blush, which is an orange colored blush, but I heard that orange looks great on the cheeks of women of color so I decided to go ahead and order.  I will go more into the story as to why I ordered NARS blusher in Taj Mahal + backup once I get it in the mail.  I’m so excited.****OK NOW BACK TO THE TOPIC AT HAND****  Plus it’s almost Fall so this color fits the season so I’ll be sporting this polish on the 21st.  Price $6.50.

I wanted to get China Glaze base and top coats, but there wasn’t any.   I may have to just order them online.

After I picked up my nail polish, we decided to explore Ulta some more and my best friend eyes got caught upon the cosmetic bags shelf and made my way over to the skincare shelf where the sales where.  I didn’t get much of a sale, but I picked up Cetaphil Facial Cleansar that came with a free squeeze tube of Cetaphil Lotion.  I can’t wait to use it, starting tonight, as I need help with these breakouts I’ve been getting all summer.  I just wish it would stop.  Please excuse the flash off of the Cetaphil bottle in the picture, but it was wrapped in plastic so that’s why the flash bounced off so hard.  Price $9.34

That’s it!  I’m not sure what’s up with my camera today, but it’s actiing crazy.  Here are pics from my first Ulta store haul: