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L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Buildable Luminous Foundation – Review & Swatches

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When it comes to drugstore foundations, the L’Oreal True Match foundation line was my go-to when I used foundation consistently and if I started up using foundation products again, this would be the brand I know I would turn to for this specific product.  While I hardly use foundation now a days – pretty much never unless I need to glam up or am testing a new product, I’m always proud to try a product from a brand that I know and love.  The L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Buildable Luminous Foundation (whew, say that 5 times fast… lol) is a fairly new product to hit the drugstore cosmetic and beauty market and today I’m going to share with you my thoughts on some of these beauties.  I have three to share with you so stop what you’re doing and read on.

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The L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Buildable Luminous Foundation (0.51 oz / 14.6g) retails for about $16 – $24.00 depending on the location and store you find it at.  Considering it is a drugstore product, that is much more than the norm that you can find with regard to pricing.  But, while it’s a bit costly, I think it really can and does offer some unique and great qualities for a product you can find readily available at most stores.  L’Oreal True Match foundations were my go-to years before so I had expected the same quality and feel of these foundation as I did with the originals.

The packaging of these foundations is really pretty.  I love that rose gold cover and wish that the rose gold shade would take the place of the white plastic bottom, but overall – I really like the packaging and like that it is so convenient to hold the sponge to apply the foundation as well as the product sealed properly.  Within the compact there is a small compartment to place your sponge and when you lift that you reveal the cushion of foundation.   Since I haven’t tried anything like this before – I thought it was pretty cool and unique to me.  There is also a mirror on the inside which make touch ups a breeze when on the go.  Since I’m not too fond of sponge applicators, I used it once and then opted to apply with a brush moving forward.  After working years in the beauty industry – I am not fond of the sponge that’s stored within the product itself for sanitary purposes, so I rather use a brush.  I do however, like that it’s so convenient for ease of use with the sponge included.

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Like other products on the market, the L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation has a sponge like cushion that is drenched in liquid foundation.  The concept is that you will receive a radiant glow in just 1 tap of the sponge into the product.  The formula gives you a sheer and natural luminescence that feels weightless and fresh after application.  When I used the original True Match foundation, I used the warm tones, so I found that the True Match Lumi Cushion shades I received (C5.5 Natural Tan, N5.5 Perfect Beige and N3.5 Classic Buff) were a tad bit too ashy and cool toned for my skin.  The closest to my skin tone would be the Natural Tan c5.5 though it is still too cool toned for me and could not be worn alone without bronzing up my face.  Since I don’t use foundation now, I was able to really use some of these products to my advantage, utilizing one of the shades as an under eye highlighter to brighten that area.  Since the liquid is so lightweight, it didn’t cake or become too thick when applied appropriately.  While the foundation shades do not work for me specifically – I think I’m impressed overall with the feel of the product against my skin and the look it left when applied.

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On my face – L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation in C5.5 – Natural Tan

As the name suggests, “Lumi” Cushion foundation leaves you with a luminous and dewy finish once applied.  This is especially great for those of you who want that radiant glow from your foundation or those who are not into a matte look.  Since I have pretty dry skin, I found that this foundation felt comfortable on my face and it was really easy to blend – with a foundation or kabuki brush, because it is very smooth to the touch.  This would make a perfect every day foundation for those who are looking for a light to medium coverage and if needed, it could be built up to full coverage, especially if set with a translucent or colored powder.

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Since I test out products all the time, while I don’t use foundation – I found the need to really put this one to the test.  After application, I found that my skin didn’t feel sensitive, icky or greasy after putting it on and it felt nice against my skin all day.  I could notice the product on my skin for hours and when I finally removed the foundation, it still hung in there and the brown was left on my makeup remover wipe after cleansing my face.  I was quite impressed with how long it lasted, since dewy and luminous foundations can oxidize quickly on my skin.  This one really seemed to live up to it and hang around.  I’m definitely going to check out the shade range at my local stores to see if there are others that would match my skin tone perfectly and try them out to see.

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Left to Right: N3.5 Classic Buff, N5.5 Perfect Beige and C5.5 Natural Tan

If you are looking to a drug store alternative to some of the highend cushion foundations on the market, I definitely suggest you checking out the L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation.  Considering the price point, you get a pretty interesting product that really gives your skin that young, fresh and radiant feel and look.

Have you tried this product yet?  Comment below and let me know what you think.

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The products featured in this post were sent to me for review consideration.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide my thoughts.  Affiliate links posted through out.

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Winter Skin Hydration With PUR Cosmetics HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation

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It has been a few years since I have used foundation consistently on my skin.  I remember a time when it was something I did daily or several times a week having worked in the beauty industry for so long.  But over the last three years or so I decided it was no longer a necessity and I really wanted to let my natural skin shine.  It took a while to get it to the point where I’m happy with it, so I was a bit intrigued and surprised to receive a package from PUR Cosmetics that included their HydraFluid Water Serum Foundations.  Having not tried anything form PUR Cosmetics before, I thought that this would give me an interesting perspective not only on their product but also on the brand.  Today I share with you the new PUR Cosmetics HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation and my thoughts on this particular product.

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Since I stopped using foundation a few years back, I’m always intrigued with what I see making its way onto the beauty scene.  Over the last few years, different brands – luxury, high end and drugstore, have been releasing new and improved products that not only help the skin but offer skin loving benefits that many foundations didn’t back when I used to use the product consistently.  I discontinued the use of the product to let my natural skin shine but also because my skin had become so sensitive over the years – it was the best thing I could have done.  Now with new products on the market, loving your skin and adding coverage has been an added bonus.

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The PUR Cosmetics HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation (whew – say that five times, fast, lol.) was recently launched on February 7th, 2016 at locations like Kohls and Ulta stores nationwide and has been available via the purcosmetics.com site as of January 18, 2016.  Retailing for just $39.00 this new foundation is available in 5 different shades:  Light, Medium, Tan, Dark and Deep.  The HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation (Net. Wt. 0.1oz) comes in an easy to use squeeze tube and is ideal for those with Normal, Combination or Dry Skin which makes this foundation a great choice for my skin type – which is dry.

What makes the PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation so unique is that it contains an encapsulated water complex that delivers Swiss Alps-sourced water to hydrate the skin for lasting radiance while providing silky, medium coverage.  If you are like me and don’t use foundation but sometimes need a little coverage – this foundation can provide you that “bare looking” skin with a perfect complexion.  Since water sourced from the Swiss Alps is known for its high purity and is the ideal mineral water to refresh skin – this foundation is ideal in that it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and moisturized but still offering me a light-weight coverage that leaves my skin dewy and breathable.

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This is my BEFORE (left) and AFTER (right). The BEFORE is bare faced without any makeup (just moisturizer) and the AFTER includes a full face of makeup including PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation.

Application of the HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation was easy and effortless for me.  I applied 2-3 drops of the foundation to my face and used a synthetic flat kabuki brush to apply it the first time.  It smoothed on easily without any problems.  To follow up I also tried it with a wet beauty blender and a synthetic round top kabuki brush to see how it would work with each and it also applied easily, evenly and nicely.  Buffing into the skin and layering as I felt I needed additional coverage was easy as well.

After being in the beauty industry a while – what drove me nuts about foundation is that it was always a trial and error for finding my correct shade.  Blending two or three to customize the perfect color for me was a must for most brands.  While PUR Cosmetics only offers five shades in this line, I was impressed to find that TAN was the perfect shade for my skin tone and blended well as if it were my own skin.  That’s a rarity and I was impressed that I didn’t have to do a custom blend.

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Left to Right: LIGHT, MEDIUM, TAN, DARK, DEEP

With Key ingredients like:  Encapsulated Water Complex, Ceretin Complex and Vitamin E – the PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation utilizes phospholipids to deliver the purest water sourced from the Swiss Alps deep into the skin for long lasting hydration.  It helps smooth, firm and lift the skin’s appearance and helps to soothe the skin and provide antioxidant benefits.  It did leave my skin looking a little dewy which I actually enjoyed.  Since I haven’t been using foundation the last few years – the dewy look was not overpowering but really allowed my skin to look bare faced.  The consistency of this product and the way it feels against my skin reminds me of a CC cream – again, lightweight but with coverage.

Since I don’t use foundation, I’ve been enjoying using these products and the other shades for other things as well.  The darker tones blend well for me to use as a contour and the lighter tones work reasonably well as a highlight to brighten under my eyes.  Though I don’t use a lot of makeup – these have made great products to help polish a look while still allowing my natural skin that I worked so hard to improve – shine!

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Having not used foundation in a few years I am glad that I was able to test these particular ones out.  Not only did it give me the opportunity to try something from a brand I hadn’t had the opportunity to, but it’s a great foundation for people like me that don’t wear any or for those that do and are looking for something lightweight.  The coverage is definitely build-able, offering you light to medium coverage and the feeling on the skin like a BB or CC cream.  If you are someone looking for heavier coverage, I would suggest starting with a primer and laying that down first, applying the PUR Cosmetics HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation and then setting with a pressed or setting powder to get the coverage you’re looking for.  If you are looking for a mattified look – you could easily get that with using the same steps I previously mentioned.  And, if you are like me and want a light weight, soft and dewy coverage – you can use this foundation on its own.

Overall – as someone who no longer uses this type of product (unless I feel I need to), I’m not only impressed with the product itself, but I also love that my skin didn’t break out or have any sensitivities when using this.  That’s a rarity and one of the reasons why I stopped using foundation to begin with.  My skin felt nice and smooth after and I didn’t notice any oxidation either.  The foundation lasted on my skin all day – at least 9 hours and I didn’t feel oily or need to blot through out the day.  My skin overall felt moisturized and hydrated and I love that you can still see my skin through the product.  It is also Husband approved, because it didn’t smudge off on his clothes or anywhere on him which he enjoyed and while he could tell I had some form of coverage on my skin – he also commented that he liked that it looked natural and not “thick or cakey”  <- His words… lol.

So what about you… have you tried this foundation from PUR Minerals?  If so – what are your thoughts on it?  If not, what have you tried from PUR Cosmetics and what do you suggest I check out and try next?  Comment below and let me know.

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  The products mentioned and discussed in this post were sent to me for review consideration and possible feature.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide my thoughts or feature this product on my blog.  Affiliate links are posted through out.

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Treat Your Girlfriends on Gal-entine’s Day

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What is Gal-Entine’s Day? Celebrating Your Girlfriends on Gal-entine’s Day

Celebrating any holiday is much more fun with our Gal Pals.  So what is Gal-entine’s Day?  Well, it’s basically a time when we as besties gather together with our gals and have a great celebration of friendship.  There’s no need to compare our love trials and tribulations… we all just get together to chit chat and have fun before Valentine’s Day and celebrate the bond we have between friends.  Traditionally celebrated on February 13th (the day before Valentine’s Day), this special day is meant to be fun and a way to not only reconnect with our besties, but to have a little fun.  So – get on the phone, social media and start texting your girlfriends for a day or evening of laughs, fun and excitement to celebrate your friendships.  Wondering what you can do on this Gal-entine’s Day?  Well, read on to get a little inspiration!

Gifts?  Presents?  What do you get for your bestie on Galentine’s Day?

Well, giving your gal pals a little token of your friendship is sweet and perfect for a day like this.  I tend to like to create a little DIY or have something made specifically for my girlfriends.  You can opt to create a friendship bracelet (yes, those are still cool and not only for pre-teens) or even bake something sweet.  Get the gals something that can be personalized like a locket or something that will remind you of your childhood.

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DIY – Fun Projects for the Girls

DIY products can be fun to do when you’re with a bunch of friends.  I tend to have a ton of supplies for all kinds of goodies laying around my house in my craft bins, so anything can make for a great product.  Something my sister and I used to do a lot is create candles or soap to give as gifts or to display in our bathrooms and we had so much fun making and using these products.  Bath bombs are fun too or a really easy sugar scrub in cute decorated jars make wonderful creations.  Have fun and let your ideas soar.  It’s not only something to do with your friends, but it’s memento they can take with them when the night is done.

Netflix Anyone?

Am I the only person that enjoys shows like Criminal Minds, Empire or Orange Is The New Black?  Well, why not gather around the tube (television since most people now have flat screens) and binge watch some of your favorite shows with your gal pals.  Order pizza or make a quick Pull Apart Pizza (recipe here) and indulge in some gorgeous chocolate berries from Shari’s Berries.  Not into my flick choices?  Well, choose some of your faves or rock out to Pitch Perfect and have a mini Aca-session with your gals.

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Karaoke

If you know me, then you know this is not something I take part in often.  I’m the only person in my family that is tone deaf and because of it, no one wants to hear me sing… lol.  But, Karaoke evenings are fun and I have enjoyed taking part in them.  Either pull out your Karaoke machine you have stored away or head over to your local Karaoke Bar and have some fun.  Sing to your favorite tunes and enjoy the night with some appetizers or finger foods (pizza works – can you tell that’s my favorite food) or delightful desserts.  Belt your heart out to your favorite tunes and have a party.

Paint ’N Wine Event

There are a few locally owned places on island where I live that offer a paint event (sometimes a little wine) that you can take part in.  These cool events allow you and your friends to go and get a very awesome painting instructional class from an artist/teacher and allow you to create the masterpiece yourself.  While there you have the chance to have a little wine and talk story all while having a great time.  Note that if you take part in these, make sure you have a designated driver accompany you or pick you up from the venue as it can be a lot of fun.  You can take the painting home after and remember your night with your girls.  If painting and wine are not your thing, see what kind of “tasting” events are available.  A local restaurant here offers a Tea Time event once a week where you drink tea and have a light brunch under the trees in a beautiful courtyard.  It’s gorgeous and so much fun .

Makeover Madness

Ah, as a beauty and makeup lover, I knew I had to include this.  A day of pampering is always fun.  Gather your gal pals and pull out your favorite makeup, skin care items and mani pedi favorites and do a little pampering.  If you have a local Mary Kay representative or an Avon rep, contact them to see if they would like to do makeovers while sharing their products with your gals.  Since I have a makeup artist kit, I tend to pull those out and just make it a fun activity for everyone.  I may do smoky eyes on all the girls (something they are not used to) or do a full pedicure and manicure on each.  All of this fun while eating and drinking and dancing to your favorite songs.  It’s like a sleepover without sleeping – just old school fun.  I also like to up together little bags of treats for each friend – including a nail file, some chocolates of course, and anything beauty related.  ELF offers some good makeup for a $1.00 and you can stuff a bunch of treat bags with things that you love and know they will love too.  Looking for fun ideas on makeup looks to create?  Head on over to my Valentine’s Day Playlist on YouTube and get a little inspired.

Don’t leave out your Far Away Besties

I don’t know about you, but I have friends all over the World and many of them live hours away from me let alone a whole continent.  While they live so far away, I still want to let them know that I’m always thinking of them.  A sweet card that comes with something special or a handmade sentiment is always a great thing.  It will be great if it gets to her on February 13th so she checks her mail box and is surprised.  Also, with technology now a days, there are many ways to communicate face to face without being there in person so Skype and have a chat to catch up.  This is the perfect opportunity to talk about your Valentine’s Day plans and to share that new outfit you bought for the special occasion.

Who’s Up For A Girl’s Trip?

Living on an island really doesn’t help much for road trips here, but what is so great is that Hawaii is filled with so many awesome destinations that it’s easy to find sanctuary anywhere.  If you and your friends are riding the single train for now, hey – what better time than to plan a girl’s weekend trip.  Head to your favorite resort and spend the weekend at the pool or at the spa and just rejuvenate your body for the following Monday.  Not single?  Well, that doesn’t mean you can’t do this too… take a drive to wine country (here on Maui, we can head up to Tedeschi Vineyards) and have a wine tasting and then breakfast at Kula Lodge.  The options are endless whether you live on Maui or are anywhere in the World.  Sometimes a weekend getaway with your gal pals are the perfect way to really relax and rejuvenate the soul.  And, what better way to have some relaxation than with your besties.

Day Trip to Buy Makeup

This may sound like an odd one… but since our local Sephora is a two hour drive away, my sisters and I have a tradition where we drive together (all three of us) and take a trip to the other side of the island to go shopping at our local Sephora.  This gives us about 4 – 6 hours of time with one another (sometimes longer) and we get to chit chat makeup, have brunch and just relax and enjoy each others company.  Most the time we don’t even buy makeup but spend an hour walking around Sephora chatting about our favorite products and testing out new ones we have yet to try.  It’s our time together and we enjoy it.

While Galentine’s Day is February 13th, I think that any time of the year you are feeling like you need a little Gal love is appropriate to do something like this for your girls.  Your besties are the ones that see you through every single trial and tribulation, every event and exciting moment.  Celebrating with one another and sharing the love you have with each other is a great thing to do all the time, but especially on Galentine’s Day.  What are you doing for your gal pals this year?  Comment below and share some ideas that you may have!

Did you know there was such thing as a Gal-entine’s Day?  If not, how do you plan to make use of this new day each year.

xo

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer – This post may include affiliate links through out.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and this is not a paid post.

 

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Here’s to Billion Dollar Brows

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While brows are an important part of your face, I always like them to look full and natural.  I have my favorite products that I do love and enjoy to use, but one that I have continued to use over the last two years is the Billion Dollar Brows Best Sellers Kit.  Of course, I do use these products in combination with other brands I love, but I find that this little kit is simple and easy to use while still offering me stellar brows in a heartbeat.

Here's to Billion Dollar Brows

I wrote about the Billion Dollar Brows Best Seller’s Kit ($42.00) before and it still continues to a set of brow products I reach for consistently (on the daily if only in part).  You can read about my original review of these products here, as my thoughts haven’t much changed.  I can say that I love love that it includes four universal products that can be used to not only conceal and highlight but set your brows and fill them in.  The Best Seller’s Kit includes four products:

Universal Brow Pencil which is formulated to work with most skin tones and hair colors.  It applies smoothly and natural and is so easy to use.   I also like that this brow pencil is automatic, so there is no need for sharpening and it comes with a spoolie brush on the opposite end for blending the pencil color with your natural brows.

Duo Brow Pencil has two sides, one for highlighting your brow bone and one side to help conceal those strays or for touch-ups.  I love the highlighter end because it works well with my skin tone and offers the perfect highlight that lifts my brows adding a subtle warmth and the look like I’m completely awake when I probably had no sleep. lol

The Brow Gel is one of my favorites.  It’s clear and helps to lock my brows in place, keeping them there without a crunchy or hard feeling.  It feels comfortable but still offers that “bulletproof” protection that I need on those days I want my brows to look nicely manicured.

A Smudge Brush is also included.  It is a flat, synthetic brush that works so well in applying the creamy duo brow pencil or for blending out the highlight under the brow bone.  I also love using it to apply any creamy cosmetics that I use.

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This is the perfect little kit if you are just getting started with grooming your brows or if you want a kit that includes everything you need.  I highly suggest it and considering the cost and what you are getting, I think it’s well worth it.

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The next set I will be chit chatting about is a new one to me.  I have tried many different brow powders, but not one from Billion Dollar Brows before.  I’ll be honest, I had wondered if it would even match my brow colors or would work for me since I’m not a fan of Taupe shades.  Taupe browns tend to make my brows look a bit ashy – so I try to go for a brunette match or something of a true brown.  The 60 Seconds to Beautiful Brow Kit ($24.00) is also reasonably priced and comes with a brow powder and a brow brush – two of the most popular brow products from BDB.  This kit really boasts that “if you have 60 seconds, then you can have a brilliant pop of color to your brows in only a minute.”

The set comes with a dual ended brush – a angled brow brush and a spoolie and the brow powder.  Again, I was impressed at how nicely the brow powder not only applied but how well it blended in with my natural brows.  I used this set whenever I’m on the go and in a hurry and literally apply the brow powder for a fuller brow look and I’m out the door.  If I want to really keep my brows in place, I’ll pull for the brow gel that will help to set them, but the powder works well and stays on all day.

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There are so many different brow products available on the market today – from drugstore to highend, cream and liquid to powder types.  I have tried many and so many on the market can cause my brows to get dry.  I’m always impressed with Billion Dollar Brows and their products and look forward to trying out more from the brand in the future.  Overall, I think I have found a new favorite in the 60 Seconds to Beautiful Brows Kit and definitely still enjoy the Best Seller’s Kit now, as much as I did over a year ago.  Considering the price point you get a variety of products that you can taper to use according to your needs and you’ll get gorgeous statement brows easily and quickly.

Have you heard of Billion Dollar Brows and their products before?  Head on over to their site and get the information on the brand here.

xo

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The product(s) mentioned in this post were sent for review as a part of a Brandbacker campaign.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide this post.

 

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Affordable Makeup Brushes – Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

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Well – well… today we are going to chit chat about brushes.  It’s no secret that it is one of the many things I collect when it comes to beauty.  Let’s face it, an artist needs their tools and a great set of tools is essential.  I have tried them all and with a collection of over 250 makeup brushes, I’m always interested in trying out new ones.  With the cost of a cosmetic brush ranging anywhere from $4.00 to $40.00 in price and in some cases more, I always appreciate a referral on a good one that I can not only utilize but enjoy using.  Today I’m going to share with you my thoughts on Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets.  These affordable beauties have been a new favorite in my makeup arsenal and I think I should share them with you.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

I’m not gonna lie, affordable and good quality are hard to come by these days and today I’m sharing with you a company and brand that offers both.   With a mission to “be a testing ground for all things beauty so that you can get honest reviews from real women before spending your hard earned money on the next miracle”, Beauty Junkees is a hub for all things beauty accessories and a place you can find some of your favorite products.  Today I share with you two Makeup Brush sets that I think would make wonderful tools for anyone whether a beginner or someone in the industry.

Also – it’s still technically the holidays, so you could snag some for that loved one or as a treat to yourself before Christmas.

Holiday Gift Guide - Fun Stocking Stuffers

The first set I am going to talk about is my favorite.  The 8 Piece Pro Series Brush Set comes with everything you need to create the perfect eye look.  Retailing for $39.97 (currently on sale for $24.97 – not sure how long the sale will last) you receive 8 gorgeous and well made eye brushes and a great quality zip top brush case.

You receive the following brushes:

  1. Pro Pencil – used for smudging eye liner or apply shadow for a more defined and precision application.
  2. Pro Tapered Blending – used for applying and blending shadow on the eye or use to apply transition shade to the crease.
  3. Pro All Over Shader – with dense bristles this is used to pack shadow on the entire lid but still can be used to blend some.
  4. Pro Precision Eye liner – perfect for tight lining the upper and lower lash lines using liquid, gel or cream (powders too).  I especially like to use this brush to smudge out the lower lash line and smoke it out.
  5. Pro Angled Shading – this is a great brush to apply to shadow to the brow bone or to blend color into the crease.
  6. Pro Flat Definer – use this brush to create a sharp and precise line o nthe upper and lower lash line with your liner or product of choice – cream, gel, powder.
  7. Pro Blending – This great brush is used to blend powder shadows and buff harsh lines to give a gorgeous and diffused effect.
  8. Pro Crease – use this brush to apply shadow in the crease for a soft and diffused effect.

Each brush comes with a solid wood handle – sturdy and well made and a double crimped copper ferrule.  The ferrule is positioned well and holds the brush hair in place perfectly.  I haven’t had any issues with shedding and love that each brush can be used with a variety of mediums – powders, creams and liquids.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

I love that this eye set includes all the brushes I need to create a great eye look and more so it has brushes that are essential for any makeup brush arsenal.  Each one is well made and well put together and after much washing, I haven’t noticed any shedding (with exception to tiny hair during initial wash – which is normal) after many uses.  The brushes are soft and well made and the blending brushes remind me of some of my favorites from well known high-end brands.  I’m absolutely loving them.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

Next is the Mini 5 Piece Kabuki Makeup Brush Set with brush case.  This set retails for $39.97 (on sale right now for $18.97) and includes 5 brushes in the set.  The name “mini” does not refer to the size of the brush handle, but the size of the actual brushes as this is a smaller size to the actual Kabuki brushes you would use to apply foundation.  These little brushes are so fun and perfect for people like me who contour and apply highlight.  Each brush is dense but soft and made specifically so that they will not soak up excess amounts of product.  This is particularly awesome for those that like to use cream based products as these brushes will allow you to get the right amount of product with an easy application.

Included in this brush set:

  1. Mini Flat Makeup Brush – this brush is my favorite for buffing out my contour along the sides of my nose for a more chiseled and defined look without looking harsh.  It’s perfect for stippling concealer onto sun spots, blemishes and other small imperfections as well.
  2. Mini Angled Makeup Brush – this brush is a favorite because it can be used on the eyes for blending, I love to use it to apply my ColourPop eye shadows into the crease or apply as transition.  This brush is also dense enough to use as a foundation brush or to contour your cheekbones.
  3. Mini Flat Angled Makeup Brush – this brush combines the blending application of the flat kabuki with the contouring application of the angled kabuki – packed into a mini for precision contouring anywhere on the face.  I especially love this brush for also contouring down the sides of my nose and to really provide a chiseled and defined contour below my cheekbones.
  4. Mini Tapered Makeup Brush – this brush was designed to provide coverage in hard to reach areas such as the eyelid, corner of the eye and under eye for a flawless finish.  I love using this brush to blend out my cream or liquid highlight or to also contour since the tip allows you to really define the areas.
  5. Mini Round Makeup Brush – this brush has a variety of uses but is perfect for mineral makeup concealer to buff the product on and blend or to just apply as an all over contour brush for detail and precision.

Each brush is made of high density synthetic bristles and is vegan friendly.  They each come with a solid wood handle that includes a double crimped copper ferrule and I haven’t noticed any shedding with this product.  They can be used with liquid,  powder or creams and I find these work especially well with my ColourPop shadows.  Due to the size of these minis (the bristle size) they are not intended for full face coverage when applying foundation, but great for detail work.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

After years of spending lots and lots of money on makeup brushes – I’m beyond impressed with Beauty Junkees not only for the price point, but the quality.  Each brush comes with a sturdy wooden handle that is long making application easy for me when using them.  I’m very particular with the weight of my brushes, especially because of my Carpel Tunnel and find that these are well weighted but not too heavy that it will hurt me when using them for long periods of time.  That is especially important when you’re a makeup artist because after a while of doing several clients in a row, your hands and arms can get very tired and sore if the brush is too heavy.  Even if they are light weight, they still have a good balance making application and blending a breeze.  It’s all about that balance and movement in the wrist that really helps with the blending technique.  The cinching in the ferrules for each brush is absolutely well made and done to perfection which means your brushes will last longer with proper cleaning and care.  I found that cleaning each brush is easy.  I use my Parian Spirt or regular brush cleaner as well as soap and water without any issues and after several cleaning with using these brushes they kept their shape well, dried nicely and I didn’t experience any shedding.

I didn’t discuss the brow brush but know that for $10 – the Pro Brow Brush has a great spoolie on the end and an awesome angle brush which works well with gel or powder.  It’s pretty fabulous too.

Affordable Makeup Brushes - Beauty Junkees Makeup Brush Sets

 

*In the look above I used Beauty Junkees to apply all of my products from eyes to face – even my brows and eye liner!

So – what do you think?  Could you see yourself using any of these brushes I discussed here today.  You can use code: HONEYGW1 for 25% off your order (from now till January 15, 2016) which would make these prices even better and you could pick something up for yourself this Holiday season.  Also – if you have Amazon Prime – shipping is FREE.  Click here to check out other products that Beauty Junkees has to offer.  I know I have my eyes set on more brushes as well as some of their beauty sponges, so you may see many more reviews or features here later.

Beauty Junkees has definitely impressed me, so much so that I featured them in my Holiday Gift Guide – Stocking Stuffers because the price point is fab and the product great.  I definitely suggest you checking them out for yourself.  We all know I keep it real here and if they didn’t work well, well… we know I would be the one to lay it all out there.  I’m quite impressed and really enjoy what I tried, so I figured I would share it all with you.

Smooches!

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  Products mentioned in this post were sent to me for review/feature consideration.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased.  I was not paid to provide my thoughts on these products or to feature them, but affiliate links are posted through out.

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