Brushed With Greatness Project

Nars Ita Brush by Storybookheroine

The NARS Ita brush was released as one of two Kabuki Artisan brushes made of super black goat hair and based on traditional Japanese Kabuki brushes. Advertised for contouring (something I rarely do), I did not feel the need to spend $38.50 to watch it gather dust. A month later I was given the Ita as a gift. Still puzzled as to how to use the brush, it was not until I started using Albatross (a highlighter by Nars, really perfect you must go look for this) that I understood how useful a tool this is. The long flat line allows me to pick up just the right amount of highlighter, sweep it with precision across the top of my cheekbones, then blend it down into my blush seamlessly. It's amazing, application was never so easy! As someone with 50 or so brushes not a single one does the job like my Ita. It is my go to cheek brush. I use it for bronzer on the hollows of my cheeks, to apply blush to the apples then sweep it back up the cheeks, to add highlighter and blend to pro like perfection! Above all it blends everything you do so well you can branch out and be creative. It's really made a difference in how I apply my cheek colors and the overall result. The Ita makes it very easy and fast so you will find yourself doing things you normally passed on in your everyday face. Overall a fabulous brush with a design unlike any other cosmetic brush I have seen. It reminds me of the Japanese wash brushes used in watercolor painting. I cannot wait to try the other artisan brush in this series, the Boton, and I would be very curious about any other releases in the Artisan line.

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by the reviewer, Storybookheroine.

Brushed With Greatness Project

Miscellaneous Brushes by Cavewoman

This last photo includes a little mix of odds and ends from my brush collection, one from this or that company, that are worthy of mention here on Blogdorf's Brushed With Greatness.

At the top is a Victoria Vogue white-bristle brush that might have been designed to be a shadow brush, but it's too large for that. I bought it at a drugstore, with one specific purpose in mind, to apply Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder to the undereye area over concealer. Its soft and moderately floppy bristles fit perfectly into that area, giving a very even, light application of the powder, keeping it right in the undereye area. It grips the powder very well, too. It is the perfect brush for this one important makeup task that I do every day.

The Armani brush was sold to me at Saks, to go with the Luminous Silk Foundation. I've never used the brush with liquid foundation, Armani or not, because I just can't get a grip on the idea of natural bristles with liquid foundation. Granted, my MA at Saks used it to apply the foundation flawlessly to my face, but I can't seem to bring myself to do it. I use this brush for blush.

The Japonesque flat wide brush sits in my collection, neglected. I'm not sure what the purpose of this shape of brush is. Please let me know what I should do with it!

The lash comb/spoolie is a recent acquisiton from Tarte. It's a great lash comb, better than my expensive Rubis which lost some teeth one day when I was cleaning it. I love the long handle, it's easier to use than the folding Sonia Kashuk, and the spoolie is nice for brow grooming.

The red-handle synthetic brush is the Lola Cosmetics concealer brush. Way way too big for undereye concealer application, but okay for spot-concealing on the face. I have actually used this brush for foundations. It works well with cream foundations. It may seem a bit small for face work, but it was certainly too big for the undereye area.

The Maybelline shadow brush was cheap and nicely shaped for blending crease colors.

Two short-handle shadow brushes from Garden Botanika are good for travel bags. One of them has a very useful v-shape, great for working a smokey color into the outer crease area. I've never seen another company offer a brush with this shape.

The little stubby Cover Girl shadow brush was also a travel purchase. Who would think that such a nicely-made, well-balanced, usefully-shaped tiny brush could be found in a blister-pack on a peg at the Cover Girl wall!

I need to repeat Discovery #1 here.
I have too many brushes.

Disclaimer: The featured products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman

Brushed With Greatness Project

Beautiful by Nature by Cavewoman

This retractable brush came from a markdown bin at Bath & Body Works. It is called Beautiful By Nature and I snagged three or four of them. Who could resist a $4 brush? Not the cavewoman. I brought them home and set them aside in a drawer. I didn't really need them and didn't know what to do with them.

And then, I bought a laptop computer. A week or so after I bought the computer, I noticed that the screen was getting a bit dusty. Now how in the world can you clean a flat computer screen?
You dig into your brush stash.
The B&BW retractable brush is my computer-screen-cleaning brush.
I've since given away the rest of my B&BW retractable powder brushes to my friends with flat-screen monitors.

Have you ever used a makeup brush for a non-makeup purchase? Now is the time for True Confessions!

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman.

Brushed With Greatness Project

Misc Brushes by Cavewoman

During the initial "skunk" brush craze, I hesitated to buy MAC's version. It seemed huge and weird to me. I resisted all the raves on the MakeupAlley makeup chat board, I didn't need this brush, I don't wear bronzers, or highly pigmented blushes, etc etc etc.
Or so I thought.
A trip to Saks always includes a thorough perusal of all counters in the cosmetics department. Annie and I found Lancome's version of the "skunk" and we were impressed by its smaller size, nicely shaped handle, and softer, more flexible bristles. It's a more user-friendly "skunk" than the famous MAC #187. I have not regretted caving on the Lancome version. If you own a bronzer or a bright blush that requires a light hand in applying, a "skunk" is a necessity. I'm not sure if Lancome continues to offer their version. The smaller fluffy Lancome shadow brush was included in a long-time-ago gift with purchase. I keep it in my travel bag, and it's a nice shape for an overall wash of eye color.

My love of all things Prescriptives isn't limited to color and treatment. Prescriptives is well-known for fine foundations, and it extends to their brush collection for face products as well. My very first loose-powder brush was a Prescriptives brush, and you can see that it's been pretty well used over the years. And still it performs as well as it did when it was new, washes beautifully, stays soft, even though I can't seem to get the handle clean anymore. The foundation brush has a good point at the tip for working foundation into the nose area, as well as under the eye. But my favorite brush from Prescriptives is the angled blush brush. This ultra-soft, short-handle brush was a recent discovery at the Lauder outlet store. A perfect travel size, the bristles are expertly tapered and lay down a soft and even application of blush, without applying too much color in one area. Blending is a breeze with this superb brush. I'm liking these angled blush brushes right now.
I think I'll go see if I can spruce up the handle of that old Prescriptives powder brush.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman

Brushed With Greatness Project

Chanel Brushes by Cavewoman

Luxury abounds at the Chanel beauty counters.

When our local Kaufmann's (now a Macy's store) finally opened a Chanel counter, I was second in line. First in line was a fella who purchased Vamp nail polish. I know who he is and I will keep his anonymity. I bought a lavender dome-shaped pressed face powder that day, and a fluffy powder brush to go with it. You see the brush in the photo.

I added to my Chanel collection little by little over the years, both in color cosmetics and in brushes, and all have stood the test of time perfectly. The brushes in the photo are mostly 8 years old and older, with the exception of a shadow brush I picked up a few months ago. I use that brush often enough to justify a second one. Some of the short-handle brushes have traveled many miles with me and have served me well.

One of the brushes in the photo is in an altered state, and I'll explain why. I was heading to Italy and trying to arrange and choose my makeup to fit into my Trish McEvoy planner. I needed my Chanel eyeliner brush on that trip. This brush has very short stiff bristles and is perfect for applying a dark shadow over top of eyeliner, which helps to make the liner last all day. My Chanel brush was too long to fit in the planner. I grabbed some wire cutters and snipped off the end of the wooden black-lacquered handle, filed the rough edges with an emery board, and dabbed the cut tip with a black Sharpie. And there it was, my perfect liner travel brush. I shared my story with Chris, our local fabulous Chanel makeup artist, who gave me absolution from my Chanel sin. I think my next Chanel purchase will be another one of these useful eyeliner brushes.

I won't chop this one.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman.

Brushed With Greatness Project

Sephora brushes by Cavewoman

Standing in front of the huge display of Sephora's own brand of brushes is almost an overwhelming experience. There are brushes for just about every single makeup application you can imagine, and some for application that you didn't know you needed and for techniques or products that you probably don't even have, or use! If there is a specific brush for a specific product or makeup application that has eluded you in other brands, go to Sephora. Their house brand of brushes is the most extensive collection I've ever seen.

Sephora brushes are beautifully crafted workhorses. Synthetic and natural bristles, short and long handles, black or silver handles, pro or amateur, the brushes are displayed in groups according to use, so it is not too hard to zero in on the type and shape you want.

My Sephora brushes are all eye-product application brushes. Don't pay attention to the Pro designation, as Sephora is phasing out their original black-handle brushes (mine say Pro on them) and offering new Pro brushes in both natural and synthetic bristles. Right now the old black handle brushes can be found at a nice half-off discount. The fine liner brush at the bottom of the photo was only $4. Less than the price of a Starbucks Frap!

Take a close look at the brush at the top, it is the smudge brush. This brush is identical in shape to the NARS smudge, but half the price! But if you check at Sephora, look at all the brushes carefully in the smudge brush jar display. The older ones have these very short stubby bristles that don't move when you use the brush. The newer ones have slightly longer bristles. I prefer the stub.

Not in the photo, but soon to be added to my Sephora brush collection, are the new synthetics. A bit pricier than usual for Sephora's brand, these are the most incredibly soft brushes I've ever seen (or felt) and the Cleveland Gang were full of ooohs and ahhhs as we tested the powder and blush brushes on our hands. I see a massive caving ahead, for all of us!

Sephora brushes hold up beautifully. Choose the short-handle for your travel case, and the long-handle for your vanity table. And don't forget the sets, which change seasonally and make great gifts for your makeup-loving friends.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman

Brushed With Greatness Project

Bare Escentuals brushes by Cavewoman

It stands to reason that a company that became famous for its revolutionary foundations would offer great brushes to go along with that foundation. I'm not a fan of Bare Escentuals loose mineral foundation, although I've tried several times to understand the love and raves this product receives. The minerals made my face feel tight, itchy, and they appear very shiny-weird on my face, but the brushes from Bare Escentuals work well for any other powder product from any line.

Tightly packed bristles with a superb dome taper are the brush style for BE. Short and long handles are available, depending on personal preference. I use my BE short handle brush to apply (shhhhh) Milani loose mineral foundation (much preferred to BE) and also for finishing powder. They're definitely not the softest brushes in my collection, but they have a great 'grab' -- they pick up plenty of product. These brushes are designed perfectly for loose powder foundations. They don't shed, and they hold up well to the tap-swirl-buff technique that BE recommends for applying their foundations. Any loose mineral foundation is best applied in that manner, too.
BE offers a lovely, soft, synthetic brush called Soft Focus, both in a regular handle and a retractable version for portability (and keeping the inside of your purse or makeup bag free of loose powder fallout!) These Soft Focus brushes work beautifully for buffing on a loose finishing powder, and I use mine for my La Mer Translucent powder. I'm impressed with the even application and very soft, full dome of the brush.

And then there is the little, tightly packed, exaggerated-dome brush that resembles a mini of the Nars Bronzer Brush. This is the Handy-Buki by BE, and I can't rave enough about the versatility of this brush. Originally offered by BE as a buffer for its mineral foundations, this brush works well for a bronzer-user-novice like myself, and it's great for applying a highlighting powder over blush. I use it to apply MAC Lightscapade at the cheekbone. DuWop has a Blushbooster that I want to try over my regular blushes, and I think that this Handy Buki will be perfect for that, too.

On your next trip to a BE boutique, try to resist (it's almost impossible!) the adorable cake-stand displays of super-pretty, shimmery-glimmery shadows and blushes, and head to the brush display. Or, if your ability to resist is weak, you can order BE brushes from QVC.com.

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman.

Brushed With Greatness Project

Tony +Tina brushes by Cavewoman

Sometimes you get a second chance.

I passed up the beautiful Tony & Tina brushes so many times at our Cleveland Nordstrom store. Maybe I was too involved in playing with those splendid pots of glitter, (I blame that on Miss Blogdorf herself, who loves sparkly loose shadows and shimmery powders, maybe she distracted me!) but whatever it was that led me away from the brush sets at the Tony & Tina display, I was sad to learn that the line had been discontinued, and that my chance to grab the beautiful synthetic-bristle brushes would be gone forever.

Rumor has it that Tony & Tina broke up.

And then we started to hear of the brush sets showing up at TJMaxx! I scoured the stores and found a few sets, under ten dollars, and sent them out in swaps and gifts. I forgot to save a set for myself! And then, one day at the fabulous TJMaxx store that Chanel dresses, I spotted a few of the shadow and powder brushes packaged on their own, and this time they would be mine.

I've heard that Shu Uemura made these brushes for Tony & Tina. I'm not sure if that is true, but the quality of these brushes is amazing. The powder brush is incredibly soft and flexible, and I reach for this brush when I'm using my La Mer loose powder. The handle has a nice heft to it, and is perfectly balanced, easy to keep clean, and pretty! The bristles are densely packed, but the dome is nicely rounded and not the least bit stiff or scratchy. I can't say that the shadow brushes get much use because I tend to reach for flat brushes, but these round, nicely shaped shadow brushes are great for crease work and for blending. I used to be a natural-bristle-only brush buyer, but now I check out synthetic bristles in other lines. Be alerted that Sephora's own brand has a new group of synthetic-bristle brushes that are so fabulously made and so soft, that they had the Cleveland Gang gasping in delight! Synthetics have come a long way, probably due to the fine Tony & Tina brushes establishing a great standard for synthetics.

What synthetic brushes do you own, how do you use them, and how are they performing for you?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by the reviewer, Caveoman.

Brushed With Greatness Project

Nars by Cavewoman

What NARS does in terms of brushes is a bridge between the needs of the average consumer (me) and the professional makeup artist. Nars color products tend to be highly-pigmented and more "pro" than most of the other color cosmetic lines, more runway-oriented. I appreciate that Nars designs brushes that work perfectly with their color products. I certainly have my share of NARS!

The large bronzer brush at the top is a versatile brush that doesn't just work with bronzer. I bought the brush without even owning a bronzer! I use this brush as my final step in my makeup application, just running it across and around the face to soften edges and remove any excess finishing powder. The small-head, pointed synthetic brush is shaped like no other liner brush I've seen, and it works well for getting liner in between the lashes and applying liner at the corners of the eye. It's stiff enough that it doesn't move around during application, so mistakes are easily avoided. And it works well with using powder shadow as liner, as well as blending pencil liner or using the popular gel liners that other companies are offering right now.

The blush brush is a treasure that I had to wait over a year to obtain, since the company had not sent our local Saks counter any of these blush brushes and we were left waiting (and wanting) until finally, three of them showed up at Saks. With its small, flat, rounded head, it's a good shape and size for applying blushes and getting the color in just the right place on the face. I tend to prefer these smaller blush brushes.

The brush with the tiny stubby dome is the famous smudge brush. My NARS MA, Shawn, used this brush to do my smokey-eye look at the Ayako Event last year, and with his patient instructions on how to use it, I bought it with confidence. It's the perfect example of how NARS designs brushes to be used to create specific effects with NARS products. Blending dark colors to achieve a smokey-eye can sometimes be difficult, because the dark shades tend to grab the skin and won't budge once they're placed on the eye. This smudge brush is the only brush I know of (besides the Sephora knockoff) that can blend out dark shadow colors into a softened effect, without removing the color altogether. Its flat shape fits under the lower lashes to blend out shadow used as a liner, too.

NARS brushes are some of the most thoughtfully-designed makeup brushes of any line at your cosmetic counter. Stop by and check them out, ask your makeup artist how they are used, and be ready to rock your own smokey-eye look! You might even come home with a new shadow, too.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman.

Brushed With Greatness Project

Shu brushes by Cavewoman

My collection of brushes from Shu Uemura isn't as large as some of my other brand collections, but what I have chosen from Shu are mostly brushes for special applications. Shu Uemura brushes are legendary, the standard by which most people judge excellence in quality and craftsmanship, durablilty and versatility.

Some of the brushes you see in the photo were purchased by me at the Shu Uemura store in SoHo. The first time I went to that store, with Cousin Elaine, we were delighed to see the beautifully organized displays, the huge assortment of brushes, and the comfy chairs and magazines for taking a little shopping-spree rest. Elaine chose the chair and a copy of Vogue, while I tested lipsticks at the tester counter (next to a young man who was also testing, we were asking each other's opinions on colors!)

From the top, the most unusual of my Shu brushes, because the handle says "Made In France." All my other Shu brushes are made in Japan. This slant brush has blue squirrel bristles and it is a good shape for working crease color precisely. The small flat liner brush, the flat tapered brush and the perfectly-shaped foundation brush are made for cream-based products, and what I love the most about these is they do not separate or clump together like some brands' synthetics.
The #17 pony-squirrel fluffy brush is just the right size for either highlighting powder or loose powder, not too big or overwhelming, and I tend to reach for this as a finishing powder brush quite often. I like that it fits well into my smaller loose powder jars! Sometimes a jar of powder is too small for those huge powder brushes, so you might want to try a smaller brush if your powder jar is small.
Recently I took a little shopping trip with a buddy, over to the outlet stores near here. I haven't stopped into the Designer Fragrance And Cosmetics store in a year. Rumors of Shu products at the store (a Lancome outlet) were only rumors to me, our store never had anything but a purple-bristle powder blush and the Shu lash curler in the past. But into the store we went, and there they were on the counter, Shu brushes! I bought the #17 pony-squirrel, the #10 kolinsky sable shadow brush (be still my heart, this is a $60 brush that I got for $19!) and the synthetic liner brush that I mentioned earlier. I sure hope that our local store continues to offer Shu brushes at such great prices.
Moving on down. The #14 pony blush brush is a bit longer than the NARS blush brush, and I think it gives a softer application than the NARS. This Shu is unbelievably soft, a pleasure to hold and to use.

The five small brushes are travel size and I bought the four black-handle brushes at the Shu store in SoHo. I have no idea where I found the one with the silver handle! Can anyone shed some light on this, have you seen any silver-handle Shu brushes anywhere?

I'd love to add to my Shu Uemura brush collection in the future. From basic application brushes to highly-specialized styles and shapes, it doesn't get any better than Shu.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman

Brushed With Greatness Project

Stila brushes by Cavewoman

When I was gathering my Stila brushes for this review, I surprised myself by how many of them I have and use! I surprised myself because at this moment, I only have one Stila product, a blush, and I rarely even use it. But back to brushes, that's what we're here for. Stila's loose powder brush is the floppiest powder brush I've ever seen. I'm not sure why Stila made this brush so floppy, but it feels nice and soft on the face, and I use it more for applying pressed finishing powder than for loose powder. I reach for the flat shadow brushes every day, and they work well with applying a wash of color from lash to brow. The bristles are shaped to fit nicely from the inner to outer eye, and they can hold a good pack of color better than just about any other shadow brush I have. This brush isn't for subtle effects, detail, or crease work. Every day I reach for this brush to apply my base color (usually Isadora Gleaming in Seashell, or MAC Seedy Pearl.) After years of daily use, I did re-glue the ferrule which had come a bit loose from the handle. Back to the workhorse brush cup it went, with no problem at all.

Stila offered a short-handle brush set several years ago, and I took this set to Italy with me. I don't know if Stila offers these shorter sets of brushes now. I don't even stop at the Stila counters. I'm sure that's MakeupAlley blasphemy!

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman.

Brushed With Greatness Project

Pout by Cavewoman

These two brushes from Pout are not just pretty to look at, but they are well-crafted and perfectly shaped to perform the makeup tasks for which they were designed. This is another example of a company doing exceptionally well in one particular category of brushes, this time for application of products for the face.
The foundation brush has a densely packed synthetic-bristle head, with a long taper and a domed tip. What I like best about this brush is that it does not separate into pointy sections like some other foundation brushes I've tried (Paula Dorf's for example) -- this helps to prevent streaking, and gives a more even application of liquid foundation. I haven't tried the brush with cream foundation yet, but I will. I tend to use my fingers for applying foundation most of the time, but if any foundation brush can help me to apply more evenly, this is the one. It takes practice to learn to use a foundation brush, and I'm still practicing.

The blush brush is almost as large as a powder brush. It's so incredibly soft! The ferrule is flat, but the bristles are thickly packed and have a wide, gentle splay. The dome shape is finely tapered and the tips are soft and lush.
I don't use this brush for highly-pigmented blushes, because it's almost too big for my cheeks. I use it for pale blushes such as NARS Oasis, or Chanel Winter Shimmer, both of which aren't really blushes, but more like highlighter-blushes. This brush is also great for applying overall shimmer in loose form, such as Prescriptives Magic loose powder. And just in case I've over-applied a blush, this brush is great for evening out and blending, too.

Oh, and did I mention how pretty these brushes are?

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman

Brushed With Greatness Project

MAC Brushes by Cavewoman

As I have been taking photos of my brush collection, I've come to two conclusions.

1. I have too many brushes.
2. Some companies do certain types of brushes better than other companies.

Number 1 is self-explanatory and will become even more evident in the next few days.

Number 2 is an interesting discovery. As I look at my MAC collection pictured here, I see that most of the brushes I have from MAC are eye brushes. The #9 tiny flat dome at the top is great for adding a touch of highlighting color either right below the brow, or on the eyelid right above the iris of the eye. My favorites in my MAC collection are definitely the #217 and #239, I don't know why I seem to prefer the white bristles to the dark ones. Maybe because it's easier to see how much powder is picked up by the bristles. Two really useful brushes are the slanted fluffy shadow brushes #141 and #142. One is slightly longer than the other, and these are nice for crease. I'm not quite sure why I have these both, but I tend to use the longer one for blending, and the shorter one for application.

The white blush brush is #168 and I love the softness of the white goat hair and the shape of the slant. You can see Chanel Narcisse blush on that brush. The best lip brush I've ever found is #318, retractable. I love that the brush retracts with no chance of splaying, like their other lip brush which has a separate cap. I tossed that one ages ago.

The brush that has the black bristles with the white tips is #188, fondly referred to as the small "skunk" brush by the members of the MakeupAlley makeup board. This is a must-have brush for applying highly pigmented blushes so you don't over-apply. It picks up and lays down powder blush or bronzer in a very soft application. There is a larger version, #187, that would be great for bronzers and also highlighting powders, or any face color that you'd want to apply lightly. You won't get any splotches of color with these perfectly-designed brushes.

Now that I've told you about my #2 discovery, I am eager to share more about which brands do the best in which brush category. More to come on Blogdorf's Brushed With Greatness! Stay tuned!

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman

Brushed With Greatness Project

Z New York Brushes by Cavewoman

Many years ago, on a trip to New York, I found a little tour guide magazine in my hotel room. I studied it as if I were going to take a test on its contents, and found a listing in the shopping section for a store called Zitomer. Cosmetics and jewelry were listed in that little ad, and that was enough for me. A short cab ride later, and I was standing in front of one of the most unusual little stores I've ever seen in New York. At Zitomer, well-dressed ladies, impossibly chic, toting tiny pups in Vuitton carriers, browsing cards of bobby pins and Judith Leiber bags, shopped next to nannies in uniform who were picking up toys and prescriptions, and little old ladies in flowered dresses dipping their fingers into face cream tester jars. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Zitomer has its own line of cosmetics, skincare items, and brushes. It was the brush display that caught my eye, with its well-balanced handles made of silver-painted wood, displaying the Z logo and "Made In France" distinction. I chose two brushes that day, and in other trips to Zitomer over the years, I added a few more to my collection. The Z New York brushes have natural bristles, some of blue squirrel which are the softest bristles I've ever used. Craftsmanship is absolutely the best, holding up easily as well as the Trish gold handle brushes I've recently reviewed for Blogdorf.

From the bottom: a small synthetic-bristle brush that is perfect for applying cream concealer under the eyes; a small shadow brush; the fabulous blue squirrel blunt-slant shadow brush (for perfect positioning of crease color;) a fluffy powder brush with a handle that's short enough to be great for travel or purse; a fabulously soft and tapered blush brush that might just be my favorite of all my Z's; a small tapered shadow brush that is great for precise application of highlighting shadows, and a round shadow brush for overall color.

I was pleased to see that Zitomer has its own web site now, so you can go see the brushes, the Z New York cosmetics and skincare, and everything else Zitomer has to offer online. But if you ever have the chance, pop your puppy into his carrier and head to the store yourself. And next door, take the pooch to the Z Spot, a little pet store with everything you need for your pet, including his or her poochie wedding cake. Rumor has it that a very famous female celebrity had her dog's wedding cake made at the Z Spot.

What that has to do with brushes is nothing. But you know by now that I always digress, just a little.

Disclosure: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman.

Brushed With Greatness Project

Body & Soul Brushes by Cavewoman

One of the most special and unique fragrance and beauty stores in the Beachwood Place shopping mall (where the Cleveland Gang meets often) was a tiny store called A Shade Above. Run by a delightful young woman named Gertie, A Shade Above was the the first store in Cleveland to carry Kiehl's, Demeter, L'Artisan, Creed, Manuel Canovas, Senna, MakeUpForEver, and Body & Soul. I was so sad when I learned that her store had closed. And I was glad that I'd made a few purchases from her, including some items from Body & Soul Cosmetics.

The turquoise-painted wooden handles of the Body & Soul brushes might remind you of the makeup artist Carmindy of the fun TLC channel show called What Not To Wear. Carmindy can often be seen using these brushes for her makeover segment on the shows. It's nice to know that I chose brushes that a famous makeup artist chose for her own brush arsenal.

Besides being adorably cute to look at, these brushes are beautifully made, perfectly balanced, and hold up well under years of use. The ferrules are tight, so there is no loss of bristles, and the handles are easy to keep clean. From the bottom: a long-bristle, synthetic foundation brush that has a good taper for smooth blending in areas around the nose and eyes; a windshield-wiper-style crease brush for blending darker shades evenly and smoothly; and the fluffiest powder brush for loose powder or highlighter. The taper on this brush fits the face contours perfectly.
In the photo you'll see seven brushes with shorter handles. This is the Body & Soul Travel Brush Set. It was sold on Sephora before that website (and its stores) pulled the line. I used to check the website several times a week, but it was always "out of stock" and finally I arranged to swap a makeupalley member for her brand new set. I don't even remember what it was that I swapped in order to obtain this set, but I was giddy.
Included in the set are (bottom to top) a lush powder brush, a crease shadow brush, a basic application shadow brush, a blush brush, a small-detail shadow brush that works for using shadow as a liner, a tapered stiff brow brush, and a flat liner brush for gel-based eyeliner.

Body & Soul had charming, retro-style packaging, in black and white and turquoise. I have no idea where to find Body & Soul right now. Gertie is gone, I've heard she never opened another store.

If you know where to find Body & Soul cosmetics and brushes, please let us know here on Blogdorf!

Disclosure: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman.

Brushed With Greatness Project

My Favorite Brushes

by Melanie Parker

As a mineral makeup user, brushes have become an important part of my daily routine. Because I am prone to acne flair ups, I have found that washing my brushes frequently is also really important. Therefore, I stick to high quality brushes that wash well. For my money, the best brushes are by MAC and Bare Escentuals. My favorite face brush is the MAC Diana Ross 150SE. It's got a pink handle and matching pink bristles with a black ferrule. I have used this brush for 2 years and washed it at least every 2 weeks within that time with an antibacterial soap, and it has never lost a bristle or its shape. It still looks new.

Since I use Bare Escentuals make-up, I have acquired quite a collection of BE brushes. I like the kabuki brush and the concealer brush, but I adore the face, blush, and shadow brushes that came with the Pure Compliments kit that was recently featured on QVC. The brushes have the same great wear and functionality as the regular product line, but have a cute aqua green custom handle that is exclusive to the station.

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer, Melanie Parker.

Brushed With Greatness Project

Trish Gold Handle
By Cavewoman

What you are looking at is the treasure of my makeup collection, and it represents the best of all of my makeup brushes. Many years ago, over ten years at least, I was at Saks in Cleveland with Cousin Elaine, and I decided to purchase a Trish McEvoy planner. I chose a patent leather style (discontinued shortly thereafter) three "pages" for inside the planner (unavailable shortly after) with shadows (round pans, no longer available) striped shadow-blush-liner pans in a rectangular shape (discontinued almost immediatly after I bought mine) and pressed powder (ditto.) I purchased about six or seven brushes that day too, with the elegant gold-painted wood handles. (You guessed it.) Good thing that my obsession with Trish brushes brought me back to the store to continue collecting them, because within months, gold handle brushes at Trish were replaced with cheesy lucite clear handles. I've even swapped on the makeupalley to obtain a few more of the gold handle brushes. And so I present my collection, and as you can see, the years have been kind to them. I wash them in whatever facial cleanser I use (a gel cleanser) or sometimes in whatever antibacterial liquid hand soap happens to be on the bathroom sink at the time. I carefully work the suds through the bristles, rinse thoroughly under running water, press the bristles carefully in a face cloth to remove as much water as I can, re-shaping the bristles to their original shape, and then I lay them on a towel on my bathroom chair, bristles hanging over the edge, to air dry them. Sounds like a lot of work, but as you can see, they are holding up perfectly. They never shed and they always perform.



For eyes, my favorite shadow brush is #40, a flat shape with a domed tip. #21 is the same shape but slightly longer bristles. #29 works perfectly for a crease color, and the #11 flat synthetic bristle is great for gel eyeliners.
There are a few very tiny brushes (#17)that work great for using shadows as a liner, too.

For the face, my all time favorite blush brush is the #2A. It is the perfect flat, dome shaped, tapered bristle brush for just about any powder blush. The #2B is just a bit longer in the bristles and a bit more loosely packed into the ferrule, which is nice for a lighter application. When I decided to buy the #2B, there were no more in the store, and I convinced the SA to sell me her tester. She's marked the tip of the gold handle with a black marker, but it didn't matter to me.
I love the white goat hair #22 which has a round ferrule, for dusting on highlighting powder. I think you might even see a bit of MAC beauty powder on those bristles. #37 is a fluffy loose-powder brush that I even use for blush sometimes. The sculpting on the dome is just about as perfect as round powder brush can get. It has more of a taper than most dome brushes, which insures that powder goes on evenly and not all in one place on the face. You might notice a very stubby, flat-top, round brush in one of the photos. This is #M20, M for mini, I guess, but this brush has become my favorite for applying loose mineral foundations. It's a buffing brush that gives an even application of the powder foundations, and the flat top is perfect for buffing the minerals into the skin so they don't clump or gather in areas on the face. I can't rave enough about this style of brush for applying loose mineral foundations.

Even though my patent leather planner sits in a drawer in my linen closet, alone in obsolescence, I'm happy that I invested in the gold handle brush collection. These are the workhorses of my brushes, always reliable, maintaining their softness, holding up well after all these years of use. Just like a chef who has dozens of knives in the kitchen and a specific use for each one, a makeup lover needs her tools, too! The perfect one, to do the job, perfectly!

Disclosure: These products were purchased by the reviewer, Cavewoman

Brushed With Greatness Project

Blogdorf's "Brushed with Greatness" Project begins this week.
Cavewoman and I will write about our favorite makeup brushes. This project was inspired by my co-worker Sandy who spied a Nars Kabuki Artisan Botan Brush in Texas.
It was love at first sight.

Nars brushes are pretty magnificent and smitten worthy. My personal favorite is my bronzer brush. It has a lot of "junk in the trunk" bristles and a sturdy handle. It is perfect for powder and my beloved Estee Lauder Tom Ford Bronzer.

What are your favorite "can not live without" brushes? Let us know in the comments!

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman