DREAM KIT & WHY I STOPPED BUYING MAKEUP BRUSHES

Dream brush kit

In a life of every beauty enthusiast, there's time for obsessive spending and time to reflect on your collection. I sat down recently doing my makeup and realized I haven't bought a single makeup brush in a long time. I came to realize that I don't buy any because simply I don't need anymore. We are constantly marketed with new brands launching new fancy kits, but are they truly worth your time? I'd rather buy single brushes, than kits simply because, I want quality and not quantity. Doing makeup, be that as an amateur or professional, you quickly come to a realization that quality matter here more than anywhere else. You can do as good a look given a skill using a £10.00 eyeshadow palette and £50.00 one. Sure the quality eyeshadow will make the process easier and quicker, but the final result is obtainable with both. Not so easy with bad quality brushes. The cut of individual bristles as well as a shape matter so much in getting that quality final look. I also find that with quality brushes, you are less likely to need to replace them often. I have had some of my brushes for years and they haven't lost the shape or too many bristles. Given a right treatment, this is one investment you can count as long term. Over the years I collected a great bunch, which I now call a dream brush kit. These are the only brushes I'd ever need if I was able to wash them every day. If you fancy a look at which ones made a cut, grab yourself a cup of tea and let me tell you all about them.

INTRO TO FACE. & DREAMING OF UNICORN BRUSHES

Unicorn Lashes Unicorn Brushes Set

My love for everything unicorn knows no bounds, so when I was contacted by a lovely Jodie from Face., I knew what I wanted to try straight away. I picked Unicorn Lashes Unicorn Brushes Set* (RPR £44.95) and I've been staring at them since they arrived. Let me tell you a little about my shopping experience & brushes themselves. 

ECO TOOLS - NEW DESIGN, 10TH ANNIVERSARY & WHAT TO BUY

I'm a little of a brush connoisseur. I have a pretty good idea what a good brush should look and feel like and in process of elimination I try to reduce (yes reduce!) my collection. Doing beauty for a while makes you appreciate quality over quantity (how am I even saying this??) and I just find I love some more than others. Don't get me wrong, I don't throw them away, I rotate a lot, but I mostly use brushes less now.

I find that washing brushes can be overwhelming so by reducing the quantity I use, I make myself do it more often. Whoever told you that washing you brushes therapeutic lied, just lied. Oh did I mention that before? My bad! Lol. I think the more brushes I got, the less relaxing it became to wash them and I started to panic a day or two before. That may sound dramatic, but simple things like that can sometimes bring out anxiety attacks, so I try to avoid making myself nervous over something this silly and easily avoidable. 

Now I've been ranting for way too long, as usual, let's go back to the subject at hand - Eco Tools brushes. I'm sure you've heard of them and seen them everywhere lately. EcoTools not only re-branded but also totally changed the bristles used and the design of their brushes! If you're interested which ones I recommend and what's on my wishlist, please read on.

Bronze Goddess - battle of bronzers

Summer has finally unfolded upon us and in a mighty way may I add. As we continue to melt away I’d like to talk to you about a safe way of looking like a Greek Goddess. Bronzers. Whatever floats your boat really. If you’re a Kim K impersonator (nothing wrong with that) or just looking to warm up your complexion I have found products that I love and I’m sure you will too. They will also fit every wallet as we have two that set up off by £2 or £3 or ones that are nearing £30. I will be concentrating on powder products today as I'd like to leave cream contouring and bronzing to another day :) So without a further a’do let’s get on with it.

Firstly let’s start with the cheapest of the bunch - Kobo’s Sahara Sand is the fairest of them all (in more ways than one lol). It’s is a very light, greyish bronze shade, perfect for contouring for pale skinned. It is very light and should only be used to contour, create a shade on your face or body. Kobo is a professional brand from Poland ad can only be bought stationary there I’m afraid. But if you’re in Cracow drinking your body weight next, don’t forget to stop by Drogeria Natura to snatch this gem for as little as £2.50 (around £12 zloty)

You know how much I love Makeup Revolution. I must have mentioned it once or twice (LOL) I use Ultra Bronze daily. It’s a great matte bronzer which isn’t too warm and will fit our completions perfectly. It’s nicely pigmented but not too much so there’s no worry you won’t be able to blend that bad boy out. You can use to it contour and all to bronze up your complexion. Its a double agent in that department at £3 and with a mature of 15g it is the biggest and cheapest of them all. Available stationary and online.

Bahama Mama by The Balm has already risen to the means of the cult buy. As with any other products by The Balm it is in the mid rice range and at £14.99 it’s available online in Superdrug only (ah the UK) or everywhere for your lovely US peeps :) It’s a gorgeous greyish shade and it’s perfect for contouring. It’s an extremely pigmented product as yes, you can make the hell of the mess with it. However, the results are next to none. It’s simply the best bronzer out there. When I added a pic to Instagram recently I got a lot of questions regarding its shade, especially from very pale people. I’m extremely pale. I take white to a new meaning and I use it, daily !! Just start lightly, remember how pigmented it is and swipe away. You will need to know how to blend though so if you’re still little unsure at contouring I would start with something like MUR or Kobo.

As we are nearing the end of the list we will talk luxury now. Lancome’s Star Bronzer Intense is a gorgeous product. Packaging is next to none. It comes beautifully embedded. It’s shade is slightly warmer and not contour like. It has a slight sheen to it. It is a perfect summer must have as you can beautifully warm up your complexion and get that glow you only get from holidays in hot destinations :) It’s honestly the most beautiful product I owned. It’s priced at £34 and available nationwide both stationary and online.

Lastly the newest contestant in a luxury bronzer category. Vita Liberata is fairly new to us in the UK. But if you’re on a lookout for a luxury tan look no further. Crystal Minerals Self Tan Bronzing Minerals in Sunkissed is a mouth full. Do I see any self-tanning elements to it? Maybe a little. But I would not treat it as such. It is, in fact, a gorgeous mineral bronzer. It comes in two colours and at 9g per pot is priced at £35. Is it worth it? It most definitely is. I use it to warm up my complexion and it works beautifully, leaving my skin sun kissed. It coms with luxury kabuki brush and man that brush is soft :) I personally don’t use it with the bronzer and started to use it as a powder brush instead as let me tell you, its a pleasure to work with :)

From the bottom: Ultra Bronze, Sahara Sand, Star Bronzer Intense, Bahama Mama, Crystal Minerals Sunkissed

Having done swatches of all my bronzers together for the first time I came to few conclusions. and I found a true dupe !!! Just have a look at the Lancome and Makeup Revolution bronzers. They’re identical. Whilst MUR is semi-matte and Lancome more on a sheen side, the shades are the same. So if you’re looking for a cheaper version - look no more :) 

As explained above we use bronzers for two reasons. One is to warm up the complexion and in this category, Lancome and MUR are the best ones out there. So whatever your price range you can certainly get one to suit your needs.

When it comes to contour Kobo and The Balm lead away. Their greyish shades are perfect for contouring and your best bet at creating that new cheekbone :)

That’s it for today. Go and get yourself a cocktail or a beer and enjoy the heatwave :) I will be happily melting away too :)

Let me know what your thoughts on bronzers are? Are you a Kim K or just looking for a slight change? No judging here :)

Thank You For Reading,

Love

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