Makeup Brushes - How Do You Know...

A couple of Christmas Seasons ago, I gleefully purchased a holiday edition of MAC brushes. The brush I was most excited to try was the 187.

The 187 is the dual fibre brush is most often used to apply cream or liquid based costmetics such as foundation hightlight, blush and much more. It gives a beautiful air brushed-like finish which for me is a way to blur fine lines, larger pores and facial blemishes.

So here is a faithful account with my love/hate relationship with this brush. To be clear, it is a 187SE which means a shorter handle but the rest of the brush is the same. I started using the brush with my MAC Face and Body every day but noticed that there was a fair bit of shedding. It irritated me so I put it away.

Six months later I took it out again, determined to try it again. Still the MAC Face and Body, but a softer touch and a more of a swirling motion. The shedding continued. So I went to my knowledgable YouTube makeup gods and searched for techniques to use the brushes. I watched, I learned, and I tried... No change.

Away went the brush again and I decided to use an ELF foundation brush-a flat topped single fibre brush that worked like a dream. But it started to get loose around the metal. Boo hoo! But for a couple of dollars, I wasn't that upset.

Back to the 187SE. Now I use a lancome foundation liquid and it still sheds. Until I find a better brush I will keep brushing away the bristles.

Sigh.

What in the Hell???

So I wanted to start a blog under the guise of makeup reviews and all thing makeup.  I figure I like makeup, I like to shop for makeup and I like to read about makeup.  Funny thing is (and I knew it before-hand) there are a lot of freakin' people out there doing the same thing.

So an evolution of sorts - I am still a Newfie Girl With Brushes but my blog will be about lots of aspects of my life, not just my desperate need of Botox and the cosmetics I use in the meantime.

MAC and Sephora... My Dilemma

For about 15 years, I was a MAC devotee. Pre-storefront in Halifax I would order online, plan to visit while on vacation and beg family to pick up items while away.  To me, they were the be all and end all of makeup for me.  And the amount I purchased gave me access to all the Sneak Peek events!!!

Strangely enough, I was in a Beauty Bar in Manila, PH and purchased some comparable products (Smashbox, Youngblood, Philosophy).  When I returned home, a quick search brought me to Sephora; after a shade less than 2 hours spent browsing I was elated!!!  Imagine a place that sells many different brands - and it's not a drugstore or the Bay!!!

Thus began my love affair with Sephora.  Again, prior to it opening in Halifax, I ordered online, begged family and friends alike to bring back items I "needed" and planned vacations around a visit.  I even had my poor suffering husband brave Sephora in NYC to get me things I needed.

MAC is wonderful, I have tried and true items that I use every day and no one will ever pry it away from me.  Still, the prices can be outrageous (especially brushes) and I sometimes just need a MUFE this and a Tarte that...

So...  Have I shopped at MAC since Sephora opened in Halifax?  No...  but my MAC needs are still there and when I need it, I will pop across the hall and buy it. It is across from Sephora no less!!!