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The Daily Face - Essential Brushes

These are the 6 brushes I use for the makeup looks I create for The Daily Face.  The first 4 are essentials.  The last 2 are also great to have and may make your life a lot easier, but aren’t necessary. Good brushes are expensive, but if you take care of them, i.e. wash/disinfect them and store them with care, they should last for years.  You can definitely buy cheaper brushes, but you will notice the bristles will fall out and they might not hold up as well, resulting in having to re-buy brushes which can cost you more than if you invested in more expensive brushes in the first place.

I listed the equivalent high-end brush for each brush pictured, but that doesn’t mean that is the only good version of that brush.  If you want to buy brushes that are a bit less expensive (or a different brand) just use this as a guide for how the brushes should look and feel. 

(from right to left)

1. Blush Brush - For applying blush (obviously). (like MAC brush 116)

2. Fluff Brush - For applying shadow to the lid area. (like MAC brush 213)

3. Small Tapered Brush - For apply shadow with precision into the crease.

4. Small Angled Brush - For applying gel liner like MAC Blacktrack. (Like MAC brush 263)

5. Small Flat Tapered Brush - For precision application of shadow into the bottom lashes. (like Make Up For Ever brush 5N)

6. Tapered Blending Brush - Good for applying shadow to the crease and general blending. (Like Make Up For Ever brush 14S)

The Daily Face - June 6, 2012 - Liner for Shadow

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeshadow: NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Aigle Noir

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara

lips: NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Baroque

For this look I used the NARS Shadow Pencil as an all over shadow, applying directly onto the lid and then smudging with my finger. I actually wouldn’t recommend doing this unless you use an eye shadow primer underneath it.  This product really creases in the eye so it’s probably best used as a liner and not over the entire lid, like I did.  I wish this product didn’t crease so much because it’s a really awesome color.

For the rest of the look I simply applied mascara and a berry lip gloss.

I love using liners as shadows but I think I just discovered that this is better done with Make Up For Ever products because they dry and don’t crease.

The Daily Face - May 23, 2012 - Steel

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: Tom Ford Noir Absolute For Eyes

eyeshadow: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Strut

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara

For this look I applied Benefit shadow in a steel grey shade using my finger, from the lash line to the crease.  I like to concentrate the pigment near the lashes and toward the outer corners of the eyes, leaving the product on the inner corners of the lid lighter.

Next I applied Tom Ford Noir Absolute with MAC 263 brush as a winged liner and lightly in the lower lash line.  I’m totally sure why this product is called Absolute Noir because the product is definitely a very dark blue, not black. 

I finished the look with mascara.

The Daily Face - May 16, 2012 - Lime

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss

eyeshadow: MAC Eyeshadow in Lime, MAC Pure Pigment in Golden Olive

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara

blush: MAC Powder Blush in Swoon

For this look I started by applying MAC Lime shadow to the lid from the lash line, blending above the crease. 

I then applied the Golden Olive pigment on top of the shadow.

Next I applied Illamasqua Precision Ink in 60’s cat eye.  I find this Illamasqua liquid liner very easy to use, so if you are a liquid liner beginner this might be a good product for you to try out.  I like to play around with the shape of my winged liner.  Sometimes I apply the liner very flat against my lash line and other times I like to make a thicker line with more exaggerated curves along the eye.  Here I went for exaggerated curves, keeping the liner thin along the inner corner and building it up thicker around the highest point of the lid and through the wing.  The shape of your liner will change the shape of your eye, so play around and see how it works on your own eye.

Last I applied mascara and a sweep of Swoon blush to the apples of the cheeks.  Swoon is a very bright pink so I applied it very lightly.  Bright pinks and greens together can look clownish, so keep your bright pink blushes soft.

The Daily Face - May 14, 2012 - Gold Rush

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil in Gold

eyeshadow: MAC Eyeshadow in Golden Rod, MAC Shadow in Goldmine

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara

blush: MAC Powder Blush in Harmony

Gold toned makeup is pretty universally flattering.  Which is why I usually advise non-makeup wearers who want to test the eye shadow waters, to stick to gold/bronze shades.

For this look I applied MAC Goldmine to the lid from lash line, blending up over the crease, almost to the brow bone, but slightly below.  I also applied this same shadow around the corners of my eyes and into the lower lash line.

Next I applied MAC Goldenrod on to of the already applied shadow around the entire eye.  Goldenrod is a very vibrant matte yellow, don’t be afraid of it. 

Then I applied another layer of Goldmine over the top of the Goldenrod, to tone done the yellow.

Next I applied Make Up For Ever Aqua Eye Pencil in gold as a normal liner around the entire eye; top lid, lower lash line, corner to corner.

I finished the look with a touch of blush and lots of mascara.

The Daily Face - May 8, 2012 - Blue Brows

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: The Body Shop Liquid Liner in Black, Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil Liner in 12L (Midnight blue)

eye brows: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil Liner in 12L (Midnight blue)

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

I did a colored brow look back in August and I think people were a little skeptical.  Rightly so, it’s a super weird look.  BUT WAIT!  I have seen colored brows popping up all over, most notably The Capitol of Panem!

For this look I first lined my lids with black liquid liner.  This acts only as a base.

Next I applied the midnight blue eye pencil on top of the black liner.  By starting with the black base the blue will be darker and more noticeable.

Then I shaded a little of the midnight blue pencil into my lower lash line, concentrating it around the outer edges of the eye.

Next using the same blue pencil, I shaded in my brows.  Start with very light strokes so you can control how deep the color is.  Remember it’s easier to add makeup than to take it away.

I finished the look with mascara, as per usual.

The Daily Face - May 7, 2012 - Red liner

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Liquid Liner in Red

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

cheeks: MAC Blush in Harmony

Here’s a really simple way to do something crazy with your makeup without going overboard: wear a bold liner color with nothing else.  I chose red.

I simply lined the top lid with red liquid liner (winged optional) and paired with a matte brown-based blush.

I finished the look with lots of mascara.  This look has that “outside the box” quality while still being totally wearable.

The Daily Face - April 30, 2012 

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Kuala Lumpur, NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Jolie  Poupee, MAC Eyeshadow in Blackberry

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

For this look I applied the light shade in the NARS Kuala Lumpur Duo to the lid from lash line into the crease and blended slightly above.  

Next I applied the darker shade in the Kuala Lumpur Duo into the entire crease from outer to inner corner.

I also blended MAC Blackberry into the crease.  This color can go very dark so start by applying lightly, you can always add more shadow for a darker effect.

Next I applied MAC Blacktrack in a small top lid wing and also to the upper and lower inner rims.

Then I applied the light Kuala Lumpur shade to the lower lash line and blended the shimmery purple shade from the Jolie Poupee Duo on top of it.

I finished the look with mascara.

The Daily Face - April 25, 2012 - Smoke

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeshadow: Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Obsidian, Tom For Eye Color Quad in Titanium Smoke, MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

lips: NARS Lipstick in Shanghai Express

The smokey eye is a makeup staple, but can get a little boring, so it’s important to test out a bunch of smokey variations.

For this look I started by applying the grey shade in the Tom Ford Quad to the lid from lash line to crease and into the inner corner of the lid, up to the brow.  Basically you want shadow on every part of the lid except the brow bone.  Also, apply this same shadow into the lower lash line from corner to corner 

Next I applied black shadow to the lid concentrating the pigment near the lash line and blending upward, but not into the crease.

Then I applied Satin Taupe shadow into and slightly above the crease, as well as in the inner corner of the eye all the way up to the brow.

Apply lots of mascara, obviously.

I finished the look by mixing a small about of Shanghai Express with chapstick and applied as a stain.

Next I applied the sparkly black shadow in the Tom Ford Quad right along the lash line on the top lid and along the outer edge of the lower lid.

The Daily Face - April 23, 2012 - Purple Haze

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eye liner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Jolie Poupee

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

lips: NARS Sheer Lipstick in Dolce Vita

I used to hate purple in general as a color, but in the past year I’ve really opened up to it in makeup.  I still can’t bring myself to wear anything purple, but this is a simple way I can incorporate the color into my personal color palette.

First I applied the shimmery purple shade in the NARS Eyeshadow Duo to the lid from lashline to crease.  Apply this shadow generously, don’t be afraid to go really purple.  Blend the pigment slightly above the crease.

Next I applied Blacktrack in a 60’s cat eye style.  The black winged liner will help to balance the purple shadow so it looks like you’re making a retro choice (instead of looking like you just escaped from a psych ward and your first stop was Sephora).

If the purple shadow still feels too intense after you’ve applied your liner try blending a grey shadow into the crease.  Grey tones mute bright colors.

I applied a little bit of liner into my lower lashline on the outer edges.

Last, I finished the look with Mascara and NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick

The Daily Face - April 19, 2012 - What’s in My Makeup Bag

I have a lot of makeup, it’s no secret, but on a regular basis I actually wear very little.  I have a very small makeup bag (one of those silver lame zipper pouches from American Apparel), which fits everything I need for any occasion, formal, laid back, or even vacation.  This is a list of what I keep in that bag. 

1. NARS Brush #12

2. MAC Brush #263

3. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Jungle Red

4. NARS Eye Shadow Duo in Bellissima

5. MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

6. Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in #225

7. Benefit Moon Beam

8. Tweezerman Eyelash Curler

9. NARS Semi Matte Lipstick in Heatwave

10. NARS Sheer Lipstick in Dolce Vita

11. Tweezerman Tweezers

12. MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

13. Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

The Daily Face - April 16, 2012 - Matte

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eye liner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: MAC Eye Shadow in Brule, MAC Eyeshadow in Haux

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

lips: Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Sour Cherry

For this look I used an all matte eye paired with a super shiny lip.  First I applied Brule shadow to the lid from the lashline to crease.

Next I applied Haux shadow (a neutral plum-brown) along the eye socket bone above the crease.  If you look at the photo below notice how there is no pigment in the actually crease, but rather slightly above it and blended upward.

Then I applied Blacktrack to the inner rim of the top lid, as well as to the lid itself, in a small cat eye.  I also added a touch of the Haux shadow under my lower lashline.

Last, I finished the look with Tom Ford Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss in Sour Cherry and plenty of mascara.

The Daily Face - April 11, 2012 - Dark Blue

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeshadow: Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Obsidian, MAC Eyeshadow in Deep Truth

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

This black Illamasqua shadow is great, probably the best black shadow I’ve used.  Often I find dark shadow difficult to apply and blend smoothly, but this stuff is super velvety.

For this look I started by applying the black Illamasqua shadow to the lid from lashline to crease.  When you are using dark shadows start light and then build on top of it until you reach your desired color saturation.  Use the eye socket bone as a guide for the shadow, diffusing the shadow at the edges so there are no hard lines.

Next I brought the shadow down on the lower lid as a drop shadow.  I chose to keep the shadow on the outer edge of the bottom lid only.  Make sure the shadow on the top and bottom lid connects at the outer corner of your eyes.

Then I blended the dark blue MAC shadow onto the outer area of the top lid and into the crease.  Make this blue shadow as subtle or bright as you wish.

Finish the look with plenty of mascara.