My top must have Face Brushes

Foundation: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Buy: Ulta Beauty $8.99 USD

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4260015

What's awesome about this brand is the affordability and quality. At ULTA they often have a sale of buy 1 get 1 half off plus a coupon they have online for $3.50 off any $10.00 purchase! Don't think twice! Try it out yourself, you will be amazed.

brushes can also be found at RealTechniques.com, TARGET, & Kohls

Foundation: Sigma Beauty Flat Top Kabuki F80 $24.00 USD

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/F80_Flat_Kabuki_p/f80.htm

what I love about sigma is their Quality and durability. If you want a great brush that will last you a long time Sigma is the answer. Sigma is luxury for less. It has attention to detail and beyond that their customer service is a +

These two foundation brushes are fantastic. They leave a flawless foundation application without any harsh lines. It does the job for you and no extra step is needed. 

Concealer: The Original Beauty Blender $19.95 USD 

Buy Sephora:

http://m.sephora.com/product/P379832?preferedSku=1532134

can also be found at Nigel's Beauty Emporium & Naimies

First of its a holy grail! Everyone needs this in their life. It's life changing! I love it for a sheer flawless application but especially use it for blending concealer. I use the sponge slighty damp. I like to press and roll the beauty blender on my concealer. It's like Photoshop! No creases,  Seriously!

Concealer: Sigma Beauty Tapered Kabuki F86 $24.00 USD

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/F86_Tapered_Kabuki_p/f86.htm

This is a great option for a working, busy mom or student who wants the same effect as the beauty blender. It's the Tapered Kabuki Sigma brush! The shape makes it so easy to get in the inner eye corner. No need to damp and wait extra minutes. Just press and blends instantly. 

Highlight: Bdellium Tools 944 $15.00 USD

https://bdelliumtools.com/new-arrival/studio-944-tapered-contour.html

It's a contour brush but use it to set my under eye concealer with powder. The pointed brush is great to reach in the inner eye corner.

Highlight: Sigma Tapered Highlighter F35

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/F35_Tapered_Highlighter_p/f35.htm

Love this brush to apply my powder shimmer highlight. The right size and shape for the perfect glow. 

Contour: Mac Contour 168 $35.00 USD 

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/146/324/Products/Brushes/Face/168-Large-Angled-Contour-Brush/index.tmpl

Easily blends powder. I like to use this especially for my bronzer to add warmth to my face and then define my contour with the next contour brush featured.

Contour: NARS Ita kabuki $55.00 USD

http://www.narscosmetics.com/USA/brushes-brushes-tools-kabuki-brushes-tools/0607845018582.html

Want defined sculpted cheeks? Nars Ita is the answer. The shape and bristles makes it easily to define those cheekbones. 

Can also be found at NORDSTROM 

Blush: Mac 129 $35.00 USD 

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/146/304/129-PowderBlush-Brush/index.tmpl

What I love about his brush is that it can be used for both blush and to powder all over the face. I personally love it to apply blush.

Powder: Mac 187 $42.00 USD

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/146/772/187-Duo-Fibre-Brush/index.tmpl

Effortlessly blends compact or loos foundation. Great for touch ups. 

Mac lip liner collection & swatches

Here is my small Mac Cosmetics lip liner collection along with the swatches/review and how I like to pair them with. 

Dervish a sparkly nude pink 

Soar a nude mauve pink (a favorite) because of its blendable creamy formula it is so easy to work with for an all over lip or pairing with any nude lipstick. 

Whirl a neautral with a pinch of pink now popular because of Kylie Jenner lip combo along with Velvet Teddy Lipstick.

Stripdown a nude cappuccino with a grey undertone. Reminds me of the 90s this I like to pair with a lighter nude for a pouty seductive sexy lip. 

Beet a berry tone lip mix with red and pink

Cherry a true vibrant red lipliner. I love to pair it with Ruby Woo lipstick for a perfect   Pinup classic lip. 

Magenta a pink purple mix I like to pair it with vibrant pinks and purple lipsticks like Heroine or Pink Noveu 

What a blast a pro long wear bright orange. I like to pair it with corals and orange lipsticks like morange and sushi kiss. 

Vino a wine berry lipliner. I like to pair it with Dark tone reds like Diva. 

NightMoth definitely for a daredevil a dark  deep berry going on the darkside. This online to pair with cyber lipstick.

Definitely a bold lip so I like to do a soft eye makeup look with maybe a winged eyeliner. 

contour and highlight ft mac sculpting and shaping powders vs anastasia contour kit

Seems everyone like myself is fascinated about sculpting the face and creating a more perfect flawless face. 

That is if you want to make the illusion of a smaller forehead, a slimmer or shorter nose, a longer face, a more chiseled jawline or cheekbones,  voluptuous lips and or cleavage. You get it 

Everything is possible the possibilities are endless. 

Highlighting; to PULL FORWARD to brighten  and enhance your features. Usually the high planes of your face where the sun naturally hits.

I call it *spotlight* (2-3 shades LIGHTER than your skin tone)

Here's some areas to highlight*

center of your forhead

bridge of your nose 

Cupid's bow

Center of the chin

Cheekbones

Above ends of brow 

contour; to PULL BACK/to define and enhance your bone structure and create an illusion by creating a shadow  (2-3 shades DARKER than your skin tone)

Here are some areas to contour-

Sides do the nose/tip of nose 

Gallows of the cheeks

Forehead hairline /temples 

Jawline blending down to neck 

Let's get to this review....

Here is one of the many options there is for contouring and highlighting the face (powders) 

To the left we have the M.A.C palette I customized myself vs the right Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour palett.

  

Here I swatched each powder on my forearm without and with flash

Just by observing these two palettes side by side we see the ABH palette is half size smaller than the Mac palette. 

Each MAC pan contains 6g/0.21oz vs ABH 3g/0.11oz each which means double the product. 

Mac price $16.50 for each pan can only be purchase online or at a Mac Pro Store.That is a total of $99.00 for 6 pans without the palette and insert.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/8681/1624/Pro-Products/Face/Shaping-Powder-Pro-Palette/index.tmpl

ABH contour pallet is $40 for the complete palette and downside is that it can only be bought for a limited time at ulta store or online at ABH site.

http://www.anastasia.net/Contour-Kit.html

What I love about this palette it's that it's great for travel and there is no mirror to worry about breaking. 

My personal opinion (price) is you're a makeup artist I'll def go with the mac palette because you'll get your pro discount if you apply and you have a wide range of shades and variety for your clientele.

If it's for your personal needs then definitely go with ABH you won't have to worry about locating a pro store or paying for shipping fees.

 So if you're still doubting about a contour palette just DONT! everyone needs one no matter your age you NEED this in your life. 

If you're a beginner I recommend you to start with a matte bronzer. 

If you're on the mature side you'll need to be careful about the shimmer on highlights because they can accentuate your fine line/wrinkles. 

 Both palettes are finely milled and are blendable and buildable. You can order refills on your favorite highlight and contour powders. BOTH ARE great quality palettes. 

I like to start with a lighter shade a more warmer tone another + (skip my bronzer) by using a warm tone from the same palette and add warmth to my face. A little goes a long way. I like to work with layers and end with definition by adding a more cool gray tone to create a shadow on my contour.

***If you are a dark skin beauty your best bet is to go for a Mac sculpting shade or wait until ABH launches their darker shades to best suit your skin. 

Here are my favorite brushes to contour and highlight 

MY CURRENT FAVORITE CONTOUR BRUSHES

Sigma P84 to contour the sides of my nose. The angle makes it especially easy to contour my nose so I mainly use it for this. 

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Precision_Angled_P84_p/p84.htm

Nars Ita kabuki brush to create a sharp defined high cheek (unavailable) can be purchased on nars online or nordstrom. 

Morphe Brushes M460 I love this especially to do cream contour. 

http://morphebrushes.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=924

Mac 168 Angeles contour brush

I like how dense it is and like to use it for an everyday makeup look 

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/146/324/168-Large-Angled-Contour-Brush/index.tmpl

MY CURRENT FAVORITE HIGHLIGHTING/setting BRUSHES FOR POWDER

Real Techniques setting brush 

I live this brush especially for loose setting powders

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp;jsessionid=20091F250E50EC0C44F114A79C2E25CC.pr-a3-app1?productId=xlsImpprod4260019

Bdellium Tools 944 tapered pointed contour brush

You can use it for both contour and highlighting just like many tools are multitasking. But this one I like to use especially for setting my highlight 

https://bdelliumtools.com/studio-944-tapered-contour.html

Mac 184 fan brush

This is like to dust some shimmer glowy powders on the cheekbones for that radiant look 

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/146/1345/Products/Brushes/Face/184-Duo-Fibre-Fan-Brush/index.tmpl