NARS Ita Kabuki Brush & FOTD

Let me introduce the newest member in my brush family, the coolest Ita Kabuki brush from NARS :)

I've been wanting to get this brush for awhile and finally got it this week. I always wonder how the brush like this works and after seeing the demonstration on a NARS video and couple Youtubers talked about it I finally gave in. Here is the description from their site--

Modern concept and function unite with traditional Japanese culture, creating unique and versatile brush designs. Featuring super black goat hair known for its softness and strength, Kabuki Artisan brushes are designed for a variety of uses including color application, blending, contouring and highlighting.Super black goat hair in a small, flat, and angular design ideal for blending and contouring.

This brush is so soft and fluffy, easy to place the color and buff at the same time. I wasn't sure it will be user friendly since the handle is so different than the regular kabuki brush but after trying it for the first time, I was completely sold and become a big fan of their Kabuki Artisan series. I use it for contour and highlight, it goes right under the cheek bones and undereye and temple areas. I feel like I'm drawing Chinese calligraphy on the face every time I use it :) such a cool brush I have to say. I will recommend this to people who are serious about contouring and highlighting.

It comes in a pretty black box, so nicely packed.

Use it with my Laguna bronzer

What's on my face --

Face-
HyperReal foundation NC300+NC400
MUFE Lift concealer
Studio Sculpt concealer NC30
MSF Natural medium plus
NARS Laguna
NARS Taj Mahal blush

Eyes-
Lemon Chiffon Shadestick
Espresso - brow
NARS Odine - all over the lid
NARS Surbaya - outer crease
NARS Kilimanjaro - brow bone & inner highlight

UD Zero liner
CG Lash Blast
L'Oreal Telescope

Lips-
Lip Fusion lip plump Clear
Naked Space Lipglass

The next NARS Kabuki Artisan brush that I want --

Yachiyo Brush

What a cool looking brush! Soon I will dress like a geisha to do my makeup... hahaha... those traditional Japanese brushes are so addictive :)))

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My MAC Must Haves

Long time no blog everyone! I've been so freaking busy at work lately, and finally got over the flu. I feel better now and just start putting on more makeup again :) btw I got new hair style. I have bangs now and I love it. It definitely makes me look younger... soon I will be showing it off in my FOTD :)

I thought I will finish this post that's been sitting in my folder for long time. My must have MAC items. In my opinion they are the stand out products from MAC, so if I can only grab a few MACs with me to the island these will be it. Here we go...

Blush brush #129 -- love love love this one. Don't believe they told you you can find a dupe from drug store... they all look the same but nothing compares to this baby.

Face brush #180 -- BIG & FIRM, it does the job fast and gives a great coverage.

Contour brush #109 -- My favorite foundation brush. It's basically a baby kabuki with long handle. Excellent for thicker liquid foundation.

Blending brush #222 -- I'd mentioned it in my previous post before. Good for placing color on crease and blending. Perfect size for Asian crease.

Blending brush #224 -- Blend, blend, blend... makes blending job super easy.

Angle brush #263 -- It's firm and ALWAYS creates sharp line.

1. HyperReal foundation -- I have dry skin and I love the dewy glowy finish it gives.

2. Lipstick (Creme d'nude) -- I should say all the nude lipsticks from MAC. I love their nude lips selections, especially Amplified creme and Creamsheen finished.

3. Studio finish concealer -- creamy, long lasting and high SPF(SPF35)

4. Fluidline (Blitz and Glitz) gel eyeliner -- Love this color, soft black with silvery glitter.

5. Paint Pot (Bare Study) -- I love this eye base more than UDPP or any other kind of eye base. It only last about 6-8 hrs on my lids before it start creasing but I love the texture and great color selections.

6. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural -- It gives enough coverage to use it alone or as finish powder. Its not cakey at all and it gives a subtle sheen. I also like the darker one with shimmer duo, great contour and highlight product.

7. Fix+ -- Smells good and refreshing makeup finish spray. No more powdery look.

8. My 15 neutral palette -- What can I say... my trust worthy everyday go to palette, some of my favorite colors are also in it. I may do a post of my favorite MAC ESs in the future :)

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Crease Blending Brushes Comparison

Here is the comparison of all my crease brushes. I loooove crease brushes even tho I don't have big crease to start with, guess that's why looking for a perfect one was my mission :)

I'd divided them into 3 groups by different text color, the same color has the same function and you may only need 1 from each color group if you want to go into details. But still, you may only need just ONE from all of them if you are not as anal as me :) So here we go.

MAC 224 - I don't need to go into detail since everyone knows about this brush! This brush is way too big for my asian crease but it blends like a dream! It makes the blending job suuuuper easy and it actually helps cut down my makeup time. I used it clean to blend out the harsh line instead of using it to place crease color.

Sonia Kashuk round crease - This is the old version so I'm not sure if its still available. This is only slightly smaller than 224 but does the same job. The handle is a bit flimsy so I think that affects the blendibility? still, just need to swipe a few more times and it does the job beautifully.

MAC 226 - It's very pointed and it's a bit firmer than the 224. It's good for defined crease work and blend at the same time. It fits Asian lids perfectly I will say.

Sephora Round crease #13 - This does exactly same job as 226 to me, and it's actually softer than 226. In the picture it doesn't look that pointed but it actually is. I carry this one in my makeup bag everyday for touch up. I like it just equally as 226!

MAC 222 - I will say this one is in between Black and Red group. It's small enough to go into my crease to place the color and it's good for blending as well. It's extremely soft and I love how it feels against my skin.

Coastal Scents small crease brush - This one is equally soft to 222 and does the same job. It looks pointed but it wasn't narrow enough to do the detail job as the red group. But it blends well and for the price this is the winner!

I love all of them and they all do slightly different jobs for me. But if I could only choose one..... I would probably pick 222.

Just my personal preferences :)

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MAC BBR, brush #226

How do you like the MAC BBR collection? I mentioned I was going to get the new 214 brush before but after seeing it in person, I changed my mind. The tip of the bristle is not thick and stiff enough as the regular smudge brush imo. Unlike the ones from NARS and Sephora, it is basically just the top half of the MAC 239 in black bristle. Although it is a bit firmer, I can just use the 239 to do the job. The Redhead msf looks so pretty but I didn't get it in the end... lesson learned. I was a MSFs collector before but I slowly sold or swapped away most of my msfs cuz they were just eye candy for me sitting in the bottom of the drawer untouched. To me they are too frosty as highlighter and not pigmented enough as blush... I ended up only keep the ones that I can use as bronzer.

The only thing I got from this collection was the 226 pointed blending brush. I'm a sucker for crease brush of course can't resist this one. The 226 is very pointed, the size is smaller than 224 and 222, it actually reminds me of 219 pencil brush but softer. I don't have 219 so this will be good for detail works. I will do a comparison of all my crease brushes later.

Mac has this widget that gives their fan to upload their own photos to try a new BBR do. I found it hilarious. Go here to get your own look :)

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