In A World-Trish McEvoy Brushes

I just watched this movie on Netflix about the movie trailer voiceover people who start the trailer with “In a world…”.

In a world where most of the products I have tried from Trish McEvoy produced mediocre results-especially her eye primer and concealer products which were cakey-there is a bright spot.

And it’s a bright spot that I’ve already known for years–say that again YEARS.

When I’ve been at the Trish counter before I ever bought anything more than her gel liner, I’ve remarked to the salesperson, I like the brushes.

I remember when I first bought two ancient Trish brushes, No 10 and 25.

I was in San Francisco on a shopping trip with then friend, and in Saks Fifth Avenue department store. Pretty much then, as is now, I like the store but have never purchased anything more than makeup products and didn’t venture further than the 1st floor.  If I did it was to tag along with then friend.

I don’t know what has changed, but my last visit I spent a good amount of time in the lofty floors above the make up dept.

Anyway.

This happened in the realm of 20+ years ago when I bought these two Trish brushes.  I have kept them cleaned, using gentle cleansers-most of the time the same as I use on my face, and drying them flat.

I put them away in favor of the new flavor of the moment brush so I’ve had them 20+ years but use them when I feel like it.

But now that I use cream shadow-I am using the small flat brush NO. 25  to pat the Chanel Ilusion D’Ombre over Nars Eye Primer.  I use the brush to put on the initial layer of color on my lid and a little on my crease, then use my Laura Mercier,  Finishing Brush to blend in the color in my crease and feather it out.

When I am feeling really casual but need a little color I use the No. 10-which is like a small flat paint brush to sweep on a neutral eye brightening color like Bobbi Brown’s Shell–which is the look-alike color of the Strange base color in Urban Decay’s Nakeds #3 palette.

I wouldn’t say that some things get better with age-but more like some things always stay the same. As my most recent brush purchase from Trish was about the same time I bought the other products, which is a cool eyeliner brush that the demonstration of by the product specialist had me thinking about it.

So I went back later and bought it.

I figure if anything makes me contemplate it that much, I should buy it and relieve myself of the wondering about it time. I use this brush occasionally. I like to use it with cream stick shadows or even with Trish gel eyeliner because they are so soft and this brush has just the right amount of stiffness to draw a nice line while not dragging on the eyelid skin.

I have a bunch of Bobbi Brown brushes which I use faithfully like her brow brush-but I’ve had it in the range of 6 years and it is disintegrating.

So the moral of the story–In a world where competition is fierce for great products, those who win are the ones who stick with their core.

k

 

 

 

 

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Laura Mercier Eye Shadow Primer

I’m not sure why, or maybe it’s just genetics, but I see more and more small veins on my eyelids.  I’ve read as skin gets older the skin thins, and eyelids are skin, so…

I like to wear a Guava eye shadow from Laura Mercier.  It’s a sheer, peachy kind of color that brightens my lids without a lot of color.

Of late, I’ve noticed that the veins are getting harder to cover, so I decided to revisit eye shadow primer.  I had purchased “Linen” from LM, but I decided it made my eyelids too white pinkish and instead used it for my Halloween Zombie make up on my face!  It was pretty scary!

Consulting another makeup artist at NM, she suggested I used the Wheat color-totally makes sense because it matches my complexion and covers the veins but doesn’t change the color of my lids. So, my eye shadow has a truer base to start from.

The older I get the less makeup I use on my eyes-seems like I spend more time camouflaging   .

Maybe I should check out Dr. Tantisira’s fractional laser – I’ve talked to her before and her skin is flawless-no foundation whatsoever.  She does a pre-regimen of sunscreen applied 3-times daily a month prior to procedure and in some cases a melanin-prohibiting cream.

I’m a late adopter in most things – I’m still using an iPhone 3GS – am I sliding into the future?

I wish I may, I wish I might, see flawless skin, smooth and tight!

Oh well.

k

Light Up My Life – Laura Mercier “Guava” Eye Shadow

I had a photo shoot the other day and was looking to pick up a few tips from the make up artist, Dorys Foltin of Maleana Cosmetics.

I had already been searching for a light natural almost skin color eye shadow to use as a base-and watching the makeup artist apply light colors to the lids of my talent, I was very impressed by how much it brightened the whole eye area.

Much more exciting for me because I got the current NM beauty bag by purchasing Laura Mercier’s eye shadow stipling brush, guava eye shadow and the new Kiehl’s fragrance in Orange and Lychee.

The color looks so beautiful under the store lights and on my lids – it really looks darker here- but when I put it on my lids without primer-it almost matches my skin but somehow makes it look brighter and my eyes don’t recede as much!  (Loving the stipling brush too!)

I love a natural look for day – some radiant primer, tinted moisturizer, guava shadow and a chocolate-ly eyeliner!

I spoke to LM’s Global Make Up artist Luis Soto about the current trend of Cinema Noir-you remember those gorgeous black and white photos of the film stars before “talkies”.

I love that LM has added videos too!  Check them out on their youtube channel!

k

Getting Ready Faster and Faster

 

Lately, for those who follow my blog, there has been more and more lag time between posts.

It’s not because I have a lack of subjects. But just time is at a premium lately.

I used to sit by myself at the gym long after my friends had gotten ready and left for work.

Lately, I am flying out of there myself to run an errand or get a few things done before whatever commitments I have.  Part of that is I like to be driving when there is the least amount of traffic.

So, normally it will take me 35 minutes to get ready from start to finish including blow-drying my hair and nice make up.

Just shaving off 15 minutes is a major deal. That means I just dry my hair to get the dampness out, and do stuff like:

Use pencil eyeliner instead of gel or Laura Mercier‘s Tightliner which requires and extra step

Use a neutral powder eye shadow base instead of Laura Mercier’s eyeshadow primer which enriches the color

Use tinted moisturizer which is more forgiving then to use liquid foundation. ( I know powder or otherwise mineral foundation is really fast but the color usually grays up).

Line with Laura Mercier lip liner and follow with Rose balm instead of lipstick or gloss.

Use Bobbi Brown Tortoise collection shadow set instead of dabbing on Laura Mercier creme eye shadow

I do not cheat on some steps:

Treatment – apply a squirt of Kiehl’s Power Line Concentrate

Moisturizer- Kiehl’s Rosa Artica

Sunscreen – Clarin’s spf40 under anything else

Lashes- I’ve been using Grande Lash MD to grow my lashes and I believe I am seeing results after two weeks. Lately I just need a swish of mascara (back to Mac ZoomLash)

That’s pretty much it-somehow I’m still getting more on my face than what women’s magazine’s would consider 5 minute make up -but oh well.

k