BellaSugar

Reader Review of the Day: Brushlab Round Cushion Brush With Mirror Combo

BellaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:00:31 -0700

Sure, a brush can get the tangles out, assist with styling, and even help remove buildup, but it's always a bonus when that brush gives you results beyond anything you ever imagined. Recently, I tried out Kim7754 reviewed Brushlab Round Cushion Brush With Mirror Combo ($8), and got amazing results. Here's what she had to say:

I absolutely love this brush. It makes my hair smooth, light, and shiny. My hair is naturally straight, but I have thick, full hair so it does get poofy if I don't straighten it - especially if I take a shower at night and wake up the next morning. My hair is just horribly unmanageable. But I used this brush one night after showering and I woke up the next morning with my hair super straight, as if I used a straightener! I am definitely keeping this brush.

Do you have a brush, comb, or any other hair device that you can't stop raving about - or complaining about? Tell us all about it on our Product Reviews section. We want to know what you're thinking.

Do Fancy Brushes Make a Difference?

BellaSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:23:05 -0700

For years I've been reading about Mason Pearson hair brushes in magazines, and inevitably they're lauded as life-changing miracle brushes. I haven't tried one yet, but I was given a Frederic Fekkai travel brush ($55) that's similarly luxurious.

The faux-tortoise brush is beautiful, easy to hold and replete with old-timey allure. It's pretty enough to leave out when guests are over, and it just feels more glamorous to brush my hair with this than with a drugstore brush. Except...
(To find out why I'm not loving it, read more)

As beautiful as the Fekkai brush is, I don't really love what it does to my hair. Because the boar bristles are natural, they give a relaxing scalp massage each time I run the brush through my hair. Unfortunately, this also spreads oil into my hair, which makes me feel a little greasy and flat-haired. Worse still, the brush is high-maintenance; it just never feels clean, and no matter how much I try to remove the schmutz that builds up, it never looks new. What am I doing wrong?!

My foray into pricey brushes has me wondering whether the expense is worth it, so I'm curious about your experiences. Have you used a high-end brush, and if so, what do you think?

Reader Review of the Day: Estée Lauder Foundation Brush

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:00:55 -0800

Zoot alors! My favorite foundation brush recently bit the dust. After searching through the Product Reviews pages, I think I might just have to give Estée Lauder Foundation Brush 1F ($30) a try. Reader brandysbug had nothing but positive things to say about this makeup brush, and here's why:

When I purchased this brush, it was a huge splurge for me. I just don't usually drop $30 on something like a brush, but I was pregnant, having major acne problems, was totally into the Estée Lauder Resilience Lift makeup line, and the saleslady talked me right into it. For liquid foundation, this is absolutely a wonderful brush. It helps to get the most from your bottle as it provides better coverage with less makeup than possible with other methods (sponge/fingers). This brush definitely helped me out covering up some very bad acne. It provided the full coverage I needed without piling too much makeup on. The results of using this brush with liquid foundation were astounding. My face almost looked airbrushed. I would recommend this to anyone who is considering buying a new foundation brush. It's worth the $30.

What makeup brushes can you not live without? What brushes went straight to returns? Tell us all about it on our Product Reviews pages. We love to hear your opinions - good, bad, and everywhere in between.

Makeup Brushes, Part IV: Angled Eye Shadow Brushes

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 12:00:25 -0700

Welcome back to BellaSugar's detailed look at make-up brushes. Today's installment: angled eye shadow brushes. (To read the other installments, click here.) Angled eye brushes are favored by many makeup artists, because they help achieve depth, definition, precision, and blend-ability in your crease area. When shopping for this type of brush, I find that natural-hair bristles work best.

To use, gently dipping your bush into the color and tap off the extra color. Then, in a windshield-wiping motion, blend back and forth. For more eye shadow tips, check out our Eyeshadow 101 series with tips for green , brown and blue eyes. Here are my picks for the best angled eye shadow brushes.

The Trish McEvoy #23 Angled Contour Brush may be the best brush I've ever used. Never before have I noticed such precision and comfort in a brush. This tool is designed to help guide you into just the right crease area of your eye. Buy it here for $32.

The Laura Mercier Angled Eye Colour Brush is a 100 percent natural brush designed for blending. The bristle surface is cut at an angle that allows you to hold the brush in such a way that you can see exactly what you are doing. Buy it here for $29.

To see the rest, read more

The Paula Dorf Eye Contour Brush is perfectly angled to fit naturally above the crease of your eye, making application easy and mistake-proof. Buy it here for $28.

Tarte Angled Brush is made out of soft pony bristles. Its handle is just a little bit shorter than the traditional makeup brush, making it great for travel. Buy it here for $26.

Tools of the Trade: BellaSugar's Guide to Makeup Brushes

BellaSugar — Sat, 12 May 2007 11:40:03 -0700

I get a lot of readers writing in with beauty questions, and makeup brushes are without a doubt one of the hottest topics. Obviously, I want to make sure we have all of the beauty basics covered, so I've created a definitive Guide To Makeup Brushes that you can come back to again and again. Here's a roundup of my posts about six essential types of makeup brushes and how to clean and care for them. Enjoy!

Source

Hairbrushes: Styling

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:11 -0700

The styling brush is a basic, everyday kind of hairbrush that can be used for general combing or during blow-drying. While the round brush is best at gripping the hair for sleek styles, the low tension of a styling brush works wonders on smoothing out ends - particularly for bobbed or medium length styles.

Also known as the "styler" or the "Denman," this classic rectangular shaped brush can also be used to lift hair at the roots for added volume. Try the Denman Classic Styling Brush ($7.49) or Aveda Wooden Styling Brush ($13).

Confused about brush choices overall? Be sure to check out the rest of my hairbrush series, with more to come.

Hairbrushes: The Paddle

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:15:22 -0700

The hairbrush - you probably use one every day, but with the wide variety of brushes available, do you ever wonder which is what, and which one you should pick, anyway? Well, you're in luck because all this week, I'll be featuring different types of brushes and how to use them. As a general guideline, pick a brush based on the length of your hair and the style you want to achieve.

Let's start off with the paddle brush, which is great for longer hairstyles. To use, gently lift hair at the roots and sweep down the hair shaft. Since this brush is so flat, it's best for creating smooth, sleek, and shiny styles without lots of volume. It also works wonders as a finisher for curly, frizzy, or wavy hair that's been styled by other means.

Because the paddle brush is so wide, it's also great for penetrating thick hair and providing a gentle, stimulating scalp massage. Try the Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush ($18).

Makeup Brushes, Part II: Do-It-Yourself Brush Cleaning

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 10:37:41 -0700

Welcome to Part II of BellaSugar's detailed look at make-up brushes. Today's installment: do-it-yourself brush cleaning. (To read yesterday's installment on powder brushes, click here.) If you're making an investment in high-quality tools, then it's important that you know the correct way to maintain them. Though people don't often think to wash their make-up brushes, it's very important that you keep them clean, because they harbor lots of dirt and bacteria, which can cause breakouts and make your make-up go on clumpy. Washing brushes will also make them last longer.

Ideally, you should wash any brush that you use for liquid make-up (including concealer, foundation, lip products, cream shadows, and so on) every day. For brushes used with powder, clean them every two weeks. For tips on how to properly clean your brushes, read more

Gently run your make-up brushes under lukewarm water. Swish them around in the sink until the water runs clear. Hold the brush under the water with the handle pointing up so that you don't irreparably damage the brush.
Add a small amount of mild shampoo or soap to the palm of your hard and swish your brush around in your hand and then under the water. Keep in mind that natural bristle brushes need gentler soaps.
Rinse your hand and the brush thoroughly, then wring out the water from the brush's tip. To retain the shape of the brush hair, gently squeeze to remove all traces of soap and water and place them so they can dry flat on a clean dry towel.

Keep in mind that sharing makeup brushes is not advisable because it may lead to infection.

Hairbrushes: Round

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:11 -0700

Many a times, I have stood in front of the hairbrush aisle facing, to me, what seems like a zillion choices - flat, round, skinny, soft-bristled, and/or balls on the ends? It's enough to make the head spin right 'round. And cue the 80s music.

Are you confused on which brush to choose? Well, fret no more. All this week I'm featuring ins and outs of hairbrushes so that you can pick what you think is best for your lovely locks.

The round brush, which is known for delivering great curls and flips, also volumizes and straightens hair by providing an appropriate amount of grip while blow-drying. A larger diameter base will give loads of volume, and works well for longer styles, while a smaller diameter base will provide tighter waves, and works great on shorter styles.

Ceramic or metal brushes are a specialized type of round brush, working with the heat of your blow-dryer, allowing you to create styles and manipulate your hair much like that of a curling iron.

Try Spornette Pronto Round Brush ($12.99) or Umberto Round Brush ($12.99) for voluminous results.

Makeup Brushes, Part III: Professional Brush Cleaners

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:28:00 -0700

Welcome to Part III of FabSugar's detailed look at make-up brushes: professional make-up brush cleaners. Now that you understand the importance of cleaning your grimy make-up brushes, here are my top picks for make-up brush cleaning solvents for those of you who don't like the do-it-yourself method.

Trish McEvoy Makeup Brush Cleaner is my personal fave. It's a quick and easy spray bottle that you can directly spray onto your lush brushes. Buy the 4-ounce bottle here for $18.

Clinique Make-Up Brush Cleanser thoroughly cleans build-up from the brush. Just pump one short spritz onto each side of the makeup brush and use a tissue to wipe away grime. Allow approximately two minutes to dry before use. Buy it here for $12.50

To see the rest, read more

Laura Mercier Brush Cleaner kills unwanted bacteria without drying or damaging the bristles on your precious brushes. Use the cap of the bottle for dipping and gently dip the brush into the cleanser. The formula will evaporate without leaving a filmy residue. Buy it here for $18.

M·A·C Brush Cleanser is unique because it not only disinfects your brushes but is also especially designed to extend the life of your high-quality tools. It has a great, fresh scent and it dries quickly. Buy it here for $9.