The Best Kabuki Brushes

In life, we spend on some things and save on others. When quality and performance matter, we spend even if we have to save up to buy an item. At other times when good enough works, we can save.

Discontinued 😞

Good makeup brushes make a huge difference in applying makeup evenly so usually, we spend on quality brushes, moving up from the good enough ones we settled for when we were younger.

I did so one makeup brush at a time, but before I could buy my last planned brush, in the It Velvet Luxe Collection For Ulta, the line was discontinued! So my coveted Kabuki brush (at $54 without a deal) got away! I looked a long time for it on eBay to no avail and so I had to move on. 

Today I'm featuring 3 Kabuki brushes that are top-notch in the qualities I love in makeup brushes: They're (1) plush/dense, (2) soft, and (3) do not shed for a smooth application of liquid or powdered makeup. I use a Kabuki brush to apply face powder as a final step to blend and set the makeup on my face. (Some people use it for liquid foundation, which I skip.)

I've uploaded the 3 brushes in today's blog in the order of most to least expense. They are: 

1) Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Face 2.0 Teardrop Kabuki (See the top image.👆) 

2) Isle of Paradise Foundation Brush (See the purple case.👆)

3) Petal-Shaped Kabuki Brush - This option is sold all over the internet. I bought one from Walmart. It also sells on Chinese retailer websites like Temu and Shein. Surprisingly, it is a great quality brush at a low cost! The brush has tons of 5-star reviews from happy customers!

Although I found a good Kabuki brush for less, I still regret losing out on the pricey Kabuki brush that got away! All I can do now is show and write about it.😢

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Flat Top Kabuki Brush

Daubigny's makeup brushes have over 4,100 stellar customer reviews on Amazon, and the brushes sell for under $10, including the entire eyebrush set👇 below!🎯

The dense bristles of the Daubigny Kabuki brush remind me of my more expensive IT Velvet Luxe brushes once sold at Ulta. I bought my set one brush at a time, not knowing they would soon be discontinued before I got the chance to buy my last brush, the IT Kabuki brush. Daubigny's Flat Top Kabuki Brush, won't ecstatically match my IT Velvet Luxe brushes, but reviewers say it blends makeup in all forms -- liquid, cream, or powder -- perfectly. (It appears the lookalike brushes sold by other sellers for a few dollars less are the same exact brushes, but this cannot be confirmed without purchasing them. You take a slight risk they are of lesser quality.)

Like my 7 IT Velvet Luxe brushes, the bristles of this brush are dense, firm, and soft, precisely what I look for in makeup brushes. Makeup brushes on smoothly and evenly to give you a flawless, poreless non-makeup finish. Vitally important, the bristles do not shed! The reason I invested in IT brushes was I got tired of picking the shedding bristle hairs off of my face after applying blush or powder to my face.

The Flat Top Kabuki brush is a steal! It comes with a durable plastic carrying case with a flap and snap closure to keep both the brush and the inside of your bag clean. Nice!

Temptation calls: I'm getting a 2nd chance to buy a superb Kabuki makeup brush. Should I take a bite of the apple and get it? Yes!

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Should We Line Our Waterline?

Photo: Getty images/Ingolf Hatz

The waterline is the rim of the upper or lower eyelid between our lashes and eyeballs. Lining my lower waterline is sometimes the only eye makeup I apply as a quick way to accent my eyes without putting on shadow or mascara. I think of it as the lazy girl's smoky eye since it creates the illusion of a smoky eye without the time it takes to do a complete and smudged smoky eye using additional makeup products.

Photo: YouTube

Although I've been lining my lower waterline for decades now without any side effects, optometrists don't encourage us to do so. The waterline area has specialized glands that excrete oil and the practice could obstruct the glands' natural ability to produce healthy tears.

You also must make sure the eye crayon pencils you use are soft and remain free of contaminants that could lead to eye infections.

Revlon Eye Colorstay eyeliner is a good and cheap option.

I have no scientific evidence to back up my guess that perhaps the reason I've been spared eye issues is usually I only apply the eye crayon in the morning after hopping out of a shower and don't use a lot of other eye makeup which would increase my chances for irritation or contamination. However, I can't say I've never reapplied my eyeliner crayon to my waterline later on in the day or used eye shadows and mascara at the same time. Moreover, in my 20s I often sampled display eye makeup at Ulta and Sophora ... a huge risky and stupid no, no!!!

Photo: Aishwarya - Loreal Infallible Waterproof eyeliners - Good eyeliner but difficult to sharpen. LOeal has other developed other types of eye crayons that roll up. 

IMHO the eye doctors' warnings should make us more mindful about safe makeup practices, as well as, more vigilant in keeping our makeup and our makeup tools super clean. 

But frankly, I don't want to stop lining my waterline altogether with a soft eyeliner crayon. It's such an easy and attractive look!

How about you?🤫

I'm still using Adrienne (how she spells her TV line) Arpel's eye crayon (which I stocked up on when it was discontinued). Her makeup including a newer eye crayon is hard to find nowadays, but it's a good one.

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Lancome Hypnose 5 Color Eyeshadow Palette

I love Lancome Hypnose 5 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Drama Demin. You can create a smoky eye in shades of blue!! There are 6 different color palettes if Drama Demin doesn't compliment your skin tone. I prefer wearing cool eyeshadow hues such as white, silver, gray, and certain shades of blue. I don't like pink or orange or yellow eyeshadow on me (hues I sometimes see), but I like shades of pink on my lips and cheeks, which doesn't make wearing them as eyeshadow wrong for other women.

Lancome is always a pricey brand. The new palette is $60, with Macy's often offering it at $51. Beauty experts tell us to splurge on eyeshadow, as opposed to eye and lip pencils, bronzers, or mascara. The Lancome Hypnose palette is highly pigmented and long-lasting, the reason to splurge on eyeshadow. It will also take time to deplete the palette even if used daily, so once you bite the bullet you'll have it for a long time.

Colorpop in Blue Velvet

But if you'd rather not spend for Lancome I'll give you cheaper, yet still quality options from competitors to give you a similar makeup effect on a budget.

Bare Minerals in Stonewashed

 What is not linked on the blog, simply google the name of the makeup to find a retailer. I own and love Maybelline's The Rock Nudes palette, which is designer quality for less.

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IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe Goddess Kabuki Brush

Back in August 2019, I learned It Cosmetics had discontinued its amazing Velvet Luxe line of makeup brushes after visiting Ulta intent on buying a 2nd brush. This was a crazy business move as my review of the superior line of brushes describes:

This and all of the following photos relate to the last paragraph of the blog. :) Wow, I especially love the oval ring, post earrings, and matching necklace.

Here's a snippet of my review: "'Last year I bought a quality makeup brush from the IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe line. The brushes in this particular line, are plush, soft, firm, precise in the application; and never, ever shed. In other words, everything we want: It is hands down the best makeup brush I've ever used!'"

Fortunately, I found 4 of the coveted sizes of the brushes on eBay, paying bargain prices for them as it turns out! Unfortunately, the one that got away I still pine for, namely the Velvet Luxe Goddess Kabuki Brush. I can make do with the brushes I now own, but every now and then I still go online to see if somebody, somewhere, anywhere is selling my longed-for kabuki brush. Makeup brushes must be sold new-and-never-used for me to buy them, and as we get further and further away from 2019, there's little chance the kabuki brush will be listed on eBay or elsewhere. A makeup maven who buys closeouts would have to discover it stashed in her basement for us to see it listed for sale again, but if I ever find it, my set will be complete.😍

By becoming a more mindful shopper and an under buyer, I make fewer mistakes, avoid buyer's remorse and save a few bucks along the way. But the other side of the coin is, I also must accept losing out on a few desired articles. However, on balance, I think I come out ahead. 

Material things will come and go. Something new always replaces an old wish that vanishes.

No engagement is needed, I just love this ring.😀

All the lovely things posted today on this blog are on my Fairy Godmother Wish List but wisely I decided not to buy them. However, the kabuki brush I'll snatch up for a good price if ever, ever I see it again!

You can't always get what you want

But if you try sometimes well you might find

You get what you need.🎶  Mick Jagger

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Use SPF Face Cream All Year Around

Lumin (black) is sunscreen for men, so I've never tried it.

After my morning shower I apply face cream (or lotion) over a face serum every day of the year. Only in the month of August during those dog days of heat and humidity could I skip the step of hydrating my face if desired, however, I don't do so. The reason why is we need to use sunscreen every day of the year to prevent aging (lines, wrinkles and dark sun spots), plus more importantly, skin cancer. Therefore I use a multi-tasking face moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher. Without. Fail. Every. Day. Of. The. Year. 

As we've moved from summer into fall, you may have noticed your skin is getting dryer. I have, and if a dry face bothers you as it does me, you may need to add a face cream to your daily routine, so why not select one that also contains the sun protection you should be wearing daily? Kill two birds with one stone and done!

Allow me to highlight 6 SPF [Sun Protector Factor] face moisturizers whose light, non-greasy consistency I like, as well as, give you the pros and cons of the choices I don't buy:

1) Olay moisturizers come in broad spectrum SPF 15, 30, and 50. I've tried all the formulas but stick with the Olay Complete with SPF 15 -- the most generous size. The sun protection is zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which I prefer to more questionable chemicals. All of the Olay formulas are creamy and greaseless, but the SPF 50 has a thicker consistency than the SPF 15. The Olay Complete 15 Sensitive formula works for me as it moisturizes while disappearing into my skin. With a lower SPF of 15, you simply need to reapply it every 2 hours if out and about in direct sunlight all day. SPF 30 or SPF 50 doesn't provide significantly more protection, but you can stretch the duration of reapplying them. There is none better than the Olay formulas and they are dirt cheap too!

2) Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion SPF 30 - It's much like Olay, as is the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer with Total Soy Complex and Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen, and all 3 brands are inexpensive and conveniently available at your local drugstore. Olay was the earliest to appear on the market and for this reason, is usually the easiest brand to find, but all 3 are comparable, which lets you grab whichever brand goes on sale when you need one.

3) CeraVe 100% Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face - Contains the usual suspects of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide along with the extra beneficial skincare ingredients of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides. Dermatologists like that CeraVe puts ceramides (a family of waxy lipid molecules) in it's skincare products to fortify our skin barrier.

4) Laroche Posay Anthelios Face 60 - The customer raves are for the European formula of Anthelios which contains Mexoryl, a patented UVA blocker that is highly stable and approved in Europe and Canada, but not approved by the FDA for use in the USA. The European version is light, thin, absorbent, and doesn't degrade after hours of sun exposure. Laroche is a skincare brand dermatologists universally recommend, but it's expensive. To be honest, I like the brand, but don't tend to buy it. IMHO you can find as good for less.

5) Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30 - Paula's Choice is very good skincare, not the most expensive on the list, and yet still pricey if using it every day. Repeated buys add up! With a bit of research, you can often find the same ingredients from less costly competitors. Nonetheless, P.C. is stellar skincare, not crazy expensive, and perhaps sometimes worth a splurge. You decide for yourself.

6. Neutrogena Age Shield Face Oil-Free Sunscreen 70 - Neutrogena has SPF 30, 50, or 70 face moisturizers galore in cream, lotion, or gel forms, and some with extra ingredients to benefit the skin. Personally, unless I need a particular ingredient to treat a skin issue, I buy the cheapest SPF moisturizer offered that I like. Since I use an anti-aging face serum under my moisturizer, it's the moisturizer with sunscreen I'm after. If our serum already has vitamin C or hyaluronic acid in it, we're covered. More isn't always better, so if the extra ingredient drives the price up, why pay more for it in a moisturizer?

Luckily I'm happy with Olay Complete 15 Sensitive as a moisturizer with sun protection since it's about as cheap as you can buy. Spend more when it matters, but you can save on the category of SPF face creams/lotions without compromise. There are a ton of quality selections for less in a drugstore aisle ... often under $10.🎀💙

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Peripera Velvet Lip Tint Is An Amazon Favorite

Peripera Velvet Lip Tint is exactly what we want, a high-pigmented natural lip stain that is soft, smooth, weightless, and lasts all day. Apply the liquid tint as a velvety lip color in the morning and by the end of the day, there's still a rosy natural hue, which doesn't smudge if you dab lip balm over it to moisturize your lips. It's also paraben-free.

The 31 shades go on your lips wet and after they dry, they are waterproof, kissproof, and foodproof. The colors are buildable. Apply a thin coat of tint with a spongy applicator and wait for it to dry before applying a 2nd thin layer if you wish. If you apply it too thick to start with, you'll need to blot it off, thereby wasting product.

There's a color to flatter every skin tone. Reviewers like the feel of the velvety formula.

The search for lip tint in natural colors with real staying power is over! Cost: Under $10.

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Lawless Beauty

My friend, Angie Smith, says, " I have loved every single product I've tried and it's clean. The One and Done Mascara is the best I've ever used. The Conseal The Deal Concealer is fabulous, and so are the lipglosses." 

She's talking about Lawless Beauty, a makeup brand created by Annie Lawless Jacobs, whose mission is to produce "highly pigmented, full coverage, and long-lasting" cosmetics with only safe ingredients, therefore face and lip paints, stains, and some treatments that are 100% free of carcinogens and hormone or endocrine-disrupting toxins. Every product in the line is free of all potential toxins, including parabens, talc, lead, PEGS, sulfates, mineral oil, carbon black, and siloxanes, in addition to, animal cruelty and synthetic fragrance.

Moreover, the brand is serious about formulating high-end cosmetics to make customers not only healthy but look and feel beautiful. The foundation, lip color, concealer, and mascara will not wimp out by midday but last all day long.

Lawless Beauty is sold at Sephora, as well as, on its own website, where loyal customers can earn reward points to save on future purchases.

Another fabulous discovery of yet another stellar brand with good clean ingredients! Thank you once again, Angie!

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Flower's Forbidden Fruit Eyeshadow Palette

Flower's newest Forbidden Eyeshadow Palette contains such gorgeous blendable colors I'm compelled to write a quick and dirty blog to announce its launch. There are 10 perfect, any-season shades in 3 different finishes that deliver rich lasting pigments in a flattering natural or dramatic look. You decide which way to wear them in how you mix and match the hues.

The following 10 shades are:

Lychee (Creamy Metallic Finish) - White Gold 

Guava (Soft Matte Finish)- Pastel Peach

Juicy (Soft Matte Finish)- Punchy Pink 

Citrus (Creamy Metallic Finish)- Light Copper 

Dragon Fruit (Soft Matte Finish)-Magenta Plum 

Melon (Creamy Metallic Finish)-Duo-Chrome Frosty Pink 

Papaya (Multi-Reflective Shimmer)-Coral Pink 

Exotic (Creamy Metallic Finish)-Duo-Chrome Purple 

Pomegranate (Multi-Reflective Shimmer)-Deep Burgundy 

Blackberry (Soft Matte Finish)-Dark Brown

As my regular readers know, Flower by Drew Barrymore is one of THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S favorite makeup brands. You cannot beat its quality or price with a competitor's. The makeup is both top-notch and inexpensive! The palette is $15, and if you subscribe to get the brand's emails you'll regularly receive promotions that you can apply to purchases. Imagine that! [Ulta carries the Flower brand and is another fabulous retailer to get discounts.]

Flower offers fabulous deals just because! After all, customers need no incentive to buy designer-tier makeup on the cheap!💋💖

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Powder Play Lip Color By Flower

Weeks ago Flower by Drew Barrymore lunched a new powder to cream lip color. Once applied to the lips with a wand, Powder Play -- the lightweight powder, transfers into a soft moisturizing cream. The new product softens and soothes lips while leaving them with a pop of natural color, as well as, a soft, powdery look that overwhelmingly customers like.

Customers approve of the smooth texture; and report it does, indeed, moisturize lips while the flattering pigments have real staying power. The Powder Play Lip Colors endure like matte lipstick without drying out lips as matte lipstick tends to do.

The retailer calls each powdery shade a perfectly imperfect soft focus of color.

I'm only now featuring Flower's new item launch because who is wearing lip color under their face masks nowadays? Before COVID I wore lipstick every single day, but haven't touched it much over the past year. Now that the COVID vaccines are rolling out under a new administration, perhaps we can get excited about makeup launches again! 

This newest formula from Flower -- an awesome and affordable beauty brand -- is highly rated with tons of 5 star reviews! (Watch out expensive luxe makeup, there's a new beauty sharif in town for less!!!) The cost is $10, and Ultra is now offering a $3.50 coupon here for spending $15.

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