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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Buy Pinalen Instead of Pine-Sol

During COVID I re-discovered Pine-Sol, a household cleaner that kills 99% of germs on surface areas and is also used to clean grease and heavy stains. It was invented in 1929 by Harry A. Cole of Mississippi using pine oil as an ingredient. In 2016 Cloxox, its manufacturer, removed pine oil from the formula sold in stores to save money.

Since today's in-store Pine-Sol doesn't contain pine oil I switched to Pinalen, an equivalent cleaner that still contains pine oil.

Pinalen is comprised of water, pine essential oil, sodium laurate, sodium oleate, dodecanoic acid, sodium salt, isopropyl alcohol, and benzenesulfonic acid.

Along with its disinfecting and cleaning powers, I appreciate the pine scent. I put a few drops inside my toilet bowl several times a week to keep it clean, as well as, fresh smelling.

Although I clean my toilet with hydrogen peroxide, Pinalen is said to be safe for all parts of the toilet. It won't damage the internal mechanisms nor remove the paint from a toilet seat. The reason I use hydrogen peroxide is to skip the follow-up step of rinsing with clean water. I use a few drops of diluted Pinalen to soak only inside the toilet bowl then brush and flush. (Btw: mostly I mop my floors with white vinegar and water, but every so often, I mop with Pinalen diluted in water or even bleach and water for heavy-duty cleanings. Afterwards, I'll rinse with water. When mopping with vinegar you can just let the floor dry without rinsing.)

So now I have to contradict Clorox. Although the makers of Pine-Sol say it won't hurt your toilet tank, I wouldn't add it to the tank regularly (only if you need to clean a dirty or moldy tank initially) because the disinfectant and its equivalent cleaners are acidic. The rubber pieces in the tank's cistern will erode, causing the flushing mechanism to malfunction. It won't hurt used infrequently, but that's why I only put a few drips in just the toilet bowl.

In addition to bathrooms, Pinalen cleans laundry, kitchen counters and appliances, floors, walls, garages, and backyard fixtures. 

It's less expensive than Pine-Sol. I buy the one-gallon (128 fl oz or 3.785L) concentrated size, then dilute it with water (a 50/50 ratio) in a spray bottle to clean. Less product is required in a bucket of water to mop a floor. Mix 1/8 cup of solvent with 1 gallon of water. Available at Walmart, Walgreens, and Amazon. Pine oil smells amazing though perhaps it's not to everyone's liking.

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Huge Savings With Equate Dupe Moisterizers

As autumn approaches in the Western hemisphere we'll soon exchange the humidity for dry skin. It's time to stock up on moisturizers. Walmart will save you a ton of money with their in-house brand for less under the name of Equate. The label has dupes for many dermatologist-recommended moisturizers. Here's what to buy:

For your face: 

1) Equate All Day Moisturizer - A dupe for Olay with UVA and UVB 15 protection and Vitamin E. Apply it after your Vitamin C and under your makeup. Cost: $4.97

2) Equate Retinol Night Cream - Compare to Olay Retinol Night Cream. Use before bed. New packaging for the same cream and price as the top image. Cost: $17.44

3) Equate Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin - A dupe for Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin. Use on nights you wish to either skip retinol or simply apply additional moisture to your face. $6.67

For your hands ...

4) Equate Ultra Moisturizing Extra Dry Skin Lotion - A dupe for Jerkens ultra healing body lotion with vitamins C, E, and B5 in a generous 32-ounce size pump to keep in your kitchen to mostly moisturize your dry hands during the dryer months. Cost: $6.48

For your face, hands, and body especially in winter ...

The next tubs of moisturizers are listed in the order of their thickness and all are super moisturizing.

5) Equate Moisturizing Cream - Compare to CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. $8.97

6) Equate Gentle Skin Cream - A dupe for Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. Cost: $7.48 {A review of #5 vs #6 is here.}

7) Equate Therapeutic Dry Skin Cream - Compare to Eucein Moisturizing Cream. $9.92

8) Advanced Healing Ointment Skin Protectant - The knockoff for Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Cost: $10.52, or just buy a tub of Vaseline for half the price.

Frankly, #8 is 41% petroleum jelly so next time I'll just buy a tub of Vaseline for $5.48 or better yet Equate Petroleum Jelly for $2.36 instead of #8 which is 2 or 4.5 times the price. In winter you can always rub petroleum jelly over your moisturizing creams if you need extra thickness.

Walmart has additional dupes of leading name brands, but these 10 are the moisturizers I like and use in the fall and winter months. They are identical to their name-brand counterparts! If you have other favorite moisturizers, check to see if Walmart makes a dupe for it.

9) Equate Beauty Eczema Relief Skin Protection Cream -  With colloidal oatmeal and cheap at 6.84 for 8 ounces.

10) Equate Fragrance Free Daily Moisturizing Lotion - A dupe for Aveeno Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion - I smell a mild scent that disappears quickly after application. You get a generous 33-fluid-ounce pump bottle for $7.48. 

Equate makes moisturizers so affordable we can slather them on from face to toe daily without breaking the bank.💵

*Although I've now written 2 back-to-back blogs mentioning Walmart, neither blog is sponsored. I love Walmart!

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Walmart Has Genuine Leather Bags Cheap

Real leather bag by Forestyashe at Walmart - Available in 7 colors on clearance $11 - $15

Walmart may not be the first retailer that comes to mind for finding a smart trendy bag, but you'd be surprised at the stylish deals and steals available on its website. For sure, I am! The styles, hues, and materials are many. I've picked 6 of the genuine leather options that are a fraction of their usual retail prices. There are more! The bags come in up to 7 colors.

HKCLUF Crossbody Hobo Bag

GAEKEAO Small Crossbody Bag

Michael Kors Pebbled Leather Small Tote 

FALAN MULE Clutch and Wristlet 

KAMUGO Leather Handbag with Gold Hardware and Cache

Walmart has quite an online selection of bags of all types. Sometimes the bags are cheaper than what a replacement strap costs elsewhere. By the way, if you like the bag but want to buy a thicker leather strap (look on Etsy, Amazon, or the retailer of your look-alike bag) as you are left with the funds to do so! 

The London Fog bookbag dupe is reviewed here.

Be sure to read the descriptions carefully so you catch the sizes and textures of the bags. Reading every customer review is super helpful in not ordering mistakes, but if you don't like your purchase, Walmart has an easy and inexpensive return policy.

A nice bag on a budget, one that won't fall apart soon. Who knew?

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Suddenly Mayonnaise Is Expensive

Nothing has surprised me at the supermarket more than the rising cost of mayonnaise ... and I'm not alone. A friend complained about paying $12 for a 30-ounce jar. Last week I walked out of Key Food refusing to spend $8 a jar. Before the pandemic, mayonnaise was $2.99 - $3.99 for a 30 oz jar. If I get desperate I may reluctantly accept spending $5 a jar. Time will tell.

I have found Walmart's Great Value in-house brand and Target's Market Value in-house brand as good tasting as Hellmann's, America's leading mayonnaise. Target charges $4.39 for a 30 oz jar, while Walmart's mayonnaise is only $3.38.

Why is most mayonnaise so expensive? One reason given is, an egg shortage caused prices to soar due to the bird flu in 2022 - 2023. Yet it's not the full story. TIME magazine reported that a main culprit for the rising cost of eggs is price gouging by America's largest egg producers. You have to wonder if price gouging has extended to mayonnaise and other groceries, as has been implied by several news sources.

Of course, if you simply need a smear of mayonnaise on a sandwich, a jar will last a while, but what about for American potato salad, tuna salad, coleslaw, or salmon cakes? Undoubtedly, most households will need mayonnaise sooner rather than later. If I use more than 1/4 cup of mayonnaise in a recipe, I like to use a 50/50 ratio of mayonnaise to Greek yogurt. It cuts the fat, still tastes like mayonnaise, adds more protein, and stretches your mayonnaise further. 

Another measure is to make your own mayonnaise until prices fall again, which they inevitably will. Like their in-house mayonnaise, Walmart and Target have kept their eggs at bargain prices. 

The following is a one-cup recipe. Small fresh batches of homemade mayonnaise are ideal. It has a shorter shelf life than commercial mayonnaise:

Homemade Mayonnaise

Ingredients:

Photo: iStock

1 large egg

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon white vinegar (or be eccentric and use Balsamic vinegar for a delicious taste)

1/4 teaspoon salt (I use pink Himalayan or Morton's iodine salt.)

1 teaspoon lemon juice 

1 cup of mild vegetable oil (such as avocado, sunflower,  soybean, or safflower, etc.)

Directions:

1) Toss all the ingredients except the vegetable oil into a food processor and pulse.

2) Next pour 1/8 cup of the vegetable oil slowly into the food processor and pulse, then a little more oil and pulse, and a little more oil and pulse. You have to start slow to make an emulsion of air and liquid to turn the ingredients into mayonnaise. If you pour all the oil into the food processor at once or your food processor is too big, you may have a failure since the blades won't touch the ingredients and the emulsion won't occur.

Mayonnaise is a condiment I never thought of making myself since until now I couldn't make it better or cheaper than readymade, but $8 - $12 a jar is a reason to reconsider!

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London Fog's Dupe For Christian Dior's Tote Bag

Three years ago Dior launched its wildly popular tote bag (called a book bag in the UK). Fashionistas bought them. But if you don't want to shell out $3,350 for it, have I got a smart dupe for you. It's London Fog's Beach Canvas Tote, and it sells at Walmart for $15, reduced to an unbelievable $10.50. The price points of both fashionable canvas bags are insane ... but only one is fabulous!

London Fog makes a durable, functional bag with the same vibe. The writing is only on one side, so you can show it or not. London Fog makes first-rate raincoats and umbrellas so I'd trust the quality of its totes also. Stylin' for a lot less.

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It's A 10 vs Pantene Miracle Rescue

It's A 10 Miracle hair conditioner is a brand recommended by celebrity hairstylists. The trademark's formulas come in a (1) daily, (2) leave-in, and a (3) deep conditioner plus (4) special hair treatments. It's pricey yet affordable. Still if used every day the expense would add up to quite a chunk of change over the span of a year.

I tend to splurge on skincare but save on haircare. With my skin, I try to prevent damage from happening, but our hair is already dead, so I simply trim off any damage.

A worthy competitor at a lower price is Pantene Miracle Rescue Deep Repair Condition. Pantene's line has the corresponding formulas to the It's A 10 brand. What I like is, Pantene is recognized as a great brand for hair products with a ton of satisfied customers. It's available at drugstores, Walmart, and Target so there are promotions further lowering its price if you wait for them, and with the money saved, you can also buy the shampoo, as well as, put some change back in your wallet.

Difeel is a T.J. Maxx discovery I use daily.

On hair products, there's no need to splurge for high-end brands since it's easy to save without compromising. You'll find new outstanding hair care shampoos, conditioners, and treatments in the beauty aisles of T.J. Maxx! Always worth a browse.

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Walmart's Cheap Thrill Dresses

I no longer buy high-end summer dresses. The pricey ones hang in my closet while I grab a swing dress from (1) Lands' End, (2) Uniqlo, or (3) Old Navy to go to the theater, ballet, or a restaurant. I call them my Cheap Thrill Dresses. No dry cleaning is needed!

A Cheap Thrill Dress is a dress that's cute, cozy, decent quality, and won't break the bank. Paired with ballet flats and some bling, the garment looks polished and suitable for a night out on the town. You can wear a Cheap Thrill Dress without fuss. If you sit on a park bench; in the open air on the fountain at Lincoln Center; or decide to ride the subway, you won't have to fret about ruining your dress. Cheap thrill dresses can be machine-washed and dried all summer long!

Let me introduce you to a 4th retailer carrying Cheap Thrill Dresses worth considering. Walmart has a reasonably good brand, PPYOUNG, which is getting tons of 5-star reviews from happy customers. The dresses feel as comfortable as wearing T-shirts, yet are much more stylish.

The knit fabric of 95% rayon with 5% spandex is a winning combination for a hot steamy summer to keep you cool and wrinkle-free. The adorable swing style is universally flattering on nearly every body type.

What a versatile dress ... going from a night out on the town, to a Saturday running errands frock, or an all-day beach coverup, to an easy-to-pack in-a-suitcase vacation dress.

If ordering clothing from Walmart (or Target known to collaborate with upscale designers), I recommend reading all the reviews. Customers usually mention when a dress runs large, true-to-size, or small, plus check the manufacturers' size chart. 

The PPYOUNG dresses from Walmart come in several styles, colors, and patterns, and the price points are a steal making owning a few a no-brainer! 

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Lume or Native vs Homemade Body Deodorant

Recent advertisements selling all-over body deodorants have us convinced we all stink. It seems like the main reason to buy them is they work on areas outside of armpits that might be too sensitive for regular deodorant.

Sweating is the body's way of cooling itself therefore it's not good to completely disrupt this essential function. Unlike anti-perspirants which eliminate wetness by clogging sweat glands, deodorants stop odor (not perspirantion) with bacteria-fighting ingredients.

Bacteria naturally live on your skin. Antiperspirant-deodorant combinations can alter your body's ecosystem and actually make you sweat and stink more! The reason is traditional antiperspirant-deodorants also kill good bacteria (named Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium, and Micrococcus) leaving the way for bad bacteria to grow and cause stronger odors, not to mention disrupting your immune system leaving the door open for infections.

Switching from a traditional antiperspirant to a natural deodorant requires a transitional period of 1 to 4 weeks when you may sweat more while your body rebalances itself. Stick it out and you'll sweat less soon enough.

The new body deodorants on the market are much more expensive than most armpit deodorants (including organic varieties), ranging from about $12 - $22. 

I bought Lume deodorant in Lavender Sage to pamper my senior mother. Frankly, I see no difference in its effectiveness compared to what I use daily, Crystal™ Mineral Body Deodorant Stick, which is cheaper and lasts and lasts forever! The Crystal™ stick sometimes lands in the beauty aisles of T.J. Maxx for even less.

You may wonder what makes a deodorant natural? According to Healthline, "3 ingredients are common:

• ingredients with disinfectant or antibacterial properties, such as coconut oil and tea tree oil
• essential oils like lavender, sandalwood, or bergamot to provide a pleasant scent
• naturally, absorbent ingredients like baking soda, arrowroot, or cornstarch to combat moisture"

There are several homemade deodorant recipes on the web. An easy one is:

Photo: Treehugger

Ingredients:

1/3 cup coconut oil (Shea butter can be substituted)

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup arrowroot starch

10 drops of eucalyptus; lavender; or your favorite scented essential oils

Directions:

1) Spoon the coconut oil (or shea butter) in a cup to melt in a microwave or submerged in hot water.

2) Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until smooth and incorporated.

3) Pour into a cleaned recycled deodorant container or a recycled makeup pot container with a lid. Leave the lid off until the mixture solidifies. 

Although this alternative recipe is superb, I never buy beeswax, sunflower oil, or zinc oxide powder. I prefer simple!

Homemade natural deodorant, suitable for armpits and body is many times cheaper than 3 oz of Lume, Native, or their retail competitors. If you make your own deodorant (or buy, my brand, Crystal™, you can sit back and wait for Walmart, Target, or drugstore knockoffs to enter the market at lower prices. $12+ really adds up over time! BTW: My senior mom and I just treat our armpits. We don't need 72-hour entire body protection as we rely on bathing and after-shower baby powder with cornstarch to stay fresh. I suppose it exists if we ever were to need it.

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Oatmeal is Healthy And Versatile

Royalty free photo

As we wind down the days of nippy (and rainy) weather to enter the balmy sunny days of spring and summer, I find myself eating creamy oatmeal for dinner. I toss 1 cup of dry 1-minute oatmeal flakes and water into a bowl and microwave it for 2 minutes. After the microwave cooks the oatmeal, I add 5 to 6 tablespoons of dry powdered milk to the mixture. Sometimes I also sprinkle in Stevia or honey and cinnamon, but often I don't. It's my favorite way to eat oatmeal. The dried powdered milk adds creaminess and light sweetness. Usually, several hours later I'll snack on hummus and saltines, slices of extra sharp cheddar, fruit, baby-cut carrots, peanut butter on crackers, or Misu soup with mixed vegetables. It varies. 

Oddly enough, I don't eat oatmeal for breakfast, but occasionally as a quick dinner. Oatmeal with milk is an easy-peasy comfort food, relatively filling, and a good sometimes meal without much preparation or cleanup. It contains a decent amount of protein and lowers bad cholesterol in the body. My mother was told by her doctor to eat a bowl of oatmeal several times a week to lower her cholesterol, which she followed and after a time her doctor was able to wean her off of Lipitor, a necessary cholesterol-lowering drug. Oatmeal is a good fiber-rich food to work into a diet.

People make the mistake of buying single packages of instant oats when 1-minute or 5-minute oatmeal flakes quickly cook in a microwave just like the more expensive less healthy instant oatmeal. Knockoff brands from Amazon Walmart or supermarkets are great too and cheap. You can then add healthy ingredients like berries or nuts to it if you wish.

Another way I use oatmeal is in most recipes that call for breadcrumbs. Oatmeal comes in a big size while breadcrumbs come in much smaller quantities. I don't tend to stock breadcrumbs.

Next, I'll have to make this YouTube influencer's savory oatmeal dinner. With chopped vegetables, milk, eggs, water, and grated parmesan cheese, it looks easy and scrumptious!

BAKED OATS (makes 6 slices)

Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats (180g) 1/4 cup ground oats, or oat flour (25g) 1 tsp baking powder 1 cup milk, dairy or non-dairy (240ml) 1 cup water (240ml) 2 eggs 1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1/2 cup grated melting cheese - gouda or cheddar cheese (50g) 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (20g) 1 medium onion 2 cloves garlic 1 small zucchini (130g) 1/3 cup frozen peas (50g) 1/2 cup diced tomatoes (80g) NUTRITIONAL INFO (per slice): 223 calories, fat 7.9g, carb 27.3g, protein 11.4g Preparation: First, saute onions and garlic over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, then add sliced zucchini and frozen peas and cook for the next 3-4 minutes. Add rolled oats and toast for 5 minutes, to develop a lovely nutty flavor. While it's cooling down, prepare the wet mixture. In a bowl add, eggs, milk, water, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, grated gouda or cheddar cheese, and ground oats combined with baking powder, and mix it well. Now, add the vegetables and toasted oats and stir well together. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Grease your baking dish with some butter and pour the mixture in. Bake at 350F (180C) for 40 minutes. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes, then cut into 6 equal pieces and serve with spoonful of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of hot sauce.

Photo & recipe courtesy of How To Cook Smarter

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