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I cannot tell you how excited I was to receive the full set of billy b’s Paint Brushes in the mail yesterday—sooooo excited! Not just because they came from the grand master of all things beauty, but because I am a big pathetic loser when it comes to makeup brushes and I have never splurged on really good ones.  Why? Honestly, I thought all makeup brushes were the same. Obviously (since yesterday) I have realized how absolutely wrong I was.

For makeup brushes I had only been using a blush brush, foundation brush, one eyeshadow brush and another to put on mineral powder as eyeliner. It’s sad but true…I’ve had the same brushes for years and years and they probably cost me less than $10 (ie. cheap and cheesy).

Let me first say that I gently laid them all out on my bathroom countertop.  My 5 year old was watching me and asked, and I’m not kidding, “Mommy? Are those paint brushes?” I then realized how aptly named these brushes were.  Read More of Shannon’s Review

Lee needs help: “I am a 22 year old male, fair skinned and have facial Ulerythema on my cheeks, it has very sharp distinctive edges.  What camouflage or products would you recommend for me in order to achieve the best results?  Is the camouflage visible to the eye?”

About Ulerythema: A skin condition that primarily affects your cheeks and eyebrows, and may cause these areas to be red and bumpy.  Although the cause is unknown, the effects are lasting.  Ulerythema may cause damage to the follicle resulting hair loss (most commonly the eyebrow) as well as scarring.  The condition does however, usually improve with age.  Ulerythema is most commonly found within children and young adults.

Treatment: Most medical treatments for this condition have been unrewarding, however products containing salicylic acid or lactic acid may be helpful in providing short term relief.  Sun protection is highly recommended, frequent exposure to UV aggravates the skin’s delicate condition.

Skinplistic focused on three products that would be effective for this type of camouflage, however the techniques and products we discuss will also be relevant to other camo-concerns.

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I am a makeup artist, and sometimes I even have a problem blending my foundation [well for me it's laziness] and these days the natural look is what’s hot!  There is no reason your foundation should ever be visible.  Applying foundation with a sponge may be a better way to really blend the makeup into your skin [a brush may leave streaks].  By lightly pressing the sponge into your skin, you’ll be able to create a flawless complexion.  If you want a slightly more sheer coverage, you can always dampen your sponge before applying the foundation.  Laura Mercier makes great anti-bacterial sponges you can wash and reuse.

Cosmetics brushes are a breeding ground for intrusive bacteria, if you don’t clean them regularly (and I know you don’t) they can cause infection or breakouts!  Thanks to Sephora, your life just got a little less complicated, and a little more clean.  The new 5 piece synthetic brush set has been treated with a non-toxic, hypoallergenic compound formulated to repel and destroy bacteria resulting in clean and clear application.

Set includes:

• foundation / concealer brush
• powder brush
• eye blender brush
• brow brush (with lash comb)
• travel-sized shampoo spray for daily cleansing

Sephora.com    [ Via Off the Rack ]