Still Alive...

Just wanted to let everyone know I am okay. I have been pretty sick with my ears hurting, I am so effing ready for winter to just go away. I know when the weather warms up, I'll feel better. Also, my camera is dead and I cannot find my charger, it is packed away in a mystery box.

Urban Decay, Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows-review and swatches

Unfortunately I have to break the news that you can no longer get this palette, unless you are really lucky or want to pay the exorbitant prices on Evil Bay (E-Bay). I bought mine the moment that came out on Urbandecay.com, and I believe it was something like the 15th of January. The palette retailed at $52 USD and came with 12 shadows, a mini of Primer Potion (a cult classic) and 2 mini 24/7 liners in Zero (black) and Flipside(teal blue). I know that seems like a lot to pay for one item, but I've used this palette almost daily since I purchased it. The shadows really are quite big and there is a certain collector's item feel to this. The shadows are all recently released Urban Decay shadows, but they were renamed to fit the Alice In Wonderland theme. Now, if you already have the Urban Decay shadows, this is probably something that you won't be interested in finding. This was the first item I've purchased from Urban Decay, I missed out on the other Book of Shadows, so I immediately jumped on this one. I'll go through each color and describe them and post swatches and pictures. If you want to get the colors, the original UD colors are in the parentheses.

Pictures of the Palette:

 

  

 

I forgot to take a picture of the top of the palette, it's a really cute pop-up scene from the classic Alice in Wonderland book and a mirror. Here, because I love you so much:

Underland (Flash):  A vibrant, shimmery purple shade. Not a deep purple color. The shimmer is very finely milled and looks more pearlized. Not gritty glitter, smooth, and wonderful pigmentation and blendability.

Alice (Painkiller): Extremely vibrant blue shade with a tinge of teal. Shimmery but not glittery or gritty. Extremely smooth, pigmented and blendable.

Oraculum (Baked): Beautiful gold color, with a slight tinge of orange. Shimmery but not gritty. Smooth, pigmented and blendable. Looks great on blue eyes.

Queen (Last Call): My personal favorite color in the palette, it is a gorgeous plummy cranberry shade. This color is great for green eyes. Pigmentation is excellent, shimmery not gritty, smooth and this shadow lasts all day.

Chessur (Chopper): Peachy-golden color with small silver glitter particles. Even though this has the glitter particles, I've never had any gritty-ness or problems with fall out. It is smooth, blendable, and pigmented.

White Rabbit (Polyester Bride): White shimmery shade with small silver glitter particles. This shadow is easy to work with, but it does have somewhat of a gritty feeling to it. It does take more care to apply it, but I still love the color. I find it best to place this color using a "patting" motion on the lid, and fall out is usually not an issue with this method.

Wonderland (Maui Wowie): I would describe this as an old gold shade with a slight olive green tone, the color is gorgeous! It does have the fine silver glitter, but is extremely smooth, pigmented, and blendable. I don't find this color hard to work with at all.

Curiouser (Grifter): A beautiful light lilac-pink color with fine silver glitter. This shadow is also smooth, and blendable. Although the shade is pigmented, I do layer on the color because the shade is very light. I love pairing this color with Queen.

Muchness (X): My second fav in the palette, Muchness is a gorgeous peach shadow with gold duochrome and light really reflects the gold. This is such a fun color! Smooth, pigmented, and easy to blend.

Mushroom (Mushroom, the name didn't change): Somewhat of a muddy brown, olive green shimmery shade. I know that description doesn't sound appealing, but the color is very pretty and versatile. I like wearing this color with browns and olive green shadows, it's a perfect blending color for these shades. It's slightly shimmery, pigmented, and smooth.

Midnight Tea Party (Midnight Cowboy Rides Again): Ahh....if you know anything about UD shadows, you know this one is chock full of chunky silver glitter. The base is a very pretty champagne like color, and then it's full of silver glitter. It's pretty fine, but still noticeably more glittery than the other shadows. It is tricky to work with this shade and I definitely suggest using the "pat method" to apply. I like to wear it for fun outings when glitter is acceptable. WARNING: at the the end of the night you will have glitter on your face :)

Vorpal (S&M):  This color is in competition with Queen as my favorite shadow. It's a smokey metallic gray color and is the most awesome color to accompany a smokey eye. I even love wearing it with metallic green colors too. This shadow is smooth, pigmented, blendable, and I would say it's more of a metallic sheen than a shimmer. I pair this with M.A.C Carbon for the perfect smokey eye.

Absolem (Homegrown): This is my 3rd favorite shadow. It's a shimmery, fresh, kelly green shadow. This shadow is really versatile and looks wonderful on brown/hazel eyes. So smooth, pigmented, and blendable. Easily one of my favorite green shades.

Drink Me, Eat Me (Sin): One of the best shimmery neutral champagne shadows I own. I love wearing this color all over my lid as an easy wash of color. It pairs great with virtually any shadow and blends like a dream. This is a great color for people that want a soft color. As with all the shadows, it is smooth, blendable, and pigmented.

Mad Hatter (Twice Baked): Deep cocoa brown with slight shimmer. I love using this color in the socket for depth and definition. It's also great for a deep brown wash on the lids. I find this color works wonderful with its counterpart Baked. Truly versatile, smooth, pigmented, and blendable.

Jabberwocky (Oil Slick): This color is a pretty spot on dupe of M.A.C's Black Tied shadow. The base is a matte black, and it's filled with fine silver glitter. This shade is fun and surprisingly easy to work with. I use this for a twist on the classic smokey eye and apply it on the lid with a gray in socket. The patting motion causes the least amount of mess and fall out. Don't ever be afraid of black shadow, if you know what you are doing you can make it extremely wearable. I also use this as an eyeliner applied with a small angle brush.

 

From Left to Right: Grifter, Wonderland, White Rabbit, Chessur, Queen, Oraculum, Alice, and Wonderland

All swatches are done using Urban Decay Primer Potion as a base

 

From Left to Right: Jabberwocky, Mad Hatter, Drink Me-Eat Me, Absolem, Vorpale, Midnight Tea Party, Mushroom, and Muchness

All swatches were done using Urban Decay Primer Potion as a base.

The palette also came with two 24-7 liners in Zero ( creamy matte black shade) and Flipside (creamy blue teal shade). Unfortunately I forget to swatch them and I really don't feel like getting my cam out, taking pics, then uploading. Google probably can show you about a million pictures of them swatched. These liners are great to use in the waterline, and really last a long time. It really speaks to their ability because I have extremely watery eyes and these liner last a long time on me.

In addition to the liners you get a mini bottle of the cult fav Urban Decay Primer Potion (aka UDPP and much easier to type). UDPP is probably the most well known eyeshadow base on the planet. It is a silky, light flesh colored, cream type consistency primer that is used on the lids. The purpose of an eyeshadow primer is to prevent creasing, make shadows last all day, and appear more vibrant in color. The one great thing about UDPP is that it actually works. I, however, am a Too Faced Shadow Insurance girl (MUCH better packaging, and works just as well). Although I use the UDPP a lot, I will still probably get my TFSI again because the packaging of UDPP is just plain stupid. It's in a really cutesy genie shaped bottle and has a doe foot applicator. Don't see the problem? Well when you think you are done with UDPP you really aren't, you still have a TON of product left after the applicator is unable to reach the product at the bottom. Product is still along the sides and at the very bottom. To get ALL the product out your must remove the stopper, literally saw open the container, and decant it to another container. Honestly that would be too much work for me to get the full bang for my buck so I just use TFSI. Read over 1,000 reviews of UDPP on www.makeupalley.com. And do a search on www.youtube.com about decanting UDPP. Here is a pic of UDPP and TFSI:

 

See what I mean?

 

This is in a squeeze tube...doesn't that make more sense?

Well everyone, if you've stuck this through to the end, I thank you. I will be back tomorrow with another long winded but useful entry. Until then, stay beautiful everyone!

Exciting News!!! (hope it goes through)

Today one of my favorite customers came in to drop off her computer. As most of you know I am a secretary/techie by day,  it pays my bills. Now the reason she is my favorite customer is because she owns a boutique called "Skin" and sells beauty products that are not readily available locally. Every time she comes in we chat it about beauty and girly junk, nothing related to computers. Well I caught her today and decided "hey, why not show your pictures to her?"  Well, the deities must be smiling upon me today...because she wants me. She wants me to work Saturdays as A MAKEUP ARTIST and close the shop down a few nights a week. She is in the process of moving her biz to Bayou Blvd. right now and she wants me to start training ASAP. She even wants to pay for me to get trained in airbrushing (which I am pretty familiar with). I cannot tell you how freakin' excited I am and how long I have been waiting for a break into anything. I don't know, something just told me to show her my stuff. I really hope everything will work for me and this will happen! Now, I'll share the pictures I showed her so you have something pretty to behold. OH...and as soon as we get fully moved into our new apartment I'll have better pictures and lots more content. All of my stuff is in boxes and the only time I am able to update is at work. Stay beautiful everyone!!!!

 

This image was edited by my great friend Mrs. Carmen Jones

  

Barbies loves M.A.C

 

Moody Blues

 

The original image of the one Carmen edited, inspired by Lady Gaga 2010 Grammy look

 

something I threw together

Hope everyone has a great day!

My skin struggles, Paula's Choice, and Info on Exfoliants

I have to admit I was always pretty lucky with my skin in Middle and High School. I only had the occasional blemish or two, not the anguish of true acne some of poor my friends experienced. I guess I took it for granted at that time, and I felt truly sorry for those with bad skin. Oily skin runs in my family, and of course, I inherited it from dear old Dad. Now don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, I would rather have oily skin because the oils do prevent you from developing fine lines and wrinkles slower than normal and dry skin. This is why older African American people always look so young and healthy, the natural oils their skin produce prevents them from aging fast (and I swear if anyone thinks that was somehow a racist remark I will hunt you down, it's actually a compliment). Now off that tanget...onto my skin today. After high school I noticed my skin gradually became more congested and clogged, but I was getting older. I didn't understand how my skin was getting worse, wasn't I supposed to grow out of this? Answer: no, acne and skin issues do not have any age limits. It took me a while to realize I wasn't nearly as active as I was in school, and a sedentary lifestyle and hormones were taking their toll on my skin. To save you a lot of time and a long winded entry, I did several things to help my skin: dermatologist, retin-a micro (tretinoin treatment, vitamin A derivative) antibiotics, Clinique (which I do LOVE most of their products), ProActiv.....and so on. Here recently I completely revamped the way I was eating and living my life. I started eating a "clean" diet (no soda, no refined sugars, and minimally processed food). This made a HUGE difference, but my skin was still congested. Enters Paula's Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid (aka Salicylic Acid- common acne treatment):

For those of you that don't know, Paula's Choice is a brand created by beauty and skin expert Paula Begoun. She does not have formal medical training in skincare but honestly she has been in the business so long I think she knows more about GOOD skincare than most dermatologists anyways (keep in mind she helped formulate her line with the help of people that have their skincare papers, hint dermatologists). She has written several books over the years , most popular are her series of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" and she is more commonly known as the cosmetics cop. Now, I've read a lot of her writings and I've heard opinions online in different TV interviews she has given. I don't agree with her on every aspect, and I think she does have an attitude toward certain products that she does not stamp with her "Paula's Pick" label. I do agree with her simplistic view of skincare and I really like how she will tell you what's a gimmick and what truly works. She is somewhat of a whistle blower on expensive cosmetics and the ridiculous claims some higher end products state. I didn't agree with her at first when I realized she had created her own line AND was giving reviews of her own products (because how credible is that? everyone thinks what they produce is amazing) It was not until I read reviews of her products on www.makeupalley.com and realized that most of her products were getting really good ratings from honest, non biased customers. I knew exfoliation was the key to better skin, but at first I had no idea where to start. It took me some time and a few months of research and trial and error, but I did learn what worked for me. I also picked up lots of information along the way. 

A little back ground on exfoliators. Exfoliants come in different forms (creams, gels, lotions, liquids, scrubs, cleansers, cleansers however are not reliable exfoliants as they do not stay on the skin long enough to work). Scrub exfoliants are perhaps the most common as many people know what they are and how to use them. Scrubs will only remove the very superficial layer of skin on the surface and provide a temporary baby smooth feel to the skin. I was a big fan of scrubs in the past (my favorite was Clinique exfoliating scrub), but unfortunately they helped minimally and they were not getting rid of blackheads. If you do use a scrub please be careful of what type you pick, if you are using something like St. Ives Apricot scrub be advised that the exfoliating particles are pulverized walnut shells. Why does that matter you ask? The particles are not rounded and over time they create microscopic tears in the skin, not good. I was using Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub for years (which has rounded particles) and I still use it occasional just for the feeling. In my opinion, and you can take this as you will, the best type of exfoliants are chemical. The most common types are Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA). Let's Compare the two. 

As a "rule" AHAs are best for normal to dry, aging, and sun damaged skin (but do know that really any skin type can use an AHA). Common types of AHA include glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, and mandelic acid. Glycolic acids come from fermented sugars, lactic acid comes from rotten milk essentially (lol, isn't beauty great), citric acid from citrus sources (most commonly lemon) and Mandelic acid comes from sources like apples (to be honest I don't know too much about Mandelic acid resources, so I had to look this up). The purpose of AHAs are to exfoliate and penetrate the surface of the skin, this is why they are great for dryer and sun damaged skins. The pH of the product needs to be around 3% to 4% to properly penetrate the skins acid mantle and work (if the pH is too high, it won't be strong enough to penetrate the skin, so keep pH in mind when choosing) A concentration of 5-12% is common for AHAs (this is the range I have noticed most common, 8% would be a good starting choice to use if you are new to exfoliants. in my opinion). Good recommendations for AHAs would be by the brand Alpha Hydrox (http://www.neotericcosmetics.com/alpha-hydrox/products.html) and Paula's Choice also makes a nice AHA lotion. I have used AHAs before and they are not good for me. They did make my skin smoother, but my pores were still congested and clogged. Enter my good friend, Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA). Make sure to wear a good sunscreen if you use AHAs during the day, they make your skin more sensitive to UV rays.

BHA or Salicylic Acid as it is commonly referred to, is a by product of willow tree bark and is also one of the components of aspirin (which I'll spare you the chemistry lesson). BHAs are best suited for oily, acne prone and congested skin types. The reason a BHA is better than an AHA for congested skin is because BHAs have the ability to not only exfoliate the surface of the skin, but also the linings of the pores. That very distinct, very important characteristic makes all the difference between the two exfoliants. You might be asking yourself  "Isn't salicylic acid the stuff that is found in almost all drugstore acne stuff" yes, yes it is. You don't have to spend lots of money to get salicylic acid. However, you need to know what works and what is junk. Cleansers that have salicylic acid are not effective at exfoliating skin, because they are washed off and do not stay in contact with your skin long enough to function. Also, a concentration of at least 1% is recommended to see any exfoliation benefits, lots of products only contain about a 0.5% concentration and they are just not strong enough to work in my opinion. The best drugstore BHA product I know of are the stridex pads with the 2% concentration (read the back to find the concentration) and make sure they are ALCOHOL FREE. You are asking for dry, flaky skin when you use a BHA product that also contains alcohol. The pads are a good option because you don't wash them off after you use them, they don't leave any residue, they are also easy to find and easy on the wallet. Unfortunately they do not contain any soothing agents, if you notice you skin becoming dry use a gentle moisturizer about 10 minutes after you exfoliate. A word of caution, if you use a chemical exfoliant during the day, I HIGHLY advise using a sunscreen afterwards if you going to be outside. Chemical exfoliants (AHA and BHA) make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. As I wrote above, my favorite BHA exfoliant is by Paula's Choice, and I use the 2% concentration BHA liquid. Paula offers 3 different types of BHA: a liquid, a gel, and a lotion. The liquid is best for oily and problem skins that need tough exfoliation (like mine) the gel is better for oily to combo skin, and the lotion is better for a more sensitive combo skin person. But really, all of the exfoliants will be fine and work for any skin type. If you are new to using BHA, you might want to start with the 1% concentration, which Paula sells too (and don't think I am in any way affiliated with this company, I just like her products).

I'll keep my experience brief with my use of Paula's Choice 2% BHA liquid. I chose the 2% concentration and the liquid form because I have oily congested skin. I wanted something that was tough enough to work on my blackheads. The first night I started it I used my cleanser, (really like Philosophy Purity Made Simple) I didn't bother with a toner, and then I poured about a nickel sized amount of liquid on a cotton pad. Since using the product and getting used to it, I feel like using my fingers is much easier to apply than a cotton pad. All Paula's Choice  BHA products are clear, odor and colorant free, so that's a big plus to me as I am sensitive to flagrance. I applied it all over my face, especially on my nose and forehead, I did experience a slight stinging sensation, but nothing too bad. Next morning my face was very and look more clear. I have been using the product a little over 2 weeks now and I've seen nothing but great results. I have NEVER found a product to get rid of the blackheads on my nose, but this stuff does. I can actually see the little nasty plugs coming out of my nose (awesome, right?). My few breakouts I had are gone, and I am noticing my old spots becoming a lot lighter. My skin usually would become quite oily through out  the day and since using this product that has decreased dramatically. I don't know how, but even my redness and uneven skintone is fading away. I am so impressed with this product, and I will continue to use it. There are a few cons, but everything is minor and not anything I can't get over. The liquid will feel sticky and kind of oily on your skin, but it does dry after a while and the "oily" look is not oil and it does not break you out (for those who want to know it's the butylene glycol that causes this). I was using this morning and night but I noticed it was making my skin too dry, so I cut back to only night time use and I haven't had any problems. I contacted Paula's Choice about this and they told me next time I ordered to get the acne toner as it is the same thing, but without the sticky feeling (I checked all the ingredients and it does indeed to be the same strength and ingredients). I will probably use the toner for summer time because well all know about the awesome Florida humidity. I will quickly say Paula's Choice is a company with AMAZING customer support. They have always answered my questions immediately and accurately, they have a live chat support on their site 7 days a week. The price was a little bit more expensive than drugstore, but way less expensive than department stores. I bought my 4 oz bottle of 2% BHA for $18.95 plus shipping (about 3 dollars) and the product arrived in 3 days! They also have specials on their site all the time, lots of free shipping promotions. If you are not happy, they will refund all of your money. 

Wow, I don't think I wrote this much for college essays, lol. I love to give thorough reviews, and I like to share my knowledge with my friends. Please keep in my I have no formal training in skincare, and these are my opinions. I have done lots of research and tried lots of products, so take my advice how you want. I am always available to answer any questions you have, if they are not within my knowledge I will certainly let you know. Stay beautiful everyone!

Sigma Makeup Brush Set in Pink- A Review

For those of you who don't know much about me and my makeup, brushes are one of my favorite things to purchase. For me, brushes are the difference between good makeup and bad makeup. An artist must use the correct tools to paint their canvas...unfortunately those tools are often painful to the wallet. Enter Sigma brushes. December of 09' I ordered my pink brush kit from http://www.sigmamakeup.com/index.html. Now I heard so many youtube makeup "gurus" singing the praises of these "just like MAC brushes but cheaper"; at first I was very skeptical, because the people raving about them had received them for free, which does make ones' opinion subjective. So for my Christmas present  to myself I took the plunge and ordered the complete set in pink. I think it will be best to compare each brush one by one. For those of you new to makeup brushes, MAC is usually the standard for quality and variety and every Sigma brush correlates to its MAC counterpart (a MAC 190 brush is a Sigma Series SS190 brush). The price was 89 US Dollars for 12 brushes and the brush roll to hold them.  All of these brushes are hand made and VERY high quality.  Here is the set that I purchased:

 

  

Let's Get Started with the Face Brushes.....

Sigma SS 187, correlates to MAC 187 (duo fibre stippling brush):

 

The black part of the brush is natural fibers (usually goat hair) and the white tips are synthetic. The white hairs that stick out create something called a pixelized effect on the skin when apply foundation and creams. This pixelizing effect gives a soft focus look on this skin, making it look more perfected; "airbrused" is the word you will hear most often. I also use this type of brush to diffuse intensely pigmented blushes. I also own the MAC 187 (which retails at $48 USD- ouch) which this brush compares to. While the Sigma brush is priced right, I do prefer the MAC one over this. I simply feel the MAC brush is more dense and blends foundation better than the Sigma. However, the Sigma brush is great for applying blushes and cream products. Synthetic and natural bristles.

Sigma SS 190, Correlates to the MAC 190 (filbert cut, flat foundation brush):

  

The traditional standard for foundation brushes is the large filbert cut. These can be made of both natural and synthetic hairs (as a rule, synthetic brushes usually work better with cream or liquid products)  Now, I do not own the MAC 190 brush to compare, but I do own a Clinique foundation brush that is the same type of brush and the same cut.  Unfortunately I do not often reach for my SS190 brush, for some reason the way the hair is cut causes it to poke me in the face when I apply my foundation, which is quite uncomfortable. I consider myself pretty tough beauty wise, but I just plain don't like this brush. I use it when I am in a pinch and my other one is disgustingly dirty, Perhaps I got a dud, but this one is the only brush I was not happy with. Synthetic bristles.

Sigma SS 150, correlates to MAC 150 (large paddle powder brush):

 

I also do not own the MAC 150 brush to compare this to, but I am still going to review anyways. This brush is a lot bigger than the photos appear, and the handle is quite long. I do really like this brush for applying a setting powder all over my face because it doesn't pick up too much product and make it cakey, digg? What I really use this brush for is applying shimmery powders or glitter to body areas (shoulders, chest, arms). It picks up the perfect amount and diffuses very softly. After a good wash this brush is quite soft. Natural bristles. 

Sigma SS 168 Brush, correlates to MAC 168 (angled white goat hair blusher/contour brush):

I do not own the MAC 168 brush, and this brush was one I was most excited to try. Now this brush had the most funky smell after I washed it (as do most white haired brushes) but it did become incredibly soft after it was dry, and the smell goes away. Unfortunately the brush lost some of its shape and I was not as impressed with it as I thought I would be. Angled brushes are best used to contour or shadow the cheekbones (essentially faking it so you look like you have nice and pretty defined cheekbones). I think if this brush was a bit more dense I would absolutely adore it. It does work really well for precise placement of blush, but I just don't prefer it for contour. I still want the MAC 168. Natural bristles.

Sigma SS 194, correlates with the MAC 194 (small, filbert cut concealer brush):

  

Again, I do not own the MAC brush. This is an awesome little brush! I really never thought I needed a concealer brush (I had been using my finger) until I got this little baby. It really helps blend out my MAC Studio Finish concealer (which covers amazingly but is really thick) and it helps place a small amount of product. This brush is very firm and does not give me the pokey feeling its big brother SS190 does. I use this under my eyes all the time too, and it's so easy. My favorite face brush in my set from Sigma. Synthetic bristles.

Now onto the Eye brushes from the Kit....

Sigma eye brushes are really amazing. I think they are far superior to the face series. I use at least 1 of my Sigma eye brushes everyday, more often than some of my MAC brushes too. We'll start with the Sigma SS 239 brush.

Sigma SS 239, correlates to the MAC 239 (flat, stiff  "shader"  brush, used mostly to pack color onto the eyelid) :

I do own the counterpart, MAC 239 brush so I can make a direct comparison between the two. The MAC 239 is a bit flatter than the SS239 and bristles are just a bit longer, it is not as thick as the SS239. The SS239 is a wonderful brush and I use just as much as I do the MAC one. I find the SS239 is easier to give me quick intense color all over my lid, where as the MAC 239 is smaller and I use it to apply color on lid more precisely. Do I prefer one over the over? No, I don't, I use them for 2 different things, and I love them both. Another excellent brush to my collection. Natural bristles. 

Sigma SS 275, correlates to MAC 275 (angled, fluffy crease/contour brush):

 

I do not own the MAC 275, and I don't think I'll ever have a reason to. This is kind of like the eye version of a 168, but so, so much better. I use this brush for placing a highlight shade under my brow bone. The angle of this brush makes it fit perfectly and apply effortlessly. At first it seems like a flimsy little thing, but it is a real multitask-er. I also like to use this brush in my socket to apply a deeper shade for depth, also when I go a little overboard with the intensity of my socket color I can use this little baby to diffuse. Excellent, excellent, little brush. Natural bristles. 

Sigma SS 252, correlates to the MAC 252 (large, flat shader brush):

 

I do not own the MAC 252, and again, I don't think I'll ever need to (unless I become a MAC artist and get the brushes for gratis). The 252 is somewhat like a traditional concealer brush, but it is a bit wider and really great for placing products all over the lid quickly. Now, this is the ONLY brush I use to apply cream shadows to my eyes, it's perfect. I use MAC paint pots a lot and this just applies them neatly and quick. Natural bristles.

Sigma SS 266, correlates to MAC 266 (small angled liner brush):

I do not own the MAC 266, I do own another brush the is comparable to this one. The brush I won I order it some time ago from a wholesale distributor called Coastal Scents based out of Naples, FL. Their liner brush was a bit thicker and I prefer to use it on my brows. The 266 is an awesome little brush. It makes child's play of applying gel liners (one thing I really had to practice at before I was good) and I also like to use this on my brows too. It is a synthetic brush so it is perfect for picking up cream products and applying them smoothly, also helps create the perfect "winged" line. A great little tool and I doubt I'll ever purchase the MAC one.

Sigma SS 219, correlates to MAC 219 (pointed pencil brush):

  

I do not own the MAC 219, but to be honest I probably will purchase it. The SS219 was the only Sigma eye brush I was not that impressed with. A pencil brush is used to apply shadow, liner, pigments (whatever really) to small, tight areas of the eye. I would ideally use one to apply shading to my lower lash line, as it does not look as harsh as traditional eyeliner. The problem I have with this brush is that it isn't as pointed as I wanted to be. As you can see in the above picture, it is a more rounded shape. This brush does get the job done for the time being, but I am looking for a more pointed brush. Natural bristles. 

Sigma SS 224, correlates to MAC 224 (large, fluffy blending brush):

  

I do not own the MAC 224, but I will purchase it one day and not because I am unhappy with the Sigma brush. This is a fluffy round, blending brush. I use it to blend harsh lines, to softly apply washes of color, to lightly apply socket shades, and to blend concealer under my eyes. This brush is a true multi use tool, and I will never be without it. Natural bristles.

Sigma SS 210, correlates to MAC 210 (fine pointed liner brush):

 

Last, but certainly not least, I adore this little brush. I do not own the MAC 210 brush, and I don't know if I'll purchase it. This is a wonderful brush to apply a nice thin eyeliner to the upper lash line. This creates a really fine line for a more natural look, I actually like this one a bit better than the 266 for liner. I also use this brush for the "tightlining" technique (which is lining your upper water line, tricky to do and harder to get use to but the result is awesome) and I find it makes my eyes water the least for this technique. I suggest this brush for beginners learning how to apply gel or cream liner. 

WHEW! That was long, but I wanted to provide a thorough review for everyone. They are really good quality brushes and perfect for beginners and people trying to build a brush collection. The brush roll they come in is very nice and makes transporting brushes easy.  Stay beautiful everyone!

Disclaimer:
All of the products were purchased with my own money.

Well, I think I am ready this time....

Well, I've had this blog for sometime and have neglected to use it properly. I think I am ready to remain faithful to it, as this is a really fun way to share my knowledge and daily thoughts with my friends and new people. My blog will mainly focus on beauty products, swatches, and advice I have learned along the way. Some random thoughts will be thrown in, and from time to time I'll update with cool things I've found that are not beauty related. I am too shy to go on youtube (but that is a possibility in the future) so I figured Blogger would be a great outlet. Posts may not have many photos of my own for a bit, we (me and my boyfriend) are in the process of moving and you all know how that goes. Keep posted for new updates.