Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush - Review

Rembrandt - The Night Watch

If brushes made the artist, then everyone would be Rembrandt. Can a perfect brush make you paint a perfect picture?  No...but I bet you didn't realize that a perfect brush can give your foundation a flawless look of perfection.

WHAT?

Yup.  The geniuses over at Shiseido have created a foundation brush that is PERFECT!  It's so perfect, in fact, they even use the word "perfect" in the name of the product.

Ladies and gentlemen I bring you:

image from nordstrom.com

The Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush.

I have a fetish for looking like I have mannequin skin. Perfect, plastic, poreless, flawless.  I want to look photoshopped. I want to look unreal.  Blame it on the media. I have an unhealthy ideal of what "perfect" skin looks like.  Thanks to photoshopping all traces of pores, blemishes and wrinkles form every face I see in magazines, I now want that same look.  That look, by the way is unrealistic, but I want it anyway.

So what do I do?  I go through a zillion different primers and foundations trying to achieve this flawless look.  Sometimes it's not the foundation's fault that I can't look flawless. It's, what I like to call:

IO Error = Idiot Operator Error

or

1D10T Error = Idiot Error

Yes. I'm so clever.

Not.

Anyhoo.

When you combine Shiseido's sate-of-the-art technology with traditional Japanese brush-making techniques you end up with the perfect foundation brush that provides the perfect foundation finish. I have only used this brush with liquid and powder foundations but it is supposed to work for cream foundations as well.  Judging by the performance I have seen so far, I imagine that cream foundations will respond very well to this brush.  

The 100% Synthetic bristles in this brush pick up the the right amount of product and distributes it evenly for a consistent and flawless finish.  The brush has tapered fibers that form an angle or slope, if you will.  This slope allows the bristles to reach all of the facial contours.  The trick is in the method you use to apply the foundation. The made in Japan brush has a fairly short handle.  this makes it perfect for close up work and for travel!  The brush from it's highest point to the end is approximately four and a half inches. (~4.5" or ~11.5 cm)  From just the handle to the end of the ferrule, you know the metal part that holds the bristles to the brush, is approximately three and three quarters inches. (~3.75" or ~9.5 cm)

I found the best way to use this brush for an instantly perfect finish is to do the following:

• Put some liquid foundation on the back of your had.  Use about 1/3 the amount you normally use when applying with a sponge or other brush.

• Gently tap the brush into the foundation picking up a small amount.

• Starting with your forehead (or chin) quickly tap or dab the brush over your face.  You will then see a thin but even coverage of your foundation in the area to which you applied it.  If needed you can smooth out any streaks you might encounter by gently sweeping the brush over the area or simply dab the brush some more in the same area to even out the coverage.  However I have been using this brush for several weeks and I have yet to notice any streaking when I use the dab, dab, dab application!
• Work in sections forehead, nose, chin, cheeks, neck (if necessary) moving in a dabbing motion throughout. You do not need to move in circles or even strokes. That won't help.

End result...PERFECTION.

No seriously.  I have been using Armani LSF in 3.75 for months and I have always like the color match but sometimes it just didn't look so great in application. I used a sponge to apply and I found myself going through bottle after bottle very quickly.  I used to take 6 pumps of the bottle to get my entire face and neck done.  Then when I started to use the Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush I a) Achieved an even and immaculate finish. 2) I started to used LESS of my foundation I went from 6 pumps to 3 to 4 depending on how much coverage I desired and iii) Because I started out with a more even coverage I used less concealer and my foundation wore better throughout the day because it was applied properly! WIN!

The only, and I mean ONLY issue I have with this brush, is that it can be slightly difficult to clean.  The bristles are very dense and there are many of them.  Foundation LOVES to cling to the brush and it tends to move farther and farther down the bristle until it reaches the ferrule.  That makes cleaning a real bitch.  I actually start by using my oil based cleanser (and if this is a bad thing to do, please tell me, it's the only way I have found that gets all the foundation to separate from the bristles) work it in there pretty well. then get the bristles damp and watch the oil emulsify off all of the foundation. Then I follow with my BECCA Professional Makeup Brush Soap and usually have to do two rounds of washing to get it all clean.  I have to clean it after each use because I don't like using dirty brushes for foundation or any sort of liquid or cream based products.

Do you NEED this?  YES! You need this bad!  If you wear foundation, you need this brush. TRUST ME!  If it can me this old hag look somewhat presentable and not scare small children* it can make you look like a supermodel...from the neck up.  The brush retails for $30 USD (totally worth the investment) and can be found online and in select stores at Nordstrom, Sephora or Macy's...but surprisingly not on the Shiseido website.  Humm.

*Funny story. Back in college I used to have all sorts of strange colors in my hair. Purple, Blue, White, Magenta, etc. This was in the early 1990's and in the south in a rather small town, so freaks like me were fairly unusual. I was in a local department store to pick up my roommate from work when I happened around a corner and took a little girl by surprise. I was wearing my platforms so I was about 6 feet tall. I was wearing all black, my leather biker jacket and a long black skirt. I had dark purple hair in spiral curls and I was wearing lipstick that matched my hair color (not the best makeup moment of my life). She took one look at me, her eyes went super wide and then she started to cry and run away from me.  She thought I was a witch! BUWAHAHAHA!  She almost had it right...she just needed to replace the 'W' with a 'B'!

Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon Long Lasting Eye Shadow - Review Pictures Swatches

When Rouge Bunny Rouge named one of their Long Lasting Eyeshadows "Solstice Halcyon" I don't think they were referring to the epic doom metal band out of the UK which released an album titled Halcyon back in 1996.  I mean...maybe...but nah.

I think they were referring to the Kingfisher Bird.

What?

Well since their whole theme is "WHEN BIRDS ARE SINGING..." I think it's safe to say they are referring to the kingfisher. I did a little research and discovered that kingfishers are sometimes called a Halcyon in honor of the Greek myth which is associated with the kingfisher bird.  The term comes from the ancient myth by Ovid, in which two weeks of calm weather were to be expected around the winter solstice (21st or 22nd of December). It was believed that the halcyon bird calmed the surface of the sea in order to hatch her eggs on a floating nest. The Halcyon days begin one week before solstice and last for one week after the solstice.

To most tho, halcyon means calm and tranquil or happy and carefree. 

You know what taupe eyeshadow makes me feel?

HAPPY!

Rouge Bunny Rouge eyeshadow is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands. The shadow is harder than that of Le Metier de Beaute but softer than MAC or Bobbi Brown.  The pigmentation is strong, and they can be built up to intensify the color without looking chalky or muddy.  The shadows blend beautifully with each other and with other brands leaving a truly beautiful diffused look to the eye.  The shadow does not fade or crease (when used in conjunction with an eye base) and lasts for a good 10 hours on the eye.

The Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon Long Lasting Eyeshadow is a stunning taupe. It looks rather unassuming in the pan, but once applied the sweet satin texture of the shadow combined with the not quite grey not quite beige color make a heavenly shadow!  This is one of THOSE taupes. You know the ones. The taupe shadows that everyone wants. Le Metier de Beaute Corinthian, MAC Satin Taupe, Chanel Safari are all classic taupes. Add Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon to that list my dears!  Solstice Halcyon is darker and more grey than Gracious Arasari but lighter and less purple than Delicate Hummingbird. 

OK. Here's the issue.

Now don't get mad at me. I'm just the messenger.

As of 1/22/2012, Rouge Bunny Rouge Long Lasting Eye Shadow in Solstice Halcyon is sold out on Zuneta.com, the only place I know of where you can purchase Rouge Bunny Rouge shadows.

::ducks::

Now, it's not very nice to throw things at me!  I can't control how awesome this shadow is and how the demand for it has outgrown the Six Sigma models for manufacturing, supply, and distribution that Rouge Bunny Rouge and Zuneta have.  I may have studied the Six Sigma business management strategy. I know that Six Sigma seeks to "improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and minimizing variability in manufacturing and business processes.  It uses a set of quality management methods, including statistical methods, and creates a special infrastructure of people within the organization ("Black Belts", "Green Belts", etc.) who are experts in these methods." (1) But I still can't tell Zuneta to re-stock Rouge Bunny Rouge Solstice Halcyon!  I did confirm on the Rouge Bunny Rouge FaceBook page that this shade is NOT discontinued.  So that's a good piece of news....right?

Do you NEED this?  YES. You need this if for no other reason than to say you have it. It's that big of a deal! It will one day be like saying you own Shu ME Silver 945.  Yeah. It's that important!

(1) Info from Wikipedia...and from sitting through hours upon hours of Six Sigma classes at one of my old jobs.  It was originally developed at Motorola but worked so well that it took the business world by storm. I personally think it has to do with the fact that these businessmen at my old job just wanted to be "black belts" in something other than Douchebaggery.

LUSH Dragon Soap

LATHER UP FOR GOOD LUCK!

Chinese New Year was January 23rd and to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, LUSH created a beautiful, limited edition soap with the best-selling Karma fragrance. The spicy blend of patchouli, lavender and pine perfectly captures the passionate, creative and free-spirited nature of the Dragon. Intense, earthy, and confident: have a wash with LUSH's Dragon soap and your ambitions for the year ahead are sure to come to fruition.

At the very least, you'll be nice and clean, and smell scrumptious.

The Red Dragon soap ($7.95*) is available ONLINE ONLY at LUSH.com starting January 2012.

NARS Makeup Removing Water - Review

image from NARScosmetics.com

I'm going to keep this short and sweet.  I no longer have any need for makeup removing wipes.

That's right. I have found my ideal tool for removing makeup in a hurry.  

NARS Makeup Removing Water!

Just released this month, NARS Makeup Removing Water is a soap-free, oil-free and alcohol-free water that removes face makeup, cleanses, and tones the skin.  According to NARS the water is infused with cucumber, chamomile and hyaluronic acid. This formula is supposed to "sweep away makeup" and "leave skin feeling soft soothed and refreshed".

Well guess what?

IT DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO!

I know that products actually delivering on their promises shouldn't be a reason for all caps, but in this day and age, when everything is supposed to make you look 20 years younger and 20 pounds thinner and 20 times richer, we all know none of that is going to happen. 

Honestly, I can't believe I'm getting so excited about a makeup remover.

I mean really?  That's what is going to float my boat?  Makeup remover?

I'll tell you what.

It's more than just a makeup remover.

It's a time machine. It's a mental health therapy session. It's a sleep aid. It's a marital aid.  Yes. It is all of those things.

A) time machine: I now save a ton of time in the evening by using this makeup removing water when I'm too tired to do the full facial cleansing with my Clarisonic.  Now I just use the oil cleaning and then follow up with the NARS Makeup Removing Water.  I'm done!  That affords me a few extra minutes before bed. It's like getting free time!

B) mental health therapy session: Believe it or not I get really stressed out if I fall asleep in my makeup.  I start to worry about the damage I am doing to my skin by sleeping in my makeup. That stress transforms into a huge zit somewhere I can't cover like the tip of my nose or the middle of my forehead. I then end up buying more products to hide the zit, which stresses me out because I'm spending money on something that was avoidable, and my self confidence sinks to an all time low because of the zit on my face.  BUT with NARS Makeup Removing Water, I skip all that stress. It's a Therapist in a bottle.  All that stress about damaging my skin is swept away when I swipe the Makeup Removing Water over my face.

C) sleep aid: By getting my makeup off faster and finishing my nightly cleansing routine sooner I have more time to relax and ease myself into blissful sleep. I am relaxed knowing that I have not only saved time, but I am not damaging my skin by sleeping in my makeup because I was too tired to actually use my Clarisonic.  I sleep well because I have no worries about my face erupting with acne from lack of care.

D) marital aid:  By being ready for bed sooner, Mr. Sith and I have a little more time in the evening to...um...well..."Have a Conversation".

Is The NARS Makeup Removing Water a replacement for my regular cleaning routine?

No.

I use it on occasion when I'm just to tired or rushed to do the whole cleansing routine.  I would never replace my cleanser and Clarisonic.  But The NARS Makeup Removing Water is a super alternative to makeup removing wipes and other quick makeup removers because my skin feels soooo much better and soooo much cleaner after using it.

Do You NEED this?  Possibly.  If you use makeup removing wipes on a regular basis I think you really need to check this out. If you are constantly falling asleep in your makeup. 1) SHAME ON YOU and 2) Yes. You need this.  If you are a religious user of a Clarisonic and cleansing, you probably don't need this. But if you're like me and some times you just don't wanna, then this is for you!  The NARS Makeup Removing Water retails for $28 at www.narscosmetics.com.

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The Beauty Blog Network Weekend Beauty Read

1/22/2012

Thu from Painted Ladies reviews Kat Von D’s Mi Vida Loca palette.  

Elke reviews the new Do It Yourself “Knock Out” Gel Nails.  

The Pink Sith has been humming cowboy tunes all day because of the new Mexican Rose Velvet Gloss Pencil from the NARS 2012 Spring Collection. 

 

Phyrra shows off some sweet eye shadows from Kiss My Sass.  

Cindy from HelloDollface gets Botox for the first time and likes it!.