Beauty-fuls: Brush it off! We heart knowing what the heck to do with all these makeup brushes!!!

Ugggghhh we hate to sound soooo high maintenance but the fact is.... although we are both pretty au-natural gals, (we don't really wear a lot of make up) we heart a good make up brush.

We know, we know...it sounds sooooooo shi-shi but it's true... a good brush can change the way you wear make up for good.

So.... so long over application and uneven colors...

And hello quick easy and gorgeous (not that you're not already...cuz you are!)!!!

They just make the fun task of applying makeup wayyyy better and more rewarding....

And away we goooooooo!

We can not tell you how much we super heart this first brush from Sephora. Not only does it work unbelievably well, but it's dual ended.

One side is glorious for powder or blush application and the other does wonders for natural looking eye shadow! 2 for 1? Music to our wallets!

Also from Sephora (of course! we are obsessed with this store...along with every other makeup junkie in town) is their new line of I.T. brushes.

This blush brush is perfect for applying blush, powders and highlighters.

The best part about their I.T. brushes???!?! They come with their own covers. So no more broken brissles and smooshed uneven brush heads!

Shpeaking of brushes in their own cases to keep them safe...

Our go to company for synthetic hair brushes (woo hoo...go Vegans!) EcoTools has a great brush for you Mineral Makeup junkies!
It's compact but packs a punch...and no more messy makeup bags!!!!

Huh? What's that you say? You love a good travel brush that does it all? Oh well we got good news for you! Thanks to Bobbi Brown...the Goddess of stunning "natural" beauty.

Her (almost) all in 1 brush is great for blending, bronzer, powder and blush...and it comes with a faux leather travel case to keep it safe and sound! Woo hooooo!!!

This next beauty brush was shown to us by a gorgeous red head who is also a no make up make up kinda gal. Bronzer seems like the hardest makeup to apply. Not any more!
This Smashbox fan brush was originally intended to help get excess makeup off but it's hidden use is for perfect, natural looking beach bronzed faces. One swipe and watch out Gisele!

Dying to have that oh so stunning winged eye?

Or just simply want to look like you have naturally lined lids and a fuller lash line? This next beauty does the trick...and easily.
Dip this bad boy into gel liner, dry powder or creme and voila! Hello hotness!

Need all your brushes at once?? Here is a great brush set with all you need and maybe a few you don't....

Sonia Kashuk's tool set is pretty darn close to perfection! Since it is a lower priced set, the brushes may not all be up to par but in a pinch you won't be sorry.

You may have noticed (or not) that we didn't include a myriad of other brushes like foundation, concealer and lip...

Well kittens...that's because we think they are pointless!

Why you ask? Well, we will show yous...

Need a good tool to apply foundation other than your polished pretties and a streaky brush? Sonia Kashuk's Blending Sponge will do the trick gorgeously!

Need proof? We have seen this sponge (or one exactly like it) on the vanity of one of the worlds most beautiful ladies...

The best and cheapest tool you can ever get for applying concealer on those pesky dark circles is not a tool at all...it's your ring finger. It's the perfect shape and the most delicate of all the fingers.

No wonder diamonds look soooo good on it!

And the number 1 no fuss makeup tool that you don't have to spend a grip on? The good ol' fashioned Qtip!

Perfect for messes, light blending and applying a smokey liner...

Oh wait!!!! One more super important thing!!!! Clean your brushes weekly if not daily!!!

Clean brushes mean cleaner, less clogged pores! We heart Sephora's brush shampoo for weekly cleans.

Or you can use a gentle baby shampoo to do the trick.

So what ever brush you pick up to paint your pallet...

Just remember...true beauty is from with in...make up is not necessary to be beautiful.

xoxo things we heart

Beauty-fuls: Prime Time review-a-thon!

When you paint your walls...you prime them...

When you paint a car...you prime it (which btw is a suuper big trend right now to leave cars in a matte condition)

When you paint your nails...they get primed (well base coat but it's basically the same thing right?)

So it stands to reason that when you paint your face it should be primed :)

Face/ Makeup primers have been all the rage for a couple of years now but boy o' man-a-chevitz they have come a long way from the shellac feeling they used to give you.

The newest primers are lightweight yet totally effective and actually give your skin extra love (besides their normal duties)

The big job of a good primer is to-

◦ Smooth the skins surface

Even out skin tone

Create a perfect surface for your makeup

Disguise skin flaws and imperfections

Pamper and nourish your skin

Create a protective base for longer-lasting foundation

Reduce redness and inflammation

Moisturize your skin and keep it hydrated all day long

Stop oil and shine

Makeup primers work especially good for those with oily skin by reducing excess shine

Protect your skin from the harmful UV rays, some primers have a sunscreen and SPF 15 or more

Makeup primers create a perfect makeup base

Makeup primers fill in fine lines and wrinkles

Make enlarged pores appear smaller and less visible

The makeup glides on smoothly and blends easily

Here are our top 4 picks! (and 2 of our least fave to save you a few clams)

As much as we dislike Smashbox Makeup, their Photo Finish primers are really good. Just don't goop them on or they will get...well...goopy.

Smashbox seems to have the most cutting edge of all the primers in terms of duties they perform.

Not only do you get "perfect" skin with a matte and oil free finish but their primers are filled to the brim with anti aging ingredients and spf. They firm, moisturize, protect and vitalize!

WHAT?!? Perfect looking skin and more perfect skin just by using it? Um yes please!!!!

P.S. We loved using this and we had no idea they did all this fun stuff...we are on our way to pick up more right now!

Makeup Forever's HD line of makeup is amazing...well the foundation is a little crazy and thick, but every other product they make for HD and the regular line is amazing.

Ladies with dark circles..try their HD Concealer...you'll kiss us!

Anywhoo....Makeup Forever's primers are just as good as the rest of their products.

They are lightweight and oil free and create the perfect canvas for the rest of your face paint.

But the best part? Not only does it make your skin look smooth and soft but it comes in 6 different shades to help "correct" your skin!

MUF (hee hee) just came out with a new one that has 50spf!!!

Wow...no more extra step of putting sunscreen under the primer and waiting for it to dry. Silky smooth and UV protection...Done and done!

The other day we opened our new Vogue (YAY! good one) to find a coupon for L'oreal's newest addition...Magic Perfecting Base.

So being the super good and proficient bloggers we are (who are we kidding...we looove new makeup products...we are girls!) we ran our and picked up a tub o' this stuff.

Yes, it's odd that it comes in a tub but once you get the hang of dipping your fingers we think you will super heart it as much as we do.

It totally smoothed out our skin and gave it an almost velvety texture that was so good we didn't need any other makeup (besides blush and concealer of course) on top of it!

You have probably never heard of Pop Beauty UK but you should make friends with it. We got our Face Magnet Primer from Ulta and it's super good!

It fills in lines and pores a little less than the silicone based ones like Smashbox and MUF but it goes on so silkily and smooth it had us at hello.

It has caffeine and Vitamin E in it for firmer, less puffy, more matte and healthier skin. Perfecto!

Ulta usually has $5 off coupons in magazines so keep a lookout for it.

While doing the research for this primer post we came across this next primer.

We are dying to try Dior's version. Considering that everything they make is pretty fantasmic...we are guessing their Skin Flash Primer is just as amazing.

And now the 2 to pass up when you are strolling thru Tarjay or Sephora aimlessly (you know you do it) grabbing everything you think you need...

Rimmel London

It's peach tinted and goes on much like a moisturizer...which is not a bad thing at all it just doesn't do much of anything besides make your skin look a bit orangey.

It also does nothing to control the oil so when you put makeup on top of it...it slides off..

So take that $6 you would spend on that and by something else you can't live with out.

Laura Geller

It's called Spackle which is what made us swoon with cute thoughts. Nope, they should change the name to Shmackle. It costs as much as the better ones and just puts a sheer layer of what seems to be just silicone. It feels and acts very much like the 1st ones worked BITD (back in the day) and we felt like it wore off pretty fast and took our makeup with it.

P.S. Here is some super great info on eye primers for under your shadow...again, from your fave blog...

Get primed and ready to go! We are!!

xoxo things we heart

Beauty-fuls: Lights, Camera... Action! We heart HD Makeup!

Flat screen- Check!

HD cable- Check!

Watching Animal Planet or Sex and the City in Hi Def- Heck ya! (Wow those SNC gals look amazing...even in Hi-Def)  Check!

Best friend with an HD Flip Mino- Check!  

Ready for our close up-  um...NO! Check? NO...wait!!!

For anyone that has been shot with HD or watches HD you may notice how EVERYTHING is more noticeable...  You have a small fine line?  Well that's OK, just have the make up artist put a touch of Eclat on it... Yeah.. not in HD people.  That fine line is now a huge valley in the wrinkle kingdom.  

HD makeup to the rescue! 

Thank you, oh beauty Gods,  for creating HD makeup.  Its fine milling is similar to mineral makeup but big difference are the light reflectors that create a flawless finish and they can help to make your skin look younger or like a Jill Greenberg photo (well, the skin at least..and you'll be laughing not crying)...
And, ummm YES please!  

So here at T.W.H. we like to test as much as possible so we can properly report back to you on our findings (soooo scientific of us, I know)... Here is how I came to find HD makeup..

I must admit I got on the mineral bandwagon.  It was after seeing my stunning T.W.H. partner, Miss Me, wearing it at my birthday last year.  I just about died..  She looked FLAWLESS.

So, of course I asked what was up (mind you, she is flawless and stunning even when she wakes up!!!  But this birthday night she was even more glowy and  her skin was more perfect than usual that caught my attention.  I must find out... I need her skin!

I went (ran) to Sephora and bought (into) the kit.  $60 later, yes, I had the glow, but and hour after i was greasy and shiny and my face felt like it had concrete on it.  So, I took another route. I wanted something to make my skin look more Miss Me, Leighton Meester perfectionesque but with out the heavy oily feeling.

So I found the next few items that have really changed the way i look at HD make up for better or for worse...

1. Smashbox HD Healthy FX Foundation-  

Ding, ding, ding!  We have a winner!  This foundation is great!  Over primer (theirs or any other good one)  this one did the HD trick.  Lightweight, totally blendable and (almost) perfectly airbrushed skin without shimmer or that annoying "glow".  But keep a good powder on hand.. if you have oily skin you will need it.  

Plus its made with Vitamin C and has SPF 15 for healthier skin and it's not tested on animals!!! YAY

2. Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder-

Now I absolutely despise their HD foundation.  SO heavy, soooo Brenda Walsh in the '90's.   Sure, I had great looking skin in pictures but it looked like colored spackle up close and in person.   But their HD Microfinish talc free powder is fantastic.  Color free so any skin tone can use it and it just soaks up oil (ewwww..but it does) and virtually airbrushes imperfections.

3. Christian Dior Capture Totale for all our fancy pants girls (or boys)-

This one does it all!   Well, we hope so for that price.  But it does... it plumps, evens out and perfects  skin.  Its beautiful finish literally creates and HD ready look.  Amazing!  

And with SPF 15 and collagen boosting ingredients we are sooo gonna crack open the wallet for this one.

4. Cargo-

This was the first one I came across.  I think it was the packaging and perfect marketing that lured me it.  I bought the primer (pricey and so little in the tube) and it turned out to be the same primer as a lot of the others.  Nothing new or life changing.  But the Blu-ray blush is great!

P.S.  We are so for natural beauties...we lurve lines and crinkles.

It simply means that you have lived, loved, lost and traveled on the highway of life...  this post was just to help our lovelies that don't embrace wisdom lines as much as we do.. 

P.P.S.  Sorry for the looong post... jeez louise..too much coffee.  But we hope it was informative ;) and helpful and now you don't have to do the research yourself..right? ;0

Now go have fun... play dress up and enjoy being a girl!

xoxo t-w-h