Beauty Cosmetics' Flat Top Brush

 photo copyrighted to Carla Gumin 2012

Beauty Cosmetics Flat Top brush

Being the brush addict that I am, I tend to save for the brushes that will last for a lifetime. I'm an avid MAC brush collector (though it may seems small), I still love finding dupes. I wanted the flat top brush from MAC, which is 130, but at the situation that I am, I need to find something within my budget. First I want the Sigma F80, then Real Techniques'. And when I finally have some cash to burn, I remember that I need to start my hairstyling kit so I pushed the thought aside. Then I remember Rosenn's brushes!

 Beauty Cosmetics' Pink Handle

 Density

I love that it's densely packed but not so tightly, that it's easy to blend with. It still gives in a little bit and moves as you go.

Synthetic Bristles

For a girl who have skin asthma, my best bet for brushes are the vegan ones. And this is so good for my skin! I love it.

What I love:

- Pink handles! I love that it gives my brush roll a kick of color since most of my brushes are black or silver.

- VERY SOFT BRISTLES! I can even use it on my kids if I must.

- Inexpensive. Other runs Php600=1,500 for this kind of kabuki brushes, and this only cost me...

Php400.00!!! Such a steal

- Densely packed.

- VEGAN! I cannot for my life quit eating meats, but at least my brushes can be as vegan as they can be. It is also suitable for clients that have sensitive skin.

What I hate:

- NONE!

Will I repurchase? Yes, for my kit and for my clients!

Please check Beauty Cosmetics' site in facebook:

BEAUTY COSMETICS

*Not a sponsored post. Items are bought with my own money.

Inglot AMC Blush in #67 Review

photos copyrighted to Carla Gumin 2012

Inglot AMC Blush in #67

Last week, when I was in a makeup craving, I finally dig in and bought a new blush. I need a matte blush for makeup gigs, because sometimes shimmery blushes doesn't look good in photos. I originally wanted the #65 which is a beautiful nude pink blush but unfortunately it was out of stock. So being the impulsive that I am I blind-bought this blush and just assumed it's something in the nude family. But when I got it I was surprised and have so-so feeling about it because I thought it's just another coral blush. But boy, I was wrong! After a few days on acquiring this blush, I finally swatched it and saw that it's an matte orange blush. Something that I dont have in my kit yet.

It have 6grams of product in it. This is to be used in Inglot's Freedom Palette that's why the packaging looks like that. I still dont have the means to buy a Z Palette or Inglot's palette, so I just placed it in this plastic that came with it. It had 18 months of shelf-life.

I think the AMC Blush is suppossed to last more than the regular blush which is the face blush.

Here's the swatch. Pardon the cracked fingers, my skin isnt adjusting to the cold season yet. Anyways, it's a scary orange looking blush upon swatching. It is very pigmented. Although it's in the chalky side. There are some excess powders falling out when you swatch it. I think because it's matte? Im not so sure because I dont have anything from Inglot to compare it with.

And here it is blended to my cheeks. Although it looks scary on the pan, it actually gives you quite a healthy glow. I love pairing it with the contouring powder because it gives a "just-tanned-myself" look. It's a bit work to buff it out, tends to be patchy if you dont blend well. But the pigmentation is divine. A little goes a longlong way.

Staying power is good. Didnt stay as long as I want it to, but the 4-5hours wear is great though, considering it's price at Php600.00!

Will I buy more? Of course! I still want to buy the #65 and a matte bronzer probably because I'm a contour junkie. :)



Etude House Surprise Concealer Review

As long as I remember I already have my dark under eyes. I used to claim it's genetic, but growing up I didnt saw my siblings have it nor my parents. Although I really do have bad skin ever since. I used to be really insecure about my eyebags but I didn't consider concealers because I think they emphasize them. But of course, I was makeup noob back then and I didnt know how a perfect match concealer (and right type of concealer, mind you! setting powders too! haha) can hide those nasty insecurities and bring out the best face forward.

UNTIL, in 2008 when FINALLY! After a long fight with my mom and our "since-bati-na-tayo" shopping session, she brought me to a MAC counter. And the rest is history.

My forever HG concealer is the Mac Studio Finish in NC35 because of its strong yellow tone that cancels out my undereye circle. But it's not so friendly with my undereye wrinkles .. deep wrinkles! And using a Mac concealer on everyday basis is bad for the 1.skin, and number 2, bad for my wallet.

So, I went to the mall because I was craving for a liquid concealer. And the angels guided me to Etude House.

photo (c) Carla Gumin 2012 

Etude House Surprise Essence Concealer

Here's the cute little bottle of sleep. If I'm not mistaken (since I cant read Korean!), it's 2grams.

It has a doe-foot applicator and smells really really nice.

 Swatch (L-R: Heavily swatched, Blended)

The consistency of the product is creamy. The coverage is medium and buildable. Personally I like to let it set for a few seconds to make it more "tacky", this will ensure a more opaque coverage.

This have a yellow undertone to it, but not as yellow as MAC Studio Finish'. You can also use a synthetic brush to blend it.

Let's see how it works.

 Before

 Let's admit it, three dots wont do this! LOL

 Blended

Set with loose powder

Although this doesn't really hide those nasty dark under eyes, this is more forgiving for everyday use, and the price is budget friendly at Php280.00

Pros:

PRICE!

Packaging is pretty small, so it's travel friendly.

Consistency is just right. Not too sheer, not too heavy.

DOESNT SIT ON FINE LINES!! I love it.

Smells nice.

Easy to find in malls nowadays (SM malls)

Cons:

There are only two shades. And the second shade is good for girls up to NC30 only. I'm an NC35, and it's too light for me, I just set it with a powder that matches my skintone.

Staying power is at 3-4hours max. and I cant use it for work since I usually work for more than 10hours.

And that's it. It's a good errand/everyday/budget concealer! :)

Visit Etude House in SM malls and give it a try!

HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT RED

Like foundation color, it is also important to wear the right shade of lipstick that will suit your skintone. Remember our lesson about Basic Makeup Must-have? Well one of them is the fierce-in-a-tube red lipstick Finding your red lipstick is tricky but with this quick guide, I'm sure you'll be able to know what's right for you.

Pale and Fair Skintones

Nicole Kidman, Adele and Anne Hathaway

For paler skin tones, go for a scarlet red or red lipstick that have a blue-undertone to it since it will not look as bright, competing with your skin tone. True to red lipstick can work, but you will have to pair it with an eye makeup that will complement it so it wont "pop" so much.

Medium/Warm Skintones

Kim Kardashian, Camilla Belle and Megan Fox

For warmer skin tones, it is best that you wear a brighter red since it will brighten the face than dim it. Red lipstick that runs on the orange-y side is another option since the contrast of the orange to the warm olive skin is good. Although I suggest avoiding it with dark eye makeup since it will pull down the look.

Dark Skintones

Kelly Rowland, Rihanna and Tyra Banks
If you have a darker skintone, the best colors would be brick red, cranberries and burgundy. Those with orange undertone in it are good too.

Still scared of pulling out a red lipstick?

You can try those tinted lipbalms or lipsticks that have sheer colors and lots of moisturizing properties to it.

Like Revlon's Lip Butter.

But above all, if you are confident that you can pull-off whatever shade of red you want to, then you probably can! You just have to have the confidence. Wear the red, and not let the red wear you! :D

Love, Makeup Mama

Paint the town RED: Photo Tutorial

Love the red but hate how it usually bleeds? Well, the technique in red lipstick (or any lipstick for that matter) is ... LIP LINERS. You must have at least a 'my-lips-but-better' shade lip liner and a red in your kit. Red lipstick was always associated with class, old Hollywood glamour and independent woman. It easily lifts up any makeup look.
(Ps: I'll be doing a blog on how to find the perfect red lipstick shade! Wait for it. :D)

So what are the tools needed?
A. Red Lipliner/Nude lip liner
B. Concealer, and a concealer brush/lip brush
C. Your red lipstick
D and optional: Lip brush

STEP 1: With a sharpen lip pencil, line your lips and follow your outline (in case you want to make your lips look bigger, line outside your lip outline BUT not over-do it.). Also you want a lipliner that is close to your lip color as possible. Using a darker liner for everyday wear/casual wear .is ... 1990's much! haha.

STEP 2: Fill-in the rest of your lips. Or you want to skip this step and make a 3D effect by just filling out the rest with your red lipstick.

STEP 3:  With your concealer, clean the edges. Make sure you blend it to your skin seamlessly.

STEP 4: Top it off with your lip color. Use a lip brush for precision. And if you still mess up, correct it again by using your concealer.

AND YOU'RE DONE! :)

Tips:
1. Always have a clean base! Red lipstick can mature a face easily. So conceal conceal conceal!
2. Red lipstick also accentuate chappy lipstick, so before application, use a toothbrush and brush it to exfoliate and remove the dry skin.
2. If you want it to pop more, put a clear or red lipgloss on the center of your lips and blend it outwards.
3. LIP BRUSH FOR PRECISION.

Thank you so much for reading.
Love, Makeup Mama. :)

BASIC MAKEUPS AND TOOLS

I know the feeling of being overwhelmed inside a makeup store/makeup counter because (I kid you not!) my eyes goes everywhere and my heart starts pumping extra extra hard and grab almost anything in sight to try it that I look like Im studying biology. haha. That's the reason why I end up blogging about this basic items you need in your makeup kit. First, to save you some time. Second, so that you wont have the same manic expression in your face like I do most of the time. (HAHA)

So let's start with the FACE/BASE products:

PRIMER:

Purpose: To create a smooth canvas (face/base) and prolong your foundation wear

Is it necessary? If you have somewhere to go to that will require you to wear makeup for a long long period of time, then YES. If you're an oil slick city, YES. If you're just going out to buy some grocery, No.

LIQUID FOUNDATION:

Purpose: To even out your skintone.

Is it necessary? Depends on your skin condition and the event. Like I said, there are some events that you might want an extra coverage. But if you have clear skin and almost no skin discoloration, then you can opt for Tinted Moisturizer or BB Creams. Although it's nice to have this in your kit for those special days you want to look extra fab.

CONCEALER:

Purpose: To cover up blemishes and skin discoloration

Is it necessary? YES! You can skip the foundation but never the concealer. This is something you must always have in your kit.

PRESSED POWDER:

Purpose: To even our skintone.

Is it necessary: If you have liquid foundations, then this is your buddy. Pressed powder is necessary because it sets your liquid foundation/concealer and adds an extra coverage. But please throw away that sponge and never wet this. Because wetting this will attract more bacteria. You should use a brush for lighter application

TRANSLUCENT LOOSE POWDER:

Purpose: To set the liquid foundation and concealer

Is it necessary: Well, if you prefer a lighter "feel" then yes. Pressed powders tend to be cakey, but loose powder (if used properly) wouldn't. And why translucent? because it doesnt change the color of your foundation. It's better that way. :) The con of having this is it's messier to carry.

EYE PRIMER:

Purpose: To keep the eyeshadow from creasing.

Is it necessary: YES, if you're an eyeshadow user. Because this locks eyeshadow into place. Although you have to try different eye primers that will suit your skin type. Urban Decay is my to-go eyeprimer because even the oiliest lids works with this well.

EYESHADOW:

 photo not mine, image source Google.com

For me the basic eyeshadow colors that you need will be:

Matte (meaning no shimmer) Beige eyeshadow color.

This will be your everyday eyeshadow color. Not only is it easy to put because it requires a little blending, but this will also make your brows look more clean when you use it in your brow bone.

Matte Brown eyeshadow

Another versatile eyeshadow color. This is for days that you want a little "omph' but doesnt want that dark black smokey eyes. With this on your lids and the beige eyeshadow on your brow bone, you're ready to head out.

Shimmery Beige eyeshadow

When you have enough sleep, this is your bestfriend. Just put it in the corner of your eyes and your brow bone, bavoom bavoom! Fresh out of the shower look.

WARNING: If you have hyperpigmentation under your eyes, and you just had a bad night DO NOT USE THIS! Sparkly sparkly things are meant to be notice. And shimmery eyeshadow (especially those with ugly glitter fall-outs) HIGHLIGHTS. So opt for matte eyeshadows if you're tired. :)

Matte Black eyeshadow

For the sexy smokey eyes. Plus if you dont want that hard crisp line most eyeliners do, this is your bet.

LINING MATERIALS

I wish I have a liquid liner, but I dont. That one takes practice and it's messy and flaky and shiny.. I dont like it a bit. My bestfriend is gel liner. Gel liner is easier to use, matte and less messy. And you still need that pencil eyeliner for tightlining. Black or brown? It depends on your need. If you dont want the graphic black, go for the subtle brown. :)

LASHES

If you're not a mascara user, at least curl your lashes. This opens the eyes. This is the real trick for tired eyes. :)

BROWS

If I have to be stranded in an island there are 3 things I want to bring with me.

1. Tinted Moisturizer with SPF

2. Eyelash curler

3. Eyebrow Makeup!!

Eyebrows frame the face. So this is an important item. You can use powder or pencil or waxtype. If you have very bushy eyebrows, skip this and use a brow gel instead.

If you want to know how to do your brows, please scroll below (2 entries before this).

LIPS

LIP BALM. I will put a plastic on your head if you dont have a lipblam. Ok, Im kidding. But this is essential. It's like skincare for the lips. It prevents aging, it prevents cracks and it if you dont need to, dont use a lipstick just to make your lips look pinker, use lipbalm instead. And my favorite? CARMEX.

LIP LINERS. This is used to keep your lipcolor last and prevents feathering. You only need two. One 'my-lips-but-better' shade and one red for special occasions.

LIPSTICK. Im sure most of you love lipsticks. Im head over heels with lip products. I love it. But if I have to keep only three, it will be a shade that's closest to my natural lip color for everyday, a pink (mine's hotpink!) and the red lipstick that used to be my uniform color because it empowers a lady in an instant.

CHEEKS.

Bronzer. It gives your face some "warmth" and it also can double as a contouring powder.

Blusher. You dont need a lot, you just need a color that works well with your skintone. Basic rule, if you're fair then skip peachy/deep colored blushers because it will look TOO orange. If you're on the darker end, never use a chalk pink. Opt for plums, deep pinks and peach.

Highlighting Powder. This is really not necessary but it's handy. To emphasize those cheekbones and the bridge of the nose. But avoid overdoing this because you will look oily than dewy.

TOOLS

You dont need 20, 30 brushes to do your makeup. In fact you just need a few.

Stippling brush, for a light application of powders.

Angled blush brush for precise application of blush and contouring.

Synthetic Foundation brush for your liquid foundation and concealer (which is going to be blended by the stippling brush for a more soft focus look)

Brow brush for your brows. Pick a brush that is angled and a little stiff.

Fluffy Eyeshadow brush. For putting lid color and doubles as a blending brush.

Eyeliner brush for lining those peepers.

Lip brush because this way your lipsticks wont collect more bacteria. This is most hygienic too.

Spoolie, to remove mascara clumps and brush your brow hairs in place.

And that's it. This seems to be a lot but actually this is just the basics. Also, do remember to let your skin breathe from makeup. The only way makeup will look extra good in your skin is to take good care of the base. :) So wash your face everyday before and after makeup and deep clean your brushes at least once a week so you wont collect bacteria (which causes pimples and allergies).

I hope you learned from me today. and if you have any questions, dont hesitate to ask.

Until next post,

CARLA, the makeup mama.

BROWS: Photo Tutorial

Brows are the most important step in makeup. A good everything is nothing if your brows is just a messy bunch. Brows also frames the face. Also, a defined brows looks much neater too. I am addicted to my brows and constantly changing its shape to find our what best suits me. :)

Brows are easy to define. With the proper tools and technique you'll get the hang of it. And if you dont, nobody really gets it by their first try. And brows are really should not be the same, they just have look like "sisters" not twins. :)

So here is the basic steps on how to define your brows:

Copyright to Carla Gumin, http://makeupbycarlagumin.blogspot.com

Jhobes Estrella x Mac Eugenio x Love Mitzi

Hello guys. Since Im starting to blog again, I might as well blog about my job.

There are lots of field that you can focus on if you're a makeup artist and you have to pick one that you will stick for a long time. Although my forte is bridal makeup, I'm forever inlove with fashion and editorial makeup.

Last April 19, one of my friend (who is a styling student in FIP), Jhobes Estrella, asked me if I can do the make up for his models. And it was an editorial shoot for something. hahaha. Im not supposed to tell you yet, because it might get jinxed. haha.That's the reason why most of the photos are the model's back. haha

Here are some photos that I would love to share with you.

Sorry for the quality because I just used a phone.

Special thanks to my love Jhobes Estrellas and Mhil Labador (my co-mua and hairstylist!) and of course to Mac Eugenio for the opportunity. <3 And Lord. Without you I will never come across with this wonderful people.

Cant wait to blog about them.

Buy those dress at

Love Mitzi

For the shoes, I'll ask Jhobes, his friend made those. :)

Product Review:Beauty cosmetics PRO 20 brush set

Beauty Cosmetics Pro 20 Brush

(Disclaimer: I only now own 19brushes because I lost the mascara brush. This is not a sponsored post, I paid this with my own money.)

As a makeup artist, you need to have at least 2 brush set in your kit because sometimes work requires you to do more than two person, and although there are brush cleaners that works really well, time should also be your concern. So after doing that brush cleaning in between clients for years, I decided to get another brush set.

I've had my Suesh 28 Professional brush set for years now and the craftmanship of that is so great. But my dilemma is that it can be really costly. (If im not mistaken the 28 brush set is around 3k-4k pesos). Then one of my online friends refer me to Rosenn Gomez, the owner of Beauty Cosmetics, which turns out to be in the same city as I am. So I ordered this brush set from her... and it cost me Php1,400.00.

Beauty Cosmetics Brush Roll

The brush roll is made of thick leather. Upon receiving this item, it have that leather smell which goes away after sometime. The stamped logo looks pretty neat too.

Beauty Cosmetics Pro 20 Face Brushes

(T-B: Round Powder Brush, Tapered Powder Brush, Stippling Brush, Angled Blush Brush)

Round Powder Brush

The big powder brush is a dense brush for (duh) powder. I use this to sweep of excess powder in face. This is not ideal for pressed powder or for patting on powder because it's too big for that. It also have a smell that doesnt go away until my 5th or 6th wash, but it goes away after that.

Tapered Powder Brush

The tapered powder brush is one of my favorite. It's a versatile brush that I use for almost anything I can think of. I mostly use this for sweeping powders since it does a nice job getting into small areas. One of my favorite use of this brush is with highlights. The tapered parts are best for that, like blushes too. The handle of this brush seems a little bit shorter than the other, and that what makes it perfect for bringing along.

It's dense enough and not scratchy at all.

Stippling Brush

The stippling brush is used for a light application of powder or liquid products. It is ideal for blushes and foundation for that "airbrush" effect. Which I never achieved no matter what, but what I love about stippling brush is it's so soft and light on the face. I love it for blending foundation and using on powder blushes. This stippling brush is not as dense as my Suesh or as soft as the Suesh is. But this doesnt shed unlike the other.

Density of the stippling brush

Angled blush brush

The angled blush brush is use for precise application of blush and for contouring because of its slanted side that hugs the shape of the face. It is ideal for contouring beginners. What I like about this is the length of the bristles in perfect! It's not flimsy. Although if you do not use a conditioner on this it becomes a lit`tle scratchy.

Beauty Cosmetics Pro 20 Synthetic face brushes.

(T-B: Paddle Foundation brush, Square Foundation brush

not in the photo: concealer brush)

Precise Concealer brush

This concealer brush is used for precise concealing and for hard to reach areas in the face like the side of the nose. It's easy to clean and the length of the bristle is good for a concealer brush although I wish it's a bit bigger (width) so it will cover more area.

Paddle Foundation brush

I LOVE THIS BRUSH! Seriously, one of the brushes I dearly cling to. Its size, its width, the density of this brush is PERFECT. I makes putting liquid foundation on very very fast. I love using it with primer too. It's so soft, not flimsy! It is easy to wash too.

Square Foundation brush

This is something new, and something I never have in my kit. I used to see a MAC version of this but doesnt have the need to buy one since I think the paddle brush works well. This is good for blending contouring cremes into skin although it can be streaky. Not necessarily a need but something nice to have.

Beauty Cosmetics PRO 20 Eye brushes

(B-T: Big Eyeshadow Brush, Lid brush, Blending brushes)

Big Eyeshadow brush

First on the eye brushes is the big eyeshadow brush. On the promotional photo from Beauty Cosmetics' website I though it's a dupe for my beloved MAC 239 but when I saw it personally, it's really big. This is perfect when you're in a rush and just need a wash of color in your eyes. The negative about this is it's scratchy. :( I tried to remedy it with using a conditioner like what I did to the face brushes but it remained that way. I kept this in my personal brushes because im too scared to use it for client.

Small eyeshadow brush

I really dont want negativity through my reviews but you need to be honest so that people will trust you, so im gonna say this ... It's probably the worst eyeshadow brush that existed. I wish this isnt scratchy because size-wise, dense-wise, this is the dupe of MAC 239. The size is perfect for lid color. But it hurts so bad that I have to stop using it. :( Im not sure if I'm the only one who got a bad batch of this, I hope so. because I would love people to love this and experience the same joy I have with mac 239 in a way lesser price.

Blending brushes

And then, there are the blending brushes. Forget the negativity about the two lid brush, embrace this blending brushes. THIS IS THE BEST. This actually made me buy them, because of the blending brushes. A good eyemakeup isnt good at all without the cleanness of the blending/transition of colors. And this does the job so so well.

First blending brush: This is tapered blending brush. I love using it on my crease to put a crease color.

Second blending brush: This is the domed blending brush which is for doing a smokey eyes.

Third blending brush. Some bloggers refer to this as a pencil/bullet brush but I treat it as my detailed blending brush. This makes doing the "outer v" corner so good. It's actually as good as MAC 219! I always reach out for this than that.

PS: Did I tell you I love this??? :))

Misc. brushes

(T-B: Brow Brush, Small angled brush, Definer brush, Fan Brush,

not in the photo: lip brush and mascara/small fan brush) 

Eyeliner/Brow Brush

Used to groom the brows or to put eyeliner on. But for me it's too big, and too dense to be used as any of the both. I used this though when creating a "winged" eye look.

Small angled brush

Another favorite! You can use this as a crease brush or as I use it, a nose contouring tool! I love that it's small, it can do a precise contouring at the bridge of the nose without messing the "highlight" part. It's not scratcy and it's the perfect size.

Definer brush

Seriously, what does this do? :)) I have no idea but sometimes I use this to "conceal" the lip area since it's too think to be an eyeliner brush.

Lip Brush

I use this for putting lipstick on .. but then I found another way to use it, and ever since I never used it as a lip brush --- an Eyeliner brush! It's the best one out there to do so. The stiffness and the length is great for lining the eyes.

Bent Eyeliner Brush

I was excited to use this one because it reminds me of my old Coastal Scents bent liner brush that I lost during one of my gigs a few years ago. But then it disappoints me because the hair is all-over the place. and it's too dense to be used as an eyeliner brush. Although on the website, they said you have to wet the tips to have a more precise lining and I will test it out in a couple of days, so ill probably edit this.

details of the bent-liner brush

Spoolie Brush

It does what it do, brush the brows upwards and removes clumps from your mascara!

Fan Brush

I love using fan brush as blush brush or bronzer blush (haha if there's such thing) but this one I find too flimsy.

In conclusion:

I give this brush set a 3.5 out 5 stars.

GOOD:

-Packaging wise is good, good leather brush roll.

- Inexpensive for Php1,400.00

-Perfect for new makeup artist

- Seller is really really nice.

BAD:

- Out of 20, you get 7 brushes that can be no use to you. Especially if you still dont have a separate brow brush.

- At first it have a smell that you wont like, but it goes away after a few washes.

That's it really. I think it's still a pretty good buy especially when you try those blending brushes. haha. (I really love them, obviously!)

Buy them at:

BEAUTY COSMETICS IN FB