Shen's Addiction: charm brushes

Here it is, ladies... the beauty conclusion of the year!

Is it the end of 2011 already? This year was a whirlwind of trials and happenings! I can't believe I survived it! But all in all, it's been amazing! As per tradition, I'll be sharing some of my top favorites for this year and some of my noted makeup discoveries that are not necessarily released this 2011 but made it to the top of charts.

But it's in no particularly order. I'm going to divide this post in two parts so you won't be overwhelmed. The photo below though will certainly give you an idea on what's going to be on the list. I'm also going to a separate post for my favorite skin care and those that I found really worked for me this year. So stay tuned for that...

In the meantime, here's Part ONE!

Makeup brushes are important part and I believe that if we don't invest on good ones, it's quite useless to buy makeup. To be honest, I didn't experience the full potential of all my makeup before I acquired better brushes. I started off with BareNaturals, then on Coastal Scents then the much expensive MAC brushes. With all the experimenting, I got dud ones that I wish I never laid eyes on... I even bought sets that I regret getting. I sold them instead... Those that made an impact stayed. Yes, I'm talking about my MAC, Ellana's and of course, my Charm Essential Makeup Brushes.

This year, Charm came up with really worthy ones that didn't have a hard time making it into the top of my favorites:

Charm Essential Pretty in Pink 14 Piece Vegan Brush Set

Although I did say that Charm Travel Pro is a Holy Grail brush set, the Charm Essential Pretty in Pink 14 Piece Vegan Brush Set crept its way into my heart. It's almost like a makeup artist's brushes! For me, this brush set is a dream come true for mineral makeup lover and those that hates scratchy brushes!

Charm Dream Brow Duo

Taming the brows and defining them can be quite a bother that we often skip this part. The Charm Dream Brow Duo certainly made it easier for me to tackle my monster-like brows. Want to have brows like Kim K? This is my recommendation!

Charm Gold Retractable Kabuki

Oh! This has got to be my most favorite brush of them all! This brush is all you ever need for retouching! At least it is for me. This one never leaves my bag. I love it to bits. You can use this brush for powder foundation, blush, highlighter and even bronzer! I even used it for liquid and cream makeup! That's what you need to look for a brush, how versatile it.

-o-

Now, on to the makeup! Makeup comes and goes in my opinion. I determine my favorites by the frequency I use it. That usually means that it has great pigmentation, easy to use, blends easy, has great coverage, has dual puporse or withstand the weather and my oily skin. Simple qualification, really.

Year 2011 gave me a lot of opportunities to try and fall in love with a lot of products... Who makes the cut? Read on!

Beauty Pro Cosmetics in Sweet and Smoky Palette and Crazy Colour Palette

There's something about seeing a friend's dream come true but it's another thing when you experience it for yourself. I felt that when I tried Beauty Pro Cosmetics for the very first time. What lovely makeup palettes these two are! If you're still iffy about getting other palettes, let me assure you that the Beauty Pro Cosmetic palettes are the best bet!

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette

Acquiring this palette was probably one of the best investment I made in makeup. The Urban Decay Anniversary palette have unique new shades that aren't found in other Urban Decay palette. It may not have a free primer but it certainly have a nice selection for creating various makeup looks! I can honestly say that you can skip getting other Urban Decay Palettes (if you heaven't gotten any) and just get this one!

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Matte Bronzer

I got a question on my Cbox on what contouring powder I prefer, and I guess this is it. After losing my MAC Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden, I was thankful to have this with me. It really works well as a contouring powder that I got a spare! For a sample on how it look, click here.

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel

I fell in love with this Bronzing Gel when I brought it with me to Boracay. I was first scared that that it would be hard to blend. But I knew that this type would be better for when going to the beach.. and it was! It was easy to apply, gives that natural contouring to my cheekbones and really brought out the bronze goddess in me!

The Body Shop Tea tree Concealer

Do you sometimes feel that you're worsening the condition of your skin by covering your pimples with concealers? I do! I do! When I purchased the Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer, it guilt went away because this one has tea tree it which helps heal my acne. This is a must have for girls who have tons of pimples and need coverage and further healing. This is also great for guys!

The Body Shop Brow and Liner Kit

One of the best shopping decisions I've ever made is to get me the Body Shop Brow and Liner Kit. I practically use it everyday. It gives me the right amount of color and it's one of the easiest palettes to use in creating perfect brows.

The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation

Mineral makeup lovers will love this cream foundation. I adore everything in the Extra Virgin Minerals line but this one topped the charts. If you want medium to full coverage of a cream foundie, better get a hold of this. It comes with its own synthetic brush, easy to blend and spread without worries that you'll clog your pores. Enjoy a matte effect especially when topped with your favorite powder foundation.

VMV Tarte-a-Tan Antioxidant Bronzing "Coco" Powder

It's quite apparent the love I have for bronzers! This one made is on the list because it's dye-free and ultimately safe for the skin! It's incredibly pigmented and even serve as a face powder for those with morena skin.

VMV Skin Bloom Blush in Heat

Whenever I would wear this blush, I would always get compliments on how nice it is and how it gives my skin a nice lovely flush. The nicest thing is, its my friends who aren't as into to makeup as I am who notices it.It's amazing what a blush can do to the skin. looking at it in the pan, it looks too orangery, but I'm glad it works well for my skintone!

VMV Ooh-La-Lash Volumizing Mascara

Mascaras are a girl's best friend as much diamonds and a little black dress. If you can shell out a few more bucks for a mascara, I urge you to get this one if you're the type who worries about chemicals and going for all-natural no-allergen type of makeup. You're doing your skin justice when you grab this tube asap. Not only will it give longer, more volumized lashes... it isn't a pain to get rid off.

Clinique Derma White Bright-C Liquid Makeup

I am so in love with this foundation that I hardly use it. I only use it on special occasions for fear that I might use it all up. But you would just need a little of it to get medium to heavy coverage. It being a part of the Derma White skincare, I love the dewiness it gives as it contains a good amount of Vitamin C. Great thing is this is a great foundation for all skin type. It may come with a high price tag with such little bottle but this is one great liquid foundation.

Clinique Superbalance Powder Makeup
Who wouldn't love mineral makeup that is freshly-shaved, controls oiliness, relieves skin dryness and doesn't need buffing. Just smooth the powder with the soft brush that come with the compact and you're set! This is one powder makeup that every mineral makeup enthusiast would love. I should know, I'm one!

Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara

This mascara creates a nice clean application and provides lengths that is natural. Apply a bit more swipes and you'll have that Glamour Extreme that it claims. the plastic brush wand gives a precise application and it's easy to remove. No clumps with this as far as I'm concern. :)

Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Red

When I first saw this shade on Karrot of Bobbi Brown, I fell in love. She just looked so sophisticated in her fashionable black dress and this lipstick made quite an impact to her whole look. All I can say is that all Bobbi Brown fans out there should have this is their collection. it glides on smoothly, great for all skintone and really makes a statement.

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That's it for Part One! Making these year-end post was quite harder than it would. :) It's a good thing that I've already reviewed many of these already and you can just click on the name to read more about each product. I find it hard not to just say, "I love this. Period!" #lol

So stay tuned tomorrow for Part two... then for the SkinCare faves. I'm excited about that! :) I hope you, too!

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I entitled this the "The Kind Brushes" becuase it reminded me of Alicia Silverstone's book, The Kind Diet. the book was a vegan one. On Oprah, Alicia explained that the reason why she called it The Kind Diet, was because it's not just being kind to your body but to animals as well.

It is exactly how I see Charm's new Essential Makeup brushes which is made of high quality animal cruelty-free synthetic fibers. It's truly a kind brush line as you are not only caring for your skin with this but also you not hurting or affecting any creatures in the process.

What else is there? These brushes nearly emulate how animal-haired brushes perform. It aims to provide that same blending experience that we got use to with our previous makeup brushes. I, for one, normally would prefer animal haired brushes.. But for the time I have been using these, I fell for the softness and silky feel of it!

If you're the type to not compromise your face but anything but the best, I'm recommeding these singles vegan type brushes.

Charm Essentials makeup brushes are made from a special, and superior grade of animal-friendly,vegan hair. Our makeup brushes ensure you a luxurious experience while applying makeup with our brushes that feel like silk on the skin. Create an endless array of beautifl looks with your Charm Essentials makeup brushes! We're your ally in beauty, thru and thru!

Powder Brush, Php399

"Apply your powder products, may they be pressed or loose with this luxuriously soft powder brush that distributes product evenly across the face. Works best with loose power and setting powder."

Powder brush is probably the first brush you will ever need. It's either to apply your powder foundatin (pressed or loose), or set your liquid foundation with it. It can also be used to apply blush, even body powder along your neck, decolletage and shoulders. It is one a must-have face brushes to own.

Angled Blush/Contour Brush, Php399

"This brush is created to apply blush products, wet or dry, on the cheeks, as well as contour the cheekbones to give the face its much-needed dimension."

Blush and contour brushes are highly regarded because they provide the dimension our face needs when we use makeup. Most often it comes in form just a bit smaller than a powder brush. Personally, I prefer an angled brush blush because it already doubles as contour brush. Angled blush brushes also fits enough on the apple of our cheeks that it deposits the right amount of shade. While in contouring, the slanted shape of this brush fits perfectly to shade the jawline.

Foundation Brush, Php399

"Apply your primer, and liquid foundation with ease using our Charm Essentials Foundation Brush."

Foundation brushes are important if you're one to use liquid foundation or thinking of acquiring one. The density of this brush provide even strokes for the coverage you want. Using foudnation brush makes application much faster as well. Double this brush as a concealer brush when you have a lot of blemishes and acne to cover.

Classic Blending Brush, Php250

"Charm Essentials Classic Blending Brush is your multi-tasking blending brush - it blends your eyeshadows into a seamless gradient so that you need not sport harsh edges on your eyes! Aside from that, it is also a useful brush to dust loose powder around the eye area, and apply a wash of eyeshadow on your lids."

Classic Blending Brush is one of my favorite brushes especially for applying color on the crease. Applying eye shadows can be tricky around the eye area. The trick it to blend-blend-blend. With a brush ike this one, blending is easy and it gives that gradation you need to avoid harsh lines.

Use this brush to set your under eye concealer with a lighter shade of foundation or a lighter setting powder to make last longer and give you more the appearance of brighter undereyes.

Use this as well for highlighter (even liquid ones) along the highest planes of your cheeks.

Big Eyeshadow/Concealer Brush, Php250

"Our multitasking Charm Big Eyeshadow Brush picks up, and distributes eyeshadow color efficiently on the lid, and can also work as a concealer brush. Apply eyeshadow wet or dry, you won't be disappointed with our Big Eyeshadow Brush!"

The beginning of an eye makeup look starts with an eyeshadow brush. With a vegan synthetic brush, you'll notice that the color deposit is a lot better as compared to regular animal-hair brushes. Packing on shades is easy with an eyeshadow brush like this. Use for your lid wash, base, lid color and even creating the outer V and applying highlight to your browbone.

Not fond of eye makeup? The Big eyeshadow brush comes in handy for concealing dark under eyes. I personally would not use this for spot concealing but on scars, surgery marks and other bigger blemishes to cover. Remember, use lighter shade in the under eye area but use same skintone or tone darker concealer for blemishes.

Angled Eyeshadow Brush, Php250

Angled eyeshadow brush isn't usually a preffered choice for makeup enthusiast I know. But this brush proved useful in shaping that V on the outer part of the lid as well as packing colors on the lids.

Yes, should it come to that... you can use this brush for concealing. One of the perks of a brush being synthetic is that you can use it with different makeup products.

Shading Brush, Php250

"This brush is a hardworking multitasker as it can apply color on your lids, apply powder on your undereyes, define your crease, and even contour your nose"

Shading brushes often gets a question mark on its head. How to use it anyway? Apparently, you can it's lot of different ways! It's best for nose contouring. Just go easy on the product and apply it with light hand.

Defining the crease, is also easy with brush but go easy on application as the density can attract too much product. We don't want our contouring so obviously done.

I love this though for under eye concealing as it does the job faster and it buffs the product well.

Crease Blending Brush, Php275

"Charm Essentials Crease Blending Brush is a must-have blending brush, as it defines and contours your crease, and also blends eyeshadow into a seamless gradient."

Probably the most coveted brush piece in the bunch, Blending brush is the reason why we can create numerous look. Made for applying colors on the crease for definition, you can easily create smokey eyes with a blending blush like this one. the softness of the brush makes blending a lot easier and the color deposit is impressive.

Pencil Point Brush, Php250

"This brush is designed to further accentuate the outer-V of your eyes using more intense color. The precise pencil-like shape of this brush also allows you to smudge your eyeliner and perfect your smoky eyes!"

Pencil point are God-sent for makeup enthusiasts who want to create a different amount of looks. Pencil points are used in applying eyeshadow on the lower lids for doing smokey eyes, it helps smudge eyeliner to tone down it's pigementation and best of all, it helps create a false crease especially for those who do not have one.

Brushes like this, that is soft and dense at the same time, are hard to come by. Notice the precise tip? That's what you're looking for when you want a smudger. What I noticed with other smudger is it not as soft and compact that I often stray to the thickness that I want my eyeliner to be when smudged. This brush is just right.

Small Eyeshadow/Precise Concealer Brush, Php230

You can never have too many eye shadow brushes. That's what I always say. Better yet if they are synthetic since synthetic ones doesn't discriminate in products. As expected, this brush applies eye shadows or concealer. The main function of this brush though for me is spot concealing as I do have blemishes that need to be covered when I use a lighter coverage foundation. It's dense enough and deposit is impressive.

Angled Eyeliner Brush, Php250

Eyeliner and eyebrow brushes are a definite must have if you can't get out of the house with out prepping your brows or lining your eyes. That girl, is me! I love the thinness of this brush as it creates a flawless line with just one application. It's does not scratch and it's easy to clean. I think I need several of this.

I also love using synthetic eyeliner brushes as smudger for the under eyes since they are softer from their animal-hair counterparts.

Spoolie Brush, Php199

Spoolie brush is a bushy brow's BFF. Tame those brows with this brush after defining it with your eyebrow pencil or brow powder.

Precise Lip Brush, Php199

A lip brush comes in handy when applying lipsticks that needs precise application like plums, reds and avant garde looks. Or to just ensure that you're not contaminating your lipsticks. Since this one has a cap, its easy to lug this around in your vanity kit when you need to retouch where ever or whenever.

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What I love about the Charm Essential Single Vegan Brushes...

Every brush is as amazingly soft as a feather
Easy to wash and dries faster comapred to other synthetic brushes
Picks up products well
Deposits color to the eyes or face well
Affordable!
Can be purchased individually!
Great addition to my already growing brush collection
Animal friendly brushes
Charmingly cute in its pink handles

What I don't...

So far, I see no downside with these brushes. I love all of them!

For personal uses, it's quite easy to get charmed by these brushes and convert. So much more for those who are just beginning to collect their own.

I imagine those with sensitive skin, moms and people going green will appreciate the vegan high quality brushes of Charm Essentials Vegan Makeup Brushes. And the fact that they can buy them individually gives them the freedom to handpick the brushes they only want.

Although I may still reach for my animal-haired brushes, I appreciate the concept of synthetic ones and how incredibly soft they are against the skin. So rest assured that these new babies will gain mileage in a lot of my makeup looks. Truth be told, these are the main brushes that I've been using for the past few weeks since I got them.

And comparing them to other mineral makeup synthetic brushes like Ecotools, I personally think that this is a lot better, cuter and more affordable. :)

If you want to get your own Charm Essential Vegan Makeup Brushes, you can get them via www.beautyandminerals.com or you can visit them at the Mommy Mundo Bazaar at the Rockwell Tent this November 19-20, 2011.