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Real Techniques Sponge and Brush Favorites

March 27, 2017 // 19 Comments

## Disclosure: This post sponsored by Mirum Shopper but all opinions are my own##

Discovering beauty tools created by makeup artists, is always inspiring. I have to admit that if I am going to sit through a YouTube makeup tutorial, typically I will favor learning from a working makeup artist almost every time. Enter Nic and Sam Chapman known to the world as the sisters behind the brand they created, Real Techniques brushes and beauty sponge. These two British makeup pros have tons of easy to follow videos on how to create different makeup looks using their line of makeup brushes and sponges. Every brush and sponge has a how-to video. Their videos range from very clean looks to more sophisticated red-carpet worthy creations.

Real Techniques brushes and sponges are available at Walmart stores nationwide and come in a accessible price range. While perusing at Walmart, I picked up a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, a Real Techniques Expert Concealer Brush and a set of two Miracle Complexion Sponges. Since I also do makeup professionally, I have have quite a bit to say about working with sponges and synthetic brushes to buff skin. With a little practice and patience, a sponge can help apply, blend and buff your base beautifully. Creating skin that looks and feels like skin is one of my favorite things to do when I apply makeup, on myself and on clients.

The Real Techniques sponge comes in a flat surface, which is unique and serves a purpose. This sponge can be used wet or dry (I like using mine wet). The shape of Real Techniques sponges makes it easier to get into the inner corners of my eyes, around the nose and the edge of the neck/ chin. The Real Techniques sponge is a handy tool for creating a beautiful finish to your foundation and or concealer application.

Also I should note the Real Techniques Expert Face and Real Techniques Expert Concealer Brushes are excellent choices for applying your favorite complexion products. These brushes offer an additional alternative to creating a lovely finish (if you don’t feel like using your sponge regularly).

I love creating looks that are “no makeup but I am wearing makeup”, this always gets me the most compliments and it is what I love to do on myself (and my clients). Having the right tools is essential! Stop by your local Walmart’s beauty aisle, and you’ll earn 15 kicks on Shopkick [click here for iOS] and [here for Google] for scanning Real Techniques products plus 150 for uploading your receipt when you purchase Real Techniques products.

Do you own any Real Techniques brushes or sponges? Tell me your experience with them.

Filed Under: Foundation, Makeup, Makeup Artist

Delicious Breakfast Cereal Options

September 11, 2016 // 9 Comments

great-grains-delicious-breakfast-cereal-options

Breakfast is my most beloved meal of the day. I feel a good breakfast sets the tone for a good productive day. Nutrition is very important and I like to break up my most important meal in two parts. By midmorning, I love adding a nutritious cereal to my routine, it helps me with energy and carries to lunch without feeling too hungry. Breakfast is the type of meal that is so crucial, it is often overlooked.

great-gains-delicious-breakfast-cereal-options-parfait

My most favorite breakfast dish is a parfait using Great Grains Raisins, Dates and Pecans cereal. Why? It has a balanced nuts, grains and fiber. I love that it is crunchy and keeps me fueled until I am able to eat lunch, no matter what. Be sure to grab your coupon for Great Grains, this is a great offer happening right now, try it out for yourself. If I am on the go, I’ll pack my cereal in a small container and take it with me for when I get hungry.

great-grains-nutrition

But wait, Great Grains offers more flavors too. If nuts and dates aren’t your thing, there is Great Grains Cranberry Almond Crunch. There are many ways you can dress up your cereal and even make recipes, I noticed there are smoothies and bowls to be had using Great Grains flavors.

What is your favorite breakfast meal? Tell me in the comments section.

Filed Under: Anti-Ageing, BB Cream, Beauty, Blogging, Body Care, bridal, CC Cream, Concealer, Disaster, Eyebrows, Eyelashes, Eyeliner, Eyes, Eyeshadow, Face Cleanser, Facials, Fashion, Featured, Foundation, Fragrances, Gifts, Hair, Hydration, Hypoallergenic, Image, Lifestyle, Lips, Makeup, Makeup Artist, mascara, Moisturiser, Nails, Oils, Personal, Photography, Primer, Sale, Serum, Shopping, Skincare, Spa, SPF, Style, Sunglasses, Tips, Uncategorized, Wrinkles

LOTD With Make Up Forever Water Blend Foundation

July 12, 2016 // 10 Comments

##PRESS SAMPLE##

MUFE Waterblend Foundation

MUFE Excessive Lash Mascara

The newly released Make Up Forever Water Blend foundation is here. I’ve been playing around with it and I am loving the texture, quality, finish. This new formula is created with 80% water, meant for long-lasting wear and is waterproof.

One of the main reasons why I like the new MUFE Waterblend lots is because of how sheer and light it feels on my skin. I started testing Make Up Forever Water Blend during one of the hottest, most humid weeks we’ve had here in New Jersey, 90F daily heat. I was impressed, needless to say, my skin looked overall as it was, natural, dewy, and foundation did not budge. **See my last image, I don’t look thrilled but I really was 🙂

The actual formula that is Make Up Forever Water Blend is 80% purified water infused with vitamin B5. This foundation is available in 20 shades and is basically a reformulation of the old MUFE Face and Body foundation. This is great for situations when you have to apply makeup to your body and it needs to go undetected. Also, for myself I did not use anything but my regular skincare to prep before applying this foundation, I feel it does not need layering too much pre product. Of course, I am giving my professional opinion on this and the experience I have working with MUFE foundations for more than six years consistently.

While I think the texture is buildable, the coverage of this foundation is meant to be sheer, natural like skin application. In my press package, I also received a full size Make Up Forever Excessive Lash mascara which I am also wearing in my LOTD. The MUFE Excessive Lash mascara wand is pretty awesome, I like how thin and small for detailing it is, again great for building volume and length.

Just to explain the range of color within Make Up Forever, Y305 is a soft beige with yellow undertone, so definitely not for fair/ pale skin tones or deeper red/ yellow, same with Y325. If you are fair, my suggestion is to go with letter R in the range starting with R210- R240, although I feel there isn’t quite one alabaster tone in this range yet. That being said, I never truly feel all foundations work universally, sometimes you have to use adjustors to match correctly. Also, Make Up Forever has a great range for deeper skin tones, starting in the Y445 – Y500.

Make Up Forever Waterblend retails for $43
Make Up Forever Excessive Lash mascara retails for $25
– All these will be available at MUFE stores and Sephora retail/ online

Additional products used on my LOTD
Madina Chic and Shine Highlighter (my own purchase)
Fiona Stiles Radiant Aqua Eye Veil (my own purchase, used as liner)
Charlotte Tilbury Rockstar Bronzer (my own purchase)

Make Up Forever Waterblend Foundation Swatches

MUFE Waterblend on

Filed Under: Foundation, Makeup

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I am Norah - a makeup artist in SOMA, NJ. I blog about
lifestyle, beauty, fashion and healthy living.

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