TOTT! ELF Powder Brush (Flat Top)!

The best way to make foundation and makeup last is setting it with powder. And how you apply the powder is very important. Equally as important is the tool you use to apply the powder.

Other than the powder puff, which is one of the best btw, the E.L.F. Powder Brush (Flat Top) is my one to go to brush in setting foundations with powder. In fact it’s the only thing I use nowadays with my clients. The brush is so much easier to clean than the powder puff.

What I really like about this brush is the fact that it has a flat top. Its flat top is perfect in setting in the foundation. If you put the powder onto the skin using the flat top it will seal the foundation onto your skin completely (almost).

Unlike a traditional powder brush, which takes away the foundation when you swipe it onto the skin with powder, elf powder brush will not. As you tap the flat top of the brush on your skin with powder it will press the foundation making it stick with the skin even more.

 Here's what the website describe this brush:

This new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush! Creates a professional sculpted look. Full coverage colour. Use for powder or blush for perfect contouring.

The brush is soft but sturdy enough not to give when the flat top is press onto the skin.When I set the foundation with powder I dip the brush into powder and tap off the excess. Then I tap powder using the flat top starting from the forehead going to the hairline then down to the cheek area then the outer part of the face. I tap and press as I go making sure that every part of the face that I applied with foundation was never skipped. This way the, I am confident that the foundation will not budge, will stay put and will last longer.

For demo purposes I'm using a darker foundation than my skin color to make the result more visible.

Step 01: Place enough powder on the cover of the powder container.
Step 02: Dip brush.
Step 03: Tap off the excess.
Step 04: Tap and press the flat surface of the brush onto the skin.

Easy, right? Check below photos to compare the area without and with powder.

The area we set with powder using E.L.F. powder brush looks natural and flawless.

Other that setting the foundation with powder. I also use this brush to contour the face. The side of the brush is perfect for creating that nose line and that line under the cheek to make your face look slimmer. Then I used the flat part to blend where I contour to eliminate harsh line.

I have two. One for setting the powder (taped with red-green tapes) and the other one is for contouring (taped with red-green-yellow tapes).

The brush is so easy to clean, since it is synthetic made of Taklon it also dries a lot quicker than my other synthetic brushes.

I've heard that other people also use this brush for putting foundations (liquid, cream, powder, etc.) but I haven't tried it yet since I already found other brushes perfect for that job. Some even use this brush in applying blush on the apples of the cheek. That's how versatile this brush is. And I say these reasons make this brush a keeper.

Plus the Php 249.00 price tag doesn't really hurt the pocket.

There's nothing bad that I can think of to say against this brush, really.

Verdict: Love. Like. Nice. Skip. Drain.

This brush is really nice to have and has become a 'must have' in my kit.

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Makeovers! Shakeovers!

One thing I like about grooming and make-up is the makeover. You get to use your artistic skill to bring out the great features of the person you are doing make-up and hide the parts that they do not want to be highlighted. Sometimes people are used to their daily make-up routines that they no longer made an impact because it is the look that they always wear – so makeovers from time to time will help people see them differently and it’s very refreshing.

My friend Marge, the very good/artistic jewelry designer of Estrellas Manila and entrepreneur for Wall to Wall, and I paid a visit to our friend Engie (one of my make-up artist friend and mentor) and Pen (photographer) apartment so that they could check out my make-up skill. I get to do makeovers on Marge and Engie that day but I will be showing you today the look that I created for Marge.

 Marge photo by Me

 
Marge is acidic so foundation tends to turn darker when contact with her skin. She also has a very oily skin. Under eye puffiness that are slightly darker that the rest of her skin are some of her main concerns. These are the things that I need to consider in doing her makeover.

First I have to prep her skin (I will have a separate entry on this including primer…). I first use corrector under her eye to combat dark under eye circles and puffiness and set it with loose powder. Then mix two kinds of foundation to match her skin tone. Making sure that the products I used for her are water based since she naturally has oily skin. Then spot concealing on areas that needed more coverage. Then I set the foundation and concealer with loose powder. Contouring and highlight are then applied.

Skin Prep the first step to a flawless face

 
On to her eye makeup, I first use primer on her entire lid to help eyeshadows to become more pigmented and will last longer since we’re having lunch later that day and probably end up having dinner there also. Then I applied eyeshadow with the same color as her skin from her lash line up to her brow bone as base. Then applied darker brown with orange tone on her entire lid. Then darker brown (darker than the brown with orange tone) is applied to outer part of the eye and blend it up to her crease to create depth and contour. With the same eyeshadow color I also applied it on her lower lash line.  Then apply black eyeshadow close to upper lash liner. To finish it off, I applied a pearly flesh tone on her brow bone, inner corner of the eyes, and center of the lid to highlight that part of her eye. Make sure that every shade is well blended.

Applying eyeshadow using Dollface 88 Earth Color Palette

 
Then I applied gel eyeliner on her upper lash line and extend it slightly to create a wing effect. This will help contour her eyes more. I curl her eyelashes and put on a single coat of mascara. Then I applied two false eyelashes (the second one cut in half and put it in the outer part of the eye) and put another coat or two of mascara.

I just filled in her eyebrows with dark brown color for more definition.

To make a natural looking blush I combined two blush colors. First a peach shade and on top of that a cinnamon blush shade is applied.

Since I am going for a natural look on her I put on a lipstick with a beige peach shade on it on top of a lip liner.

And that finishes the look.

Check the before-and-after look below:

 

 Marge used Anime contact lens

Her make-up stayed the whole day until she removed it. Her skin becomes a bit oily on the evening but blotting it with tissue and it’s good as new.

Check the video below where Pen interviewed me about how I feel about the look I just made for Marge.

 

Having fun after the makeover

Listed below are the products used for this look. You may click on the product name for more info about it.

Face Primer: Skin Food Rice Water Mochi cream base

Corrector: Nyx concealer in a jar in Orange, Elf concealer corrector palette using the Green one, Jazzy photo ready in PR-001

Concealer: Covergirl and Olay Simple Agless eye concealer in 215

Foundation: Revlon PhotoReady in 003 mixed with L’oreal True Match in G3

Powder: Nars Loose Powder in Eden mixed with Fashion 21 in #1.

Contour and Highlight: Dollface

Eyes: Elf Eyelid Primer in Sheer, Dollface 88 Earth Color Palette

Eyeliner: Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

Eyebrows: Wet and Wild Ultimate Brow Kit

Cheeks: Maybelline Blush in Peachy Sweetie and Creamy Cinnamon

Lips: L’oreal in Sandalwood Beige and Etude House Lipliner

Hope you enjoy reading this blog and comments are well appreciated.

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