Size and shape of a mascara brush, and density and flexibility of the bristles are important when choosing a mascara. The formula is relevant, but they're all similar and the brush is what really defines a great mascara. Depending on your needs, eye shape and lash length, the right wand is necessary. 

Buxom Lash mascara is my favorite. The hourglass-shaped brush has long, closely packed plastic bristles that evenly coat your lashes without clumping. Want length and drama? You will love Buxom Lash. For a more natural look, start at the lash line and work your way up (or down), applying layers until you've reached your desired thickness. This will create a curled lash with more definition at the lash line. I focus on my outer lash line and apply less as I move towards the inner corner of my eye. For thick, dramatic lashes, apply one or two coats on the ends first and then apply to the lash line. Love to layer coats of mascara - this is the brush for you. 

The larger your mascara brush, the more difficult it is to reach the outer lash line and coat your bottom lashes. The micro wand is perfect for coating 'every' lash. Before applying my volumizing Buxom Lash mascara, I apply Intensifying Long-Wear Mascara by Bobbi Brown at the outer corner of my eyes. Heavier mascara at the lash line and outer corner creates drama and intensifies your look. 

Want thicker, plumped lashes? Try a large, dense brush. Oversized wands pick up a lot of product and thus allow you to apply more product with every sweep. Wiggle the brush at the roots, so the fibre bristles can wrap around your lashes for 360° coating. This method will seriously plump your lashes and create major volume.

Tapered wands are a two-in-one brush shape. The densely packed fibre bristles and thick base will plump your lashes. The skinny tip allows for more precision and coating those hard to reach lashes.

The curved brush is shaped similar to your lash line and allows for even coverage. This brush is great for curling your lashes. 

A Spiral brush or curved bristles grab onto your lashes, coating every little hair evenly. You can create serious volume with the style wand.

I had never seen a Round brush until Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes mascara. I love this mascara and the brush is excellent for precise application. You can focus on each section individually, rather than the 'all-over sweep' you get with tradition brushes. The round brush is also great for coating the outer corner giving you a more dramatic look.

Dramatically change your look AND simplify your beauty routine with Benefit Gimme Brow volumizing fiber gel, Buxom Lash Mascara and Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme. The 'easy' fresh-faced, summer look is my favorite and I'm a self-proclaimed pro at this 'no makeup, makeup' look. Gimme Brow, Buxom mascara and Extreme lip plumper are my 'I can't live without' makeup products for this simple look. 

If you follow my blog, you know I'm no stranger to lip injections! Unfortunately, filler diminishes and you can only inject so much in a period of time. When your accustom to full lips and awaiting your next visit to the dermatologist, Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme will give you the ultimate pouty lip. The non-sticky gloss will give you an 'extreme' tingly feeling (love that) and your lips will appear much fuller within minutes. I have tried too many lip plumpers to mention and Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme still reigns supreme. 

Of course, when a new 'revolutionary' mascara hits the beauty scene, I'm the first to buy it, but I always go back to Buxom Lash Mascara. This mascara goes on light and builds nicely, without clumping. There's never too much product on the brush and the little bristles do a great job separating your lashes evenly. The brush is big, so getting into the corner can be an issue - Bobbi Brown Intensifying Long Wear Mascara is perfect for the outer corner. I know artists say to let the first coat dry and the aptly the next, but I disagree. Continuously applying Buxom Lash mascara will create longer, voluminous lashes with no mess.

Benefit Gimme Brow volumizing fiber gel is a fairly new product in my makeup routine. Despite its newbie status, this little tube takes priority. I can do without mascara, but not brow gel. Gimme Brow has a thick, creamy texture that allows you to layer the product and build up your eyebrow hairs. Tip: let the first coat dry before applying the next. The short wand and little tapered brush (it's all about the brush) allow for precise application. Using little pressure and short strokes you can transform your brows in little time. The product does claim to adhere to skin allowing you to create artificial hairs. I prefer to keep it natural and avoid 'overdoing' my brows. Penciled-in brows look great in pics, but not so nice up close. Benefit Gimme brow gel is a 'MUST-HAVE'.

I purchased Bobbi's Skincare On The Fly set in the Sephora 'Check-out trap'. You know, where they sell mini versions of all our favorite cosmetics at exorbitant prices - I love that section! I always find great little products and kits while waiting for my turn in the line. What starts out as 'I made it under budget' quickly becomes 'oh shit! How did that happen?' 

I have been using Bobbi Brown makeup for years; it's practically all I use. After recently dabbling into the Bobbi Brown skincare line (the Miraculous Makeover Mask Trio), I decided I'm loving this stuff and gotta see what else there is. This Skincare On The Go kit is excellent! I was hesitant to wash my face with cleansing 'oil', but after a week of no pimples or extra oily skin, I'm hooked. The smell is refreshing, and your skin feels super soft. The Hydrating Eye Cream and Face Cream are amazing too. They have a creamy-jelly texture that absorbs quickly and leaves your skin bright and plumped. These creams are excellent under makeup. They create the perfect, nourished canvas for better makeup application and an even look. The Hydrating Face Cream quickly became my favorite. I've already purchased the full-size face cream (pictured above) and plan to buy the Cleansing Oil in the near future.

Bobbi Brown sets are a great way to try a number of products, at a fraction of the cost. If you don't like them or they disagree with your skin, you didn't invest 'too' much money. If you like the products, even better, cause now you have mini versions for travel.

Another reason to shop bobbibrowncosmetics.com rather than visit the beauty counter. With every $100 order, you receive a Bobbi Brown gift with purchase. The gift usually consists of three mini (deluxe size) products and this trio changes often. Being a mini fanatic, I wait for my favorite products in mini form and then make my online purchase (I know!). 

I just received a Long-Wear Eye Pencil, a mini Eye-Opening Mascara, and a mini Instant Long-Wear makeup Remover. All my 'travel' eye makeup needs are met. Now, just weeks later, there is a new trio available. The Bronze Babe Set includes a mini lip gloss, a mini bronzing powder (love), and WAIT a mini face blender brush. I WANT!

*Remember to look at the very top of the web page for the gift with the purchase code.

Y'all know I love miniature versions of my favorite products and will go to great lengths to get them! Bobbi Brown has 'online exclusive' trios including one of three beauty-boosting face masks, along with two mini (deluxe sample size) products to compliment the face mask. For an extra $13 you get two mini products - I'm all in! If you're gonna buy the masks anyway, purchase them online and get the trio. It's a great way to try other Bobbi Brown products without paying full-price. I'm a huge Bobbi Brown fan and would love to buy every product (that suits my needs), but it's expensive stuff. bobbibrowncosmetics.com often has exclusive sets and a gift with purchase - more mini's! Of course you gotta into the store for makeup, color choices and custom advise, but once you've determined your product line, shop bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

I posted about these masks a few months ago, but let me recap; I'm branding these masks - The Miraculous Makeover Mask Trio. Instant Detox, Radiance Boost and Skin Nourish can be used together or individually to address your specific needs. I'm obsessed!

The Instant Detox is my favorite. This clay-based mask is creamy, has a refreshing citrus scent and kinda cools your skin while you detox. This mask will leave you feeling refreshed and super clean. The Instant Detox deep cleanse removes excess oil, tightens my skin and my complexion looks AMAZING! I use the Instant Detox and the Radiance Boost twice a week - This deep cleanse/radiance boosting treatment is my favorite facial pick-me-up. The online exclusive Beauty Sleep Trio includes: Instant Detox Mask (75ml), Extra Repair Moisture Balm (7ml), and Extra Repair Eye Cream (3ml).

The superfine Walnut Grain Beads in Radiance Boost, gently exfoliate your skin and improve circulation. This mask leaves my skin feeling super-tight (I like that), and my complexion is brighter. The orange scent is invigorating - I'm partial to citrus scents in facial care cosmetics. The online exclusive Radiant Glow Trio includes: Radiance Boost Mask (75ml), Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm (5ml), and Hydrating Face Tonic (15ml).

I also use the Skin Nourish once a week before bed. This lightweight mask is creamy, the scent is calming, and I love a mask that you can leave-on throughout the night. In the morning you will have plump smooth, nourished skin. The online exclusive Thirsty Skin Trio includes: Skin Nourish Mask (75ml), Extra Treatment Lotion (15ml), and Extra Face Oil (3ml). 

I am a huge fan of Bobbi Brown makeup brushes and am super excited that the latest limited edition travel brush set includes a blush brush. This is unheard of for Bobbi Brown! For every regular sized makeup brush I own (except the blush brush), I had a travel size to match and have been on the hunt for a appropriately sized, good quality brush. YAY! My set is complete - and then some.. The blush brush is amazing and reminds me that a new blush brush allows for perfect application, so of course, now I want a new regular sized! 

This set includes an ultra-fine eye liner brush, eye shadow brush, concealer blending brush, eye sweep brush, foundation brush and blush brush. Combined with travel brushes from my previous BB sets, I am stocked and ready for makeup application on the road. The travel case can hold many more brushes, is slim and chic. The quality of these brushes is excellent. The brush heads are soft, natural feeling and rarely do the hairs fall out. What's great about this set, is the brass plated handles are compact, but the brush heads are full size. 

One thing I should mention is that after the first wash, the blush brush had a really pungent smell. It was unbearable, so I washed it again and then again with beautyblender liquid cleanser. The smell has diminished, but remains. I'm still gonna use it (funny scent and all).

I have reservations about beautyblender and until recently was quite content using Bobbi Brown brushes. It seems like everyone who's anyone (worth taking beauty advice from) uses the beautyblender, so I decided to give it a try and you know me - I don't half ass anything! I purchased two beautyblender's (pro and pure), beautyblender micro.mini and the blotterazzi. 

The blotterazzi is a reusable oil absorbing sponge. There are two pink sponges inside the plastic mirrored compact. The water drop shaped compact has a vent at the back and a clear, hygienic separator to keep the sponges fresh. I couldn't figure out if I was meant to carry both sponges or just one. I decided one is enough and keep the hygienic film on top, so the residue doesn't get on the mirror. After all, you should wash the sponge each night and I can't imagine producing enough oil to soak both sponges in one day! Oh, and these sponges should be washed prior to the first use (very important). 

The unique shape (a flat version of the beautyblender) allows you to blot the contours of your face with ease. Just press and hold for a second. Compared to blotting papers, this sponge is much easier to use. Your makeup will not come off on the sponge and I find it allows you re-set your makeup. If you have oily skin, you know that makeup separates throughout the day and while traditional blotting papers pick-up oil, they don't help with this issue. As your pressing and holding this squishy sponge against your face, kinda give it a wiggle to diminish makeup separation. The blotterazzi does remove quite a bit of oil from your face, but it is not as affective as blotting papers. You are still left with a little glow and if you want a matte result, this is not the product for you. While the original beautyblender may be a tiny bit more dense, these sponges are the same material, so I suggest using your 'dry' beautyblender to remove your facial oil and see if you like the result before purchasing the blotterazzi. 

I will continue to use the blotterazzi, but on those super oily days, I'm going back to blotting papers. On that note, I don't think I would re-purchase this product. I still have not mastered the original beautyblender, but will get back to you soon with my review..