How to Conceal a Zit

Yikes! That's a big one!

Hello, my lovelies! Because of Hurricane Sandy, my parade was rained inside all day, but I got a lot of work done, thankfully. Of that work includes this photo tutorial on how to conceal an unsightly blemish. Every teenager gets zits, pimples, blemishes, whatever you want to call them. How to conceal them is a lifelong skill you'll want to know forever.  ;)

Because I have an HD Camera, you can only see the difference slightly, but in person, there's a dramatic difference. Try it out, and you'll see!

You'll Need: Concealer, Foundation, Foundation Brush, Concealer Brush (optional)

I used: Too Faced Flexible Coverage Concealer (but only because it was the only one at my disposal at the time), Sephora Mattifying Foundation, BareMinerals makeup brushes.

Stay beautiful! 

Billy B Beauty Brush Sets

The Billy B Beauty Master Brush Set - $250

Hello, my lovelies! It's been a busy weekend what with a major bar mitzvah to attend today... If I can arrange my tripod properly I'll try to take pictures and video for you. You'll see something sometime this week.

I'm blogging today because, as an official member of Beautylish, I was alerted about a new product set by Billy B Beauty. It's called the Billy B Brush Set, and it comes in a master set (featuring all the brushes in the collection), and eyes/lips/skin/contouring sets. Just like the Ocho Loco Eye Pencils, I thought about the pricing of the sets. Being a bargain hunter like myself, my most expensive brush is the $28 BareMinerals Full Flawless Application Brush, and I didn't even buy that, in came in a starter kit my aunt gave to me. So it got me thinking, makeup brushes can be expensive. Where do you buy your makeup brushes? What's your price range? 

My personal opinion? I can get eye/lip brushes from Icing by Claire's for no more than $6, and they work fine. But when it comes to foundation and concealer brushes, I'm a strong believer those are worth splurging, because they need to be high quality, and they need to be durable (so many washes!). That's why I use BareMinerals brushes for my "major" makeup tasks. 

But what do you think? Let me know, and tell me your favorite makeup brushes! And take a look at this Billy B Brush Set, I want to know what you think.

Stay beautiful!

Ask Autumn: What is Setting Powder?

Hello, my lovelies! Lately readers have been asking me a lot of beauty related questions, and I decided to answer them on the blog on the new Ask Autumn feature! When you ask a question, I'll answer it on Ask Autumn.

Today's Question: In a lot of tutorials I see, I'm told to put setting powder on my face at the end of the look. What is setting powder? What is it used for? How do I use it?

-- Raina

My Answer: Setting Powder, also known as finishing powder, is used to complete a makeup look. We use setting powder to make our makeup last longer, and reduce oiliness on the face. It absorbs sweat and oils on your face so the makeup doesn't come off, and that in turn takes away shine on your face, making it ideal for oily skin types. Setting powder provides an "airbrushed finish" and gives your skin a natural, matte glow. It softens the features on your face and reduces fine lines' appearances.

Setting powder comes in two forms: loose powder and compact powder. Loose powder comes in a little jar and is the kind of powder that spills. Use a large, fluffy makeup brush to apply this powder. Compact powder comes in a little case, and can't spill. You can use either a brush or a sponge/powderpuff to apply this powder.

I have dry combination skin, so I don't use setting powder to absorb oils on my face. I use it to give my skin an airbrushed finish. My favorite setting powder right now is the BareMinerals Tinted Mineral Veil. This fantastic loose powder (for $20) sets my makeup and softens my features. The slight tint prevents my face from looking ghostly, and a little goes a long way! I've been using it for months, it's money well spent!

Do you use setting powder? What brands do you like? Let me know in the comments or shoot me an email! And if you have questions you'd like to be answered in Ask Autumn, send them in to aislesofbeauty@gmail.com!

Stay beautiful!