MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brush Collection.

There has been one key component missing in the MAKE UP FOR EVER brand since its inception until now and it is something I have noticed; makeup brushes. That's because Creator & Artistic Director Dany Sanz is a perfectionist and it took her over five years to create the new MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brush Collection, the most expansive luxury brush collection available today.

Dany set out to reinvent the makeup artists' most vital tool with this extensive set. The range includes brushes from everyday must-haves to highly customized tools to create the most intricate and artistic effects that only trained makeup artists would need. The five year process involved testing a variety of synthetic fibers that mimic the silky softness of natural hair. The construction of each brush involved 25 unique stages, and was hand-crafted by a total of 30 people from start to finish.

What also makes this brush collection unique is the specific synthetic fiber technology that is used in several diameters and types: wavy or straight depending on the required use. When fibers are straight, application is more generous and precise, while wavy bristles are more splayed, allowing for a lighter and freer application. A unique combination of the two fiber textures gives infinite creative possibilities.

When shopping for a brush, look for a number in the range of which part of your face you are shopping for:

100s = complexion products
200s = eye products
300s = lip product
400s = brushes designed for professional makeup artists and special effects

I can tell when I use a run of the mill makeup brush versus a high quality makeup brush. I try so many makeup brushes from high end brands to mass produced all the time and am disappointed often. I have been continually wowed with each new MAKEUP UP FOR EVER Artisan Brush I try. I have a few favorites that now have a permanent place on my vanity.

#270 - Angled Eyebrow Brush $21.00
This eyebrow brush is good for creams or powders. It is a short and firm angled brush that is used to fill in eyebrows with precision, as well as blend brow pencils in for a more natural result.

#228 -  Precision Shader Brush, Medium $25.00
This eyeshadow brush is great for all shadows, pressed, loose or cream. It is medium, dense and rounded, with no sharp angles. Its paddle shape and flexibility are used to apply, blend and smudge all types of eye products quickly for an even and intense result. It's especially good for the eyebrow arch.

#216 - Precision Blender Brush, Medium $25.00
It is medium, rounded and dense. It is used to precisely smudge products in the crease of the eye. Due to its density, product collection is generous with high payoff.

#104 - Foundation Brush, Small $35.00
This is the classic foundation brush used by make up enthusiasts. It is a small, tapered, flat brush with wide bristles ideal for applying and blending cream or liquid foundations accurately and quickly for an even result all over.

#128 - Precision Powder Brush $52.00
Long and flat brush with a tapered tip designed mainly for use on the face, neck and upper shoulders. Ideal for precise powder application with a flawless result thanks to its layered and oval head.

#148 - Blending Blush Brush $55.00
This small, flared dualpurpose brush provides a light finish with a simple, ethereal touch. It is ideal for use with powder and cream product for shading, coloring or highlighting, and its small size creates a precise application of blush and highlighters. Its extreme softness is also well-suited for applying make up to sensitive skin.

#176 - Concealer Brush Medium $30.00
Wider than the traditional concealer brush, this firm, flat brush has a pointed tip and is used to blend and touch up foundations and concealers on large areas. The pointed tip also allows it to be used on smaller areas for added precision.

The MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brushes are all carried on Sephora.com, while select brushes are at Sephora stores and MAE UP FOR EVER boutiques.

EcoTools® Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set.

Fall is here. It is so not my favorite time of year (I LOVE SUMMER!), but it is the time of year that feels like a new year for me. It's all about new beginnings. Of course, this carries over to makeup. Not only new makeup, but a new makeup style.

As the seasons are changing, earth-friendly beauty products leader EcoTools® and celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles, have teamed up to debut a new on trend look you can create at home in just five minutes.

A pop of color on the eye in a rich hue like sapphire, burgundy or emerald green is fun and flattering for fall. “It’s all about the Jewel-Toned Eye,” said Stiles. “Bringing in rich colors like sapphire, burgundy and emerald green into your makeup routine is both fun and flattering for everyday wear. With the right cosmetic brushes, it’s easy to achieve. I love using EcoTools® because they’re high quality, super soft and kind to the environment, so you not only look beautiful, but can live beautifully.”

Jewel Toned Eye from EcoTools on Vimeo.

The set she used is the EcoTools® Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set. The set has five brushes plus a cosmetic bag, making up the six pieces.

The brushes are all 100% cruelty-free, feature handles made from bamboo (a highly sustainable plant), soft taklon bristles, recycled aluminum ferrules. The brushes come in a natural cotton and hemp cosmetic bag.

The brushes:

• Blush Brush
• Eye Shading Brush
• Eyeliner Brush
• Lash and Brow Groomer
• Concealer Brush

I cannot believe the quality of these brushes. My favorite brushes cost more than three times the price of this entire set! Al of the brushes are full, super soft and help apply makeup with ease. I am using the Blush Brush in my everyday routine already, and the Eyeliner Brush is another I am using to line the bottom of my eyes. The thicker brush with slight angle is perfect for extending the eyes and blending the shadows into a perfect line. The Eye Shading Brush is perfect for this seasons cream shadows, as well as using with powder.

This set is available online at ecotools.com for $12.99. It is only $9.99 at Walgreens right now though, but just through the end of the month.