November Contest: Billy B. Beauty Makeup Brushes…

I have been obsessed with makeup since I was in high school and did stage makeup for the drama club. My friends and family are constantly asking me to do their makeup for weddings and other events and I always tell them how important it is to have good brushes. You can have the highest quality makeup in the world, but if you’re applying it with crappy brushes/applicators, it will show. I’ve started buying brushes for the women in my life as birthday and Christmas gifts. That being said, some of the brushes in my own collection have seen better days since I’ve been using them for years. I’m very good about cleaning regularly, but eventually it’s time to let them go. If I won this collection, I would update some of my brushes, and distribute the rest to my friends who I still haven’t convinced to buy new brushes. This would make the best Christmas present for me!! Thanks Makeup Girl )

simply put… i love makeup. but sadly i cannot afford all that i’d love to buy. i’ve never been able to get all the nice brushes out there cuz i use to think a brush is just a brush. can you really notice a big difference with the different quality of brushes out there?? i’d love to win these brushes so i could test them out for myself. i never had a complete set of brushes either. i’m always looking at it thinking… do i really need this?? and more like can i really afford this right now?? hehehe. if i won these brushes then i could use the money i’d save to buy other beauty related products. like eyeshadows (i’m an eyeshadow whore!! LOL). i’d love to test out these brushes and see what i’ve been missing out on all these years!!

I just found you last week, so it might not seem fair to enter a contest right away but I’m going to regardless.

After 10 years of infertility, I am a new mom to a 9 year old boy through adoption. I love being a mom. I had planned and prepared for this so long before it actually happened, and my life was very often consumed by my ventures to become a mom. This often led to neglecting my appearance among many other things.

Now that my child is home, I am realizing that how I look and how I feel affects my ability to be a good mother to my little boy because it affects my mood and my confidence. So I’m trying to pay more attention to my skin care needs and dress in more flattering combinations and actually style my hair and wear makeup every day. My wardrobe, hair styling tools, and makeup drawer are all in much need of an upgrade, but being a mom now, there isn’t much money extra available and I have to be very picky about priorities.

I long for a great set of brushes because I know they can make even mediocre quality makeup look great and great makeup look awesome allowing me to get more bang for my buck! If I don’t win this set of brushes, I still have a set high up on my wish list.

I grew up in Shanghai, China during the 1980s. It was perhaps the most beautiful time in Shanghai. Just as the world might remember Shanghai slowly opening itself up again, I remembered my grandmother slowly opening her locked drawer of calligraphy brushes and treasured sheets of coarse off white paper for the first time in years. She always drew by the light of dawn and in our small one room house the sweeps of her brush would be the sound I awakened to every morning. There wasn’t much money for food or entertainment in those days, but my grandma insisted on traveling to the next province to buy her ink and brushes from the same drafty shop. And everytime my grandpa would balk, to which my grandma would always reply “those that truly are of you must reflect just that.” I didn’t understand what it meant then, but I would roll those characters off my tongue as if enough practice would bring enlightenment.
When I came to the States for school everything was unfamiliar and as you can imagine, quite scary. I quickly came to love lunchtime though because it was when I would steal away and walk through the leafy shades to a nearby outdoor shopping plaza. Here, it was okay to be alone and to just gaze at the world around you. And it was also here that I walked into my very first Macy’s and saw a sales assistant apply makeup to a customer. Her concentration caught my attention, but it was her use of these beautifully shaped brushes that held it. Something in the way she knitted her eyebrows, the way she tilted her head in between the rests of strokes that reminded me so much of my grandma. She was a stranger to me, but I knew beyond a doubt that she, just like my grandma, was an artist.
I didn’t have the money to buy anything that day, but the creativity of that makeup artist and my own nostalgia sparked a passion for art through make up that even now shows no signs of abating. My favorite aspect of makeup is and will always be its application. It’s the part that is entirely myself. It’s my history and it’s my now. Each technique, each color has a story that intertwines to create a transformation, a future. Through this process I’ve finally started to understand my grandma’s words. Perhaps she meant that those things that come from a part of you will always reflect a little bit of who you are, but you must also work to make it as true to you as possible. In that way, my grandma not only cared about what she created, but also what she used to create it. She, and now I, recognized that an artist must find those tools that works best with her/him. And while I don’t have the means yet to try out the more expensive brushes, the search is an important one to me. Billy B. brushes are beautifully crafted and made with a specific purpose in mind. There is no doubt that I would love to own these brushes. so here is my story and here is me.

I am a 22 year old college graduate who is becoming comfortable in her own skin and exploring makeup as I head into the life as an adult. Make-up brushes are uberly important. My first makeup brush was a mac blush brush. I have to say it sure made a difference. I suffer from acne, and with the small collection of makeup brushes i have now (blush brush from mac, foundation brush from bare escentials, and eye brush from cvs) i have been able to correctly cover the acne scars i havent been able to cover. It makes me feel more confident about myself when i can go out with a beautiful complexion because of my makeup brushes. Having the correct makeup brushes can make the difference between a smokey eye and looking like a racoon. I would be so happy to receive these makeup brushes because as i just graduated college, i cant afford something like this, and having this great arsenal of brushes will take me into my new life as a confident working woman.

Hi Lianne! Great contest and I’m so happy to delurke on this post. I was introduced to make-up 9 years ago while senior in high school preparing for a cotillion. I remember my first purchase was foundation, powder, blush, eye shadow and two tubes of lipstick. This was great for the cotillion and for my senior pictures but I didn’t want to wear make-up every day because I had acne prone skin (and still do) and was afraid that make-up would only make my skin worse. For the next 7 years, I purchased makeup and a collection of brushes (8 brushes for $10 lol), but rarely wore it because I could never achieve the “my skin looks naturally flawless” look for everyday or the “my make-up is bold and dazzling” for more dramatic occasions. My makeup always looked. . . blah. Last year on New Year’s Eve, I was in a wedding. One of the other bridesmaids is a M.A.C. artist and of course did our make up. Can you say fabulous!?!? So I went to the M.A.C. store in Georgetown, had my face done and loved, loved, loved the results. I made a few purchases, took them home, pulled out my 8 for $10 brushes and guess what? Still BLAH! I didn’t understand why my face looked nothing like it did when I left the store. I had the same products right? Unless the artists used a suped up high intensity stash to sucker people like me. Did I smell conspiracy?

Somehow I stumbled upon your blog. I began reading daily and followed your links to other makeup blogs where I discovered that maybe something was wrong with my tools. So I went out and purchased a multi purpose brush from M.A.C. his brush is great! I can use it for my concealer and shadow. The $30 purchase was a bit over budget, but I so enjoy the results. I wear shadow almost daily and have achieved a look that I love. I’m ready to take the next steps – blending and bronzer – but the el-cheapo brushes aren’t even an option. The plan is to wait until The holiday brush collections arrive so that I can get a few more tools for my dollar, at least until I can afford something better. When I saw this contest I had to enter. With these brushes I could blend and bronze and maybe even, dare I say it, try foundation again. With the right tools, I think I just may be ready.

Do you ever have that feeling in the pit of your stomach where you just want something so bad you know you can do it? This is me right now. I’m playing in make-up, making it my dream. I love art. To me make-up is art. Art that is seen everyday but not recognized. It’s basically all I can think of. What colors work well with others. How to create shadows. What looks natural. These are all of the thoughts that run through my mind as I look at people’s faces. And then I know that this is what I want. That feeling in the pit of my stomach is excited at the prospect of achieving what I so desire. I want to make art everyday. I want to see the beauty in everyone and portray it on the outside. But I also want a start. These brushes have symbolized the start for me. My way in. I don’t have the extra money to afford them. I have the mind to dream of them though. I want to greatly make my dreams a reality. The burning sensation isn’t going away.

WOW!!! everyone got great comments…about brushes…

I for one think that brushes are the tools that are needed to make oneself presentable to oneself and to the world. I don’t have to be an expert at using it, but I can pretend to my self that I know how to use it and eventually will continue to learn how to use..it…!! I do need new brushes though, cause i don’t really have any!! thanks

Hi Lianne
I was a professional makeup artist for over 20 years both here in New York and in Hollywood.
A little over a year ago I had to have a quad heart bypass.
During my recovery I started my website Makeup Beat (I’m sure I have borrowed from and given credit to your site because The Makeup Girl is one I check all the time).
I had a relapse this past May (two of the replaced arteries failed) so I am going through physical rehab and not able to work.
When you face your own mortality this way you are blessed to take stock of your life, and I have been looking for some way to give back.
I am now a mentor to a young makeup artist who is just starting out and could really use a new professional set of makeup brushes. I know that Billy B. is extremely talented and will have created the perfect brush for each cosmetic need. And you know just how important having the right tools are to any makeup person.
So I was excited to see that you are having this great give-away and hope you will consider helping me to support one of our own.
Many thanks and keep up the great blog…
David @ MakeupBeat.com xox

Hey Makeup Girl,
You’re in my Blogroll, so I check ur blog everyday. I am a Pakistani, 20 year old, with fair skin. I am a current Psychology major, and have my own blog as well, targeting all types of women. There are many blogs out there about Hollywood’s make-up trends etc, so I thought to myself, why not Bollywood, since there are zero Bollywood beauty sites etc. So I started a blog all about Bollywood’s Beauty products, Make-up breakdowns, latest make-up trends, etc. I believe it is essential for a woman to know how to do her make-up to look polished and well-groomed. And if I can share my knowledge with women and even make one of them please out of the gazillion, then I know I’ve done a good job with my blog.

I feel make-up brushes are the most important part of the make-up process, they need to have the correct hairs, the correct cut, and should be soft, and shouldn’t irritate the face. I have tried many brushes, but never tried any of Billy B’s I’ve heard they are the best in the market. I really hope you would consider me as a winner, if not, I would understand. You have a wonderful blog, and I sincerely hope you would come and visit mine as well.

Thank you,
XOXO,
I♥M·A·C
http://iheartmake-up.blogspot.com/

Makeup brushes are vitally important to any true cosmetic artist. The slightest change in the curve or stiffness of an eyeshadow brush can completely alter the way the color deposits on the lid. Brushes can do anything from dust on color, to lay a foundation, to even help set false eyelashes (the rear end of the brush that is!).

I think using makeup brushes is important for me because they make a huge difference in the finish as well as the experience of applying makeup. I believe that makeup application is an art and tools are very important. Good quality brushes are a pleasure to use because they allow precise application, blending, smoothing, working, buffing and basically just enable you achieve the result you want.

I also think of good brushes as enjoyable-a form of relaxation; a soft natural brush against the skin is relaxing and soothing, and the process of applying makeup transcends into something therapeutic.

I’m a 25 year old woman, just learning about makeup and the ability it has to enhance anyones natural beauty. I love makeup and I know that I will love and treasure these brushes if I win them.

I am a recent college graduate engaged to the man of my dreams. I just started a new job about two months ago, and I also just started planning my own wedding. I am an absolute makeup junkie. I am obsessed with all things beautiful. I think that makeup can make you feel better when things are going sour in your life. I tend to use the makeup brushes that come with the products themselves, because I just can’t spend the big bucks on an applicator when I must save money for my wedding. I would love to win these brushes, as they would be a perfect gift for the wedding. I am addicted to mineral makeup including eye shadow so these would be great to apply all my makeup. Thanks for the great contest, and I really enjoy reading you beauty blog!!

I used to be afraid of makeup because I felt that I would never be able to get it right. I would admire makeup looks on the street and wonder how the person got their makeup to look so flawless. I did some research and the answer was always the same: use the right tools! Invest in brushes!
I bought a cheapie set from Target and I saw a complete difference in the application. I used the little sponge applicator that came with the Milani eye shadow for one eye and the cheap brush for the other. The brush picked up the right amount of product and made it easier to blend the colors. This is how I discovered the importance in using makeup brushes.
I’m building up my makeup collection and try to splurge when I can. So far, I have three MAC brushes. I would love to win the Billy B. set because I really admire his work on all artists, especially Missy, Beyonce, and Pink. The reviews for his brushes are stellar and I hope to be able to follow his online tutorials using the brushes you are offering.

I’m a girl in my 20s just getting into wearing makeup and being more fashionable. I work in a male-dominated industry, so I’ve been trying to make myself more comfortable with doing fun looks without worrying about whether or not everyone else at work finds it silly! I’m not a very artistic or creative person, so makeup is where I try to explore my creative side.

I’ve learned that brushes make the application of makeup sooo much easier. It’s more forgiving to use an eyeliner brush than to apply eyeliner from a pencil for me – I don’t go overboard anymore and can easily blend and fix mistakes. I started wearing blush since using brushes because I can actually apply it better – the brushes that come with it always seem to apply it in one spot without blending well. There’s also something very fun and glamorous about using brushes! I haven’t been able to afford the really nice ones, though, so the bristles on my brushes come out at times (especially frustrating if I’m in the middle of applying something!). It would be great to have a set of quality brushes that would last for a long time!

I am a mother of 3 young’uns, and I work full time. Three years ago right before I left NYC for a new job, I had a makeover in the basement of Bergdorf Goodman and ended up finally learning how to apply make up. It changed my life! I could finally do a natural look, and a night time look. Using good brushes is really crucial. Today, putting on my makeup is a ritual that is relaxing and centering, it prepares me for my often very hectic days. I feel I can face the world better with a polished face. But I am always on the go, and need another set of makeup brushes! Because on any given morning, I may be applying my makeup at work, in the locker room, or in my car! It would be awesome to have a second set to have on the go. I have never tried Billy B paint brushes but they look wonderful, he said that they are very lightweight and portable. Thanks for having this contest, its going to make someone very happy!!

My name is Amanda and I am 26 yrs old. Brushes are the most important part of a girls makeup arsenal. A good brush can transform a 99 cent eyeshadow into a million dollar look. Why are brushes important?….try asking an architect to build a skyscraper with his bare hands. Or a mechanic to fix your car with a q-tip. Chances are it won’t work. Brushes make every girl a makep Pro.

Hi-
Makeup Brushes are an essential part of my beauty routine… They apply, blend and set my makeup.
As a 28 year old at home mom to a great little guy (who will is about to be 18 months!) my brushes help me feel great! With less time for myself I still apply my makeup one brush at a time!!!
I’ve been wearing makeup since junior high— I remember getting ‘made up’ before dances along with my best friend or just playing in her expansive collection(her aunt was a makeup counter diva- so she always had great stuff!)
-I remember a great compliment from my grandma (who just turned 80!!!), she told me that, “I wear makeup very well”. Being the great lady that she is, I really appreciated that!
-In 10th grade I had a rough time with an english teacher but the first A I received from her was on a paper outlining my morning makeup routine… Searching for the perfect shade of lipstick…
-I’m a makeup girl always have been- Thanks for this great giveaway!

Hello, I will make this plain and simple. I use and could very much use new makeup brushes. I was born with a rather large port wine birthmark on the left side of my face. It is quite difficult to cover and uses brushes of various kind helps me to apply my makeup much easier. Thanks, Cindi

Women have been enhancing their natural beauty for milennia – a touch of kohl for Cleopatra and pinched cheeks for women in the Victorian era. When I was little, I only ate cherry popsicles – because I loved that sophisticated red lip! Now that I’m in college studying art history – I view my daily makeup rituals as pigments and paint comparable to Raphael or Titian. For so long, women have been the object of a male gaze – when I put make up on, I feel like I get to create myself a little bit everyday. Only, on a student’s budget – it is hard to do the work of a master, even when I’m particularly inspired.

Working with such gorgeous tools would definitely make me feel like a masterpiece.

I know that there are a million other readers out there with better sob stories, but my story is simple: I seek beauty every day and I aspire to see it in myself and in others.

Thanks so much for your inspiring blog!

What a wonderful site. I love the brushes because there is a variety of sizes with a variety of uses. A great makeup application begins with good makeup brushes. Anyone can apply makeup, but to make it look really professional it is important to use good brushes for the application of the makeup. I have tried many types of brushes and know that the best brushes are those that you can handle easily and are a convenient size. I was a flight attendant and used to take my makeup brushes along in a separate case to protect them. These look like exceptionally high quality and I would love to have this incredible set of makeup brushes to get a professional makeup look. Thanks for a wonderful site with great information.

I am a painter by profession. One day I was searching for art brushes on ebay and a set of make up brushes and a colorful make up palette appeared in my search. A curiosity and interest in make up started to emerge.
It was around the same time I worked with a woman whose daughter is a make up wizard. When her daughter would come by the shop, I would ask her mother how does she do it? How does she look like that? “It takes her two hours to get ready in the morning that’s how” was her mother’s reply. But natural good looks and a lengthy routine aside, there was an artfulness to her make up. A talent.
The girl worked at a cosmetics counter and had the top sales because of her gift at making people feel beautiful. People with scars and skin problems would cry when she did their faces. (She sold Cover Fx)At Prom time she was in demand.
I was determined to give it a try. I read Kevyn Aucoin’s books and have since started to learn to wear make up. It’s strange it has taken me so long. I liked to experiment with make up when I was younger but as I got older I aquired the idea that you can’t be a serious artist/ intellectual/feminist/ whatever and be concerned with vanity. Thankfully I was able to move beyond that prejudice. Now I enjoy chosing colors and techniques everyday to suit my mood. I approach my own face the way I do a blank canvas! I would cherish the billy b brushes the way I do my best sable watercolor brushes!!

I hope these make-up brushes can make me beautiful!

I always use brushes because they seem to much more precise and gentler to the skin especially around the eye area! I’d love to have these wonderful brushes to replace my collection that is defiantly WELL USED!

Hi I’m Bibi and I come from Washington Dc originally. I’m 31 and I only started wearing makeup about 1.5 years ago. I started off just wearing eye shadows and *gasp* would just use my finger or q-tips to apply. Obviously I did not know much about makeup application and the importance of brushes. I don’t think that the end result was bad, but it wasn’t “finished.” It took me a while to gather some knowledge about makeup and it’s application. Sometimes I would hear girls talk about brushes and which one they were using for which product. One day in a department store I gathered up enough courage to ask a sales assistant at the MAC counter which brush she would recommend for applying eye shadow. She went on to explain how there were different brushes for blending, shading, crease, and so on. I was a bit overwhelmed! I had no idea there were so many. After that she suggested that I purchase one of their basic brush sets which had a small assortment of brushes for eyes and face. I bought it and I’ve been using it to this day! I’ve gone on to buy other brushes for powder, lining the eye, and lip products. While my collection is small, I really love it and when I wear a “look” to work or out shopping and someone comments on how nice my makeup looks, I have my little brushes to thank. They are the tools that allow me to create my artistic visions

So I guess I think that brushes are important because they help to refine your look. You can use your fingers, qtips etc… but I don’t think anything will give you a polished and sophisticated look better than a set of good brushes will. I would like to win the set because they would help me to continue to learn proper makeup application and be a welcome addition to my baby collection.

Thank you!