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.

Mascara Monday: MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Extravagant Mascara.

Smoky Extravagant is the new mascara by MAKE UP FOR EVER, for eyes that speak drama on their own.

Whether you are looking for a natural look or a more sophisticated one, one thing is for sure; we all want the same thing in the end. That is the perfect mascara that gives the ultimate finishing touch to your look in just a few coats, of course.

See also: False Lash Application Tips

Smoky Extravagant is just that, a new mascara for both bold impact and on point precision. The tapered cone-shaped brush features a precision tip that separates lashes. The rounded base helps to creates extra volume, while adding length and curl, direct from root to tip. My Smoky Extravagant lash look lasts all day with no clumping or flaking. I use two coats to get the look I want.

Smoky Extravagent Mascara comes in the perfect black shade and sells for $24.00. Look for it at Sephora now.