Foundation brush

For a long time, I thought foundation brushes were just for women who shellacked lots of foundation and crazy crayon makeup all over their faces religiously. However, in the few times I've had my makeup done professionally, each time the artist has used one. I've been told that the special bristles help spread the makeup evenly, and also, as with all makeup, make it look like you're not wearing any makeup at all. This one from MAC is really nice because the center is angled, allowing you to get into little areas on your face. I however, haven't yet brought myself into debt to purchase an entire set of professional makeup brushes (yikes--their duster brush is $45), but this one from Sonia Kushuk is really nice--I use it to put concealer under my eyes--my #1 makeup must-have.

MAC's mascara X

My eyelashes are pretty much non-existent and this is one of the only mascaras I've ever tried that actually seem to help in remedying this. I know half the trick is curling my eyelashes, and a MAC employee told me the trick for people with wimpy lashes is to make sure that they stick up past your eyelid. This mascara doesn't irriate my eyes, and I can get it all off. Lancome's main mascara is really good too, but I guess I just like MAC in general. MAC's also got a promo that if you bring in 5 empty makeup containers (lipstick & mascara, I think) you get a free lipstick. Bonus.