what i want today: serious makeup brushes

i'll admit it: i spent the first 15 or so years of my makeup-wearing existence using those horrible, synthetic, mini brushes that come with whatever blush, eyeshadow or powder i may have picked up. to be honest, the idea of spending upwards of $100 just on brushes baffled me.

until i tried a set of truly fabulous, natural hair, solid wood-handled, top-of-the-line makeup brushes by therapy systems. now, i'm wondering how i ever got along without them. seriously, i never could figure out how all of those women were getting that perfectly smudged eyeshadow. now i know - it's by using a smudge brush. and powdered eyeliner baffled me, until i tried a flat liner brush - this one has seriously changed my cosmetic life. and the luxurious, decadent feel of pure pashmina (er, goat hair...) on my skin as i brush on my blush and powder...well, it feels a little like something out of a harlequin romance novel: sort of ridiculously, over-the-top decadent. but in a good way.

it's hard to take the plunge, i know - i had major heartache over spending money on something i'd normally expect to come along with a fun product or two. but just trust me - you won't regret it. grab a few, or a whole set, at therapy systems - of all of the lines i tried, these were my hands-down favorites.

what i want for earth day: suki cosmetics

i have to admit that i sort of have a love/hate with suki products. the problem is that i tend to get a little obsessed, and find myself having a hard time parting with them long enough to try any other brands that come my way.

suki just launched their cosmetic line, and i love it every bit as much as i love their skin care products. one of my favorite qualities in a cosmetic is a multi-tasking product, and suki has that in spades.

take their triple cream eye definer: it works as a fabulous and long-lasting cream shadow, eyeliner or even a brow definer. and the colors are fantastic - i tried out the amber, and it's my new favorite shade. the slight shimmer brightens up your entire face, so it gives you that "she did something new, but what is it?" look. and it stays put beautifully all day and night.

same story for their pure cream lip & cheek stain - the colors are gorgeous (my fave is opal), the application is simple, and the results are flawless, without a lot of effort. just what the doctor ordered.

last, but certainly not least, their concealer does a really fabulous job of covering nearly anything - my only tip is to make sure you use it in lieu of an eye moisturizer, as it doesn't get along with my eye creams.

best of all, suki's products are completely and totally natural, non-toxic, and generally designed to make your skin happy. even their (completely gorgeous) packaging is eco-friendly - it's printed on recycled materials, with vegetable ink.

my favorite part is that suki takes the trouble to actually remove the allergens from the natural ingredients, so people with freakishly sensitive skin like me can still partake in the products, without fear of major allergic reactions.

check out the full line at suki's website - you'll love it as much as i do. happy earth day!

SMC beauty buys: bobbi brown shimmer brick

i'd been hearing so much about the bobbi brown shimmer brick compact lately that i finally just couldn't take it any more, and had to try it for myself. friends had raved that it had near-magical qualities to brighten, highlight, and just generally make your skin look amazing - with almost no effort on your part.

after trying it, i have to admit: the stuff is pretty fantastic. i have just about the palest skin imaginable, so i tried out the pink shade. it works as something between a bronzer, highlighter and blush - i actually use it for all three. if you use the right brush, you can even use each of the shades separately as an eye color. i do so love a product that multi-tasks. when i'm feeling really lazy, i just throw a little on my cheeks and forehead, add a bit of mascara, and call it good.

in all, the shimmer brick compact is an excellent way to spend $38 of your beauty budget. you can pick up any or all of the colors at bobbi brown's website.

asked, but not answered: the perfect eye cream

okay, readers, time to turn the tables a bit. for months now, i've been searching (unsuccessfully, obviously) for the perfect eye cream. i feel like i've tried so many samples that the girls at sephora collectively sigh when i walk into the room. and still, my poor eyes are just not happy. nice to know they're as picky as the rest of me, but enough already.

so, dear readers, i'm taking a poll. what fabulous eye products have YOU found that you've loved?? and who knows....if you come up with the one that i end up loving too, we might just work out a super fabulous prize....er, thank you gift. yes, i think we could do that. there's definitely a fabulous thank you gift in the future of the person who finds me an eye cream that i fall head over heels for. (hmm...is it really that obvious that i came up with this idea just now, while i was writing this?)

now, this is a real question, so no just listing every eye cream on sephora.com - i want actual recommendations, please!