Beauty Tips & Tools: A Guide to Avon Pro Makeup Brushes

I used to be the girl who applied liquid foundation with my fingertips — the girl who used the sponge applicators (that come in the eyeshadow palettes) to apply my eyeshadow. I would try to create new and exciting lippy looks by mixing my lipsticks and never even knowing that there was such a thing as a “lip brush“. Then, when I would go to use my lipstick again, it was never the shade it was supposed to be — but instead my own shade creation. Ugh! What was I doing wrong? I saw others using these big, fluffy brushes and such and I thought — is all of that really necessary? Does it really make a difference? So, last year shortly after I signed up online tobecome an Avon Representative, I gave in to what I thought at the time to be “the hype” and ordered a few of the Avon Pro Makeup Brushes.

The first brushes that I tried out were: the Avon Pro Eyeshadow Brush and the Avon Pro Crease Brush. I didn’t want to go all out if I found that these really weren’t necessary for me. I set aside the sponge applicator that I had been using and dabbed the new eyeshadow brush in my Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quad (shade Chocolate Sensation!).

My first impression was how simple it was to get the product on the brush. With the sponge applicator, you have to sort of dig in at it and smear it on — not with the Avon Pro Eyeshadow Brush, though! All I had to do was a gentle tap, a smooth, effortless tap and I was all prepped. I applied the first quad shade on my inner eye lid, blending outward toward the center. I flipped the brush over to the “clean side” and prepped it with the second quad shade. At this point I was thinking: “Wow, this is really easy — and fast!” To finish off my look, I grabbed the Avon Pro Crease Brush to use the remaining quad shades and give me the smoky look I adore. No mess, no fuss, just a girl playing with some makeup.

After I had my eyes all dolled up, I took a good look in the mirror. My eyeshadow seemed to be more even than it had ever had before. These brushes are very easy to use and it was then that I realized that I did need these in my life. *Insert dramatic faced emoticon here*

My take on these beauty tools:
Application time was reduced due to the ease of these tools. The finished look appears to have a more professional finish than what my prior application process was giving me. I highly recommend everyone who wears makeup to have a set of pro-style makeup brushes. I feel that anyone who enjoys applying makeup and trying out new techniques will find Avon’s Pro Makeup Brushes to be effective tools to their process.

My next makeup brush purchase from Avon was the Avon Pro Kabuki Brush. I use this to apply my Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation. (Which, by the way, I am absolutely in love with! I had never noticed how perfumed my previous face makeup was until using the Smooth Minerals product. There is zero fragrance to it and it works wonders for my sensitive skin and covering up any imperfections. Gives a gorgeous glow, also.) The Kabuki Brush has no long handle to it, you just cup it in your hand and swirl softly on your face. The bristles aren’t tough nor harsh and work great in getting the powder blended all over.

My most recent Avon Pro Makeup Brush purchase was the Avon Pro Blush Brush. I use this brush in applying my Smooth Minerals Blush. (Another fabulous product! I currently have shade Blushing Mauve. This gives such a pretty pink and rosy glow to my cheeks. Great for defining my cheekbones, too! You can dab as little or as much as is your style!) I have noticed that Avon’s Blush Brush does shed a bristle or two at times. This doesn’t happen every time and when it does it’s easy enough to get the stray bristle off. Worth mentioning to you all though! Overall, I do like the ease of the brush. I like the longer handle for applying my blush as it seems to aid me in not overdoing it when I don’t have to. The longer handle seems to give me more control over where i’m applying my blush to.

My Avon Pro Makeup Brush Collection is no where near complete, there are many more brushes that I will be trying out soon! Avon’s branch-brand mark. has a new mini brush set coming out soon. This comes complete with an adorable gold bag to hold them in! That is for sure on my wishlist… what about you? Browse and shop 24/7 and when you are ready, order online at youravon.com/ssandis.  FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $40, no code needed! First time shopper with me? Use coupon code WELCOME to get 20% off your order of $50 or more!! Thanks for reading and please give my post a share — come back soon to read more on Avon/mark. product news, deals, giveaways, and more!!

Avon Campaign 5 Online Sales & Special Offers

Hey, beauts! Campaign 5 launched on my Avon eStore on Friday, February 5th 2016 and will run through Thursday, February 18th 2016. Just like any other Avon Campaign, there are many ways to save on your favorite products. In this blog post, i’ll highlight a few of the offers available now. Remember, you can browse and shop 24/7 from the comfort of your own home (or on the go with your tablet or smartphone!) at youravon.com/ssandis

MAKEUP SALES & SPECIALS:

Foundations, Concealers, and Blush are BOGO for $2.99! (Save up to $13. Choose from brands Smooth Minerals, Extra Lasting, Anew Age-Transforming, or Avon Glow, Magix, or Ideal Flawless.)

All-New Perfectly Matte Lipstick is at intro special pricing of $5.99 each! (12 shades to choose from. This product will be $9 each after the intro special. It’s a great time to stock up on this beauty trend and even create your own lippy look with mixing shades. Loving the Matte look? Be sure to check out the all-new True Color Eyeshadow Quads in Matte shades!

Moisture Effective Eye Makeup Remover Lotion is at the best deal ever, just .99 a bottle! Avon’s number one makeup remover is usually $4 each, so this deal is pretty sweet. Once again, stocking up is wise to do at this time, with such a great limited time offer!

Avon’s number one selling Eye Liner is Glimmersticks and in Campaign 5, they are on sale for just $2.99 each! Regularly $7 each, these Brow, Eye, and Lip Liners are practically a steal at this price. If you have yet to try Glimmersticks, now would be an opportune time. I recently tried the Eye Liners out for myself and fell in love!

SKINCARE SALES & SPECIALS:

Clearskin is currently mix or match 2 for $7. Some of my personal favorites are included in this special: Clearskin Black Mineral Mask, Clearskin Blemish Clearing Overnight Treatment, and the Clearskin Blemish Acne Pads to name a few.

Anew Clinical BOGO for $5. Whether your skincare concern is dark circles, fine lines, or wrinkles, Anew Skincare has you covered! Mix or match select products.

BATH AND BODY SALES & SPECIALS:

Bubble Delight Bubble Bath (24 fl. oz.) are now any 2 for $9! Up to 24 bubbly baths per bottle. I’ve really enjoyed the scent and comfort of the Sensitive Skin Bubble Bath. Scented with chamomile and freesia and causes zero irritation to my skin! Its such a calming way to end a chaotic and business day.

Footworks products are on sale, choose 2 for $6.99. Also, be sure to check out the all-new Footworks Beautiful Lavender 3-in-1 Pampering Oil (reg. $6) for just .99 with any 2 Footworks purchases. Use as an indulgent soak, cuticle oil, and/or foot massage oil.

More amazing deals await you online at youravon.com/ssandis — Free shipping to your home address, always, on orders over $40! First time shopper with me? Use coupon code WELCOME at checkout for 20% off your min. $50 order! I hope you are all having a great week, take care and come back for more Avon goodies soon!!

My FOTD | AVON Makeup | Reviews + Product Info

Good evening, beauties! Today I decided that not only was I going to rock my AVON Makeup but that I would also blog about it. I absolutely love the makeup from AVON and mark. I’ve tried a lot of the different options that are available and have recently found all my go-to’s. Be sure to check out youravon.com/ssandis for all of the current sales and promotional offers, plus lists of product ingredients. When you shop online your order ships to your address and for FREE when over $40 – No coupon code needed!

THE AVON & MARK. PRODUCTS THAT I USED TODAY:

– Magix Face Perfector SPF 20. Reg. Price $11. This product is on sale currently for $6.99! I used to think that a face primer was not necessary but it totally is for those that are looking to create a clear and smooth canvas for the rest of your makeup. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Avon’s exclusive HD Finish Complex provides the “magic” in this colorless skin-perfector. This lightweight gel to powder formula keeps shine away all day, while it visibly smoothes the look of pores and fine lines. It creates a translucent finish and leaves skin feeling ultra-soft. Contains a blend of Fleece Flower and Rose Extract. Dermatologist-tested. Oil-free. Non-comedogenic. Suitable for all skin tones. TO USE: Use this perfector anytime you need it. Wear alone or under foundation for a smooth, flawless complexion.

– Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation. Reg. Price $12. I use AVON’s Kabuki Brush for easy application and ultimate coverage. The Kabuki Brush is sold separately and is currently on sale for $3.49! This foundation is fragrance free which is great for my sensitive skin. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Shake, swirl & blend. Get the perfect amount every time! No more mess, no more spills. Our innovative design dispenses a single application…with no waste. Medium coverage. Natural luminous finish. Now includes mirror. Made with pure mineral pigments for luminous color. Free of talc and oil. TO USE: 1) Flip open lid and remove the adhesive seal 2) Close lid and turn container upside down 3) Gently shake container back and forth to load powder 4) Turn container right side up and open lid 5) Swirl a brush on the dispensing surface to pick-up powder, apply in a circular motion 6) Repeat as necessary to get your desired look.

– mark. Glowdacious Illuminating Powder. Reg. Price $13. This is another product that is fragrance free and oil free – doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin! PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Get your glow on, gorgeously! Combines bronzer and highlighter for a shimmery, golden glow. With a swirl of your brush, the compact’s three shades combine into one illuminating powder that brightens the skin or enhances a tan. Wear alone or over foundation, on shoulders or décolletage. Half-moon brush included. CHOOSING YOUR SHADE: Shade Prettied Up is best for light skin tone. Shade Shimmied Up is best for medium skin tone. Shade Amped Up is best for dark skin tone.

– Glimmersticks Eye Liner. Reg. Price $7. On Sale now for just $4.99! I used the shade Cosmic Brown but there are other shades available – Starry Night Blue, Saturn Grey, and Emerald. Today was the first time that I tried AVON’s Number 1 Selling Eye Liner and I can clearly see why! This product goes on smooth and has some real staying power. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Up your WOW factor. Wears for 9 hours. Smooth, glide-on color. Retractable, self-sharpening.

– Eye Dimensions Eyeshadow. Reg. Price $9. I used the palette Sultry Smoke. Shades Sweetheart Plum, Neutral Haze, and Bronze Star are also available. I just love this cute little palette! Very, very sparkly and fun!! You can read my review on this product from one of my previous blog posts HERE. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Luminous, pure-color shadows layer and blend to sculpt eyes. Vibrant, silky formula wears for hours without creasing.

– Wash-Off Waterproof Mascara. Reg. Price $8. This product is under a special promotion, currently. Select Mascara choose 2 for $7.99! This mascara only comes in Black and is a solid, basic mascara. The wand catches every lash – nothing fancy… no tricks! PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Wears beautifully all day. Streak-free mascara that will weather the weepiest of movies. Washes away with soap and water.

– mark. All Butter Now Lip Treat. Reg. Price $11. These lip butters smell yummy, with the fruit extracts infused. I am so relieved to have found a product that doesn’t have that harsh, chemical taste/smell. I was so excited when I first tried this product in shade Bare All. I had never tried a lip butter before but it’s quite nice. This product gives you the instant moisturization and relief from the dryness, without skimping on the color! I was even more excited when mark. announced that they were releasing 4 new shades, now making a total of 8 to choose from. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Sheer-to-medium coverage: mauvelous, terra hotta, bare all, baby me. Medium-to-full coverage: razzmatazz, fired up, pop tart, coraltini. • Increases lip moisture by 124% • Infused with shea, cocoa and mango seed butters plus vitamin E • Treats dry, rough lips • Delivers color with buttery shine.

You can purchase all of the products mentioned in today’s blog online at youravon.com/ssandis

Join my team, TEAM BEAUTY ETC and start your own AVON business today for $15. You can signup online in just 5 minutes!

New Year, New Look | My List of Products to Try in 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BEAUTIES! Today is the first day of your new 365 page book. Write a good one, right? I am creating my first blog post of 2016 covering my list for beauty products to try out this year. A Beauty Bucket List for the year, if you will. In this post, you'll also get a SNEAK PEEK of new AVON products before they launch this year, since of course I'm always down to try the latest from AVON. 

Glimmersticks Eye Liner. I know, this is AVON's No. 1 Selling Eye Liner, why have I not tried it out yet? Mainly because i'm a stickler for the AVON Ultra Luxury Liners. I've always used the pencils that you need to sharpen but something tells me that i'm going to be making a switch this year after I try out the Glimmersticks. The product rating is insanely high, with a 4.6 out of 5 star rating with over 1,150 online customer reviews! I'm most excited about trying the shade Cosmic Brown and also stepping outside my comfort zone with more bolder shades such as Starry Night Blue and Emerald. I cannot wait to get my hands on these and it's a good thing I can order online at any time, day or night. Glimmerstick Eye Liner is regularly priced at $7 each but as of this post, this product is currently on sale for only $4.99 each! Great time to want to try these out and/or stock up on all the shades!

Smooth Minerals Blush. The Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation already has my heart. I have finally found my go-to foundation! Since I love one product from the Smooth Minerals makeup line o much, I am looking forward to trying another. I am currently using the mark. Glowdacious Illuminating Powder and it's a product that works for me but I always like to try out new things. What I look for in a face makeup is, No. 1 that it is fragrance free. My skin is quite sensitive and strong fragrant makeups just irritate it and cause me to break out. Based on reading the online customer reviews, which there are over 200 submitted, I predict that this will be another winner in the makeup department. Stay tuned for all my upcoming reviews on these products, as I try them out!

AVON Eyeshadow Primer. You know, I never really thought about using any kind of primer. I heard all the hype about the Magix Face Perfector and I thought... really? Is that necessary? I jumped to the conclusion that these were products that I didn't need. My first impression was, "Okay, another gimmick. Another thing to just toss my money at." Well, late last year I broke down and tried the Magix Face Perfector. I could not believe how wrong I was about it! It most certainly is necessary if you'd like to cut the shine from your face and create a smooth canvas for the rest of your makeup to go on top of. Happy to say that now, facial primers are a must in my makeup arsenal. So, with all that being said I'd like to try an eyeshadow primer since I feel that it would not do much different to my eye makeup looks, since i've admittedly so, been oh so wrong with assumptions on beauty products in the past. The time to try this product could not be better because at it's reg. price of $7, I find that it is currently on sale for $3.99! Shut up and take my money! haha


AVON Makeup Setting Spray. This is a product that I am most curious to try. Just like the makeup primers, I have never before used any kind of setting spray when completing my makeup look. I am quite intrigued on this product, about its application process and whether or not I notice a difference to how my makeup holds up. The online reviews seem to imply that this will be another beauty tool that is worthy of a purchase. It is regularly priced at $10 and as of this posting, it is on sale for the low cost of $5.99 for the bottle. It has an online rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars with 40 online customer reviews submitted. I do know of a friend who uses this product and swears by it so i'm eager to see if I get to "join the club" on this, so to speak. 

And now, for the SNEAK PEEK! Are you ready? Who is excited? I know I am!! Coming to AVON in Campaign 5 (Starting February 5th 2016 at youravon.com/ssandis) :
Perfectly Matte Lipstick. Velvety smooth feel with 100% true matte look. This product will be introduced with a special pricing of $5.99 a tube. After the intro special, this lipstick will be priced at $9 a tube. There will be 12 perfectly matte shades to choose from! I am really looking forward to trying this product since I love a matte finished lipstick! 

Since I am an AVON Independent Sales Representative, I will be able to purchase this product early, before its launch date. How you ask? AVON Reps get the opportunity to purchase from the What's New catalog "Demo Products". These demo products can be purchased by the AVON Rep to sell, for personal use, or to demo and have customers try before they buy! It's really amazing. You too can get in on all these exclusive products, way before their launch date by starting your own AVON business and becoming a Representative for AVON Products. Interested? SIGN UP ONLINE HERE. It only takes 5 minutes and the start up cost is just $15. Start your New Year off right by doing something for yourself. Don't wait another day to start your own AVON Story and create a beautiful future in this journey.

Vampy Makeup Trend + Pictures/Reviews

Hey there, beauties! Starting off the new week with a fresh post and a trendy makeup look: Vampy. I had so much fun over the weekend playing with my makeup and taking pictures in preparation for this posting. I've done a few FOTD (face-of-the-day) posts in the past, but felt like it was time to do my own personal FOTD. I've been craving to go a bit bold and try a berry lip so I went through my lippy sample bullets and found a beautiful one: Ultra Color Absolute Lipstick in Radiant Raisin ($9). I love this lipstick line from AVON because it has SPF 15 in the formula, which is great for keeping lips healthy and smooth. 

Once I found that, I began setting up my space. I started with my Magix Face Perfector ($11) to get my skin prepped/primed. I added my Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation ($12) using my AVON Kabuki Brush ($6.99). After having the canvas set, I used the AVON Lash Conditioner + Primer ($8 reg.) which i've recently become a huge fan of! 

While I was trying to choose which mascara to use (I have a few different ones on hand!) I decided that I did not want to go for such a bold lash since I was about to don a bold lip. I kept it simple and chose the AVON Wash-Off Waterproof Mascara ($8). which is a fabulous yet basic mascara. 

One of my favorite eyeshadow palettes is the True Color Eyeshadow Quad ($8 reg.) I have a few of these in different shades, but the one I chose to wear today was the Chocolate Sensation quad. The soft, shimmering beige brings out my eyes when added to the inner corners, and I love the milk chocolate and truffle shades for the crease Those all have a slight shimmer/sparkle to them but number 4 on the quad, Black Brown is a matte. I've noticed that most of the TC Eyeshadow Quads come this way: Numbers 1 thru 3 - shimmery and number 4 - matte. I use the AVON Pro Eyeshadow Brush ($5.99) and AVON Pro Crease Brush ($5.99). As for the sponge applicator that came with the eyeshadow, I use that to help remove nail enamel. It works great to reaching those inner nail creases.

 I also used my favorite eyeliner, the Ultra Luxury Eye Liner in Dark Brown on the bottom and then used the Ultra Luxury Eye Liner in Eggplant up on the top to get that pop of purple going on my eyes. I love these liners because they are easy to sharpen, the product does not break off or get too soft, and when applied lasts for hours! Another plus? These liners are only $5 each!

And now for the finished look! Thoughts?

You can purchase all of these products mentioned in today's post at youravon.com/ssandis 

Your order will ship to your address and for FREE when its over $40!

Use Coupon Code MARK25DEAL for 25% off your $50+ online order.

Thanks for reading my latest post! Please share to your social media outlets and leave a comment below so we can keep the beauty chat going. Enjoy the rest of your week... stay beautiful! xx

Product Spotlight: Smooth Minerals Makeup

Hi, beauts! I have just got to share with you this amazing makeup line from AVON -- Smooth Minerals. It is one of the best selling foundations that is sold by AVON, with rave customer reviews. I'll be sharing a few of those in just a little bit. Let's start talking about the product and what Smooth Minerals makeup is all about. 

Smooth Minerals makeup is made with pure mineral pigments and is free of talc, oil, and fragrance -- so it is suitable for sensitive skin! 

Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation - Build-able coverage. Natural, luminous finish. Available in 12 shades, 2 of which include a "Setter" (Transparent Glow) and a "Bronzer" (Bronze). 

Regular Price: $12 Currently ON SALE for $6.99

More on the Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation: Shake, swirl & blend. Get the perfect amount every time! No more mess, no more spills. Our innovative design dispenses a single application…with no waste. Medium coverage. Natural luminous finish. Now includes mirror. Made with pure mineral pigments for luminous color.

TO USE:
1. Flip open lid and remove the adhesive seal
2. Close lid and turn container upside down
3. Gently shake container back and forth to load powder
4. Turn container right side up and open lid
5. Swirl a brush on the dispensing surface to pick-up powder, apply in a circular motion
6. Repeat as necessary to get your desired look

Some Customer Comments on Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation: (As of this post, Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation is rated 4.2 out of 5 stars with 526 Customer Reviews)

• "I have very oily skin, combination skin in dryer spots with a light to medium tone. I am in my mid 30's with some what sensitive skin as well. This powder lasts all day, doesn't look cakey and shows way less oil than other foundations. I can also wear a sunscreen underneath the powder foundation and it doesn't add any extra oil later on in te day (which never happens with alternative foundations). This is such a great product for the price. I truly hope they never alter it or stop making it."

• "It's lightweight and goes on easily. It provides just the right amount of coverage and I don't feel like I am wearing makeup."

• "A great product. True colors blend to match your skin tone. Silky shine free. Makes my skin look young, healthy and flawless! I've got my daughter and best friend using it, too! For a small price, you get beautiful results!"

Smooth Minerals Blush - Featherweight. Airbrushed Finish. There are 8 shades to choose from.

Regular Price: $10 Currently ON SALE for $6.99

More on the Smooth Minerals Blush: Contains pure mineral pigments...and enriched with vitamins. Free of talc, oil and fragrance. Great for all skin types, even sensitive. Infused with our mineral glow pearls…Avon’s mineral blush illuminates cheeks and helps to bring out skin’s true vibrance. Featherlight airbrushed finish for a healthy radiance.

TO USE:
Pick up a small amount of blush with a brush and shake off excess. Using a circular motion, work brush over cheeks and blend.

Some Customer Comments on Smooth Minerals Blush: (As of this post, Smooth Minerals Blush is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars with 200 Customer Reviews)

• "I really like how easily this goes on, and the color is great. It's nice knowing that I'm using a product with pure mineral pigments that doesn't contain talc, oil and fragrance."

• "I purchased 2 shades: blushing mauve and blushed. I use the mauve shade for a pick-me-up on days that are dreary, & the blushed shade on sunny days (it has a sun-kissed look). I'm hoping that Avon will revive this product line. I miss the foundation, eye shadow and especially the mascara. None of this line broke out my sensitive skin, was very easy to use, and a little went a long way for long wear!"

• "I have to say I have been a little skeptical with trying new things. I have used high priced department store brands and decided to give this a try. I will tell you that I am loving this and all of the products that I have tried with AVON!"

NOTE: When purchasing these products, it is important to know that they do not come with an application brush. Don't worry - AVON has a Kabuki Brush that does the trick! The regular price on the brush is $6.99 but it is currently on sale for only $3.49! 

I've saved the best for last, beauties!! Create your perfect Smooth Minerals essentials set, all 5 for only $31.45! (Over a $50 value!!) You get the foundation, the blush, the setter, the bronzer, and the brush! {Yes, all the exclamation marks are necessary, this is a deal worth being excited about!!!!}

Try this line of makeup products today, while the amazing sale is going on at youravon.com/ssandis I am sure you will be thrilled with your Smooth Minerals.