1) Ive only ever used studio fix and sudio tech, how much better is SFF? DO you think the Studio Mist Foundation will be even better? and do you think MUFE is better than any of the aforementioned?
-to begin with, i don't like studio fix powder as foundation. i use it only to touch up my liquid or creme foundations, or to blot oil or finish a look. studio fix fluid gives great coverage, and lasts forever on my skin, especially with fix+ and prep and prime face. if i really want super heavy coverage, i'll use both SFF and studio fix powder. i also like stuodio tech, but i like SFF better, as it lasts longer, and also, you get more product.
2) the ONLY mac brushes i have are from the recently released patternmaker collection. what are the other 'must have brushes.' from what i have read, the 182 & 187 (or 188 ).. would it be to my disadvantage to get the 188 INSTEAD of the 187? oh and when are these coming out?
-i don't know when they're coming out, i'm sorry. but i have 3 187 brushes, which i use for different things. the 187 is seriously worth the money, as its such a versatile brush.
3) Does mac offer pressing pigments and putting them in 15 slot palettes through thier phone orders?
-pigment pressing is entirely something done by the customers. MAC does not do it, nor do they endorse it, frankly, they may not even know about it. if you have pans that fit in the 15-pan slots, you can make your own pressed pigments, using one of the many tutorials.
4) How important is it to use a primer?? I heard strobe cream does wonders... is it a MUST and which ones do you all prefer?
-i don't consider strobe cream to be a primer, really, though i do use it as one, from time to time. mac makes prep and prime face, which makes your foundation last longer, and go on smoother. it does NOT change the color, texture, or finish of your foundation, strobe cream is pearlescent, and therefore usually ends up adding a slight sheen to your face, even with foundation over it. moisturegleam has a similar effect, although strobe cream is pearlescent, whereas moisturegleam is shimmery. smashbox makes a really good foundation primer as well. prep and prime lip and prep and prime lash, both by mac, are very good respectively, though most people dislike prep and prime eye. instead, urban decay primer potion is an AMAZING eye base.
5) when you 'set' your face with powder is it necc. to use translucent powder? cause i use regular face powder and it doesnt seem to set and my whole face disappears after a 3 hours or so. (i use hyper real / studio tech and then use studio fix).. should i use the Invisible set powder ?
i use loose blot powder, or, more commonly, studio fix compact. i find compact/pressed powders are easier to work with, and studio fix is my favorite.
6) how much better does an MSF make the 'look'?
a billion times. they are very very very very worth it.
7) I heard/read that elf / milani / nyx shadows fit in mac palettes. are there other shadows that fit?
those are the main ones that i know of. urban decay ones do, as well.
8 ) Other than mac which other brands (both cheap and expensive) do you think have the best pigments or can be applied without adding millions of layers? i have yet to find other brands, cheap or expensive, that blend and apply as well as mac does. pigments, eyeshadows, anything. and i have tried a billion different brands of makeup. stila all over shimmer powders for eyes are loose pigments similar to mac's, and are decent, but not worth the money, really. as far as eyeshadow goes, urban decay is allright, although most are too sparkly, and stila has some that are okay, and others that suck. really, mac products are the best, IMO.
9) I apply my brows with a brow brush and e/s (charcoal). is there a really big difference compared to using a pencil?
-no, and i find that a thin brow brush and dark shadow look better than pencil ones, including the mac pencils. i take my lingering brow pencil everywhere in my purse, only because it's more convenient than hauling around a brush and shadow, and the pencil is allright for touch-ups, but not great.
10) Other than ebay and basic swapping (w/c i have never done) is there anywhere else online that I can get le/dc item for cheap? cosmetic company stores, if you live near one. other than that, not really, since they are discontinued and LE.
