In a perfect world, I’d always have at least 45 minutes to do my makeup. Not because it always takes that long, but because I like being able to take my time and relax.

Unfortunately, the clock doesn’t always cooperate, especially with the holidays approaching fast.

That’s why ’tis the season for makeup shortcuts! I’m always looking for makeup time-savers, and one of my new favorites is Sonia Kashuk’s Twist & Shout Kabuki Blush Brush ($13).

Remember Sonia’s Twist of Fate brush set last week? Well, her new kabuki brush models the same twisted faux silver handle, which, like its sisters, broadcasts every smudgy fingerprint (aargh!), a flaw I can easily forgive.

Why?

Baby, you’re much too fast!

Twist & Shout screams! With it I’m able to apply and blend blush in half the time it takes me with a regular blush brush. Fantastic when I don’t have minutes to spare.

Like a wand, this brush exudes magic. When I rest Twist & Shout’s wide and slightly flattened brush head against my cheek, it covers the entire apple — a large swath of cheek! It’s able to blanket almost my entire cheek with a light-to-medium layer of color in just a couple quick swipes.

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Sonia Kashuk Twist of Fate Brush Set, $20

Earlier this decade, Sonia Kashuk reinvented the budget brush market, making drugstore makeup brushes cool. For the holidays this year, she’s taking that budget luxe philosophy another big step forward by introducing a line with twisted faux-sliver handles that won’t break the bank.

But looks aren’t everything, and to find out if Sonia’s new brushes bring the noise, I put ‘em to the test.

The six-piece limited edition Twist of Fate Brush Set ($20, on sale now at Target), Sonia’s premium collection of brushes for the holidays, joins five limited edition holiday makeup palettes and accessories (also on sale at Target).

Sonia Kashuk Twist of Fate

With a black clutch purse to carry them in (one that looks like it could cost more than $20 by itself), these six short-handled brushes will be traveling in style.

• A powder/blush brush
• A foundation brush
• A crease brush
• An eyeshadow brush
• An eyeliner brush
• A brow/lash comb

Pros

• Look expensive
• Brush heads feel soft against my skin and apply/blend product well
• Clutch purse fits everything with room to spare
• Brushes feel lightweight — perfect for girls on the go!
• Fantastic deal; breaks down to $2.86/per item (including the clutch)

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The first time I gave it a try, it took me a good five minutes in front of the mirror to build up the courage to raise Sephora’s Professional Platinum Lash & Eyebrow Comb ($10) to my eyes.

I kept imagining myself scratching an eyeball with its pointy metal teeth. Compared to the cheap plastic drugstore lash combs I’ve always used, this metal monster looked downright frightening!

But after breaking three of the plastic ones so far this year, I was fed up and ready to try something new.

Having heard nothing but good things about metal lash combs, I took a few deep breaths, made the sign of the cross and went for it.

“Go towards the light, Carol Anne! Towards the light!!”

As luck would have it, all my fears were for naught. Sephora’s metal monster isn’t frightening at all.

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Good morning, girls. Hope you slept well. I wanted to touch base before running off to the Convention Center.

Each October (admittedly, more now than in past years), I get a few limited-edition breast cancer awareness (BCA) products for myself and to give as gifts to friends and family.

I’m amazed by how much Breast Cancer Awareness Month has changed over the past few years. Like almost everything else in our part of the world, the event’s been heavily commodified and commercialized, but I’m okay with that. If the sight of those little pink ribbons in every nook and cranny of our lives increases our awareness of the disease (even if we don’t always like the way some choose to use it), I think it benefits us all.

So here are four of my BCA favorites of the year. *LOVE* the Foot Petals heart-shaped pad…

Sonia Kashuk Bag Lady Cosmetic Case

How ’bout the print and dual zippers on this pretty pink makeup bag? It’s one of several items from Sonia Kashuk’s Shop Pink Do More collection from breast cancer survivor and beauty genius Sonia Kashuk.

Cute, right? It holds a ton of makeup, and 15% of the purchase price goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Where to buy: $12, check your local Target store

Papyrus Blank BCA Notecards

I first spied these cute blank notecards at Papyrus a few months ago.

The colors and designs always bring a smile to my face…

Each box comes with four different illustrations (20 cards total), with 10% of the price going toward The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and this is something they’re doing not just throughout October but year round.

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A mini pony = awesomeness.

A mini pony brush = even more awesomeness!

Say howdy to Shu Uemura’s Portable Natural Brush 14 ($30) — a friend to dark circles everywhere.

I spend a lot of time not sleeping. It’s one of my hobbies… not sleeping. Consequently, I rely on under-eye concealer to hide my dark circles, and to set it I’ll use a little bit of powder and Shu’s Natural Brush 14.

The smallish, fluffy brush head (made with pony hair) fits perfectly into the nook under my eyes. It’s one of the softest brushes in my arsenal and feels like a kiss from Tabs on my delicate skin. Just one swipe applies a sheer veil of powder — natural, not heavy or cakey at all.

At $30 it’s not a cheap tool, but ladies who take makeup seriously could consider it an investment.

Why? Because this pony multitasks!

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