Sonia Kashuk is frickin’ *bringing* it in the brush department this spring. Just like the travel brushes in her Hidden Treasures Brush Set ($20), her limited edition Coral Reef Highlighter Brush ($13) performs like a champ and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
When I want a veil of sheer, shimmery powder or bronzer, Coral Reef handles the job perfectly.
The domed brush head resembles the head on a kabuki brush. It’s a little different than a regular kabuki, though, because the bristles (sooo soft!) are less densely packed, and the brush head feels fluffier.
It lays down sheer layers of color evenly on my skin. I’ve used the brush to apply highlighting powder, bronzer and blush, and it works well with all three types of products. This doll’s a multi-tasking monster.
Sonia Kashuk Coral Reef Highlighter Brush
Price: $13
Use: An affordable kabuki-like makeup brush for powders, bronzers and blush
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+
You’ll either hate or love the metallic faux coral handle, but I think it’s cute — and lightweight, too.
You might like the Sonia Kashuk Coral Reef Highlighter Brush if…
- …you like makeup applied in sheer veils of color,
- …you’re partial to lightweight brushes,
- …you like a good bargain.
Alarm clock kitty
Tabs just started his new job. He works as my alarm clock.
Early each morning around dawn he meows to be let in, so El Hub goes and opens the door. The first place Tabs heads is to the kitchen, where he gobbles up what’s left of his stinky wet food from the night before. Then, he jumps up on the bed, climbs across my chest and blows his fishy kitty breath up in my grill.
As far as alarm clocks go … it’s not bad. Stinkier than most but a lot less jarring. 🙂
What’s shakin’? Is it Friday yet?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
YadiQ says
April 29th, 2009 at 7:13 amlol
jazmine proves to be my alarm clock too – on onday i refused to get up at 5 am to give her wet food and the B#$%^ kicked out all her cat litter out of her box
i cleaned it and then she kicked it out again 10 minutes later – its insane diva never did that! diva and jazmine didnt get along – i mean hello diva is a diva after all so she went back to live with my parents since i stole her from them when i moved out – my mom took this as a perfect opportunity to have her “baby” back lol i miss diva and jazmine has me up at 5 am every day and i am not jiving to well with that not to mention that shes scratching my bedskirt and my couches again diva never did that uggh doesnt she know i saved her from being homeless! inconsiderate kitties!
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 7:49 amHi Yadi,
OMG! Why does wet food make the kitties insane? It sounds like Jazmine treats your house like a spa… Tabs totally does the same thing. He expects fancy spa food, premium facilities (he’ll *only* use Fresh Step kitty litter), massages and papering. I feel like I should start charging him.
What does Jazmine look like?
Bobbie Sue says
April 29th, 2009 at 8:40 amMy dog Chloe just started sleeping in our room with us on her bed and she wakes me up in the morning having to go outside to do the deed :). Then when she comes back inside she jumps right on top of me with her wet paws. I will usually get up at that time and she will go and cuddle with my fiance. LOL, they get to stay in bed an hour longer than I do. 🙂
jess says
April 29th, 2009 at 9:32 amHi yadiq,
I know this isnt makeup related. But when did diva go back to your parents? Sometimes even when cats dont like each other, or hate each other, as most do; they get very upset when separated. That being sad, do not give into her 5 am food demands, or she will continue forever. My cat used to beg for food all day every day, so finally we had to do strict feeding times. My dog, on the other hand, has to be motivated to eat!
Yes, they all go crazy for wet food. I dont give mine any, mean i know, but she doesnt know what she is missing.
Jess
Shiny says
April 29th, 2009 at 9:51 amMy dog scratches at my bedroom door till I open it. Then he loudly walks around the room snorting. The other day my mom saw him pick up his bone and throw it at my closed door. It’s not a bad alarm clock, but I sure don’t enjoy it on Saturday mornings.
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:26 pmHi Shiny,
LOL! He sounds like a character. I miss having a dog. I always had one growing up, but now that Tabs is up in the mix I dunno if it’s going to happen.
Dao says
April 29th, 2009 at 10:17 amTabs is so funny! My cousin’s old kitty “Tuna” used to pounce on me when I sleep too, but at least he did not give my fishy breath. I haven’t seen Jack for a while, wonder how he’s been doing 🙁
I saw this LE at Target and it’s really funky, like Jack Sparrow funky. I doubt to use the coral reef handled brushes though, they do not blend in with the rest of my very miss-matched brushes.
I sent you an email on Monday, did you get it?
Dao´s last blog post..Butterfly EOTD
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:25 pmHi Dao,
I did! I’ll be replying soon… 🙂
YadiQ says
April 29th, 2009 at 10:56 amhi jess they were together for all of 3 days and they didnt stop fighting
diva is as i said before a DIVA lol
i had to adopt jazmine because my “step” daughter was going to lose her because her little bro was totally allergic all of a sudden to cats it was either my fiance and i took her or she was going to an animal shelter
i havent been giving into the 5 am feedings but she doesnt let me sleep and is tearing up my house lol shes a cute little bugger and super affectionate but i hope she gets a clue soon !
and karen yes i think wet food must have like cat drugs in it! they do go bonkers lol
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:23 pmHi YadiQ,
Seriously! I’m convinced that Fancy Feast gravy makes Tabs insane. INSANE!
Lauren says
April 29th, 2009 at 10:58 amHa, my cat will either scratch on the closed door until I let her into my room (and then she wants food and a trip outside, so she never cuddles with me or anything), or if my door is open, she’ll come into my room and try to make as much noise as possible, meowing and doing that ‘trilling’ noise cats do, and moving the cords around under my desk and even jumping up on my desk.
She’s funny. Annoying when she wants up super early in the morning, but I love her anyway.
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:22 pmHi Lauren,
Aww, what is it with cats going nuts in the wee hours? I know they’re nocturnal and all but c’mon! 🙂
What’s your kitty’s name and what does she look like?
Kim says
April 29th, 2009 at 11:12 amGirl I WISH it was Friday!
I definitely just finished mailing off 205 envelopes of press packets for work. PHEW! Of course, as luck would have it… I have a ‘goodbye’ papercut from the last envelope I taped down. Ugh. lol.
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:21 pmHi Kim,
Me too. I wish it was Friday and I was taking a NAP. Oohhh… it’s amazing the things I look forward to now, LOL. I’m all about sleep!
Sorry to hear about your paper cut. Those things HURT! I would get them all the time when I had my legal assistant gig. The worst ones are the ones from file folders, ouch.
Michele says
April 29th, 2009 at 11:18 amI was just surfing out of boredom and reading the shu umora (sp) website. I never realized HE was a male. And he died in 2008. It is quite interesting. Just to to the website and click on the different items. He even sold his formulas to L’oreal for a large sum.
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:17 pmHi Michele,
Yup, I remember when the news broke last year of his passing. He also worked as a Hollywood makeup artist, too…
EV says
April 29th, 2009 at 11:23 amHa, that’s why we don’t let the kitties in the bedroom 😀
Eddie and Izzy both yowl and pester for food starting about two hours before their set dinner time; who knows if that’ll ever stop (eye roll). At least they’re both pretty chill about everything else. Well, Eddie’s been known to run off with makeup brushes, but now that I close the bathroom door when I have some out to dry we’re getting along much better!
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:16 pmHi EV,
I’m glad Tabs pretty much ignores my brushes and my makeup. Has Eddie ever ruined any of your brushes? I hope not!
Kate & Zena says
April 29th, 2009 at 12:19 pmZena sometimes acts as an alarm clock but not usually. She has this habit of kicking everyone off the bed. Literally, I start with my entire bed to my disposal, then I get 1/2 when Zena jumps on. Then slowly but surely she steals the bed until I wake up because I just realized I can’t roll over either way (I’m a bed roller, I never grew out of it). Usually, I just get out of bed, walk all the way around to the other side of the bed that Zena “stole,” climb back in and fall asleep again. :giggle:
Unless she’s barking in my ear because a FedEx guy decided to come, I just go back to sleep. Let me tell you, I feel as if one ear is always deaf after those episodes as she has a deep Great Dane bark.
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:09 pmHi Kate & Zena,
Isn’t that funny how pets think that they own the bed? Tabs acts like he was the one who put down the credit card for it. The little monster…
cloudburst says
April 29th, 2009 at 12:47 pmI love cats but their breath smells like death – is Tab’s strictly an indoor kitty now?
Have you seen this youtube video where the kitten is so hungry he won’t let go of the can & he’s yowling his head off? If the link doesn’t work search for “hungry bengal kitten”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70wuAWxOEZA
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:06 pmHi Cloudburst,
Nope, not yet. He’ll be a full time indoor cat when we move (which will hopefully be soon).
I haven’t seen that video yet! YOWZA that’s one hungry kitty.
jess says
April 29th, 2009 at 12:48 pmI definitely will be going to target friday after my exams and buy a present of brushes for myself. I dont like the coral but everyone seems to rave about the quality of brush. I got the makeup sponge there, the funny shaped one, and it is amazing!
My fun cat story. I got my cat from the hospital i work in she was sick and her owner abandoned her. She is the sweetest cat but anxious. She overgrooms herself because of anxiety, so she is about 50% bald. Nothing medically wrong with her, just anxious. She just started her prozac so hopefully she will regain her hair again!
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:05 pmHi Jess,
Oh, poor kitty! I hope the Prozac helps her anxiety. What does she look like and what’s her name?
Sonia Kashuk brushes are some of the best drugstore ones out there. If you pick up any of her regular ones be sure to snag the ones with the black, curvy handles. Those are the BEST!
Row says
April 29th, 2009 at 1:38 pmIts not fair! I can’t get these brushes in the UK.
I have 5 kitties Karen and they are all alarm clocks in different ways. The boyf tells me that this morning, out biggest cat sat practically sat on my head and he had to pick her off me before I suffocated. And died.
Row´s last blog post..Yukibear.JPG
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:04 pmHi Row,
I can’t get a bunch of cool stuff that you guys have… I’m still aching for a bottle of Garnier Body Cocoon lotion. It needs to come over here to the US already!
Why is it that cats love to plop down in the most inappropriate places? Tabs has a knack for sitting on my bladder ONLY when I have to go the bathroom. It’s the weirdest thing.
Stacie says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:29 pmMy cats are not allowed in my bedroom, at all, ever! They are insane little monsters, and I need my sleep. 🙂 Sure they sometimes meow at the door, but I have a super loud fan that drowns out most noise. Could be trouble if the smoke alarm were going off…
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 6:51 pmHi Stacie,
Ah! Smart, smart. When I move I’m going to try to keep the bedroom off limits. I doubt it’s gonna happen, though… Tabs is one sneaky kitty.
Kate & Zena says
April 29th, 2009 at 3:42 pmHi Karen,
Uggggggggh, tell me about it. Zena just loves her stealing-the-bed-by-scooting-over-little-by-little routine. She does the same thing on the couch and La-Z-Boy. The sad thing is, she likes my regular mattress to my parent’s Tempur-pedic. So guess who’s always finding toys on the bed, innards from said toys being destroyed, pillows flung about, fuzzy blanket askewed, and typically a 33 pound curled into a donut shape in the middle of the bed during the day? That would be me.
I’ve had to hide all my very special stuffed toys (i.e. the ones I refuse to give away) so she wouldn’t steal and destroy them. She has a particular hatred to Scraps–a beanie baby dog–and my two Gund fuzzy, pink bears, particularly the little one. One of the Gunds is a big one that my dad gave me when I was born that has a brown streak down the back as my mom accidentally ran over her (hence, the scissored off tag and not perfectly pink fur) and the baby Gund my dad gave me after my hip surgery when I was four. They look a bit like the Gund Snuffles bear but two shades of pink, not white.
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 6:49 pmHi Kate & Zena,
Oh, Zena better stay away from those stuffed toys! They sound very well loved and special.
I have a few stuffed animals that I can’t bear to part with, either. Most of mine live (LOL!) with my parents right now. 🙂
Alexandra says
April 29th, 2009 at 4:58 pmMy cat Gannet follows me everywhere,even into the bathroom lol. So i have a night time routine,to get her to stay downstairs lol. When im ready for bed,i feed her,then escape up to bed. My house is an odd layout,you have to go through the kitchen to get to the stairs.Then i shut the kitchen door. She actually can open some doors,but luckily not the door from the kitchen to the stairs. She also always wants feeding,i never get any peace lol.
Karen says
April 29th, 2009 at 6:45 pmHi Alexandra,
LOL, Tabs and I have a night time routine, too. I feed him wet food right before I jump into bed. After he’s done eating he wanders into my room and then hops on the bed to clean himself. He’ll usually hang out for a few hours and then meow to be let out around midnight.
Catherine says
April 29th, 2009 at 7:57 pmAww, I’m so jealous of everyone here who has cute kitties. I’ve always wanted one, I just don’t have enough stability right now to know where I’m going to be always and I don’t live close enough to my parents to have them take care of a pet while I’m away at an internship. Once I’m out of grad school and settled down though, I’m totally getting myself a kitty.
& on topic, sounds like a great little brush! How do you think the SKs compare to EcoTools brushes, Karen? I know EcoTools has far less variety, but I do love them.
Catherine´s last blog post..butterflies and shooting stars
Kate & Zena says
April 29th, 2009 at 9:02 pmNot to worry, the stuffed toys are horded well out of the Zena Scope & Scoop Range.
I’m sure Tabs is more well-behaved in the manners department with food and toys than Zena. I’m sure Tabs doesn’t come in tracking mud onto the carpet or sits RIGHT NEXT to you and stares at you when you have food waiting for the opportune moment to steal it from you.
jess says
April 29th, 2009 at 10:22 pmmy cat definitely looks like tabs. Gray leopard. Her name is Lilly, but goes by Lil, because my dog is Jack, and i am that dorky. Both animals follow me around all day, it is a group trip to the bathroom the fridge, the living room, etc. I am excited for roommates so they can follow other people around too. But i love them, so entertaining.
Meream says
April 30th, 2009 at 12:49 amhahaha your cat is great!
Rowena says
April 30th, 2009 at 6:26 amMine will cry and cry and cry if I don’t let them into the bedroom. They are annoying like that.
I find the big cat tends to knead on my boobs – very painful!
Rowena´s last blog post..Yukibear.JPG
Martha says
April 30th, 2009 at 2:31 pmIt’s the Sonia Kashuk Highlighter aka the unicorn brush! The hardest drugstore brand brush to find! Some say it’s better than MAC 187 to put on foundation.