Brushy Washy

It's a chore, yes. But it's required. Necessary. Trust me. You've got to keep those brushes (and sponges!) clean!

Brushes can be expensive. For me, they're an investment. I like to take good care of them so I can use them for a long time! 

Cleaning your makeup brushes regularly has many benefits. For one, your brushes will last much longer if you keep them clean. Dirty brushes are more prone to shedding because product buildup forces the fibers to move around unintnetionally. Over time, the fibers loosen from the brush itself and fall out. Shedding is something that can happen with clean brushes, but dirty ones are more likely to lose fibers. 

Clean brushes also perform better. Not only can product buildup cause shedding, it can also distort the shape and texture of your brush. The best example I have is a dirty eyeliner brush. I use a tiny pencil brush to apply my gel liner. If I don't clean this brush everyday, I notice my wings aren't as sharp and smooth. It's because the gel liner builds up between the fibers in my brush. Although it's gradual and barely noticeable, the product buildup is causing the fibers in my brush to spread apart. Now that super pointy pencil brush is a little wider, leading to a thicker line.  This is something that can happen with creams and powders too. Cleaning your brushes will up their performance!

Keeping those babies clean isn't just good for them, it's good for you, too! If nothing else, the brushes you use to apply face makeup (foundation, concealer, contour, etc.) should be cleaned every day! Even a freshly cleaned and prepped face will leave oil and bacteria on your brushes. No matter what. Applying today's makeup with yesterday's bacteria can lead to tomorrow's break outs. Cleaning your brushes also helps keep that same oil and bacteria out of your makeup! It's overall healthy for you and your entire vanity. 

I clean my brushes two ways: wet and dry. "Dry" cleaning is something I do every day. It doesn't take that long and the benefits outweigh the chore of cleaning. 

I use MAC's brush cleanser daily. I don't get my brushes wet for daily cleaning simply because it takes longer and they need a lot of time to dry. I use a clean wash cloth instead of tissue or paper towels. Disposable cloth can tear or leave behind microscopic fibers or dust. And that's a pain to remove from your brushes. I have designated "makeup rags" for cleaning. Eventually, they will get stained so don't use your grandmother's antique embroidered towelettes for this.  I simply pour out some cleanser onto the wash cloth and gently "wipe" the brush across the cloth. You'll see the makeup come off on the cloth. You can repeat if necessary but usually a couple of passes gets the brush clean! 

Then there's "wet" cleaning. This is something I do once a month. Since I clean my brushes daily, there is no need for me to deep clean them more frequently. Some people don't daily clean, but they'll deep clean on a weekly basis. That's too time consuming for me plus "dry" cleaning brushes helps keep my skin clear. Anyway, deep cleaning your brushes with water and a cleanser is something you should also be doing. 

I typically do this on a day off from work when I can take my time and do it right. Or, do it the day before a makeup free day. That way, your brushes have an entire day to dry!

I have two methods. The lazy method involves soaking the brushes in the MAC cleanser for an hour or so and then rinsing them. This method is fine but it uses a lot of cleanser AND doesn't get the brushes as clean because after a while they end up soaking in liquified makeup mixed with cleanser. The other method is time consuming, but well worth the result.

For this, I've been using two different cleansers lately. Beautyblender's solid cleanser isn't just awesome for your sponge, it's a wonderful cleanser for your brushes! Speaking of sponges, I clean my blending sponge daily just like my brushes. I do rinse it because it will dry in no time. But, I clean it with the solid cleanser every week or so. 

Anyway, I use the solid cleanser by running it under water while building up a lather with the brush. And then I rinse. I've also been using Ulta's brush cleanser. I got it thinking I could use it like the MAC cleanser because they're both pink, but it's not the same. The Ulta cleanser actually says to rinse your brushes after using. So I use it like a shampoo! 

I always run my brushes under lukewarm water and rinse until completely clear. Sometimes I have to lather, rinse, repeat...especially if it's a brush I use for liquid or cream products. 

To dry, I reshape my brushes while damp and lay them flat to dry on a clean towel. If you have a way to dry them upside down, that will dry them quicker and more effectively. Never set them upright to dry. The water will collect at the base and could damage your brush. Not to mention the bacteria that could harbor in there!

As far as which cleansers you use, that's entirely up to you. I'm partial to MAC's cleanser because it's cheaper per ounce than any other high-end brush cleaner out there (yes I did the math). And cheaper than the cleanser from Ulta and Sephora. It also counts for Back to MAC, a recycling program where you return 6 empty MAC products (wipes and brush cleanser included) and get a free lipstick. I also like this cleanser because it's gentle and fast drying, which makes it perfect for daily use. 

I've used Sephora's daily brush cleaner and it works just fine, but it ends up costing more than MAC. elf also makes a brush cleanser that's $3 but it has a scent I don't care for and it leaves a slight residue on the brushes. 

As for deep cleaning, Sephora makes a brush shampoo that's pretty great. I like using my beautyblender solid cleanser because I feel like it lasts longer. However, the Ulta cleanser I could live without. It cleans my brushes, but I have to use so much of it to get them clean. 

There's tons of recipes for DIY and natural cleansers out there that will probably do the trick and save you money. I'm just super lazy and would rather pay $15 for mine. 

There's tools available to help you clean brushes. Textured pads and gloves for scrubbing, even a "washing machine" that cleans several brushes at once. I haven't yet looked into these devices, but they sound like a worthwhile buy to keep your brushes heathy. 

Whatever you use, it's important for you to get in the habit of cleaning your brushes. At this point, it is just part of my routine. Your brushes will thank you!

Scrub-a-dub my pretties!

Roller Lash Review!

Benefit has no shortage of awesome products.  I've never hated anything I've tried from this brand.  That being said, none of it seems to absolutely blow me away either.  Granted, I haven't tried everything they have to offer, so this review may be lacking a little brand knowledge.

I wanted to love this mascara because I see artists using it in tutorials all the time and they seem to really like it.  For some reason, I've been using false lashes lately.  Roller Lash is everyone's holy grail to prep their natural lashes before applying falsies.  Even when you wear false lashes, it's important to use mascara on your natural lashes to create a more seamless effect. 

This mascara does exactly what it claims to do.  It is an extreme curl mascara.  That's why it's so useful for false lash wearers.  It really does totally eliminate the need for an eyelash curler.  Since it give your lashes such great lift, it helps blend your lashes with your falsies.  And since it offers crazy curling abilities, it will make your real lashes look longer.  Here's my lashes with one coat of Roller Lash:

I have naturally long lashes (hate me) so lengthening isn't important to me.  I'm more interested in volume, which is why I've been rocking falsies these days (plus they really do make your lashes look FLAWLESS).  So what I'm saying is:  I don't care if this mascara gives me length. 

When I first applied this mascara, I really did love it.  It opened my eyes up because it lifted my lashes.  It's great for your bottom lashes as well because it doesn't clump at all.  It helps separate and define your lashes.  Most of the time, I don't even need to comb my lashes after.

So this mascara does what it says it will do and it makes your lashes looks great.  Why don't I love it?

After a couple of hours, it gets really dry and starts to flake off.  Which is super annoying because even with the most gentle swipe, you're often left with black streaks on your face.  It's also difficult to remove.  I typically use makeup remover and cotton pads, but I really have to break out the coconut oil to 100% remove this mascara from my lashes.

Application is important, but so is wear and removal.  Luckily I bought the "try it" size at Ulta.  So I only spent $10 on the small tube. 

I don't hate it so much that I won't finish the tube, but I will probably not re-buy.  Despite the adorable packaging and great initial results, this mascara just falls short for me.  Sorry!

Bat those lashes, pretties!

This Might Be A Bit Dry

It seems I fell off the face of the earth for a while! The holiday season allows little free time for me, but now I have no excuses to spread my wealth of knowledge!

And since the new year decided to (finally) bring some cold weather to the mountains, I think it's only fitting that I talk about battling the cold weather beauty woes!

A lot of us struggle to keep moisturized in the cold, dry weather. Here's what I do to stay hydrated. 

Skin

Dry skin is usually at the top of everyone's list of winter beauty issues. I use a few different products to help avoid flaky, dry skin. 

I highly recommend starting in the shower. Use a moisturizing body cleanser to start things off right. I love using Dove body wash because it's super mild and has a light fragrance (unless you go for something a little more fruity in their line). It's also full of moisturizers and won't leave a weird residue on your skin. 

If that's not enough, condition your skin before leaving the shower. That's a thing? You bet! Lush makes a product called "Body Conditioner" which I also thought was weird until I received some as a gift. 

Believe me, this stuff is awesome. You use it after washing. Like you would hair conditioner. You simply rub it into wet skin and rinse. Pat dry when you get out and reveal super soft skin! 

Lush's body conditioners are not cheap. So if you want to try something else, I recommend using baby oil in the shower. This can get messy and leave your shower floor super slippery. Baby oil gel will create less mess but still give you the soft skin you desire. Use it the same way: rub into clean skin and rinse. Pat dry. 

Using this method keeps my skin soft throughout the day, but I'm usually feeling dry by the evening. Lotion is your friend. Try to stay away from heavily perfumed products as they can sometimes irritate sensitive skin. Once again, I turn to Lush. Their products don't have added perfumes or dyes. Any fragrance or color is the result of natural ingredients. Their Charity Pot lotion is a great place to start because it benefits select charities when you purchase it! 

It is also just a good standard lotion and the least expensive in their line. I also love Helping Hands hand lotion. Barely any fragrance at all and it absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy. So it's basically the perfect lotion for dry hands. If you don't want to splurge, my top drug store picks are Eucerin, Cetaphil, and Aveeno. These brands offer gentle care for sensitive skin but are also super effective. 

Don't forget your face! I moisturize my face daily as part of my beauty routine (and you should too), but if this isn't part of your regimen year round at least add it in during the cold months. Lush Imperialis is my go-to but any non-comedogenic lotions are good! Neutrogena is probably my favorite drug store skin care. 

Lips

Yes. Lips. Chapped lips are probably the most annoying thing to happen in winter. I wear lots of matte lipsticks, so I worry about keeping my lips moist every day. I always use a lip scrub. No surprise, mine comes from Lush. 

But there are plenty of alternatives out there and you can make one at home with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. I've made one using just coconut oil and sugar. Check Pinterest for recipes! Using a scrub removes dead skin and exfoliates to a smooth, soft surface. I always apply a lip balm after my scrub. I love eos balms. I have one in my bathroom, my nightstand, on the table near my spot on the couch, and of course there's one in my purse. Do I over balm? Yes. Am I sorry about it? No. 

I've also recently fallen back in love with a product I used in high school. Smith's Rosebud Salve is ahhhhhmazing! I used to use it for everything. 

The little jar it comes in was a little messy to use so I think that's why I quit using it. But recently, I was waiting in line at Ulta and there it was in the impulse fixture. In tube form!!! 

I was so excited that I gasped as I grabbed it and scared the woman behind me. So much easier to use for the lips! But even in a tube, you can still use to combat chapped skin anywhere on your body. 

Hair

Wait...your hair? YES!!! Hair is subject to lose moisture in the cold just like your skin. My hair care routine is a little specific (post coming soon all about my hair!) because I color it. BUT...dry hair in winter is something we can all fall victim to. I highly recommend using a lightweight oil or cream on hair before bed. I don't wash my hair every day, so I lose moisture on my ends (and my roots get oily). Every night, I spritz a little hydrating oil onto my hair. I do this when my hair is dry and I only apply to my ends. By the morning, my hair has absorbed the oil and I can style it like normal. I like OGX products. They're good quality, especially for the price! I'm using their Coconut Water spray right now. 

It's super lightweight but hydrates my hair enough so that it's still soft and shiny. 

Staying hydrated in winter can be rough. But it doesn't have to be! Adding a few extra steps to your daily routine will make all the difference. 

 

Keep it moisturizedmy pretties!