Brush cleaning

Cleaning your brushes!  - ahhh I know right!

To this day I have still to find someone that actually likes washing their makeup brushes.  It's always a chore but always worth it when they are dry and clean.

Ever since I purchased the Brush cleaning mit from Sigma it's made me not hate washing my brushes.  It makes it 10x easier,quicker and does clean them thoroughly...  to me it's a great investment as by the time you pay for shipping it can be quite pricey if you live outside the USA.  Especially as I got some custom charges on mine also when it arrived which has never happened before.
Remember you don't need to purchase a mit to clean your brushes but I do highly reccomend it and you won't regret it.  It gets right into the hairs and will save you alot of time!

Click  HERE for the Sigma brush cleaning mit.

It has 1 side for your smaller brushes (eyes)

The 2nd side is for your larger brushes (face) 

How to use:
Wash - This part is on the middle of the glove.  Add the soap/shampoo to this area and move in circular motions with some warm water, repeat untill it runs clear.

Rinse - This is at the top of the glove.  Move your brush up and down on this until the water has came out of your brush.

Shape -Use the thumb part of the glove to them shape your brush back into the shape it originally was.

Dry - NEVER ever ever dry your brushes standing up the way you normally would store them!! This will make the water go into the glue, then the brush hairs will start to come out and ruin your brush.
You could leave them face down the opposite way but i tend to find this de-shapes your brush.
Personally I like to lay them down flat on a towel to dry.

Frequency - I tend to wash mines every 2 weeks.  Of course I would wash more regularly if i have break outs/spots or have used more intense products.  The longer you leave your brushes unclean the more likely you are to get spots as the bacteria is building up on those brushes.  It also will make them harder to clean.

What I use to clean them?
Johnsons baby shampoo is what I have been using for years to clean my brushes and personally liked how its washed them.  Sometimes on occasions I like to mix it with Argan/Morrocan oil also.

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I hope this helps.  If you have any other product suggestions you find works well for cleaning you brushes be sure to let me know, It's always interesting to hear other people's techniques.


Peace! 

Make Up Removal

SKINCARE

I love putting on my makeup, but it's also enjoyable taking it off and having a fresh moisturised face.

I'm taking you through my routine at the end of the day when I want to remove my makeup.

My Skin: I have normal skin, not oily but tends to feel dry also but not in a visable way, it just feels tight if that makes sense. These products personally work for me, doesn't mean they will for you if you have different skin.  I don't have bad visable pores or breakouts, I do get breakouts now and then, afterall it's normal.  That might be my blessing or it could just be the way I treat my skin.  


SIMPLE: Kind to skin cleansing facial wipes
I use these to get my mascara/eyeliner off and also some of the face product. I have tried a lot of facial wipes and I always go back to 'simple' the other ones I have tried it feels the wipes are dried out & doesn't remove product as well as it should.
Cost £3-6 (deal depending).

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LANCOME  Bi Facial Eye makeup remover
I put this on cotton wool to take my eye makeup off.  It's important to hold & dab don't rub or you'll get wrinkles!  I feel this comes off super quick and leaves a silky coating on your skin to rinse off.
Cost - £21

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BOTANICS: Cleansing Cream

*Alternative - Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish(This is more pricey)
I like to use this with a hot damp cloth, again not pulling(Use soft circular motions).  This removes all the makeup left on the rest of my face.  White cloths are ideal so you know when your face is clean.  Don't forget your neck!           -Paraben Free!
  Cost - £5  (Boots)

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NEUTROGENA: Visibly clear Pore & Shire Daily Scrub
This product I don't tend to use on a daily basis, I use about every 2-3 days or when my skin isn't looking on the most clear side.  I also use even if I just feel I have worn more makeup than usual.

This is a scrub that will exfoliate and get into those pores to keep them clear and unclogged.  

Again I use with a hot damp cloth to remove.   Paraben Free!

Cost - £5-7 (approx)

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MASK (LUSH): Mask of magnaminty
This one I obviouslly do not use every day.  I use this once or twice a week depending if my skin has breakouts I use it more.
It's a mint mask that helps to reduce your breakouts.  I leave it on for 10 mins and it hardens up on the face.  I guess thats what it must feel like to have bo-tox lol.
I then again... remove it with a hot damp cloth.
Cost - £5.95 (125g) or  £9.25 for 315g.

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GARNIER: Moisture match

For moisturiser I actually use the same as I do in the morning instead of a night cream.  

I use the 'normal to dry skin' and the 'dry to very dry'.  I just go back and forward depending on how my skin is feeling.  

I reccomend these as they are paraben free and very afforable! They do them for all skin tones from very dry, dry, normal, oily, very oily, dull..

Cost - £3 Asda (Boots £5-6 deal depending). 

All that's left now is to put on some EOS & chill in fresh soft skin. 

You need fresh skin for your makeup to look flawless! 

Peace!

Nude Lip: Must Have

So just like a girl's shoe closet, you also always need a nude lipstick!

When doing a dramatic eye i highly highly am not a fan of a bright lip.  It just adds too much and looks clown-ish.  Kind of like a camera loosing a focus point if too many people are in the shot.
If you want to wear a bright pink/red lip for example, do a very suttle defined eye with maybe a little winged liner.

When you like to do dramatic eyes more often like me, then thats when you want a nude lip handy!  You want your eyes to stand out so a little nude lip tones it down and keeps it natural looking.  Well as natural as you can get with all that makeup HA

My Favourite's
Mac Myth - (Left) This is a Satin finish so in my opinion you need a little gloss or something over it otherwise its like matte feeling.  Don't know about you but if I have dry lips it makes my face feel dry.  I like to mix a MAC Lustre or Creamsheen lipstick over this as the Satin finish is just too dry for my liking.  Myth is kind of like a great base for the Lustre's and creamsheens it makes the colours more visable.

Mac Japanese Maple -(Centre) This is Creamsheen finish.  It's a very silky feel but thicker than the lustre's so you could wear this on it's own however I love to mix with myth.

Mac Creme D'Nude - (Right)This is a Cremesheen finish also.  Again very silky, i love this one if you are in a rush and my go to one as you don't need to mix this its very pigmented.  To tell the truth I actually have 1 in my vanity and 1 in my bag as a emergency that way if i ever forget to put one in my bag, that is always there.

These shades are my favourite that doesn't mean they will be yours, I have small lips so I do not suit dark shades in the first place.  I also have a very pale skin tone so those of you with a darker complexion could go more darker toned nudes such as the following:
Rimmel - Nude Delight
Mac - Blankety (Amplified finish)

Any questions, just ask.

Peace!