Expensive, over the top lashes you want to use more than once? Keep them clean by dabbing them with eye makeup remover. Use a q-tip/cotton pad for gentle cleaning until glue and residue is removed. Gently rinse with water and air dry. Store them in an eye lash case so you don’t end up with lashes chock full of dust!
Easiest way to speed up your morning makeup routine? Organize your vanity/makeup bag! The easier it is to find what you need, the faster your routine be. You can organize them by the order you apply too.
Old sparkly drugstore nail polish brought on a whim? Before tossing it with disgust or retiring to your little sister, use it on just the tips of well manicured nails! Gives a summery look without screaming cheap or gaudy. After all, who can resist fun sparkly purples on a day at the beach?
The Gloss Check Up Check List
The temperature is rising and the humidity can be a breeding ground for bacteria in old glosses, especially pretty ones with stick application. Years of double dipping with saliva mixed in can make your glosses downright disgusting. It’s time to bust open that overflowing makeup bag and do a summer gloss checkup! After all, there’s no better excuse to stock up on new glosses right? Check for the following before tossing:
Old roll on lip gloss ball stuck or rolling extra slow? Flip it upside down for few minutes, the gloss will coat and lubricate the sides of the ball for extra ease of use! ♥
Tired of searching for perfect makeup brushes after disappointment after another? Stop wasting your dollars and shop for brushes like a pro! of course, half the battle is also taking care of them…don’t start cursing at that newly brought frayed out bristle when you’ve been abusing them.
#1. Be picky about the material: synthetic, nylon/taklon or natural?
Synthetic brushes are man-made with smooth bristles and don’t hold powders well. Good for gradual layering and build up of colors. Best for creams/liquids. Tends to get stiffer with age and it’s also less expensive for companies to make.
Taklon/Nylon: types of ingredients in synthetic brushes. Taklon is used in higher grade synthetic brushes, so if you must buy synthetic, look for Taklon.
Natural: Best for powders. Holds powders effectively because of the natural scales hairs have. Lasts longer than synthetic and gets softer with increased use!
#2. Don’t keep brushes in the bathroom cabinet. humidity from hot showers can loosen bristles and the moisture can be a breeding ground for bacteria - irritating acne or causing new ones. Store them in a cool, dry place by the vanity instead.
#3. If you can only afford one good brush, let it be a face brush. You may getaway with a cheapie sponge tip applicator for eyeshadows, but don’t risk it with your foundation! A great foundation brush can give you a more even and faster application compared to a cheap one. A good quality one won’t irritate your skin, and will only get softer with use unlike it’s drugstore counter parts. Don’t be afraid to splurge on a concealer brush either - covering up acne should be mess free, pain free and fast.
#4. Never place them upright after cleaning. If you do, the water will pool towards the glue area of the brush, loosening the bristles. Instead, lay them flat on a paper towel and air dry. Use MAC Brush Cleaning Solution as it will preserve the bristles better than regular shampoos. It will also decrease drying time too! Hooray!
#5. Don’t blow dry them or lay them under the sun. It will ruin the glue on brushes - no matter how much you’ve paid for them! Guaranteed to see some future splaying and hair loss. That’s how one of our clients ruined a $700 set of Kevyn Aucoin makeup brushes!
#6. Lipstick Brushes - don’t buy them unless you plan on cleaning them everyday! Leftover or dried up color pigments overtime can ruin lipstick brushes with mold and bacteria. Save your money and leave them to professionals. Apply lipstick or gloss from the tube instead.
Need a makeup summer getaway? Ditch those bland everyday neutrals and slip into something more exciting - Naked from Urban Decay! An every artist must-have for the everyday eyes with a pop! Best of all, it’s now finally sold @ Sephora in Vancouver! We got ours from Sephora Metrotown in Burnaby.
PROS:
CONS:
Price:
$58 CAD
$48 USD
