BellaSugar

How-To: Dry-Clean Your Makeup Brushes

BellaSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:00:41 -0800

I've taught you how to create your own makeup brush cleaning solvent in the past and I've even suggested a few of my favorite gentle professional brush cleansers. But after speaking with someone from pro brush-making company Hakuhodo, I learned a little something I'd like to share with you. Did you know that the best way to remove oily liquid foundation or waxy lipstick from your makeup brushes is by using dry corn starch? Here's what you'll need and what to do:

Fill a plastic bag with corn starch (make sure it's the sugar and preservative-free kind).
Drop the brush inside (hair down) and hold the mouth of the bag closed.
Shake for one minute and then remove the brush. Dust off the corn starch and repeat two more times until all of the greasy residue is gone.

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Handy Dandy Sephora Makeup Brush Cleansing Wipes

BellaSugar — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 07:42:59 -0800

I have one girlfriend who loves to play beauty school. On New Years Eve we were primping and she is very specific about her makeup brushes; this girl knows what brushes to use for what function, but she is also very good about brush maintenance. So good, she whipped out these Sephora Makeup Brush Cleansing Wipes, $9 for a pack of 20, and kept her brushes clean and organized right then and there.

January is a good time to wipe the slate clean and do a thorough makeup brush cleansing. So, if you're on-the-go I'd invest in these wipes, and this weekend set aside some time to do this do-it-yourself brush cleaning method and make sure you are using a professional brush cleaner.

Makeup Brushes, Part III: Professional Brush Cleaners

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:28:00 -0700

Welcome to Part III of FabSugar's detailed look at make-up brushes: professional make-up brush cleaners. Now that you understand the importance of cleaning your grimy make-up brushes, here are my top picks for make-up brush cleaning solvents for those of you who don't like the do-it-yourself method.

Trish McEvoy Makeup Brush Cleaner is my personal fave. It's a quick and easy spray bottle that you can directly spray onto your lush brushes. Buy the 4-ounce bottle here for $18.

Clinique Make-Up Brush Cleanser thoroughly cleans build-up from the brush. Just pump one short spritz onto each side of the makeup brush and use a tissue to wipe away grime. Allow approximately two minutes to dry before use. Buy it here for $12.50

To see the rest, read more

Laura Mercier Brush Cleaner kills unwanted bacteria without drying or damaging the bristles on your precious brushes. Use the cap of the bottle for dipping and gently dip the brush into the cleanser. The formula will evaporate without leaving a filmy residue. Buy it here for $18.

M·A·C Brush Cleanser is unique because it not only disinfects your brushes but is also especially designed to extend the life of your high-quality tools. It has a great, fresh scent and it dries quickly. Buy it here for $9.

Makeup Brushes, Part II: Do-It-Yourself Brush Cleaning

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 10:37:41 -0700

Welcome to Part II of BellaSugar's detailed look at make-up brushes. Today's installment: do-it-yourself brush cleaning. (To read yesterday's installment on powder brushes, click here.) If you're making an investment in high-quality tools, then it's important that you know the correct way to maintain them. Though people don't often think to wash their make-up brushes, it's very important that you keep them clean, because they harbor lots of dirt and bacteria, which can cause breakouts and make your make-up go on clumpy. Washing brushes will also make them last longer.

Ideally, you should wash any brush that you use for liquid make-up (including concealer, foundation, lip products, cream shadows, and so on) every day. For brushes used with powder, clean them every two weeks. For tips on how to properly clean your brushes, read more

Gently run your make-up brushes under lukewarm water. Swish them around in the sink until the water runs clear. Hold the brush under the water with the handle pointing up so that you don't irreparably damage the brush.
Add a small amount of mild shampoo or soap to the palm of your hard and swish your brush around in your hand and then under the water. Keep in mind that natural bristle brushes need gentler soaps.
Rinse your hand and the brush thoroughly, then wring out the water from the brush's tip. To retain the shape of the brush hair, gently squeeze to remove all traces of soap and water and place them so they can dry flat on a clean dry towel.

Keep in mind that sharing makeup brushes is not advisable because it may lead to infection.

Tools of the Trade: BellaSugar's Guide to Makeup Brushes

BellaSugar — Sat, 12 May 2007 11:40:03 -0700

I get a lot of readers writing in with beauty questions, and makeup brushes are without a doubt one of the hottest topics. Obviously, I want to make sure we have all of the beauty basics covered, so I've created a definitive Guide To Makeup Brushes that you can come back to again and again. Here's a roundup of my posts about six essential types of makeup brushes and how to clean and care for them. Enjoy!

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Do You Use Baby Products?

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:00:35 -0800

Lately, I've become quite a fan of Perfumer & Flavorist magazine's website. Yeah, I'm not a subscriber so I can't delve into each of their interesting articles about, well -the perfume and flavor industries. But the other day, when I came across the magazine's list of winners from the 2008 Perfumer's Choice Awards, I decided to try out one of their selections. They are the experts, after all.

Best classic fine women's fragrance? Estée Lauder Beautiful. Best Baby/Children Fragrance? Johnson & Johnson Bedtime Bath ($4.99). So, I went and did what any other adult would do. I bought the baby bath. I've been a fan of Johnson's Baby Shampoo ($4.49) for years, particularly as a makeup brush cleaner, with amazing (and sweet smelling) results. As for the bedtime bath? The aroma was fresh and soothing, and I felt very rested that night. And since I really like the gentle nature of baby products, I plan on keeping this one in regular rotation. How about you?

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