Nifty: How to Clean your Make-up Brushes like a Pro.

This may sound like an extra task and something that isn't even necessary but, every smart girl knows that a clean brush leads to a better application. I don't love to share make-up but, living with 3 girls and owning a huge make-up collection it is going to happen. I am not a huge germ-a-phobe either but, I do know that a dirty brush that has been used on many different faces and eyes can collect bacteria and oil on the bristles that can make you break out or even get an eye infection. This is something I like to call "not pretty"....no one wants to have pink eye or a huge zit on their cheek, when the problem could have easily been avoided.

So, I give you my own personal steps for cleaning and caring for your make-up brushes.

What You Will Need:
*2 Clean Hand Towels
*Brush Shampoo OR Your favorite face wash (Should not be an exfoliating wash though, the beads will get stuck in the brushes.)
*A Bottle of Rubbing Alcohol
*A Cup
*A Bathroom (ideal spot for brush cleaning)
*Your Brushes
*Plenty of Warm Water

Okay, here we go....

1. First lay out one towel on a flat surface, this is where you will place your brush after each one is washed so they can dry properly. Fill your sink with warm water and BE SURE that your sink is clean because otherwise you are just making the brushes more gross. Fill your glass half way with rubbing alcohol and soak your brushes in the glass.
•  The rubbing alcohol acts as a disinfectant and will remove a lot of excess make-up from the brush before you wash it. 
2.  One by one take a brush add a drop of brush shampoo or face wash to the tip of the brush and massage into the hairs. Depending on how much powder is coming off of the brush you might want to rinse and repeat until it is fully clean. 
• Always wash your brush with the directions of the hairs...you never want to misshape your brushes.
• Big power brushes will need at least 2 washes.
3. Once clean, rinse the brush in hot water under the tap...squeeze out any liquid left on the brush and dip the whole head of the brush in your fresh glass of rubbing alcohol. Squeeze any extra rubbing alcohol off of the brush and lay flat to dry on your towel.
• The rubbing alcohol will not only keep the bristles of the brush in shape but, it also acts as a fast drying agent so, you don't have to wait for a full day to use your brushes. 
4. Drying should take about 4 hrs...2 hrs per side. After they are dry, fluff the brushes and you are ready to go!

Good Luck!

Products I Swear by: Bare Minerals

So, I was always skeptical about how a loose powder could really be THAT GOOD at covering up any flaw or mark on my face. I always went the route of a liquid foundation but, it was always cake-y and never matched my skin exactly. Until I finally caved in and went to the Bare Minerals store near my house for a consultation....needless to say, I left the store 60 dollars poorer than when I had arrived. However, it was money well spent. 

You can sweat, you can take a nap, and you can go the whole day without a touch-up because the powder bonds to your skin and keeps you looking like you didn't even put any make-up on. With the starter kit and the consultation (or DVD...depending if you order it online.), you will learn the exact brush and technique for each area on your face so you can have flawless coverage. You will honestly wonder after your first application, "why did I wait so long to own this?". Because it is THAT GOOD. 

The brand has over 30 shades of foundation to match your skin tone perfectly, and they have a great system for selecting your custom color. It is a great personal touch that really bonds you with the brand and allows you to make it your own. 

The foundation and other accessories like bronzer and highlighters are very pricey. However, because everything is a loose powder you can easily make a small jar of any item last for at least 2-3 months (depending on how often and how much you apply...and believe me you DO NOT need a lot to get great coverage.) This is what makes the prices so well worth it and you know that you are getting a quality product.

If you are thinking that you do not need a full kit of make up and only want the foundation, I would have to say you are going to regret it. The kit completes the flawless face that they promise you, and I guarantee that you will go back for the bronzer after a week of using the foundation because you are hooked on the whole line. The individual retail prices alone for all of the "freebies" you are getting costs about 2X more than what you will pay for the full kit. Looking out for my bargain hunting bitches....here is a break down of what you get in the kit and how much you would actually spend per item if you were to buy each separately.

Full Kit Price: $60.00

The Kit comes with:

*3 Top of the Line Brushes (Individual Retail Value: Ranges from $15-30 dollars per brush.)

*Mineral Veil - An invisible powder that can be used for highlighting features and eliminating shine. 

(Individual Retail Value: $20.00)

*Faux Tan Matte; Bronzer- Adds warmth and a glow to your skin, used for highlighting cheek bones and laugh lines.

(Individual Retail Value: $19.00)

*Warmth; Secondary Bronzer- Adds a different more orange glow to small areas of the face for highlighting and a sunny glow.

(Individual Retail Value: $19.00)

*Brush Shampoo- Cleans off dirt, oil, and old make-up from any brush. Conditions the bristles and prolongs the life of your brushes. Should be used once a month. 

(Individual Retail Value: $14.00)

*Foundation- Customized to your skin color, this foundation is for all over coverage and contains SPF 15 to be sure you are always looking your best.

(Individual Retail Value: $28.00)

So, if that hasn't convinced you then just check out the whole line for yourself at http://www.bareescentuals.com   ;)

This site is about one of my favorite topics...Makeup. Ever since I knew what mascara was I have been on the hunt for the best and the bold. 
This blog will talk about great products that I use and swear by, tips and tricks for your best look, and beautiful looks that you can create!