How to Clean Makeup Tools

How to Clean Makeup Tools

Photo Credit: Makeup.com

Here is the last post in the series. 

Hope you all enjoyed, and learned when to toss or clean your makeup. 

 How to Clean a Makeup Sponge

1. Wet. Run the sponge under warm water.
2. Lather. Using a few drops of mild soap or gentle shampoo work any product out of the sponge with your fingers.
3. Rinse. Rinse the sponge until the water runs clear.
4. Dry. Wring it out and pat dry with a clean towel. Allow the sponge to air dry, or if you prefer to use it damp, go ahead and put it to work.
5. Repeat. Makeup sponges should be cleaned after every few uses or once there is no longer a clean, unused section. Rinsing the sponge with warm water after each use will also help keep the germs away and your sponge in good condition.

 How to: Clean Your Makeup Brushes

1. Rinse. Rinse the bristles, always with water streaming down–you want to avoid running water directly into the base of the brush, which can weaken the glue and shorten the lifespan of your brush.
2. Cleanse. Work a small amount of gentle shampoo (I prefer to use baby shampoo) into the bristles. Lather, rinse, and repeat until the water runs clear.
3. Disinfect. Now that your brushes are clean, it’s time to disinfect. Mix a solution of 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar in a shallow bowl. Swoosh the brush around in the bowl for a minute or two (again, trying not to submerge it fully). Rinse with fresh water. I also like MAC cosmetics brush cleaner. I put it into a small spray bottle and spray onto bristles. 
4. Dry. Reshape the bristles and lay clean brushes flat on a towel overnight to dry.
5. Repeat. Clean your brushes every other week to keep the germs away from your makeup and off your skin.

 How to: Clean Your Hairbrush

1. Prep. Remove as much hair from the bristles as you can. Using a comb or toothpick can help you grab what your fingers may miss.
2. Soak. Fill a bowl with water and add a few drops of clarifying shampoo. If your brush is plastic, soak it for three to five minutes. If your brush has a fabric head, do not soak it, but dip the bristles in the water a few times.
3. Scrub. To get those bristles good as new, take an unused toothbrush, wet it with the soapy water and give it a good scrub. Rinse with fresh water.
4. Dry. Lay the brush bristle-side down on a towel to allow water to drain out of the base. Leave it to dry overnight.
5. Repeat. Give your brush a bath once a month to prevent product buildup from comprising the quality of your lovely locks.

How to: Clean Your Metal Tools

1. Wash. For metal tools like tweezers, eyelash curlers, eyebrow trimmers, cuticle nippers, and nail clippers, wash them down using water and antibacterial soap. Pat dry with a clean towel.
2. Sanitize. Thoroughly wipe down the tool with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball. Allow it to dry for a few moments. If the tool comes in contact with your face, rinse it with water (no need to rinse your nail tools). Pat dry with a clean towel.
3. Repeat. Ideally these types of beauty tools should at least be washed with soap and water after each use, if not sanitized as well. Aim to give them the full treatment every two weeks. Store your tools in a clean container to safeguard your hard work.

Makeup Tools: Clean or Toss

Makeup Tools: Clean or Toss

Photo Credit: Makeup.com

AS promised, here is the second of the series of posts. 

I get asked all the time when I know to clean a tool or toss it and purchase a new one. 

Well here are some tips on just that!

Makeup Brushes

Clean: The more often the better, but aim for every other week. 
Toss: When ratty or frayed.

Makeup Sponges

Clean: Weekly. Unless you’re using the average drugstore makeup sponge, those are for one-time use only. 
Toss: Every 3 months or when cracked.

Eyelash Curlers

Clean: Weekly with a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol. 
Toss: Replace the rubber pad every 4-6 months or when torn. Replace the curler when it loses tension. For most, that’s about every 12-18 months.

Makeup Bags

Clean: Give it an honest assessment yearly. If it’s in good condition, throw it in the washing machine. 
Toss: When it’s no longer salvageable.

Tweezers, Sharpeners and Nail Tools

Clean: Ideally metal tools should be cleaned and disinfected after every use, or at least every 2 weeks. 

Toss: When the tools start to dull or you see rust or corrosion.

Razors

Clean: Thoroughly rinse your razor and allow it to dry outside of the shower after every use. 
Toss: Weekly or when it begins to dull.

Hairbrushes

Clean: Remove hair from the bristles weekly. Give it the full treatment monthly. 

Toss: When bristles are broken or damaged. 

Save or Toss?

Save or Toss?

In the next few weeks I am going to be doing a series of blog posts about how long to keep make up, when to toss or save, and how to clean it. 

Stay tuned to see all the great tips.

But for now here are some great tips on if you should save it or toss it!

Mascara

Mascara should be replaced every three months, since its liquid consistency makes it more vulnerable to bacteria, and its proximity to your eye can lead to possible infections. 

Liquid Liner 
Liquid eyeliners present the same concerns as mascara, so they should be replaced every six months. Pencil eyeliners, however, should last you up two years. Sharpen your pencil with each use to keep it fresh. 

Foundation 
For liquid foundations, say goodbye if you notice any change in smell, texture or color. Most foundations should last you up to a year, but if you’re prone to acne, think about tossing yours every six months. 

Lipgloss 
Because of the liquid consistency, lipgloss needs to be replaced more often than lipstick. Swap yours out every 12 months. 

Concealer 
As with liners, the longevity of concealers depends on consistency. Liquid concealer should be tossed after one year, but powder concealer is fine up to two years. 

Nail Polish 
If you notice a change in color or a funky smell, it’s time to part ways with your polish. In general, it should last you up to two years and some have expiration dates on the back of the bottle.  

Lipstick 
Consider it a long-term relationship- lipstick can last up to two years! Dispose if your lipstick becomes dry or changes hues. 

Powder, Blush, Bronzer, Eyeshadow With proper care, and clean brushes, powder-based products can last for a couple of years.

Tip: To keep track of your product expiration dates, write the date of purchase in sharpie on the bottom of each product so you’ll know when they pass their prime.

Tips for Scars

Scars are left as a result of the skin closing a wound to prevent infection and many researchers think that the wound builds up collagen when it closes too quickly leaving behind a scar. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy quick fix remedy for erasing a scar, but there are a few things you can do to prevent them from healing into a more distinct scar and help diminish their appearance a bit…

Here are a few tips

• Cover it up! When the wound is fresh, make sure to cover it up with a bandage. According to Fitness Magazine, it’s important to seal wounds since the moisture captured underneath the bandage prevents the development of a “hard scab,” which typically leads to pronounced scarring. If you apply an ointment like Neosporin to the wound daily with a fresh Band-Aid, the skin will heal better and the scarring will be less visible.
• Cool it. Aloe Vera is another great skin conditioner. Apply it to a fresh scar a couple times a day until it’s fully healed. Aloe is also really good for facial or acne scars too!
• Oil it. Essential oils and vitamin E also act as skin conditioners, which can be very beneficial to the later stages of the healing process. Many sources recommend massaging essential oils (such as lavender, bergamot or chamomile oil) or vitamin E into the wound once the surface of it is sealed. It’s super important to make sure the wound is closed before you start using oil and vitamin E because you could have an allergic reaction if the cut is still open. 
• SPF! One of the biggest mistakes people make is going out and exposing a fresh wound/scab/scar to the sunlight. The sun’s rays actually make the scarring worse, so always ALWAYS apply a strong SPF to your scabs/scars (and if possible, cover them up with a bandage).
• Massage it. When the surface of your wound is healed, lightly massage the scar for a few minutes each day. This will increase blood flow to aid further healing.
• Get creamy. Another option is to use a healing ointment made specifically for scarring like Mederma. These products can get a bit pricy, but if the mark is in an especially unflattering location it may be worth the splurge. There are also little Band-Aid looking things that have scar-healing ointment on them that can help too!
• Watch it! If the scar becomes raised, red or especially itchy, get your buns to a doctor. Your wound may be infected or you could be having an allergic reaction.

Before trying these tips, I suggest consulting with your doctor. Every wound is different and your doctor may be able to provide you with better tools to heal it faster and reduce scarring.

I hope you find these at-home scar remedies helpful!

Lemon Body Scrub

It’s official

Summer is right around the corner.

This means it’s time to shed those layers and show some skin.

 Unfortunately, our limbs have been hiding all winter long and may not be looking their prettiest.

To bring dull skin back to life, try this refreshing body scrub.

Here is an easy recipe for a salt scrub that you can make with ingredients found in your own kitchen.

What you will need:

5 tablespoons sea salt / or sugar

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 lemon

Instructions:

First mix the olive oil and sea salt / or sugar together.

Once the salt gets coated by the oil, the lemon won’t dissolve it!

Next cut the lemon in half and squeeze over the salt + oil.

Mix and mash.

(Feel free to adjust the recipe to your liking.)

Then scrub away!!