How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

A few people have been asking me how to properly clean their makeup brushes, therefore I thought I would do a post to show you guys how I clean mine.

Firstly, if you have never cleaned your brushes, then shame on you! I know it's one of them tasks we all hate doing, but unless you want to spread bacteria across your face, then it's probably a good idea to grab your brushes and start cleaning!

Let me tell you why it's so important to give your brushes a deep clean.... When you apply anything to the face with your brushes it picks up any bacteria from the skins surface, which means when you have finished using it, the bacteria breeds on the makeup brush. When you go to use it again, not only are you picking up new bacteria, you are putting the bacteria from the previous time back onto your face which will only cause blocked pores and pesky breakouts!

So how often should you clean your makeup brushes? Preferably every 2-4 weeks. If you suffer from problematic skin, acne or a lot of breakouts then I would suggest to do this a little more often. TOP TIP: Clean your makeup brushes in the evening so they are dry and ready to use by the morning.

1. Find all the brushes you want to clean and lay them out ready for cleaning.

2. Under a running tap, dampen your first makeup brush. Then pump a small amount of your chosen cleaning product into the palm of your hand. 

TOP TIP: You want to use something mild on your brushes, you also don't have to buy an expensive brush cleaner, I use baby shampoo and it works a treat.

3. Swirl the brush around in the baby shampoo, adding water as you go to lather up the product.

4. Squeeze out any excess cleaning product.

5. Rinse your brush and repeat the steps above if necessary for very stubborn dirt.

6. Reshape the bristles. 

7. Lay your brushes out flat onto a towel and leave them to dry. 

TOP TIP: Do not leave your brushes standing up, if you do, the water will settle into the glue that holds the bristles and brush together. Over time this will cause the glue to loosen and the bristles will start falling out and your brush will eventually break.

I hope you have all enjoyed this post and found it helpful :)

Who's now running to grab their makeup brushes?

Rosina

♥

Top 10 Beauty Products

Being in the beauty industry so many people ask me what products I love, what products I use and how to use them, therefore I thought I would give you all a little insight into my Top 10 beauty must haves.

Personally I hate reading reviews on a product that someone has bought and only used for a few days. I like to use a product for a while to see the benefits and results before I rave about it to you guys. Therefore all these products featured below I have been using for years and I LOVE every single one of them!  

1. They're Real! Mascara - Benefit

Out of the millions (and I mean millions) of mascaras I have tried and tested this is definitely the best mascara I have EVER used!

I am a huge fan of Benefit cosmetics and when they launched this mascara I just couldn't resist trying it out.

It is absolutely amazing! It makes my lashes look longer, more voluminous and is very long wearing. So many people comment on how long my lashes look, and this is my best kept secret!

I would highly recommend this product, ten out of ten from me! Thank you Benefit :) 

2. Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - Liz Earle

I started using this cleanser back in January 2012 and have never looked back.

Things I love about this cleanser-

1. I love how natural the ingredients are. Which is also great for very sensitive skin types.

2. The creamy texture removes makeup and even waterproof mascara very quickly and easily.

3. I especially love the pump dispenser. 2 pumps gives you just the right amount of product with no mess or wastage. 

4. The second step to this cleanser is the muslin cloth (which I LOVE)! This polishes off the cleanser to dislodge any dead skin cells and remove makeup, oil and dirt from the skin. Leaving it very clean, soft and refreshed.

I saw a huge difference using this cleanser, it cleans my skin thoroughly without stripping it of its natural oils. My skin definitely looks clearer, brighter and more hydrated! 

3. Makeup Be Gone Refreshing Wipes - Johnson's

I have removed my eye makeup with a facial wipe ever since I was a teenager, I find it the easiest and quickest way to get rid of every last bit of eye shadow, mascara etc.

A lot of makeup wipes I find very drying on the skin, but these wipes from Johnson's contain no alcohol so they don't dry my skin out.

The only down side is that I do think they are a little pricey compared to other brands, they are usually about £4, so if Boots or Superdrug have an offer (which they usually do) then I grab a basket full :)

4. The Righteous Butter - Soap & Glory

This award winning product is probably my favorite body moisturiser! 

It contains softening shea butter and aloe vera which is really moisturising on the skin.

I find a lot of other body moisturisers are either too thick and creamy or not thick enough. That is exactly why I love this product. It's a thick moisturising cream, but sinks into the skin really quickly so you don't feel as if your walking around all day feeling sticky. 

5. Tangle Teezer

As I have very thick curly hair, I find brushing through my hair after a shower such a nightmare. Sometimes it feels as if I have more hair wrapped around the brush than I do on my head!

The Tangle Teezer is amazing! It has specially designed teeth that reduces hair breakage, splitting and damage. It can be used on any hair type and is also great for kids.

These come in a variety of colours, but as you can see pink is definitely my fav!

6. Vitamin E Lip Care SPF 15 - The Body Shop

I absolutely love this lip balm from The Body Shop! I was recommended this product by another beauty blogger that raved about it so much I just had to try it out, and I definitely wasn't disappointed! 

It does everything it says on the tin (or tube), it's hydrating, moisturising and soothes dry cracked lips.

This product also doesn't contain petroleum, which is amazing, as a lot of lip products do. Petroleum doesn't actually help to relieve your dry lips at all, it acts like a plaster instead which just masks the problem and doesn't actually cure it.

Therefore this lip balm gets a very big thumbs up from me! :)

7. Real Techniques Makeup Brushes

I have tried and tested so many different makeup brushes in the past from high end to high street brands and never found a brush I have totally fell in love with. That's until I found the Real Techniques brushes!  

These brushes are incredible and because they are designed with professional makeup artist Sam Chapman they really do have everything you would want in a makeup brush.

The whole range of brushes is suitable for so many different makeup products from foundation, powders, blush, mineral makeup, highlighters and so many more.

They are also really reasonable in price, prices range from £7-£15, which I personally think is great for such a good quality makeup brush.  

8. Hoola Bronzing Powder - Benefit

This is one on Benefit's award winning and best selling products, it is also the number 1 selling bronzer in the UK.

I use this bronzer all year round as a contour as it doesn't have any shimmer like a lot of bronzers do. 

9. Shellac nails

I have been having CND Shellac on my nails for about 2 and a half years now and I am totally OBSESSED!!

I do Shellac myself as I am a qualified therapist, but if you aren't then it is a professional treatment and you would have to visit your nearest CND salon. 

It looks like a nail polish but it is in fact half polish and half gel, and is set under a UV lamp and it lasts 2-4 weeks, then would need doing again due to regrowth. Another plus is it's also completely dry as soon as you leave the salon, therefore no annoying smudges. Yay :) 

Shellac helps to protect your nails and if taken off in the correct way then there is no damage to the natural nail itself. 

I absolutely love Shellac and would never use anything else on my nails. It is great for special occasions or just general day to day life if your a girly girl like me and always love beautiful nails :) 

CND Shellac in the colour Tutti Frutti.

10. Beauty Blender

After I have applied my foundation (which is usually with my fingers, as I find these are the best tools for the job. I find your fingers warm up the foundation making it easier to blend and spread across your face), I then wet my Beauty Blender and squeeze out any excess water. It's completely normal for your Beauty Blender to expand to nearly twice its original size when wet. To use I then bounce it across my face, which helps to blend any edges and it also gives an amazing finish to your foundation.

It is your foundations new BFF!

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post just as much as I enjoyed writing it for you guys!

Click on the names of the products and it will take you to their website for more information and where to purchase them.

Give me a comment below if there is anything particular you would like me to write about in my next post and be sure to give this post a 'LIKE' :) 

TWITTER - @RosiePops_

FACEBOOK - Rosie Pops

Rosina 

♥