The what to and what not to do
Keeping up to date with the latest trends and learning how to recreate a desired look always seems like fun – that’s if you are into makeup. If you are then you will also be aware of the need for the right tools to apply make up with to achieve the best results.
For today I would like to talk about the maintenance of our beloved applicators rather than trends or applicator choices. As it’s not only the applicator choice that affects our end result but also how we take care of it.
So let’s look at:
Powder Puffs, Compact and Liquid foundation sponges:
Have you ever felt like your powder doesn’t work that well anymore or struggle to get the product onto your sponge because it appears to have a hardened darker layer over it?
While I was working in cosmetics I often heard this complaint from ladies and at the closer look I realized that regular powder touch ups during the day might be the culprit… I thought that was what a compact powder was supposed to do, keep you looking fresh and matte, right? Right… only… have you ever thought of what happens to that oil you are simply powdering away? It gets soaked up in the compact sponge which gets dipped in your powder a few times a touch up which in turn wets your powder and as the days go by the hard dark layer on top of your powder is formed.
There are 3 simple ways to avoid this:
Use blotting papers before reapplying powder – They are thin little films make from rice paper that soaks up excess oil on the skin and they don’t remove much of your make up. If in a pinch you can blot the skin with a tissue to remove excess oil first. A tissue will however remove more make up.
Wash your sponge –You can wash your sponge by rinsing it under a bit of lukewarm water, apply some baby shampoo and work it into a lather. Rinse Squeeze out excess with an old towel. Let it dry on a tissue. Once every week or two (depending how often you use it) should keep the product from building up.
Replace your sponge – There comes a time when your sponge has reached the end of its lifespan. You can easily tell by the texture of the sponge as it’s becomes thinned out and stretched out. When matter how you wash it the product just won’t budge…Such a time is different for all, depending on how often you wear makeup but it cannot be denied.
Brushes:
Yes, you can and should wash your brushes. From eyeshadow & lip to foundation & powder brushes. If it has bristles and if it touches your face it needs to come clean. The benefits of making this a once a week habit include;
It will keep your bristles soft and conditioned -Which will ensure a more smooth and blended finish result. Plus a more pleasant experience for your skin!
Increase the longevity of your bristles- It’s inevitable that our brushes will start showing signs of wear and tear, after all they do work very hard. Soft and conditioned bristles, however, don’t become brittle that easily and will take much longer to break off and thin out.
It keeps your brushes sanitized- Washing your brushes will remove any oil, dead skin cells and makeup leaving it fresh and free from anything that can clog your pores. Clean and sanitized brushes can help prevent breakouts.
How to wash your brushes:
Use a tissue after each application to remove as much excess product from the bristles. This will reduce build up and make it easier to wash your brushes.
Rinse bristles in clean lukewarm water in an upside down position. It is important to never submerge your whole brush in the water as you do not want water to enter where the bristles has been glued together. This water can loosen the glue eventually and your bristles will start falling out.
Add a bit of Brush cleanser or moisturizing shampoo to the bristles and massage it in like washing your own hair, keeping the brush in an upside down position.
Rinse under clean lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
Squeeze out any excess water with an old towel,
Dry flat on a tissue.
