How to clean your Makeup Brushes in 5 minutes

The 3 Step Method

 

Makeup brushes make application flawless but when used often, they become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria.  Oils and skin cells coupled with the ingredients from the makeup products (eyeshadow, lipstick etc) contribute to the buildup and growth of  bacteria.

Why is this a big deal?

The buildup of bacteria can cause breakouts, eye infections and can seriously compromise your immune system.  Sharing your brushes with friends or family can also spread the germs and make others ill.

And if that doesn't make you want to rush to the sink with a can of bleach, here's another fact- Dirty brushes don't apply makeup as well as clean brushes because of the buildup of gunk. 

If you use your brushes every day, I recommend using a soft, clean towel to gently wipe them off.  I also highly recommend washing them once a week to remove the gunk, condition the bristles and disinfect the brushes.

I've been using an inexpensive 3 step method for cleaning my brushes for years and have never had a problem.  Try it out, your brushes will thank you for it :)

List of products you'll need:

1. Johnson's baby oil.  I decanted some into a little spray bottle so there's not as much wastage.  If you don't have baby oil, you can use olive oil instead.  Try to use a fragrance free oil.
2. Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soap (A mild shampoo can be used instead)
3. Paper towels
4. Dishwashing sponge

 

The cleaning process:

Step 1: Oil

Add a little oil onto a paper towel and delicately rub your dirty brush across it.  To prevent damaging the bristles, hold the end of the brush as you sweep it across the paper towel.

The benefits of using oil are two-fold- It helps de-gunk the brush especially if it's been used on a cream product like foundation and also, it conditions the bristles so they remain soft (much needed for natural hair brushes).

Sigma C433 Pro Blending brush with brown eyeshadow buildup

           

After cleansing with oil.  Note the buildup on the paper towel.

Step 2: Wash and Rinse

Wet the dishwashing sponge, add a bit of liquid soap to it and work up a lather.  Take the dirty brush from step 1 and rub it gently across the sponge.  You should gently work up a lather to remove any remaining product. 

Rinse the brush under water till the water runs clear.  Try not to wet the ferrule (the metal part holding the bristles and the brush together) as it may rust and damage the brush. 

Step 3: Shape and Dry

Delicately squeeze out any remaining water from the bristles, shape the brush into its natural shape and lay down flat on a towel to dry.

Washed and shaped to dry

What methods do you use to clean your brushes?  I'd love to hear your comments..

have a lovely day,
B

 

Nail polish Review and swatches- Chanel Azure 657

To teal or not to teal...

Newly launched, as part of the L'ete Papillon de Chanel collection, the Azure 657 nailpolish made me really happy.  It glimmered in a teal-gold-blue trifecta of perfection in the bottle and hinted at a beach vacation somewhere fabulous.

Unfortunately, my reality tends to be more of a harsh wake up call and that's exactly what happened.

For the gory details, pray continue..

Color:

The color is a beautiful teal with shimmery gold overtones and a deep blue undertone.  It looks like a teal-gold mostly with hints of blue as the light hits it at different angles.  All in all, it's a color I'd expect a mermaid to wear on her nails.  It's beautiful and perfect for summer. The pigmentation is however, not as strong as Bel-Argus or other Chanel nail polishes I've tried in the past.  It took me 3 coats to achieve full opacity.  That's a slight letdown because Chanel nail polishes are typically exceptionally pigmented and it usually takes me just 2 coats to get a perfect, opaque finish.  At this pricepoint, I'd expect better pigmentation.

Texture:

Smooth to the touch and metallic in finish.  That being said, the polish was definitely thinner and more liquidy than Bel-Argus which basically resulted in visible brush strokes and streakiness.  While the nailpolish didn't pool at the edges of the nail, the brush strokes were visible with every coat I put on.  I think the only way to perhaps minimize the glaring visibility of the brush strokes would be to layer a thin coat of topcoat after applying Azure on your nails.  This was basically the dealbreaker/heartbreaker for me because I really, *really* wanted to love this nailpolish.  

Longevity:

I wore 3 coats on my nails for a week with no chipping and very minor tip wear.  This is a testament to Chanel's nail polish quality because when I've used other nail polishes, I've found that layering multiple coats usually makes it more prone to chipping.  You'd think the opposite, right? Me too :)

Price:

Azure retails for $27 and is on the higher end of the nail polish market.  It's a gorgeous color and I'm not aware of any dupes for Azure on the market yet but I'm sure that there should be more options in the coming months given that green is the color of the year!

Honestly, despite the fabulous color, the texture and  finish are deal breakers for me.  At $27 a pop, I expect better quality and consistency and unfortunately, this product failed to deliver on those two counts.  

Product Images and Swatches:

Chanel Azure- green-gold overtone

Chanel Azure- Dark blue undertone ( I tried taking the pic from another angle to capture the blueness!)

Chanel Azure swatch

Did you buy this shade from the L'ete Papillon de Chanel launch?  What was your experience with it? I'd love to hear your thoughts..

have a beautiful week,

B

Beauty News: RiRi ♥ M·A·C - The Online-Exclusive Lipstick Created by Rihanna

It's here...

 

Rihanna loves M∙A∙C. Global superstars in their own right, MAC and Rihanna have collaborated on and created an exclusive matte red lipstick inspired by the cult shade Ruby Woo.

World, meet RiRi Woo. 

RiRi Woo retails for $15 USD and is available now exclusively online at MAC Cosmetics in North America; May 2013 (Available internationally). Also available at Barclays Center and MAC Pop-Up Store for Rihanna's concert ticket holders.

RiRi loves MAC lipstick- RiRi Woo

Update:

RiRi Woo sold out in three hours! I tried to get one but was unable to.  It's coming out in June so if you really want it, you can get it then :)

Product Review and Swatches- Chanel Stylo Eyeshadows

Eyeshadow sticks for Spring/Summer

Chanel's latest collection, L'ete Papillon de Chanel, launched recently and has whipped up quite a frenzy in the makeup world and with good reason, the collection is inspired by butterfly wings!

I was lucky to snag a few shades of the Stylo Eyeshadow and will be reviewing them in this post.

The shades I bought were:
 

Top to Bottom: 07 Moon River, 17 Cool Gold, 07 Jade Shore

37 Jade Shore: Green-blue with green-gold micro shimmer 

37 Jade Shore

17 Cool Gold: Light yellow gold with gold micro shimmer

17 Cool Gold

 
07 Moon River: Taupe with subtle bronze micro shimmer


 

07 Moon River

Pigmentation:

According to Chanel, the water-infused formula creates a shimmering veil on the lids.  I actually agree with them.  All the shades I tried went on sheer.  However, the color is buildable if you go back and forth a couple of times.  I also compared these to the Illusion D'ombre eyeshadows that Chanel carries and the Stylos are definitely more pigmented than the Illusion D'ombres. 

Swatches:

These are heavy swatches (I went back and forth a couple of times to bring out the color of these shades).

Note: Jade shore showed up more blue than green in the swatch below.  It's more greenish in real life.

Left to Right: Moon River, Cool Gold, Jade Shore

Ease of Application:

The stylo eyeshadows are in a stick form and packaged in a pen applicator that twists up.  

The packaging ROCKS because:

1. Easy to travel with-  The lid to the applicator snaps down with a sharp click and is very secure.  I don't have to worry about the lid coming loose in my bag and all sorts of gunk sticking to the eyeshadow.
2. Precision- If I'm in the car or on the train, I can just whip the stylo out and swipe my eyes with it.  The shape of the eyeshadow stick is contoured to the shape of the eye and that makes it easy to get a precise swath of color.

Longevity:

The Stylo eyeshadows have a water-infused formula and they were cooling to the lids when I applied them.  The cooling sensation lasted while the eyeshadows set- about 10-15 seconds.  They didn't budge once they set and I wore them for 7 hours without any issues.  There was slight fading after 7 hours but it wasn't horrendous.  Also, I have the world's oiliest lids so this product is definitely long lasting!

Overall Rating:

These eyeshadows perform as advertised.  However with the exception of Jade shore, the other shades seem to be easily dupeable.  Several drugstore brands and premier brands carry long wearing eyeshadows nowadays and while the shades are lovely, the price point ($34 for 0.05 oz) makes it more of a splurge than a "must buy" in my opinion. 

I hope you found this review helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

have a lovely day,

B

Beauty News- VIB treat for you or mom this Mother's day

VIB Makeover Event at Sephora

 

Stop the press, take a sick day, play hookie..

Sephora's having an exclusive VIB Makeover event for you or Mom in honor of Mother's day this year.  If my mom lived in the same country as me, I'd be taking her to Sephora for sure!! 

Seriously, my mom and I wander Sephora at Union Square in SF looking like a pair of Alices in Wonderland.  The displays filled with pots of color and shimmer and potions, the perfume racks, the little wands of mascara that beckon as we stand in line...the effect is well, curiouser and curiouser.

Here's the lowdown:

Call your nearest Sephora to make an appointment for a 45 minute complimentary makeover with an expert makeup artist. 

Proceed to call your mother and tell her how much you love her..

Do it for an event, do it for fun, do it to make your mom feel extra special..

Oh and before I forget, the event ends on May 19.  All good things must come to an end, non?

That's what they said when I left Paris..

Mom if you're reading this, I wish you were here.  

xoxo,
B

Beauty News and Swatches- Illamasqua Paranormal Collection now online

 Why be normal, when you can be paranormal?

 

 Amen.

Where do I sign up?

Illamasqua, a UK based cosmetics brand, is a powerhouse when it comes to innovative and edgy makeup.  If Tim Burton were a makeup artist, he'd probably be at Illamasqua, reveling in the wondrous color palettes and products.

Their latest launch, Paranormal, dares you to step into another dimension and give in to beauty.  The color story features a series of otherworldly mauve lipsticks, a deep bronze compact and undoubtedly, the star of the collection- the UV Nail Glow Varnishes.  Nailpolishes that shimmer by day and radiate by UV.

Check out the promo pics and products below for more information.  This is a pic heavy post so it may take a bit longer to load, please be patient.  I promise, it's worth it :)

All images are sourced from Illamasqua.com

Promo Pics

Products

UV Glow Nail Varnishes (£15.00)

Worn alone, these are bold colors with shimmer finishes. Under UV light, they emit an ethereal glow that cannot be ignored.

• Seance- Bright Violet

Seance UV Glow Nail Varnish

Seance Swatch

• Ouija- Bright Pink

Ouija UV Glow Nail Varnish

Ouija Swatch

• Omen- Bright Green

Omen

Omen Swatch

• Geist- Clear UV Topcoat

Geist Clear UV Topcoat

Geist swatch

Paranormal Palette (£34.00)

Water-resistant, cream and powder hybrid eye shadow.  Illamasqua describes it as delivering the textured silky appearance of a powder, but with the deep color wash of a cream. 

The palette features 4 colors- Paranormal (vivid cerise), Aura (warm copper), Trance (soft violet) or Possession (cool green).

Paranormal Eyeshadow Palette

Lipsticks (£16.50)

This collection features two matte lipsticks in the purple family.

• ESP- Vivid Violet color with a matte finish

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick

• Posture- Cool mauve with a matte finish 

Illamasqua Posture Lipstick

Gleam in Supernatural (£18.00) 

Fans of Gleam, Rejoice!! I'm so happy this cream compact is back.  It's a gorgeous bronze cream compact that can be used on the face and body to highlight features.

Illamasqua Gleam

Hydra Veil (£27.00)

This is a hydrating, gel-based makeup primer.  Wear it under foundation to minimize pores and help your foundation last longer.

Hydra Veil Makeup Primer

 Precision Gel Liner in Infinity (£18.00)

 Long lasting, waterproof gel eyeliner in a deep, rich black.

Infinity Precision Gel Liner

Fine eyeliner brush (£19.00)

A fine tipped eyeliner brush with a detachable cover for extra protection.

Eye liner brush

The entire collection is available online on Illamasqua

I know I'll be getting a few products from this incredible collection.  Are you considering getting any of these goodies?  If so, which ones are you planning on getting?

Enjoy your week,
B

Nailpolish Review and swatches- Chanel Bel-Argus 667

I'm blue and  loving it...

 

Why, Chanel? Why?

Everytime I promise myself I'm not buying any more nail polishes, you come out with a shade that makes me weak in the knees.  I become a Chanel nail polish zombie and faithfully go online to immediately buy the offending nail polish.

Which brings me back to my original question.  Why, Chanel? Why?

Bel-Argus 667 is a fantastic new shade that's part of the L'Ete Papillon de Chanel Collection I wrote about in an earlier post.  It's a shimmering metallic blue shade that looks like the Caribbean on a warm, sunny day.  It also reminded me of the deep blue in peacock feathers, an overcoat I saw in a Paris flea market that I loved but didn't fit in and a Kashmir sapphire that I deeply lusted after!  Sigh, a girl can dream....

Here's the breakdown/the nitty-gritty/the whatnot that makes Bel-Argus a *must have*, in my humble opinion:

Color: 

A deep metallic blue with a purple-teal duochrome.  Seriously, it's like a butterfly wing on your nail.  The color change is striking depending on the angle of the light- it shifts from deep blue to purple to teal.  It's a shapeshifter! Buy it now! :)

Also, most deep blues in my experience have a black base that makes them a bit unwearable.  However, this color is perfectly balanced and wearable.  2 coats were enough to achieve an even, opaque look.

Texture:

Smooth to the touch.  The polish flowed evenly over my nails without bubbling, streaking or pooling.

Longevity:

I wore 2 coats without a top coat for a week with no visible chipping or tip wear. This is great because I am extremely clumsy and usually chip my nails within a day or two with other nail polishes.  Chanel's polishes are pricey but they also do offer longer wear times so it's a good value, I feel.  

Price:

This is pricey at $27 but if it's a color you'd enjoy wearing and want to treat yourself, I recommend buying it because of the durability of the wear and the gorgeousness of the color! :)

Here are a few pics taken in my patio in daylight so you can admire the sheer power of shimmer in this baby!

Product Images and Swatches:

Deep blue overtone

Purple undertone

Teal undertone

I almost dropped the nail polish here!

Does this nail polish rock your world like it did mine?

until next time,
Batul