Breaking Out?! It May Be Your Makeup Brushes!!

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes?

It is very important to clean your brushes! Over time, all the makeup you apply to your face with your brushes begins to build up and becomes a huge breeding ground for bacteria. In turn, bacteria will clog your pores and cause your skin to break out! Now, I know the task of cleaning your brushes may seem to be a big burden, or sometimes we may mean to do it but it crosses our minds and by the time you remember you're already 15 minutes late for girls night out. I try to clean my brushes after every 2-3 applications but I must confess that I too forget or get lazy. But ladies, it is a must! Plus, if you want your brushes to last you longer then cleaning them helps you achieve that..

E.L.F. Studio Daily Brush Cleaner - E.L.F. Eyeshadow "C" Brush

I cleaned my brushes not too long ago and took a few pictures for my readers.. I have heard before that you can use your on-hand shampoo to wash them but some stores do sell liquids or wipes made especially to disinfect your brushes. I've never used the shampoo method so I have no place in recommending that. But, I do use E.L.F. Studio Daily Brush Cleaner. I bought it when I placed a haul through the website and paid less than $2 for it because of a promotion that was going on. But regular retail is only $3 and you get a good size 8.5 oz spray bottle for your 3 bucks! (Size comparison shown above) And as for quality, I think it is pretty amazing for such a low price. The liquid does have a bit of an alcohol aroma but isn't that a given? If its purpose is to disinfect it usually smells like rubbing alcohol. At least it doesn't smell 100% like rubbing alcohol. E.L.F. also sells a brush shampoo for the same price but I've never tried it before.

Follow these steps to clean your brushes:

1. Gather all your lovely dirty brushes and your brush cleaner. Also grab a few pieces of paper towel. You might want to do this in your bathroom so you don't make a mess on your lovely comforter or mess up your desk.

Spraying powder brush w/ E.L.F. Studio Daily Brush Cleaner

Paper towel after cleaning brushes, went through 3 of these.

2. Clean one brush at a time (daunting, I know) by spraying some of the liquid directly onto the brush. Gently wipe the brush onto a clean paper towel until all makeup has been removed from the brush. When the brush no longer exudes anything, you can then move onto the next one.

Clean brushes set aside to air dry.

3. Set your brushes aside on a clean paper towel and allow them to air dry. They typically need a few hours. I let them dry until the next day. Now, you're all set to use your newly anti-bacteria brushes again. Don't forget to repeat this process every few uses in order to keep that face clean and beautiful!


E.L.F. Studio Daily Brush Cleaner - Ingredients (eyeslipsface.com):
Water(Aqua), Alcohol Denat,Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Methylparaben.

What do you use to clean your makeup brushes? Any other tips on cleaning them?

Leave a comment/question below..

Enter Nailasaurus' 800 Followers Giveaway!!

Sammy from The Nailasaurus Blog is hosting a great giveaway for nail lovers! In honor of reach 800+ followers, she will be choosing 4 winners for this giveaway and the prizes include polishes, fimo canes, and a set of bundle monster plates (each prize level is different)!

Good luck to anyone who enters!

For information and rules on how to enter as well as prize levels, check out her blog post below:

Nailasaurus 800 Follower Giveaway!!!

*Note: Click on link under image to be directed to her blog post.*

Zebra Gone Mangos + Konad-ing 101 Video Tutorial

Indoor Lighting
Base Color: E.L.F.- Mango Madness
Konad Plate: m57
Konad Color: Wet n' Wild Wild Shine- Black Creme
Top Coat: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength- Flawless

I was requested by Kristy (my mark. rep) to do a blog on how-to konad. I've been meaning to get it done but never got around to it until now. The best way to demonstrate this correctly is through video, so without further ado... here it goes..

E.L.F. has pretty good polishes for a very affordable price ($1). Some may be sheer as others go on a bit thicker but the advantage to that is that they dry almost in an instant. For this manicure, I applied 3 coats of Mango Madness. It is a very pretty peachy coral color. I'm going to continue sticking to Wet n' Wild's Wild Shine (Black Creme) for konad-ing. Very cheap, at $.99 each compared to the konad polish and works very well considering the polish needs to have a high viscosity level. I picked up a bunch of Wet n' Wild polishes last week at Rite Aid during their BOGO Free sale. I'll post up this haul soon.. look out for it..

Watch my tutorial on youtube: How-To Konad

Subscribe to my channel: ShugaAndSpice1

Was this video helpful? Have any questions/comments? Leave one in the comment box below :)

NOTD: Reverse French Manicure

Reverse French Manicure- NYC Minute Quick Dry (Times Square)

I'm sure many of you have already seen the reverse french manicure before which was widely sported back in the 1920's and 30's. If you research this mani you'll find that Dita Von Teese has been sporting the look for a quite some time now. If you're interested in trying this manicure out, I've put this step by step blog together allowing you to get the same look easily without having to freehand the top coat. Enjoy!

1. Pick a base color for your half moon section. Here, I used NYC Minute Quick Dry Polish (Times Square). A fast drying polish is probably your best option because you will need to wait until your base coat is completely dry to continue onto the next step. If you have the time and patience, then go ahead and use any polish you'd like.

*NOTE: make sure you evenly apply the color near the cuticle, you can pretty much disregard the rest of the nail since you will be applying another polish over it.*

Base (half moon) Color: NYC Minute Quick Dry (Times Square)

2. Once your base color has completely dried, take some page self adhesive hole reinforcements (you know the ones you would use for your looseleaf papers for school?!). I cut the reinforcements down the middle to get more use of them.

Reinforcements, use a scissor to cut straight down the middle.

3. Apply one sticker to each nail making sure the round side is facing down from the cuticle towards the end of your nail. Ensure the sticker is placed on securely to prevent the polish from bleeding onto the base color.

Reinforcement stickers applied onto base color.

4. Apply your desired top coat color to the rest of your nails from the round part of the sticker until the end of your nail. I chose to use a dark grey polish, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear (Grey Area). Depending on the type of polish you have chosen, you might want to apply a second coat after the first has dried. In my case, I only applied 1 coat because this polish was thicker than the NYC polish.

Top Coat Color: Sally Hasen Xtreme Wear (Grey Area)

5. Once the top coat color has completely dried you can go ahead and clean up any unwanted edges (if you have any) with a q-tip or small brush dipped in acetone. Then remove the stickers slowly from 1 side only (you can use a tweezer, to not mess up your nails). If done correctly, you should have gotten a nice crisp moon shape on your nails, known as the "Reverse French Manicure!"

*NOTE: don'y forget to apply a topcoat to your mani.. you don't want your fab nails to get ruined! I used Sally Hansen Diamond Strength (Flawless).

6. Wear your nails out with a fab outfit and be prepared to be complimented and qestioned on how to get the look! I was approached by 3 different women about my nails while waiting for my yummy ice cream at Cold Stone ;) 

Sidenote: I think this mani would be nice for this generation's prom go-ers. It is prom season!

In hand from Left: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear (Grey Area) & NYC Minute Dry (Times Square)

Getting ready for a workout- realized my mani matched my sneakers.. hehe

What do you think of this mani? What colors will you choose?

Leave a comment below. <3

eos Hand Lotion is here!!

eos hand lotion 1.5 oz (44ml) - cucumber scent

Evolution of Smooth (eos) recently had a giveaway on their FB page... the prize? Their adorable hand lotion! All you had to do was enter your information to qualify.. and I was one of the winners.. woohoo! If you didn't enter.. the giveaway is now over, sorry.

I was fascinated by its sleek design and that is something they pride themselves in. It fits perfectly in the palm of your hand and with ease in small purses to gym bags. The only other eos product I own is the lip balm - smooth sphere (summer fruit) and that is my overall fave lip balm so far! eos sent me the hand lotion in cucumber scent but it also comes in an original scent. I've never really liked strongly scented creams (like the ones from bath & body works) but this lotion gives a light scent and is not overpowering at all.

Ingredients label on back

According to eos, the hand lotion is "infused with moisturizing shea butter, oat extract, and a generous helping of antioxidants and vitamins C and E." "eos hand lotion will leave your skin feeling soft, supple and radiantly healthy long after you apply it."

• 97% natural formula
• For all skin types
• Paraben-free
• Phthalate-free
• Lanolin-free
• Dye-free
• Dermatologist tested
• Hypoallergenic

Ingredients (eos.com):

Water (Eau), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Cocoglycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Fragrance (Parfum), Carbomer, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Hydroxide.

NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS : NO ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS

Flip top opening

This hand lotion offers a flip top with a small opening, allowing just the right amount of cream to be dispensed. Speaking of which.. only a small amount (pea size) is needed to moisturize both hands and also leaves you moisturized for a few hours. 

eos hand lotion swatch

If you want to get your hands on this lotion or any other eos product, you can purchase them at the eos online store. According to the site, they also sell their products at CVS, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, Target and some supermarkets. I have personally seen them at Rite Aid and CVS. The hand lotion retails for $3.99 and you can contact the company for coupons on their products.. they kindly sent me shave cream coupons ;)

Have you tried eos? What is your favorite product?

FOTD: Springing Out the Fresh Face

Spring has finally blessed us with some great weather but cursed ME with some horrible allergies.. no bueno!! I've been trying not to put any eye makeup on because of this and I'm hoping this doesn't last for long (well, the allergies of course). Here's a FOTD before my allergies hit.

I decided to go with a fresh face using light gold tones on my eyes, eyeliner and a slight pop of color on my lips. The pictures were taken on the same day, one during the day when it was bright out and the other at night as I was about to go out with my babe. The only thing I reapplied was my lipstick. Enjoy!

Natural Sunlight - During the day

Face:

Maybelline NY 24 Hour Super Stay Concealer (Light), over VS Eye Flash on eyelids and dark circles

Maybelline NY 24 Hour Super Stay Foundation (Pure Beige), on entire face & neck

e.lf. Shimmering Facial Whip (Toasted), applied to hollows of cheeks and up the cheekbone with finger

Maybelline NY Expert Wear Blush (Gentle Rose), applied with blush brush on apples of cheeks

CoverGirl Clean Pressed Powder (Soft Honey), applied over entire face & neck

Brows:

MAKE UP FOREVER PRO Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector  (#0), applied with small e.l.f. angled brush

Eyes:

Maybelline NY Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad (Sunlit Bronze)

 - Light Gold on browbone and inner corner of eye until half of eyelid

- Gold on remaining half of eyelid and small amount of crease

mark. Get In Line Hookup Waterproof Eyeliner (Painted Black), on top lash line

mark. No Place To Run Longwear Eyeliner (Jetset), on lower lash line and water line

Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara (Black) , on top and bottom lashes

Lips:

Cover Girl Lip Perfection Lip Color (Rapture), applied with lip brush

Indoor Lighting - Night shot