How to wash your make up brushes

One question I'm always getting asked in the course of my work is how do I clean and keep my brushes in good condition. I've literally spent a small fortune on brushes over the past six years, each tiny little tool costing quite a bit so its vital that they last.
So I thought I'd share my secrets with you all.

Step 1 -What you'll need

Firstly, well a whole lot of dirty brushes like these.
Secondly a mild shampoo
Thirdly some dishwasher soap, I prefer fairy liquid but anything that's good at cutting grease will do

Step 2 - The how to of it all...

Note: Shampoo works better on natural fiber brushes, for synthetic brushes, especially those with emolient based products like lipstick, gloss, concealor, etc... on them sometimes you will need to add in a bit of wash up liquid to cut through the grease in the product.

Place the brush head down into a stream of hot water.
Dip into shampoo and create a lather by swirling the brush around in your hand. Treat your brushes like mini heads of hair, be gentle, if the brush is particularly dirty, repeat this until the water runs clean, don't smash the hairs of the brush trying to get product out.

Ensure that you keep the brushes pointed down at all times, this is so water won't enter the area called the ferrule (where the brush hairs are glued together) and weaken the bonds.

Step 3 - Drying

Ideally you should allow your brushes to dry over night in a well ventilated area. Don't place them on a heater as again this could weaken the glue.
Once your brush is clean, reshape the brush gently with your hands.
Lay it flat on a piece of tissue paper and leave it to dry.

Bargain Beauty Buys

Lately I've been astounded at the quality that I'm finding in what was traditionally lower end / lower price (lower quality) make up.
Don't get me wrong, I love my lush brands and there's a hidden snob in me that just adores getting something nicely packaged from Mac or Dior for example
But on the other hand, I'm the daughter of an Irish mammy who likes nothing better than getting a bargain on well anything at all (whether its needed or not) and now I too love nothing more than finding a product that does the same or a better job than another similar product for a fraction of the price and I've been having quite a few of these moments lately.

Lets start with Essence

• Mascara - I've long been a fan of the Diorshow waterproof mascara but when I came across something that looked very, very like (c'mon its an obvious dupe) it in Heatons i just had to get it to test it out and with a price range of €2.50 - 3.50 on their mascaras it wasn't going to be a huge gamble if it turned out to be horrible. It wasn't...While it doesn't come in the waterproof formula that I love the Dior one for it does give me massive false lash effect lashes, so much so that I just cannot justify forking out an extra twenty  five squids for something only marginally better.
  

• Gel eyeliner
  Is a recent offering from Essence (also Catrice are doing one that's supposed to be equally as good but I haven't managed to find it stocked anywhere in Cork ). I had previously been using Mac's Fluidline in Blacktrack but had always found that the consistency left a lot to be desired and that it dried out far to quickly both on the eye and in the pot.
  The essence gel liner is one of those products that just simply makes me happy, it does what its supposed to do, and it remains doing what its supposed to do until you tell it not to (or remove it but bear with the ronseal analogy). It stays wet in the pot, it goes on smooth and even, leaving no patchy bits or drag lines and it dries and stays incredibly black on the lid for the whole day.

Penny's - got a whole lot of things for... well all the time.

• Where would we be without Penny's, the shopping savvy girls answer to almost all fashion needs..their latest offering fake lashes.
  Now when Penny's first introduced their fake lash range I had a quick look and scoffed at the thick bands, the glitter, the feathers, the white balls and all other ridiculous objects that were stuck to the lashes to render them completely useless and I promptly forgot about them entirely.Then a few weeks ago during a bit of uncharacteristic sunshine I was in need of some emergency sandals and while in there I spotted their latest lash offerings.Firstly there was the 5 pack (girls aloud dupe) for €8, they looked perfect, flattering shapes, nice thin bands not a panto show amongst them. The shapes and the packaging are actually about a 90% copy of the girls aloud 5 pack but the good news is that these lashes seem to have gotten popular enough to drive down the price of the Eyelure Girls aloud 5 pack which is currently in Debenhams for €12.50. Good times

which brings me to the next savvy tip...
Eyelash Glue

• Now Duo eyelash glue (surgical adhesive) is generally referred to as the be all and end all for decent eyelash glue and while it is fantastic and quite possible the best on the market it does come in at a quite steep €13(ish) mark. Eyelure on the other hand have their own offering of eyelash adhesive in Lashfix which generally retails from between €2.50 - €3 (I got this on promotion in boots a few months ago for €.75) Eyelure have always been and probably will always be my go to brand when it comes to all things lashes, there is a strong company history there and they know what they're at. Lash fix cannot be beaten IMO (not by duo for a +€10 price tag).

Skin care

• Simple skincare have been a kit staple of mine since I started my career and has been a skincare favourite of mine since I realised I should be cleaning my face with something besides the soap in the bathroom.
  At the moment Dunne's Stores as well as some pharmacy's have their range on a two for €5 promotion, I've stocked up anyway.

• Rosewater - not strictly a bargain but I always think this beats the high end toners hands down and leaves your skin refreshed (and it smells lovely too)

• Silcox base / Aqueous cream : perfect for dry irritated skin, big huge tubs of pharmacy grade available for around the fiver mark.

Airbrush Make Up

Its official, I'm in love, and just in time for Valentines day and all. The bad news however is that its not with a Johnny Depp millionaire lookalike, its with a rather fabulous piece of equipment that I procurred at IMATS, I know i'm a make up nerd (I will write a review on the show as well as soon as I stop drooling over my new toy).

I managed to get my hands on the (constantly sold out) Temptu Air compressor with the SP35 airbrush, along with the S/B intro kit of foundations, blushes, highlighters, adjusters and the brow kit.

Since I got back with it (and managed to find a US plug adapter) I''ve been airbrushing anyone who I could find sitting still for long enough (my Dads afraid to fall asleep around me :) ) Everytime the results are so gorgeous that I cannot stop staring at my models.

Airbrushing is definately a new approach to make up, no longer can you see the make up on the face, in fact a lot of the time I'm checking my gun to make sure its working but then all of a sudden the face in front of me looks flawless. Its understandable why this is now the preffered method of make up artistry for HD film & tv and I know this is going to be a huge hit with Irish brides.

Heres what Temptu have to say about their products:"

Our premiere S/B Makeup is the highest quality silicone-based formula on the market. Although designed to be applied with an airbrush, S/B is blendable and can also be applied by fingertips, brush or sponge. The natural properties of silicone impart a soft-focus effect that radiates a healthy and youthful glow on any skin type.

 

Naturally lightweight and flawless, S/B mimics skin texture for a beautiful finish. Using only a few drops, it delivers sheer to opaque coverage. A true long-lasting formula which holds up through hours of studio lights...."

I also managed to get my hands on the water based airbrush formula from OCC Cosmetics

This is a foundation with a more matt finish and so will ensure that whatever your skin type, I have a foundation to suit your needs

.

From OCC: Lightweight yet high in coverage, this waterbased liquid airbrush foundation creates the look of a flawless complexion with a minimum of product. OCC Skin™ is 100% Oil-Free for a modern, natural matte finish that's never dry or flat-looking. Incredibly water resistant, sweat and tearproof. Stands up to the challenges presented by Hi-Definition Television and other digital media.

In my kit - Part 5 Brushes & Tools

My Toolkit
Various brushes collected over the years from:
Mac
Face 2
Make Up Forever
Royal & Langnickle (www.royalbrush.com)
Crown Brushes (www.crownbush.com)
Palette Knives & Gold plated palettes from royal brush
Simple Make up Wipes
Tissues

In My Kit - Part 4 Eyes

Eyes & Multi Use Colour products

Various False Lashes
Stilla eyeshadow palette
Various Mac eyeshadows (loose & palletted)
Art Deco eyeshadows
Kryolan eyeshadow palette
Face 2, Basic Eyes palette
Stilla single eyeshadow pots
Nars double eyeshadow palette
Make Up Forever Pure Pigments
Make Up Forever Glitter
Dior Show Waterproof eyeliner
Urban Decay Heavy Metal Liners
Barry M Glitter Liner
Gosh Velvet touch eyeliners
Mac Fluidline liner Blacktrack
Various Mac Pigments
Smashbox Offset eyeshadow converter
Make Up forever flash palette (grease paint)
Barry M, Gosh & Vita Liberata loose shimmer powders
Mac Glitter Liner
Benefit eye bright pencil
Maybeline Volume Collosial Mascara*

*not in picture

In My Kit - Part 3, Contour

My Contour products

Make Up Forever Matte Bronzer
Mac Blush
Mac Cream Blush
Mac Cream Highlighter
Smashbox Blush
Mac Gold & Bronze shimmer powders
Bobbi Brown Blush palette
Mac Mineralise Blush
Estee Lauder Shimmer Petals
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat*

*not in picture

In My Kit - Part 2, Base

My Base products
from left to right

Kryolan Dermacolour Concealer Palette
Mac Select Cover up Concealer
Mac Studio Finish Concealer
Make Up Forever HD Foundation
Make Up Forever HD Powder
Make Up Forever Mist & Fix Sealer
Mac Face & Body Foundation
Mac Select Sheer Loose Powder
Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Foundation*

*mineral make up option- not recommended for photographic make up

In my kit - Part 1 Prep

Theres one question that, as a Make Up Artist, you're guaranteed to get with every enquiry: What products do you use?
So while giving my kit one of its regular "good cleanings" the other day I decided to get out the camera & give people a look around my kit

Over the years I've been very selective about the products I will use in my kit, I use products that work for me, that are of a high quality & deliver good results. I do not fill my kit with any one particular brand (some of the best known bands about have better advertising skills than product making skills).

Fo readers interested in building a make up kit without being taken in by media hype this site http://inmykit.com/ is a fantastic resource.

So here is my kit, laid out for everyone to see

1. My Prep Products
Simple Cleanser, Toner & Moisturiser
Laura mercier Hydrating Foundation primer
Elizabeth Arden 8 hour Cream
Mac Strobe Cream
Large cotton wool pads
Cotton Buds
Make up sponges
Ardel Eyelash adheshive
Hand Sanitiser
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Scissors
Tweezers
Sterets Alcowipe
Disposable mascara & eyeliner brushes