How to Clean Makeup Brushes

By Serena Grant

Cleaning your makeup brushes on a regular basis is important to keep them in the best condition. Over time, makeup brushes in make up sets tend to build up a lot of nasty residue, from hair to dead skin and bacteria. Brushes also become less effective for use if they get clogged up, and can mean that you’re not getting the best value out of them. In this way, getting into a good cleaning routine for your brushes is necessary if you want to look your best, and avoid irritating your skin or causing an infection. There are many ways to do this, all of which are straightforward and require only a small amount of equipment.

Getting the Right Equipment

To clean your makeup brushes, you should have a good supply of white soap for basic washing. Baby shampoo also works as a mild cleaner for bristles, as does hair conditioner for adding softness. Some liquid disinfectant is worth having for cleaning brush handles. Olive oil is similarly effective at getting out stubborn bits and pieces from brush heads. Specific brush cleaners can be bought, which can be used as part of a daily cleaning routine. As well as these items, it’s worth having some rubber gloves to avoid making a mess on your hands, and an old jam jar or mug for storing brushes.

Steps To Cleaning 

• The first step in cleaning your brushes is to divide them into larger blushes and foundation brushes, and narrower eyeliner and lipliner brushes. Smaller brushes won’t require as heavy duty cleaning.
• Run brushes under lukewarm water, making sure to avoid the metal part of a brush. If water gets inside a brush, it will cause rusting over time. You now have a few different options.
• For a basic clean, use white soap lathered up over brush bristles. The soap can then be rinsed off in lukewarm water. Alternatively, use baby shampoo squeezed onto a paper towel, and blot the brush until it’s fully covered. Rub the shampoo gently into fine brushes, and rinse off with water.
• For more difficult to remove grime on brushes, use olive oil on a brush, rubbing it thoroughly into the bristles and then rinsing. Baby shampoo also works well here to thoroughly lather up brushes.

Frequency

Brushes should be cleaned in this way about once a week. However, if you want to cut down on cleaning time, invest in a spray on brush cleaner. This can be sprayed onto brushes as a mild disinfectant and cleaner, and can be blotted on a wipe. Disinfectant wipes can similarly be used to quickly remove build ups on a brush after use. You can also use the same process to clean brush handles.

Final Tip

Once rinsed, place brushes flat down on a towel to air dry. Reshape brush heads after use to prevent them from splitting. Hanging bristles off the edge of a towel will help them to dry quicker. Try to avoid using hair dryers, as these can lead to bristles splitting, or the head of a brush losing its shape.

About the Author

Serena Grant is a fashion, makeup and beauty blogger, currently a fan of Crown Brush – experts in cosmetics, make-up brushes and make up sets.

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Expert Tips For Preventing Makeup Meltdown

They say in the Philippines, there are only two seasons- hot and very hot. Being in a tropical country poses an extra challenge to makeup artists especially during the summer when the city we live in suddenly turns into one giant oven.

Last summer,  I had a couple of makeup gigs in which I was  confronted with the problem of making the makeup stay longer, particularly at the beach setting. I usually have that  issue covered with high quality cosmetics and right application techniques but the heat and humidity were just too much that it demanded extra measures on my end as a makeup artist.

I tapped the help of some of the best makeup artists and beauty experts in the country to shed more light into this perennial  problem of makeup meltdown in a humid country like ours. They offered tips which I believe will be valuable for us whether we do makeup on ourselves or as a professional.

Ara Mina, an actress/entrepreneur who recently ventured into beauty products has these secrets to spill: “It would be advisable to use lighter makeup like a tinted moisturizer when it’s hot and to put primer before applying foundation.”

Bianca Valerio, the sassy host of Lifestyle Network’s F.A.S.H. has her share of  tips from her years as a model and makeup artist: ” Oil film for me is best! Avoid heavy foundation in cake form which could look unnatural, not to mention a torture to your skin as it won’t allow it to breathe. Use BB cream instead with an oil free formulation, which has concealing properties, and SPF, more importantly.”

Xeng Zulueta, the former chief makeup artist of Shu Uemura, was quick to name a single product that she believes to be effective  in addressing our makeup conundrum: ” Shu Uemura BB cream mousse!”

Steven Doloso, a top celebrity makeup artist whose works on Lea Salonga remain my favorite pegs, (and whose humility amazes me!) was busy at a makeup gig for a TV ad with John Lloyd Cruz when I asked  his expert opinion. According to Steven: “There’s a product called final seal (e.g. Ben Nye Final Seal or Kryolan Setting Spray) but it’s not recommended for everyday use as it can clog pores. I normally use that during outdoor shoot or under the sun so the make up won’t melt.”

Finally, I enlisted the help of the madgician herself, Madge Landrito (formerly known as Madge Lejano) whose vast experience in the wedding industry and uncanny ability to turn plain janes into divas earned her the moniker, “the madgician.” Her schedule barely affords her to do things other than makeup, so you can imagine my excitement when she handed me these extensive valuable pointers to share with you:

FOR YOUR BASE. YOU CAN CHOOSE EITHER OF THE FF:
1. Protect your skin first from UV rays by using SPF skin care products. Apply sunscreen before putting foundation or powder, whichever you use, depending on your skin type. Oil free foundation is much preferred. Then blend.

2. Prime Your Face. Not only will it let your makeup last but it will minimize your lines and creases. It also diminishes the need for powder.

LESS IS MORE!
The truth: applying more makeup doesn’t mean it will last longer. Apply it better, not more!
Loading up on powder can make you look cakey as the heat blazes. Greasy makeup like very heavy and creamy foundation don’t last well in hot conditions. A sheer/liquid foundation will be the best option.

GO FOR WATERPROOF
For blush, Use cheek stain on your cheeks,
Lip stain or lip tint for your lip.
Add drama by using waterproof Mascara!

BLOT AWAY
A lot of people make the mistake of toning down shine with powder. If you’re hot, sweaty and shiny, you don’t want to add powder onto oil and perspiration or you’ll end up a floury, chalky mess (like an espasol). Instead, blot the affected area by using tissue, blotting papers or oil film. This will absorb the oil without messing up the makeup.

Don’t you find it awesome how the madgician unselfishly shares her wisdom with us? If you can’t get enough of her tips, I’d highly recommend that you attend her ” Mark the Spot” seminar on August 15, 16,and 17 at the St. Francis Shangrila place function room 3, from 10am to 3pm. For more details, please email themakeupstudio@gmail.com or contact Grace Ranjo at 09178949480.

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Makeup For Photography

Most of us already have a good idea of how to apply makeup for everyday occasions, but model shoots and portraits are a slightly different affair. The camera flash washes us out more easily and in most cases glitter is out of the question. Of course, the way we apply makeup changes depending on the style and location of the photo shoot, but there are general rules of thumb and you’ll find them right here.

Preparations
• Be near a window or an open door so you have natural light by which to apply your makeup. Avoid dark bathrooms or ones with soul-sucking incandescent lights that will make your skin tone appear different from its actual color. You don’t want to end up using the wrong shade of foundation or blush.
• Prep your skin. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “What good is a house without a tolerable planet to put it on?” Likewise, what good is the best foundation on the market if your skin is flaky, oily, or scaly to begin with? Wash, exfoliate, tone, and lightly moisturize before applying any makeup. Know your skin type and use appropriate products.
• Didn’t get enough sleep? Preparation H may be embarrassing to buy, but it will ease puffy eyes.
• Got an inflamed blemish? For a quick fix, try icing it for a few minutes.
• Gently pull your hair back into a bun and clip back flyaways. Style after washing your face or applying makeup.

Laying Down the Foundation
• If you have large pores, you may want to begin with a primer. Try Bare Escentuals primer or the oil control version.
• For the concealer, go two shades lighter than your skin tone to cover blemishes, under-eye circles, and dark spots. Use a green tint to cover red spots and yellow to cover purple spots.
• You’ll generally use more makeup for a photo shoot than you will for going out to lunch. Choose a thicker foundation rather than sheer ones to cover blemishes. Blend it all the way down to your neck so it doesn’t look like you’re wearing a mask.
• Apply translucent powder for a matte finish and continue to reapply between shots.

Cheeks, Eyes, Lips
• Try this trick: apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and contour your cheek bones with a little bronzer. Make sure to add some bronzer to the top of your forehead near the hairline, the bridge of your nose, and a little on your chin.
• Highlight your brow bones with light shadow.
• Avoid shimmery, glittery, or frosty shadow, which may distract from the rest of your face in a photo.
• Depending on the nature of the shoot, you’ll go for precisely applied liner or a smoky look. Either way, be sure to begin lining at the outer corner of your eye and go inward three-fourths of the way. Avoid lining the inner corner (unless you’re going for an edgier high fashion look).
• Apply light shadow on the inner corners of your eyes and go darker on the gradient on the latter three-fourths of your eyelids.
• Use waterproof mascara. Run a clean brush through your lashes between applications to avoid clumping.
• Eye makeup usually has to go on thicker and darker than everyday applications. The flash of the camera can wash you out, otherwise.
• Line your lips with the same color of your lip stick. Don’t fall for the ‘90s dark liner, light lips look.
• Avoid too much gloss, since it can be as distracting as glitter in your eyes. Really focus on your lip color—eyes and lips are generally the focus of most photo shoots.
Lastly, remember to take your makeup with you to the shoot. You never know when, during an outdoor shoot, rain will strike or the wind will blow your hair into your lips and drag gunk across your face. Although these scenarios aren’t happy ones, at least you’ll be prepared for last minute fixes.

MUA In Scrubs’ note: the above article  is a guest post from Heather Green. Born and raised in North Carolina, Heather Green has worked as a fashion and beauty consultant as well as freelancing for various wedding, fashion, and health publications. She currently acts as the resident blogger for Online Nursing Degrees where she’s been researching complementary health nursing programs as well as the issue with nursing career outlook data.

If you’re interested to be a guest author in this blog, please send me a message through the contact form. Thanks!

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Eyes To Go: 2-Color Designs

Make-up artists can use up to 10 shades of eyeshadows to come up with a unique and pretty look for a celebrity or a bride, until their artistic thirst is quenched. On a daily basis, however, you don’t need that much color for an eye makeup for personal use. In fact, you can do away with only two eye shadow colors for a quick makeup fix which you can wear for work or even on special occasions.

The 2 eyeshadow application is the easiest way to learn for newbies, and the fastest to apply for ladies who are always on the go. What you need is one darker matte shade and another color that is shimmery and lighter.

Product suggestions

When I visited the Bobbi Brown counter in Rustan’s Makati a few weeks ago, I found two pretty colors that could make a good combination for 2 eyeshadow designs. These shades are said to be among their best sellers:

Bobbi Brown‘s Camel- a soft matte caramel shade, and Bone- an off-white shimmery highlighter.

Please refer to this diagram below to understand where to place the colors:

Design A:

• brush the lids with the darker color (e.g. Bobbi Brown’s Camel), blending upwards until the crease area
• just underneath the brows, apply the highlighter (e.g. Bobbi Brown’s Bone), blend so it meets the darker color near the crease
• apply a dark line (e.g. using Bobbi Brown Gel Eye Liner) on the lash line (“liner” on the diagram)
• curl lashes and apply mascara
• shape and fill eyebrows

note: this design also works best for those with protruding eyes because the darker matte shadow gives the illusion of receding the eyeballs .

Design B

• brush the lids with the lighter, shimmery color (e.g. BB Bone), blending up towards the brows
• right on the crease, apply the darker shade in a windshield wiper motion
• apply a dark line (e.g. using Bobbi Brown Gel Eye Liner) on the lash line (“liner” on the diagram)
• curl lashes and apply mascara
• shape and fill eyebrows

note: this design makes the lids appear larger and somewhat makes you look refreshed.

For special occasions, you can use either of the above designs and pick a darker color for the matte one and a brighter, more metallic version as highlighter.

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Breakdown: Nicole Floirendo Debut Makeup

Debutant Nicole Floirendo has a flair for the city of Paris, which she says, is the ultimate destination for romance and dreams coming to life.  Working with this pretty model’s Paris-themed celebration last month, I came up with a look for her that brought out romance, elegance and fashion. Her hairstyle was a mash-up between Demi Moore’s messy but glamorous ‘do at the recent Oscars, and Taylor Swift’s signature red carpet look.

Here is a breakdown of the products I used on her:

Face-

Ellana Makeup Primer
Make up For Ever HD Liquid Foundation #120
MAC NC25 Studio Fix Powder
MAC NC42 Studio Fix Powder for contouring
NARS albatros for highlighting
Benefit Coralista blush

Eyes-
MAC Rice Paper
MAC Cork
NARS Night Fever
Maybelline Gel Liner
Nichido Waterproof Eyeliner (black)
Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara
ModelCo brow kit
False lashes

Lips:
Nyx Orange Soda lipstick
Revlon Color Stay Coral lipstick

Lastly, this lovely photo capturing the essence of a true mademoiselle was taken by one of her her official photographers, Ms. Pamela Lico:

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