MAKE UP TOOLS & CARE TIPS FOR YOUR MAKE UP TOOLS

Make-up brushes are manufactured to last for years and not only make applying make-up easier, but also get a much better look. There are different manufacturers, sizes, functions and materials used to make these brushes. The bristles of makeup brushes can be natural as well as synthetic. Sometimes synthetic bristles are more durable for the job they do, like working with cream consistencies.

Ever since I started doing freelance work as a make up artist I have been such a make up brush collector. I have about over 30 eye shadow brushes alone at the moment and I am always on the look out for new ones, I particularly like natural bristle like Siberian squirrel, squirrel or goats hairs on the brushes. My Husband bought me a really nice SUQQU blush brush that cost £80 if I am not mistaken just for a blush brush. It is very very soft premium quality brush and just like most Japanese branded make up brushes they tend to be very pricey.

Brushes I often use are MAC 217 for blending, SUQQU blush brush for my blush or the MAC Large Angled contour 168 brush, my favourite foundation brush is my CLINIQUE and Napoleon foundation brush their really good brushes. For me its really trial and error when it comes to finding good make up tools, its also what works for you and your personal style. I can speak for myself that I totally love luxurious brushes and yes it is expensive but to me there worth having.

A finger or a sponge eye shadow applicator just wont do it, you do not have to be a professional make up artist with the right tools you can do seamless results with your own make up.

Brushes you should have:
Eye shader brush (eye shadow brush)
Blending brush (Blending and softening the edges of the shadow)
Angled brush (For brows and can be used an gel liner applicator)
Powder brush
Blush brush
Eye brow brush (For brushing up brows)
Lip brush

Invest in good quality make up brushes after all you are using them on your face.

CARE TIPS FOR TOOLS::

Always use a specially formulated brush cleanser like MAC or Bobbi Brown brush cleanser.
I personally use the MAC brush cleanser to quickly clean my brushes at home or while at work. You may use a mild shampoo for a very thorough clean of your bigger brushes, like foundation brushes which needs shampoo to get all that oil/cream off the brush.

Brush Cleaner::

Grab 2 pieces of tissue paper fold it in half, spray some cleaner on to the tissue then gently move your brush back and forth until the make up comes off the brush. Spray more cleaner as you require until the brush has no more residue, you can tell this when the tissue stays clean. Usually your brushes are ready for use within minutes because these cleaner dries fast.

Shampoo::

All you have to do is work a small amount of the shampoo on to your palm, wet the brush then swirl it around your palm until it lathers, keep doing this until all make up residue is dissolved.

Rinse it well, then squeeze out the water gently making sure you are not pulling the hairs, I tend to dry my brushes by laying them down on the edge of my dining table but any table will do, I leave it over night usually. Make sure you keep all the hair together instead of spread out this will keep you brushes from losing its shape. Once dried you can just shake it lightly and it will loosen up it self and it will be fluffy again. Foundation brushes should never be fluffy it should retain its normal shape after wash.

At home for your brushes like blush, powder and foundation you should wash them at least three times a month, although depending on your usage, just use common sense if you use your brushes a lot and you wear the same type of make up and colours then it should be ok, you can clean them with a brush cleanser until the next thorough shampoo wash. But if you have limited brushes and you want to use another shade of shadow then you will need to clean your brush so it don't contaminate and wreck the colour of that new shadow. Foundation brushes I suggest clean it each time after use because foundation is different to eye shadows and blushers their powder unlike foundations its liquid and if you don't wash your brush it might harbour germs so keep it clean.

I clean my eye shadow brushes frequently and even as often as each time after use, I like to have fresh clean brushes all the time.

Store your brushes in a brush roll or put it on an upright pencil cup to avoid distorting the shape of the brush heads.

Clean your eyelash curler with a brush cleaner by wiping the rubber part of the curler to get rid of all that dried mascara, a good way to prevent bacteria from forming. Clean it often and replace the rubber pad every 6 months. Labels: MAKE UP TOOL TIPS