Taking Care Of Your Make-Up Brushes

Make-up brushes can be easy to care for if you know how.  Remember, even if you are the only one using your brushes – and you are the only one who should be) your brushes harbor germs and oil that you are putting back on your face each time you use them.  Natural bristle brushes can be cleaned using any good skin cleanser which does not contain oil.  Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is the choice of many skin care and make-up professionals – but you can use any oil-free cleanser that you normally use for your skin.
Mix lukewarm water with a drop of your chosen cleanser and swish gently – swishing until the water no longer gets discolored.  Rinse the brush thoroughly under softly-running tepid water.  Make-up brushes love to be hung upside-down to dry, but prior to this blot them gently with a clean lint-free towel.  Make sure they are thoroughly dry prior to their next use.  With this in mind, you may want to have two sets of make-up brushes.  Nylon brushes are easily cleaned as well.  Simply wet the brush and a bit of your chosen cleanser and gently work in.  Do not rub up the shaft of the bristles… only rub downward repeatedly.  As with a natural bristle brush – nylon bristle brushes should be blotted gently and hung to dry.  Never set a wet brush on its handle, and never use heat on any of your brushes.
For a quick cleaning – when you don’t have time to wait for extended drying use a brush cleaner such as Japonesque Professional Brush Cleaner.  This has a mild citrus scent and helps to condition the bristles – but this should not replace a good soap and water brush cleaning.  Vinegar and water can also be used and has some disinfectant properties as well.
Remember you need not purchase any special products to clean your brushes.  If your facial cleanser removes dirt and oils off of your face it will remove dirt and oils off of you make-up brushes.  Just handle your brushes with care and they will serve you well for years!

10 Makeup Tips To Help You Look Good In Pictures

I was once again on my new favorite site Pinterest and I came across this fabulous beauty tip I wanted to share.  Picture time for many can often feel like a drag.  Does our hair look nice?  How do our clothes look?  How is our makeup?  Do I have too much or should I wear more?  I am sure you have asked yourself or your loved ones at least one of those questions before getting a picture taken.

I think it just might help to have some makeup tips to help that important picture day go a little bit smoother. 

1. Use Mattes ~ Mattes are flat colors. They don’t have any sparkle or shimmer. When you are going to be photographed you want to avoid anything that is going to reflect light on your face. The camera flash and the added shimmer will leave you looking like an oil spill and not your beautiful self..
2. Apply in Natural Light ~  For best results apply your make up in natural light. Indoor lighting can alter the appearance of your make up. Some lights may wash you out causing you to apply make up too heavily. We’ve all seen pictures of ourselves where we thought our make up was good before we left the house, but in pictures we are left to wonder what went wrong and how to look good in pictures in the future.
3. Use Yellow Tinted Powder ~  Yellow tinted powder is better than shimmery or translucent powders for pictures. The other powders will reflect the light leaving you with a shine. They may also leave you looking washed out in pictures.
4. Blend in Under Eye Concealer ~  Most of us try to cover up dark circles under our eyes with a little concealer. For everyday use this is fine, but occasionally in pictures under eye concealer comes off a little harsh. Blend out the concealer extremely well. If your concealer isn’t well blended it may reveal fine lines and awkward coloring around the eye.
5. Black Liner & Black Mascara ~  Many experts suggest using black liner and black mascara. If you normally use browns, opt for black. The darker hue will give you better contrast. The contrast will make your eyes pop more.
6. Blush ~  Skipping blush will wash your face out, especially under a heavy flash. Blush adds definition to your face. Without it you end up looking like a blob with eyes. Don’t over apply blush either. Start light and add more if needed.
7. Don't Skip Lipstick ~  Don’t forget your lipstick. Skipping lipstick will cause your mouth to blend in with the rest of your face. You need to contrast your features for best results.
8. Avoid Shadows ~  Try not to create any shadows on your face with make up. Don’t apply dark shadows below the eyes. Also learn how to position your face towards the camera to not create shadows across your face or under your chin.
9. Contour With Highlight ~  Learning to contour and highlight your facial features can be simple and is very important.  You can use bronzer a shade or two darker than your natural color to brush on under your cheek bones, under your chin, along either side of your nose, and the outer corners of your forehead. Apply a lighter color on the areas that light hits. Apply it to the tops of your checks, center of your forehead, and the bridge of your nose.
10. Whiten Eyes ~  Don’t forget to use eye drops to get rid of any red lines in your eyes. Those pesky bloodshot eyes can really mess up a good picture. You can also help your eyes look bigger and clearer by using a little white shadow on the inside corners of both eyes.
    
    Learning how to look good in pictures can be both fun and simple with a couple of helpful make up tips. Always remember you are beautiful no matter what makeup you wear or how a picture come out.  That is what makes these makeup tips so great.  You are highlighting the beauty you already have.
    
    Remember to have fun.  Depending on the type a picture you are getting (wedding, graduation) perhaps taking a few practice shots would help.  Do you have any other suggestions about how to look good in pictures?

How to Get Those Long, Lustrous Lashes We All Want

Long, Lustrous lashes was the top makeup trend at the 2011 Grammy’s, and was used on most celebrities, such as Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, and Rihanna.  As being a Avon Representative I am often asked many makeup tips and one of them being on applying mascara and which of Avon's mascaras I would recommend.  

I have always loved Avon's Super Extend Mascara for me.  This waterproof mascara goes one smooth and is just as easy to remove.  I love the way my eyes look, but I do wish it came in brown.  As far as tips, I believe it often depends on the individual and what their needs are, but have always had a few tips sure to help anyone get the results they want for longer, fuller lashes.  Here are my quick and easy tips on how to get fuller, longer eye lashes, and the products I recommend.

1.Be sure to curl your lashes.  This helps your lashes to look longer, and have more depth.

2. A lash primer is key. This allows you to build and build lashes without “mucking” them up with too much mascara. Start at the base or the lash, and work your way up. It’s important to have a thick eyelash base, and a thin tip.

3. Choose a gentle, yet effective mascara. and one that also gives you the performance you want. Most women aren’t willing to sacrifice that key performance, so to get both healthy ingredients and quality is the holy grail.

Did you know that most mascara has ingredients like shellac (used to put shine on wood), tar (used to pave the roads), and Mercury (a known toxin)? It’s true. It’s amazing what companies put into their mascara just to make it last long, and to make you look pretty. Be sure to research the ingredients that you are using in your cosmetics. 

Avon's two favorite mascaras Super Extend Mascara and Sonic Boost Vibrating Mascara are both free of all toxins such as shellac, tar and Mercury.  

It’s great to have beautiful lashes, just be sure you are being healthy about it. These tips should help!