How To: Inexpensively Clean Makeup Brushes

If you are as addicted to makeup as I am, then cleaning your brushes is essential. The pre-made brush cleaners are often expensive, so I have a cheap alternative: Johnson's No More Tears Regular Baby Shampoo. I used to use the Sonia Kashuk one (Target, $6.99) and honestly, I think the Johnson's works better. It's about $2.99 from Target. Can't beat it! Because this shampoo is for babies, it is extremely gentile, even enough for your precious brushes. Plus, it has a great, clean scent!

To clean, all you need to do is place your brush under warm running water (bristles down so that water doesn't get into the brush handle) and get the brush completely wet. Place a small amount of Johnson's into your palm and swish the brush around until most of the brown/pink comes out. Wash off the soap and repeat this process until the soap comes out white and clean with no color. Gently squeeze out the water and place the brushes flat on a towel to dry overnight. Simple as that!

If you have a lot of brushes this can be time consuming, especially for large, dense face brushes. It can sometimes take up to three washes. But it's worth it! Dirty brushes hold bacteria and germs that you do NOT want to spread around on your face. I recommend washing your foundation brushes a few times a week and all other brushes maybe once every 1-2 weeks, realistically. Who is really going to take hours a week cleaning their brushes?? For spot treatment, I know this isn't the most effective thing, but I just wipe my brushes off on a clean tissue. Not the best, but it gets some of the powder off!

Be sure to try this out!

--Ms. Makeup

(Will upload before/after pics later!)

Top 5 Fall Nail Polishes

Dark nails have to be one of my favorite things about the fall season! Just because it's dark doesn't mean it has to be black! These are beautiful alternatives to the classic black mani. Since OPI is my favorite brand, here are my Top 5 Follishes (fall polishes!)

1. My Private Jet. Noted as Kim K's fav! This is an awesome brown/charcoal with tons of shimmer and sparkle (but not like, pageant shimmer...) It's very hard to describe, but its almost holographic. It is one of the most unique shades I have ever seen and when I heard it wasn't going to be made anymore I bought 4 bottles. But have no fear, you can still find it on Amazon! I always get compliments when I wear this one. 

2. <--- Lincoln Park After Dark. This is OPI, to me. Classic. This is always a go to, no matter what the season is. At first glance it looks black, but it's a really beautiful deep purple shade. Very rich. When you're outside in the light, you can really see the true hues. 

3. ---> Siberian Nights. Similar to Lincoln Park After Dark, but this one is a more true purple and not soo dark. If you're new to the dark nails, this would be a good starter. I know it looks darker in the picture, but I swear it's not!

4. <--- OPI... Eurso Euro. From the Euro Centrale Spring Collection, but it's a perfect transition color to fall. A very deep blue, in between royal and navy with some purple undertones. If you're going for a bold fall nail that isn't black, this is the one.

5. ---> Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ. This is a great vampy deep red. It's pretty much identical to the color of BBQ sauce (hence the name.) Really beautiful shade.

Don't forget a base and top coat! I use the Beauty Secrets Base Coat (Sally Beauty Supply, $3.89) with the ever so famous, Seche Vite Top Coat (Ulta, $9.95.) 

Side review-- On the back of the Seche Vite bottle it says "WARNING! This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm." Hmmm... makes sense because this top coat dries so fast it's sometimes unbelievable. It makes your manicure last an entire week with no chips and full on shine. So what if we can't have babies in the future! We'll have pretty nails, right?! Jk, every time I use this stuff I picture myself not being able to have children in like 10 years. Let's hope is not that serious...

What are your favorite fall polishes?

-- Ms. Makeup