Whether you like to go heavy on the eyeshadow or you’re a pro at flawlessly applying beautiful blush, it’s crucial to clean your makeup brushes regularly. Over time, bacteria can build up on these tools and increase the chances of breakouts on your face – ick! Here are some tips on how to clean them efficiently and extend their life spans.
Invest in a professional cleaning spray There are many professional makeup cleaning sprays on the market that can help you keep your tools safe for use, according to The Beauty Department. These formulas can eliminate bacteria, and some of them even have beautiful aromas!
Give brushes a good cleaning monthly Real Simple magazine recommends a deep cleaning monthly. Swirl the brushes around in a mild baby shampoo, then repeat the process in a bowl of warm water to remove debris.
Take care of the bristles The bristles are delicate on makeup brushes, meaning it’s important to take your time and be gentle during the cleaning process. When you’re done washing and rinsing them out, Cosmopolitan magazine recommends allowing them to air dry. In the end, you’ll be happier you put in the extra effort!Â
If you have a rock-solid skincare routine that includes essentials like exfoliating, moisturizing, cleansing and treatment products, you shouldn't experience many breakouts. However, if you still notice that your skin never seems as clear as it should, maybe it's your makeup brushes that are to blame.
If you don't clean your makeup brushes on a regular basis, you could be rubbing dirt, oil and other contaminants right into your pores whenever you apply your foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer and eyeshadow. This can clog your pores, resulting in blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.
Every week, you should clean your brushes with a mild dishwashing liquid or a cleanser made specifically for makeup brushes. Wet the brushes, then pour a bit of the cleanser into the palm of your hand. Swirl each brush in the cleanser and rinse them in the sink until the water runs clear. Use a soft towel to pat them dry, then lay them on a flat surface (like a table or the countertop) with the heads hanging over the edge to dry.
Doing this routinely should clear up your complexion in no time!
Okay, admit it – when it comes to taking beauty risks, you usually like to play it safe, right? For many women, reliable tricks like the cat-eye are the cornerstone of their regimens, and it's easy to see why. This ultra-flattering look can complement ladies of any age and leave a remarkable impression on friends, coworkers and boyfriends alike.
However, the cat-eye can get stale over time, which is why new trends, like geometric eyeliner, can be a great way to invigorate your routine. Before you panic, consider these tips, which can make this seemingly tough beauty trick absolutely effortless to pull off.
First, you should grab some primer and dab it along your lids. This will ensure that your eyeliner lasts throughout the day and doesn't become chalky or worse, rubs off.
Once you've applied the primer, take a trusty, waterproof eyeliner and apply it along your lash line. Approach this step just like you typically would the cat-eye, and don't forget to add a swoop to the outer rims of your makeup.
Now comes the fun part. Taking your eyeliner and starting at the outer rim, create a funky zig zag. To add extra sparkle to your style, you can trace above your lash with a vibrant blue eyeliner. Wasn't that easy?
Nothing beats the natural radiance of rich, chocolate-toned eyes, but when it comes to tapping into the innate appeal of brown peepers, it can be tough to spot the best beauty trends to make the most of this ultra glamorous trait.
With these three great secrets, you can accentuate the deep dimensions of your brown eyes and impress that special someone with your stunning look.
1. Go for blue eyeshadow. Do you want make your peepers burst with vibrancy and energy? A bright blue shadow from Colorescience Pro – Loose Eyeshadow can electrify your everyday style.
2. Embrace purple mascara. Seems weird, right? Well, a purple mascara by Blinc is unbelievable with brown eyes and can really help you unlock the potential of your makeup.
3. Don't forget to prime! This might not be specific to ladies with mesmerizing brown eyes, but it's a great practice just the same that can ensure your peepers make a splash in any setting. With a shimmery primer, you can feel confident that your cosmetics won't fade over time.
While it's true that having high-quality makeup products is definitely one part of looking flawless (can you imagine going without your favorite lip color?), application is equally important. You can't expect to look great all the time if you're smudging things on with your fingers or using cheap drugstore tools. Makeup brushes are surefire ways to get smooth, even applications every time, but you have to know which ones get which jobs done. Here's your guide to the many types of makeup brushes and how to use them to achieve a fabulous face.
Face brushes 1. Cream foundation brush. According to The Beauty Department, this type of brush is used with cream foundation and it has a flat, slightly slanted head that really presses the foundation into your skin. Bristles made of natural materials will help build even coverage that'll give you an airbrushed finish. Try something like the Dermablend – Professional Foundation Brush.
2. Liquid foundation brush. If liquid foundation is more your thing, look for a synthetic material brush with densely packed bristles that lie flat and spread out wide, suggests the source. Nylon bristles give a smooth finish, and a slight angle can help you follow the contours of your face.
3. Mineral powder foundation brush. If you're into mineral powder foundation, you'll need a brush with synthetic or natural bristles with a fat shape that's easy to swirl with. The Youngblood – Ultimate Foundation Brush is perfect for this job.
4. Kabuki brush. These round brushes usually have small handles and are very soft. They're good for a variety of powders, from bronzer to foundation to highlighter to shimmer. The Too Faced – Retractable Kabuki Brush is awesome for on-the-go multi-tasking.
5. Concealer brush. JustMakeupArtists.com reports that these brushes have soft, flat bristles with a wider base and a pointed tip. They're good for covering up under-eye circles, blemishes and discoloration with a product like Dermablend – Smooth Indulgence Concealer SPF 20.
6. Blush brush. The source recommends using a brush with a rounded head and soft bristles for sweeping color onto the apples of your cheeks and up into your hairline.
7. Contour brush. If you're a fan of bronzer, it's good to have a contour brush with angled, rounded bristles that mimic the angles of your cheekbones and nose. It works well for contouring and highlighting the face for a sculpted effect.
Eye brushes 1. Lid brush. The Beauty Department suggests using a natural-bristled brush that's dense, thin and tapered. This will help you deposit color all over your upper lids, along your brow bones and on your lower lids. Try the GloMinerals – Eye Base Brush.
2. Crease brush. To darken your creases and give your eyes definition, use a tapered, angled crease brush made of natural bristles that fits perfectly into this area, recommends the source. This will help you achieve sexy smokey eyes.
3. Smudge brush. If you're really into smokey eyes, a smudge brush can help you get that lived-in look. Smudge brushes have short, dense natural bristles that are good at smearing lines. Check out the being TRUE – Liner Diffuser Brush.
4. Liner brush. There are two types of liner brushes: slanted and pointed. Slanted brushes are great for blending pencil or applying eyeshadow as eyeliner, while pointed brushes are fabulous for a precise gel eyeliner application, reports the source. Try the GloMinerals – Angled Eyeliner Brush.
5. Eyebrow brush. A spoolie, or eyebrow brush, helps you brush your brows up and out for a neat, defined look. If you use brow powder or pencil, they also help to blend in the color so it looks more natural.
Lip brushes 1. Lip brush. There's really only one type of brush you need for your lips, and it's called a lip brush, naturally. They have sculpted tips that are perfect for creating flawless lines, reports JustMakeupArtists.com. The bristles should be short and firm, like those in the Youngblood – Synthetic Retractable Lip Brush.
By now, you probably know that curling your lashes is an essential step in completing your eye makeup routine. The curl helps to make your lashes look longer and more noticeable, and can give the illusion of wider and brighter peepers – of course you'd want that! But what's the easiest, most effective way to get the job done?
Unless you have an awesome heated eyelash curler like the Talika – Heated Eye Lash Curler, you're going to need to figure out the best technique to use with a regular eyelash curler. It might seem like the most effective way to do it is to squeeze your lashes at the base, in the middle and one-quarter of the length from the tips, but there's a better method!
According to The Beauty Department, all you need to do is invert the curler when you're gripping your lashes at the base. Just slide your curler over your lashes as usual, then gently squeeze down on them near the base of your lashes. Don't get too close, otherwise it pinches! Now rotate your wrist so the curler is upside down, then squeeze firmly for five seconds.
You'll find that your lashes are perfectly curled this way, and you can make it even better by doing one more crimp near the tips using the regular method. Then just add a coat of your favorite volumizing mascara and you're good to go!
If you're still on the hunt for the perfect cosmetics to take you through fall and into the holiday season, you're in luck! All-new fall makeup sets from Too Faced Cosmetics are available at Beauty Bridge, and they're just as luxurious as you'd imagine. Whether it's lipstick, eyeshadow, bronzer or primer you need, you'll find that these kits have you covered.
Too Faced – Shadow Bon Bons is a candy-sweet palette complete with 12 rich shadows, Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer and Lashgasm mascara. You'll have the tools to create a variety of fall-appropriate eye looks.
The Too Faced – Glamour to Go Spun Sugar Edition is a compact palette that's perfect to use for touch-ups throughout the day and features eight eyeshadows, bronzer, highlighter and a lip gloss. The festive golds and shimmery silvers won't disappoint throughout the cool weather season.
Finally, the Too Faced – Love Sweet Love Collection offers everything you need to create a fresh-faced romantic look for day and night. That includes the Book of Love palette, primer, Lashgasm mascara, Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer, eyeliner, a multipurpose face brush and an exclusive makeup bag.
The bottom lashes are a tricky subject in the beauty world. You want them to look thick and dark like your upper lashes, but they shouldn't be too long or clumpy – otherwise you risk making them seem heavy and unbalanced. It's tough to get the right application with a mascara wand – luckily The Beauty Department has a better idea.
All you need is your regular mascara and a lip brush like being TRUE – Lip Brush. Take out the mascara wand and rub it a bit on the back of your hand so you have a small amount of product there. Now load up the lip brush with the mascara.
Use the brush to paint on the mascara, starting at the roots of your lower lashes. Take your time covering each lash from root to tip, and work the mascara in between the lashes as much as possible.
Not only will you get the perfect amount of product on each individual lash, but you'll darken your lash line, making eyeliner unnecessary. This is perfect for when you want a fresh face using only a couple of makeup items.
It’s no secret that air travel can leave you looking less than fresh. But with careful planning and packing, you can arrive looking radiant and rested – even if you’re not. Use the guide below to pack your carry-on with essential items to combat the dry air of the airplane cabin.
Hand Cream (3 oz.)
Body Wipes
Oil Blotting Papers
Lip Stain (3 oz.)
Toothbrush / Toothpaste (3 oz.)
Hair Brush
Tinted Moisturizer  (3 oz.)
Mini Perfume  (3 oz.)
Eyeliner/Mascara
Illuminating Blush
Here are some travel kits and some more. Have a nice flight!!!
If you're a fan of the cat eye look, you're in luck because this spring, it should be everywhere. According to Glamour magazine's beauty blog, extra winged-out liner was all over the spring fashion runways, officially making the style a trend to look forward to in the upcoming months.
Even though it's still winter, you can get started rocking winged-out liner right now. Just pick up a product like Blinc – Eyeliner, which will stay put all day long without smudging. You could also get the look using a cake liner or eyeshadow. All you'd need is a brush like Illuminare – Eye Liner / Brow Brush to get a perfectly shaped swoop.
There are several different shapes you could try out, like a full triangle shape or a simple line. Before you get started on your eyes, it might be a good idea to do a few practice applications on your hand, so you get the feel of how the liner goes on and which way to hold the brush.
If you have a rock-solid skincare routine that includes essentials like exfoliating, moisturizing, cleansing and 
Okay, admit it – when it comes to taking beauty risks, you usually like to play it safe, right? For many women, reliable tricks like the cat-eye are the cornerstone of their regimens, and it's easy to see why. This ultra-flattering look can complement ladies of any age and leave a remarkable impression on friends, coworkers and boyfriends alike.
Nothing beats the natural radiance of rich, chocolate-toned eyes, but when it comes to tapping into the innate appeal of brown peepers, it can be tough to spot the best beauty trends to make the most of this ultra glamorous trait.
While it's true that having high-quality makeup products is definitely one part of looking flawless (can you imagine going without your favorite 
By now, you probably know that curling your lashes is an essential step in completing your eye makeup routine. The curl helps to make your lashes look longer and more noticeable, and can give the illusion of wider and brighter peepers – of course you'd want that! But what's the easiest, most effective way to get the job done?
If you're still on the hunt for the perfect cosmetics to take you through fall and into the holiday season, you're in luck! All-new fall makeup sets from Too Faced Cosmetics are available at Beauty Bridge, and they're just as luxurious as you'd imagine. Whether it's lipstick, eyeshadow, bronzer or primer you need, you'll find that these kits have you covered.
The bottom lashes are a tricky subject in the beauty world. You want them to look thick and dark like your upper lashes, but they shouldn't be too long or clumpy – otherwise you risk making them seem heavy and unbalanced. It's tough to get the right application with a mascara wand – luckily The Beauty Department has a better idea.
If you're a fan of the cat eye look, you're in luck because this spring, it should be everywhere. According to Glamour magazine's beauty blog, extra winged-out liner was all over the spring fashion runways, officially making the style a trend to look forward to in the upcoming months.
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