How to clean your brushes

The other day I was asked what I use to clean my brushes. After working on a client and especially more than one model I use 99% alcohol. I just pour some into a little spritzer bottle, spray the brushes and wipe them off on a towel. It clean's them good and fast. You don't want to be waiting around for your brushes to dry on a shoot. Then once I get home I wash my brushes with a baby shampoo and water to keep them soft. I use to use an actual brush cleaner and decided that I can just use products I already have at home that will clean the brushes just as well. I haven't noticed any difference in my brushes, they don't seem to be drier or any different in any way. 

If you do however want to spend the extra $ and get a brush cleaner here are some that I have used and loved

You can get this cinema secrets brush cleaner at Camera Ready Cosmetics

you can get the cover FX brush cleaner either at Sephora or at Cover FX

Here are 5 at home recipes for brush cleaner's you can make that are super easy! Found here

1. 1 cup of Warm Water
1 TBSP Liquid Dish Detergent


2. 1 cup of Warm Water
1 TBSP of Baby Shampoo


3. 1 cup of Warm Water
1 TBSP of Woolite 


4. 1 cup of Distilled Water
2 TBSP of Rubbing Alcohol
1 TBSP of Baby Shampoo


5. 1/2 cup of Warm Water
1/4 cup of Vinegar 

Even using a combination of Baking Soda and Baby Shampoo would work too. After cleaning brushes you want to hang them upside down or flat on a towel so that the liquid doesn't seep back into the base of the brush. Washing your brushes once a week (even if you're the only one using them) is the best way to avoid any bacteria, oil or dirt. It also helps keep the bristles clean and fluffy soft.

What are your favorite brush cleaners to use? 

Foundation 101

While spending some time with family a couple weeks ago my cousin asked me about foundation. She said she doesn't like to wear foundation but every now and then will use concealer to cover up scars, blemishes, dark circles, freckles, etc. We just got to talking about foundation and its importance so I thought I would do a post about it!

Alot of times we think foundation just feels cakey and cloggy and yuck! But it doesn't have to be that way! There are 3 different types of coverage. Sheer coverage, medium coverage and full coverage. There are also different types of foundation; powder foundation, cream foundation, and liquid foundation. 

So, lets talk about WHY we would even wear foundation in the first place. To me, the whole reason to wear foundation is to even out your skin tone and add some radiance to your complexion. A lot of women have red parts in their skin, around their nose, around the corners of their mouths, maybe even on the cheeks and forehead. So the skin then appears blotchy. Foundation will help even that out!  Another thing is the correct  foundation can make blemishes look less noticeable and it can make you look younger. Now just because I am saying that these are the reasons for foundation does not necessarily mean you are going to go cake on a thick layer of goop. Foundation is there to enhance and compliment your appearance, not change it. Do we understand the difference? =)

So what kind of foundation and coverage does your skin need then?

Sheer Coverage: If you are blessed with a clear and smooth complexion go for the sheer coverage! It will feel very light and give you subtle coverage. Sheer coverage foundations come in liquid, powder compact or a tinted moisturizer. 

Liquid is the greatest foundation to get for all skin types, you can either get an oil-free formula for oily skin or a moisturizing formula for dry skin.  

This is NARS Sheer Glow Foundation $42 at Sephora good for Dry skin 

or you can find the NARS Sheer Matte Foundation for Oily skin at Sephora as well. 

or 

Laura Mercier's Moisturizing Foundation $42 at Sepora

This foundation can be a very light coverage but is build able to create a more fuller coverage, so great!

Powder Compact is a dual finish powder foundation that gives you a quick sheer coverage. Just apply with a brush and your set to go! Super easy and great for touch ups on the go. What's great about powder foundation is you can also use a wet sponge to apply for more coverage if you ever needed to.

This is the Laura Mercier Foundation Powder $40 at Sephora

Then there is a Tinted Moisturizer, which is by far the sheerest of all sheer foundations. What it is is actually what it sounds like, a moisturizer with a little color added to make a tint. This is perfect to use during the summertime when your at the beach or lake and you don't want to wear much makeup. It definitely evens out the skin but at the same time provides very light coverage. Plus, a lot of moisturizer's have sunscreen in them so this is great in protecting your skin from the sun!

This is Urban Decay's Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer SPF20 $30 at Sephora

or

The Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 $30 at sephora

Medium and Full Coverage: Medium to full coverage have thicker consistencies. You're going to want to use this type of foundation for concealing breakouts, scars, and even for just wanting a longer lasting fuller coverage. Types of medium and full coverage foundation are creme, stick, creme-to-powder and mineral powder. 

Cream-to-powder is so quick and simple, it has two in one! It goes on creamy and dries with a powdery finish. This type of foundation is great for oily skin because the powder part of it helps cut down on the shine. I also love that this foundation has buildable coverage, starting at medium and can build to full.

This is Clinique's City Base Compact Foundation $24 at Sephora

Mineral Powder is a loose powder that sticks to the skin, creating a medium to full coverage. This foundation is also great for oily skin because the mineral's help soak up the oil and feels really light.

Bare Minerals Foundation $26 at sephora

Cream is a foundation that is very smooth and creamy. It can be great for dry skin, however, you want to make sure you don't do too heavy of an application otherwise it will make your face look "cakey". I love to use a sponge for cream foundations and instead of a swiping motion I do more of a stippling motion. Also, the great thing about cream foundation is you can mix in a little bit of regular moisturizer to the cream to create a more sheer coverage. Cream really can be used as all three coverage's!Another thing that is great is you can always use the cream foundation as a concealer. It's so versatile!

This is Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation $42 at Sephora

Stick  foundation basically is very similar to cream foundation, its more of a cream foundation and concealer in one. This is probably the best type of foundation for someone who wants the fullest coverage there is. It is ideal for normal to dry skin and someone who needs the coverage. On someone with clear skin it might look too heavy and cakey. 

This is Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick $41 at Sephora

These are all just examples and I am sure there are a ton of other brands that work just as well! These are just a few that I really like. If you are wondering what color of foundation to get check out my other blog post here about how to find the correct color of foundation! 

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading!!

Have a great day =)

Leah

How do you know that?!

So many people are interested to know where I learned all about makeup. So I thought I would share in a blog post! I have learned from various places, but makeup books are my favorite, here I will talk about some of the best and maybe it'll help you for next time you are in need of a new makeup book.

My very first Makeup book that I have ever owned was by Bobbi Brown, called Teenage Beauty. I think I must of been about 13 or 14 when I got this book.

 What I loved about this book was that she focused on teaching you that everyone is beautiful no matter the size of your nose or how many freckles you have. She helps you find your true individual beauty. It's so important to bring out and focus on the beautiful features on your face rather than trying to cover up your flaws and focusing on the negative. She goes on to teach you about how you can achieve a natural, beautiful, everyday look rather than caking on a heavy mask of makeup. I would say that this book is the perfect guide for beginners. It is perfect for finding your inner beauty!

The next book I got was called Ultimate Makeovers by Robert Jones.

In this book you will learn all about various facial shapes and how to convert any face shape into the ideal shape. It talks about different types of makeup and why each product works and how to apply it properly. There are a ton of gorgeous pictures throughout the book that I think are great to look at for inspiration. It has a big section of the book that cover's bridal makeup. Overall, I think it would be a great book for anyone starting in the beauty industry, whether you are a makeup artist, hairstylist or photographer.

Then I got Make-up Designory's Beauty Make-up Book.

This book is great to have! It is one of the actual books that they use at the Make-up Designory School.  There are a lot of very useful tips and tricks in there. This is definitely a MUST HAVE for anyone aspiring to become a makeup artist. I would highly recommend it!
It gives a complete and thorough presentation of the basics of Makeup Artistry. Basically it will give you a greater understanding of color and beauty through the use of makeup. I still go back to this book from time to time to refresh and re learn the skills it teaches in this book.

Lastly, another one I own is Rae Morris's Makeup: The Ultimate Guide

Hands down, this is my FAVORITE one!!! The photo's are gorgeous. The tips and explanations on how to do makeup is awesome and easy to do yourself. She gives step by step instructions on how to do certain looks. I love the way she explains how to groom and perfect your eyebrows (which, by the way, is how I learned how to do mine). There are color charts and tips on contouring and highlighting. Really, this book is the perfect addition to your makeup book collection and will help you improve your makeup skills. Rae Morris has another book called "Express Makeup", which is on my list of books to get!

There are so many other books out there that I am dying to get my hands on. But some other really great ways to learn and grow makeup skills are from other makeup artisits on the internet, I love following different blogs and youtube channels. You can look to the side and I have a list of Blogs that I love that will give you an idea of which ones I follow. Some favorite youtube channels that I like are Wayne Goss, Kandee Johnson, The Queen of Blending, and Lisa Eldridge are just a few to name! Check them out! 

What are your fave makeup artists to follow?!
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!

Leah