Cleaning Brushes

I was going to combine my previous post on brushes with this one on how to clean them, but I decided against it because it was just too long. Plus, it makes me look like I'm posting more frequently. Definitely a win-win situation.

First and foremost, you must must must must must must must MUST clean your brushes. It's most important with your liquid/cream products, like liquid foundation, concealer and cream blushes because they're the most moist to begin with, and if you pair that with a nice, dense brush, you've got a really nice habitat for bacterial colonisation. And you're going to be wiping that all over your face. All. Over. Doesn't that sound lovely?

Good brushes are an investment. Most of the time, a very expensive investment, so please look after them. Many high quality brushes will maintain their brand new-ness for years if you care for them properly. Years and years.

I try to clean my brushes every time I use them. Like most people, I use two methods to clean my brushes: spot cleaning and deep cleaning. I spot clean every day, which takes literally about 15-20 seconds per brush. Once a week, I deep clean my brushes so that they're product free, which preserves the original condition of the brushes as much as possible.

For spot cleaning, I use the MAC brush cleanser. It's $20 from Myer/David Jones/MAC in Australia. It's about half the price for all you Americans. If make up were the same price here as America, Australia would be perfect. Clothes too.

My Current Brushes

It's been a little while. Actually, I'm totally exhausted right now because I've had mentor training all day and had to wake up at 7:30. The wake up was definitely far from pleasant, but the fact that I saw some familiar faces made it worth it, somewhat. I'm trying to convince myself of that, anyway. I had a weird dream. I was eating really big raspberries, or mulberries or some sort of berries with room-temperature milk. In another dream, I was in Korea negotiating the price of ribbons. Like, those bows that you put in your hair. It was like 4 for $15 and then I decided to look on eBay and it was around $10 for 25. Then my alarm went off. Charming.

So today I'm here to show you a few brushes that I have. I only use about 4, but my collection will increase as I find good and reasonably priced ones along the way. There are some on the way to my bathroom up here, but obviously I don't have them yet, so these will have to do for demonstration.

I brought some of my makeup up North and I thought I might just show you how I've organised it. It was a rushed job, but I've made things sort of easy to locate and I'm lazy so I'll deal with it later.

Daiso Detergent for Puff & Sponge

Today, I present to you one of the most highly coveted brush cleaners in the makeup world: the Daiso Detergent for Puff & Sponge.

Finding an effective way to clean your makeup tools is almost as important as possessing the right ones. If you don't clean them properly, you may as well be placing your brushes in an entire culture of bacteria and letting them infest your brushes overnight.

Not a pleasant thought, right?

That's exactly what happens if you don't clean your brushes, especially those with liquid products. Poor cleaning means a poor face, promoting pimples and those other nasties. Poor cleaning is less harmful, but if you're going to dedicate the time, then you may as well do it properly.

Plus, I think cleaning brushes is quite therapeutic. Actually, that's a lie. It really depends. Before I bought the Puff & Sponge, it took me so long to clean my foundation brushes. I was really hesitant to use them after that, because I couldn't be bothered cleaning. And that, my friend, is the problem.

Since the Puff & Sponge entered my life, this lack of bother is no longer a barrier between me and my perfectly cleaned brushes. Seriously.

Lime Crime Lipstick in Centrifuchsia

I'm in a lipstick mood. I just love lipstick. I think it really provides character and depicts emotion.

Yes. Just from lips. Amazing, right?

Admittedly, until now I have never been a fan of bright pink lipsticks - especially hot pink. Hot pink hasn't been up in my grill since the 5th grade, when I received a hot pink Barbie buggy car for my birthday. Remember those? They also came with stickers to bling up the car. It was a little girl's wonderland. I may or may not still have that car.. in my room.. with all my soft toys. Please quit judging me.

I've actually had a few Lime Crime lipsticks for a while now. Quite.. a while, but I never thought bright pink was my thing. I just read from other reviews that Lime Crime lipsticks are very pigmented and bright. Absolutely correct. I have now decided that I am 100% in love with hot pink-infused with fuchsia lipsticks. It's incredible how opinions change in a matter of a couple of weeks. It does help that I now know how to actually apply the lipstick. Before, I'd just wing it and it feathered* everywhere. Lovely.

Note: feathering (with respect to lipstick) refers to when it spreads from the lips into the little creases in the skin around the lips. Think of putting a drop of ink onto a paper towel - the main drop represents your lips, and where the ink creeps outside that drop, that's what feathering looks like. It's not favourable and certainly not flattering. More about how to prevent feathering later.

Kate Moss for Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick #26

My first makeup review! I don't know how I'll go with this. I've been reading reviews in forever, and suddenly everything changes when you're the one providing feedback.

Yesterday, I went out with Alice and Sandra to the city to window-shop for Alice's laptop, with no avail. I think I've come to the conclusion that Priceline is actually my favourite store. I'm officially a Priceline Sister, according to the card they gave me. Total score.

Anyway, I've been looking for a nice nude lipstick for a while. I have a few MAC shades lined up to try, but I'm not game enough to buy them here. I'll wait until I can find a way to get them from the US. Totally the way to go.

I love Priceline. I can't explain why. I love the diversity and how it stocks almost every good Australian drugstore makeup brand. I picked up the Kate Moss for Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in #26. I fell in love with the packaging. It's so cute!

Korea Part 4: Back to the Start

I've been delaying this post forever. I don't know why. One of my New Year's Resolutions was to always finish what I started, but I guess I didn't stipulate any sort of time restrictions for that. Totally de rien. Still on track.

We didn't have much time the second time around in Korea - 3 days including flight time. Basically, a full day with jetlag and delayed flights either side. This time, we visited the Namdaemun markets. It reminded me a little of Hongdae! Except it didn't have a Hello Kitty Cafe, but I mean, one in a trip is enough for me. Meow.

Needless to say, I scouted for the nearest skincare shop and rushed in.

Namdaemun is just huge. I thought it was going to be a couple of streets, but a good half hour later, my assumption was proved wrong, along with my excellent directional skills. Luckily, my actually good backtracking abilities kicked in and I was able to find the entrance.

It's weird, huh? I can never find my way, but I'll always be able to find my way back.