How I clean my brushes

I know.. I know... cleaning brushes is such a chore. But it is really essential to keep your brushes clean - imagine all the bacteria growing inside your brushes for months!! Also, I have always believed in investing good brushes, because if you keep them in good conditions, they can actually last for years! 

I left a short comment in the post "Day19: Something I Hate to do" on how I clean mine, but I guess it's  easier to illustrate in details with pictures:

Instant cleansing (with Brush Cleanser)

From Rae Morris: "Some of the products out there are laughable; I don't want my brushes to have deep-conditioning treatments, be oiled or smell like roses.... A good brush cleaner will clean a filthy brush instantly, with the brush drying in seconds, ready for its next use."

I have been using M.A.C.'s brush cleanser for a year now (I'm using it everyday and yet I havent even finished a bottle!), so far it does the trick for me. It cleans thoroughly (well at least for the small ones e.g. eyeliner/ eyeshadow brushes) and dries instantly. I usually clean my brushes after my shower in the morning, while they dry it leaves time for me to put on moisturizers and foundation, and the brushes will be ready to use then. 

So first off, as the cleanser bottle comes with a cap, which I find it bit inconvenient, I dispense it to a smaller spray bottle. (Some people say you can pour the cleanser to the cap, and dip the brush into the liquid.. but it's a mess for me because I'm always in rush in the morning haha.)  

Just simply spray the cleanser onto the brushes, work it through on a kitchen paper in circular motion. Repeat until no more products coming out from the brush. That easy!


Deep cleansing (with Washing Detergent)

Once every 2-3 weeks I clean my larger brushes (e.g. blush/powder brushes) with washing detergent. Washing detergent is, in my opinion, more effective and money-friendly in cleansing large brushes, because these brushes soak up so much brush cleanser and yet it takes forever to work out all the products on them.

With a small amount of washing detergent on a white plate (so you can see the color coming out from the brush), rub the damp brush on the plate as the products dissolving from the brush. Continue rubbing the brush under warm running water until the plate is clean and the water runs clear.

Reshape, and let the brushes dry flat overnight.

The brushes are now soft and clean, ready to be used like brand-new!


How do you clean yours?


- Cora xx

Inside my bag

I always love reading posts on what’s inside people’s bags so I thought I’d do one for myself. I dislike my bag being heavy so I usually try to bring as little as I can. 

1. Umbrella
2. Tissue
3. Key with tesco clubcard and bear (I need it to be a big chuck so I can find it easily when I fish down into my bag)
4. Pen
5. Rabbit pouch with random stuff inside (see the next pic)
6. Hand cream (currently using YSL's Parisienne and it smells sooooooooooo good)
7. Book (reading Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton at the moment)
8. More tissue
9. Phone
10. Wallet

Inside my fluffy rabbit pouch:

a.       Band aids
b.      Lip balm (using Rose Petal Salve by Rose & Co. Apothecary now, and I definitely recommend it! It smells nice and is very moisturizing)
c.       Vaseline (great for everything if you have dry skin like me)
d.      Klimt’s The Kiss mirror
e.      Hair clip + bobby pin + hair band
f.        Perfume + lipstick + chapstick (this Nivea Pearly shine chapstick is a little glossy, so it’s nice if you want to be less lip-prominent than putting lipstick on)
g.       Pen (why do I have so many pens!?)
h.      Hand sanitizer (I am not a cleanaholic, but this Body & Works thingy smells really good so I use it whenever I feel like smelling something flowery)

So these are the stuff I usually have in my bag. I am not a tech-savvy person so I don’t have any gadgets with me. Plus I am a supporter of the printed word (see sidebar for my pledge!), so there is always a book, magazine, or newspapers in my bag.

What’s the one thing that you always have in your bag? 

 e. 

Makeup Wednesdays: Chanel Nail Colours

I LOVE Chanel nail colours. Love the packaging, love the texture (goes on nails really well and doesnt chip much) and love the colour range. I don't own a lot of them, but I can say it's a pretty good investment. I bought my first one few years ago and I am still using it fine! My recent favourite is the one on the left, Miami Peach, its a really nice shimmery coral colour (perfect for spring/summer!). Most colours you'll need 2 coats to get a better finish. 

Check out Chanel Spring 2012 Collection - Loving the nail and lip colours!!

- Cora xx

mascara emergency

(source)

this is so cute! read more about new york fashion week on the asos blog here!

have a great weekend people :) and keep the mascara on :P

e. xoxo

Makeup Wednesdays: Some kind-a gorgeous

Some kind-a gorgeous by Benefit

Recently I am looking for a compact/2-way cake that I can bring along in my makeup bag for touchups (in replacement of my current one as I was a bit tanned few months ago). So the other day I was at Bobbi Brown getting my eyebrows fixed, I had my eyes on their Oil-Free Even Finish Compact Foundation. The moment I swatch it on my hands, it instantly reminds me of a product I used to adore - Some kind-a gorgeous by Benefit. I have totally forgotten how much I love this compact foundation (and other Benefit products I used to be obsessed with!!).

It's silky, easy to blend, light yet enough coverage to hide imperfections, and it instantly transforms your shiny face into a perfect matte look. I have gone through few of these back then, and I am ready to rock it again since I have a brand new one at home haha (sorry my curiosity in makeups always get me into trying new products and set aside some of these great products I used to like). My guess is that the Bobbi Brown one would be as nice... well actually nicer because they have a much wider range in shades, but if you have normal skin tone like me, Benefit one is no doubt a cheaper option.

Have a try at the Benefit counter, if you haven't already, you will be amazed!

- Cora xx

Blushing for your valentine.

CORALista by Benefit

I admit I backed off a little when I first received this blush (It was given to me from my friend because there's my name on it.. haha). When I tried it on my hand, I felt weird how shiny this blush is because I have always only used matte blusher. But later on I've learnt to appreciate this blush as a highlight on my cheekbones, and now I'm loving how glowy they are! This coral-pink colour looks so natural and girly - definitely perfect for this romantic Valentine's Day out with your loved one.

From a book by Rae Morris (makeup artist), she has some interesting points about blushes:

"My advice is to always use a cheek colour that has some sort of sheen or highlight because cheeks need to have a glow. Even if you hate shiny skin and powder yourself to death, matt cheeks are so unattractive because matt blush flattens the cheek area and it ages you. The only time a matt blush comes out of my kit is if someone has oversized cheeks, and I want to minimise this area."

Well this might sound a little exaggerating, but since I looked more into makeups I realize how underrated highlights and sheen blushers are in our daily makeup collection and how it makes a difference when they give radiance to your look!

This is a picture from the book: the area where blush is to be applied. 

You can go all the way from your cheekbone to the temple, instead of concentrating on the apple of your cheeks. With a little help with bronzers for contouring under the cheekbones, your features will pop and it is so much sophisticated than the conventional apple cheek look.

I hope this has been helpful... and oh! Happy Valentine's Day! Especially to my beloved Erica and her boyfriend (heehee): Have a sweet one!! Even if you are single, like me haha, be sure you are still enjoying the day and have lots of fun!! Keep your heads up, the best is yet to come ;)

xoxo

- Cora