How I Clean My Make-up Brushes

Cleaning make-up brushes is boring as hell. No one wants to spend their evenings scrubbing countless fluffy eyeshadow brushes, but unfortunately it's something that must be done if you love wearing a full face of make-up every day - so I thought i'd share how I clean mine!

There are two different combinations of products I use to clean my make-up brushes, each being really simple and using products that are cheap to buy. Instead of forking out the cash for a branded 'brush cleanser', I pay no more than a couple of pounds and the products really do last for ages! To be honest, I do have lots of make-up brushes with different bristles and i'm not entirely sure what sort of cleaner is recommended, but these seem to work just fine with my brushes :)

Option One: Johnson's Baby Shampoo

If it's good enough for a baby, it's good enough for me! I love this stuff because it's really inexpensive, comes in a squeezy tube and leaves my brushes feeling super soft and smelling amazing.

1. Wet brush with warm water and squeeze on a small amount of baby shampoo.

2. Massage the shampoo into the bristles - don't be scared of losing the shape or getting a bit rough with it!

3. Rinse with warm water until the water runs clear (You may have to repeat the second step for foundation brushes or any dense brush that picks up a lot of product.)

4. Dry off the excess on a clean towel, reshape if needed and place on another towel on a flat surface. I like to have my brushes hanging off the edge of something or facing slightly downward so that the water runs off and doesn't loosen the glue that secures the bristles.

Option Two: Washing Up Liquid and Olive Oil

I love this combination as it contains everyday things you'd find in the kitchen. The olive oil helps break down the make-up and softens the bristles whilst the washing up liquid gives them a good old clean!

1. Combine two parts washing up liquid and one part olive oil into a small bowl.

2. Swirl each brush into the mixture until it's completely covered.

3. Massage into the bristles and rinse with warm water until clear.

4. Exactly the same as option one - dry off the excess on a clean towel, reshape and place on a another towel.

Leave to dry for 24 hours and there you have it! Lovely, clean brushes. If you can, (as I know we're all busy!) try to do this once a week to keep your brushes bacteria-free and in the best possible condition.

What do you guys use to clean your make-up brushes? :)

Making a Change

I feel like i've been walking around with my eyes closed for 23 years. I've spent ridiculous amounts of time and energy fretting about my weight and my health without acknowledging the fact that I literally have no idea what i'm putting into my body. It came to me after i'd been using MyFitnessPal for 3 months, eating 1300 calories a day and beginning to get a bit bored with having to measure everything down to the last gram. One day I saw I had 60 calories left over and went to reach for a banana, when I realised how many calories it contained and went for a Weight Watchers digestive biscuit instead. It was then I realised - how ridiculous is it that I would choose a processed concoction of chemicals and sugar instead of a piece of fresh fruit?! I was starving my body without even realising it. I knew then I needed to change what I consider to be the healthier option.

I did some reading, followed some blogs, subscribed to some YouTube channels, watched some documentaries and started paying attention. I've now opened the floodgates to this some-what terrifying world of healthy eating and now I know too much to close them. My attitudes towards food have completely changed. I'm fretting a lot less at how my body looks and more about how I feel. The idea of eating a McDonalds or KFC repulses me (although walking past it I can't beat the fact that it smells delicious!) and I now know if I work on taking care of my body instead of repriving it of the nutrition it really needs, the results will come. So today I thought i'd share with you the kind of 'rules' i'm trying to live by. I'm definitely not an expert and i'm not saying there won't be a ton of slip-ups, but the more I try the easier it will be:

Measure in goodness

This is the thing i've found the hardest to do.

Calories are the most confusing and misleading things ever. They don't take into account the good or the bad ingredients that make up what we eat - in my opinion, a calorie is just an irritating number. An avocado has round about the same amount of calories as a bag of Malteasers, but which one do you think is better for you? It's a no-brainer. I keep telling myself to measure in goodness instead of calories and that if I want to eat pure almond butter straight from the jar then it's not going to kill me. We've all been programmed into thinking that we must 'eat less, move more' when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle, and although I agree with getting lots of exercise, it's definitely more about providing your body with the nutrients it needs instead of ensuring you don't exceed a silly number. 

If you don't understand it, don't buy it! 

Next time you're in the supermarket, grab your nearest 'fat-free' item and take a look at the ingredients. I guarantee they'll be a few things you can't pronounce, let alone understand. This does involve some reading to understand what certain ingredients are used for, but i've come to the conclusion that if something is made with a ton of chemicals I don't understand, then I have no business putting it in my body. On the other hand, if it grows in a garden, i'm gonna eat it.

Shop locally

I really enjoy knowing where my food has come from. I love knowing that i'm contributing to the local economy and that i'm eating something that was in the ground just a few miles away from me. It's far less likely to be processed, meaning it contains lots of lovely nutrients.  Obviously when things are out of season this is different, alongside sometimes it's difficult to find time to shop in multiple places, but this is something i'm looking to do a lot more. It's also often much cheaper to shop locally than in the supermarket, meaning you can really load up on veggies without denting your bank account.

Love your freezer

The freezer has to be one of the best inventions ever made. Seriously. It just saves me so much time and money! One of my favourite things to do when cooking is to double up on the ingredients, portion it out and stick it in the fridge or freezer for future meals. I love knowing I have another portion to look forward to for tomorrow's lunch if the meal was extra tasty and means that I am less likely to end up at the supermarket grabbing a pre-packed sandwich or pasta pot. It also means you can stock up on frozen vegetables when you can't get to the supermarket - most are picked and frozen within the first 24 hours so most of the nutrients are still there. 

Prep, prep, prep!

I think the greatest thing about processed food is that it's so convenient. It has a crazy-long shelf life, meaning it can just sit out waiting for you whenever you're hungry. So really, cooking things from scratch does feel like a bit of an effort at times. This is why I like to set aside a weekend afternoon (or weekday evening if i'm away or busy) to prep things for the week. Last weekend, for instance, I made a big batch of vegetable stock that I then split into freezer bags to keep for whenever i'm cooking, as well as a container of granola for the week ahead. I also made a tray of sweet potato brownies for whenever i'm feeling peckish. I actually did such a good job of prepping last weekend i'm set for the next few days! I find if I put something on Netflix in the background and just get on with it, you stop paying attention to how long it takes you and it's hugely satisfying to know you have lots of goodies to show for your hard work.

Be brave

I think one of the biggest steps is accepting that the way you look at food is going to change. The foods that I used to comfort myself are now my worst enemy. It's also about accepting the fact that's it going to be a bit more of an effort to get to where you want to be. Re-educating yourself about food is scary, but it can also be really enjoyable. I've recently discovered medjool dates - which are absolutely beautiful. They look gross, but my god are they sweet. I'm now hoping they will curb my sugar cravings, but only time will tell. On the flipside, don't force yourself to like something just because it's good for you. I tried a dairy-free almond shake from Pret the other day which was supposed to be really amazing, but I hated it (Far too sharp and waaay too much banana!). Find what works for you. I'm not a massive fan of celery and tomatoes, so I just choose something else instead. But at least give it a try!

I still crave pizza massively, and to be honest, I can't promise i'll never have a Domino's again in my lifetime. When I see my friends and they want to go to a restaurant that isn't super-healthy, i'm not saying I won't go. But I think making even the smallest change is a massive leap in the right direction. You hear so many people say "It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change" and they are totally right - a diet is inevitably temporary and this certainly is not.

I'm always seeking new recipes to try or any information that will help guide me in the right direction so any help will be greatly appreciated :)

My Most Used Make-up Brushes

Contrary to what you might think, I actually don't have a lot of make-up brushes. I use very few on a daily basis, so I thought i'd share with you my all-time favourites:

Foundation Brush

I use a Real Technique's Expert Face Brush as I love the way it works the foundation into my skin. It buffs product into the skin instead of painting it on and allowing it to sit on top. The brush itself is quite dense so it does distributes a lot of product but without losing control. I also use this brush to gently tap concealer under my eyes and on blemishes, blending in seamlessly with the rest of my base.

Contour Brush

I know loads of people use huge brushes, whack bronzer all over their face and end up effortlessly sun-kissed, but I need something a bit more precise so I don't end up looking like i've rolled in mud. Real Technique's Contour Brush (Taken from their Core Collection) distributes enough product to create a soft, chiselled finish. It does take a lot longer if you want to bronze all over the face, but great if you want something subtle or have a paler complexion and want to ease yourself into contouring.

Powder Brush

I've been using the Real Technique's Buffing Brush (Also from their Core Collection) for about three years now and it's still going strong today. It's great for setting my make-up with powder and I also use it to ensure everything's nicely blended together once I add my contour, blush and highlight. It doesn't pick up too much product and I just find it really easy to use!

Angled Brow Brush

If you're a fan of strong brows, an angled brush is essential. I use the MAC 266 Small Angle brush - it's really precise and the bristles retain their shape really well, even after loads of washes. It picks up just the right amount of product and distributes really evenly. It's quite a stiff brush so it's great when you want to achieve a statement brow, but soft enough to keep it natural if you keep your hand light. It can also be used to apply gel eyeliner - I find it's the only brush that gets the wing just right!

Base Shadow Brush

I don't like to fuss when it comes to eye make-up, usually two colours will do it. Therefore, a brush that applies a quick wash of colour is great for when you've got no time. I use one by EcoTools - however, as it's so old I can't seem to find it, but there's a similar one here. It's simple and nothing special if i'm completely honest. It's just massive and makes applying a base colour really quick and easy. If i'm precise enough I do use it in the crease, but it's not really designed for detailed make-up.

Fluffy Blending Brush

If it's one brush that I regret not buying when I started getting into make-up, it was this one. I cannot emphasise enough how much it transforms an eye look. It makes creating a smokey eye really easy to achieve and makes it a lot to easier to rectify mistakes. The Zoeva Luxe Soft Definer Brush has become my favourite brush out of all of these, as it makes blending out eyeshadow an absolute dream. There are bigger blending brushes out there, but i've found this suits my eye shape perfectly. I'm thinking of buying a few more of these so I don't have to be constantly washing it, and at only £6.50, it won't break the bank to treat myself to a few more! 

What are your most-used make-up brushes? Are there some that I should be using? Let me know! :)