Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Make Up: Care and Maintenance of Tools

Your makeup is only as good as the tools you use to apply it. Therefore, your tools must always be in their best working condition. That means clean brushes, puffs, and sponges; sharpened tweezers; makeup containers that are in perfect shape; and makeup that'snot too old to use safely.

Brush Care
A good set of brushes will last several years if it is well cared for. This involves storing the brushes properly (either in a neat brush roll that has individual slots for each brush or upright in a pencil cup) and keeping them clean. To clean brushes, take a drop of brush cleaner or very gentle soap (I use shampoo actually) in your palm, wet the brush, and swirl the bristles around on your palm until they are covered in soap. Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is gone. Do not immerse the brush head in water, because the hair is glued to the base, and even the most expensive brushes will come apart! Squeeze out excess moisture with a clean towel, reshape the brush head, and let it dry with the bristles hanging off the edge of the counter so the bristles dry into the perfect shape. Brushes can become mildewed if they rest on a towel while drying.

Clean all your brushes every month of two. For a quick cleaning in between washings, use a spray brush cleaner. Spritz it onto the bristles, and swipe them back and forth on a tissue until all product residues are removed from the brush.


Sponge Care
High-quality sponges can be washed many times before they need to be discarded. Alternatively, you can buy disposable synthetic sponge wedges at the drugstore that work well and are inexpensive. You can wash and reuse them only a few times before you throw them out.


Powder Puff Care
While drugstores sell disposable powder puffs, it's worth investing in a better-quality one. Hand wash the puff using the same liquid soap you use for your brushes, or toss it into your next load of laundry or on the top rack of the dishwater.


Tweezer Care
When tweezers get dull - which happens with repeated use - they are no longer as effective at grabbing on to and removing small hairs. You can take them to a knife shop for sharpening. Some of the better brands, such as Tweezerman, come with a lifetime guarantee that includes free sharpening whenever necessary.


Eyelash Curler Care 
The rubber pads that line the inside of an eyelash curler are there to protect the lashes, so when the pads start to wear out or break apart, they must be replaced. Many eyelash curlers come with a set of replacement pads. Keep a set on hand.

Take care of your tools and face!
Love,
ALPHA

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