Makeup Tools

21 MORE Ways to Store Your Makeup

April 19th, 2009 by Karen 21 Comments

21 More Ways to Store Your Makeup

Here’s a little followup to last week’s 21 Ways to Store Your Makeup. Why? Because a girl’s gotta have options. 🙂

The Brush Guard: I thought this was a pretty original way to store brushes — using mesh tube sleeves to protect the bristles from getting bent out of shape. It just makes sense!

The Aluminum Cosmetics Train Case: Like luggage for your cherished beauty goods, you can load this baby up to make travel THAT much more convenient.

DIY Makeup Organization and Storage: Save a few dollars by making your own makeup storage at home with this well done instructional video.

How to Store Your Makeup Hygienically: Some things to keep in mind if you’ve been passin’ your lipgloss around to your girlfriends…

The Dotty Folding Cosmetic Organizer: There is a bag for every purpose, and this cute bag’s purpose is clear — bargain beauty on the go!

Tackling Makeup Storage: This little lady has some awesome ideas for storing beauty supplies in — no kidding — a fishing tackle box! No, seriously.

[Continue reading…]

21 Ways to Store Your Makeup

April 16th, 2009 by Karen 29 Comments

21 ways to store your makeup

Please tell me you’re not one of those gals guilty of keeping your cosmetics in a grungy old zipper pouch that you may or may not have had since high school. If you are … I won’t tell. 🙂

Guilty or not, here are 21 more ways to store your makeup.

Keep ‘Em Dry: Here are a few ideas to keep your cosmetics dry, and moisture kills makeup. Take these precautions, and ensure a long life for your collection.

Hide Your Makeup from Light and Heat: Here, Makeup Diva talks about ways to keep your makeup safe from light and heat, both of which can cause some serious damage.

How to Store Makeup Palettes: I love the details this post provides on ways to store makeup palettes and accessories.

How to Store Makeup Brushes: No one likes their brushes getting smashed or worn — not if they’re shooting for flawless application. Learn to help your brushes be their best with these how-to tips.

How to Make a Makeup Brush Holder: Go that extra mile with this weekend project, and your makeup brushes will love you for it.

How to Make a Roll Up Mat for Your Makeup Brushes: This is again for the creative gal — a unique way to make a roll up mat to store and protect your brushes while keeping them organized. What more can you ask for?

[Continue reading…]

You’ll Find Treasures Untold in Sonia Kashuk’s Spring Treasures Collection

April 11th, 2009 by Karen 39 Comments

sonia kashuk spring treasures

Shiver me makeup timbers, mateys! I’d walk the plank to get me grubby makeup pirate hands on Sonia Kashuk’s new limited edition Spring Treasures collection!

captain-jack-sparrow

Aye, methinks Captain Jack Sparrow (that eyeliner-wearing scallywag!) would go to great lengths for the treasures in this five-piece collection of beauty tools and sassy spring makeup.

Hidden Treasure Brush Set, $20

sonia kashuk spring treasures hidden treasure brush set 2

sonia kashuk spring treasures hidden treasure brush set 1

Treasure Chest Bag, $13

sonia kashuk spring treasures treasure chest bag 2
[Continue reading…]

How Often Do You Clean Your Eyelash Curler?

April 9th, 2009 by Karen 44 Comments

lash-curler-cleaning

I reach for my beloved Shu Uemura lash curler every day. Without it my lashes would disappear into thin air, *poof*.

But while my curler and I are practically inseparable, I probably don’t clean or replace it as often as I should…

Yesterday, I took a good, long look at my Shu curler and found HELLA eye makeup caked onto both the rubber strip and metal part that crimps the lashes.

Better late than never, I grabbed a Wet Ones wipe (click here for more on makeup wipes) and scrubbed it down really well.

It’s clean again, but EWW!

I’m usually not this lax when it comes to cleaning other makeup tools. I use soap to thoroughly clean my brushes every weekend and wipe them down with makeup wipes after I finish using ’em throughout the week.

But I always forget to clean that lash curler.

How often do you clean your lash curler? — occasionally, after every use, or do you just let it get crusty and fuhgetaboutit?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Ecotools Retractable Kabuki Brush Will Sneak Up on Ya

February 2nd, 2009 by Karen 31 Comments

Doesn’t the Ecotools Recycled Retractable Kabuki Brush ($10) look like a secret spy weapon?

LOL! Or is that just me?

Okay, so it’s not a flame thrower or a pocket super computer, but the Retractable Kabuki exudes awesomeness in other ways. It’s built for travel, fitting snugly into my makeup bag.

I like the fat and fluffy brush head, too. It feels kinda like velvet against my skin and applies the perfect amount of powder (not too sheer or heavy!) for touch-ups.

It excels at applying powders or blush, but I bet it would also work as a foundation or creme blush brush.

[Continue reading…]

A Quick Brush Cleaning Tip

February 1st, 2009 by Karen 27 Comments

Rise and shine, ladies! I hope you’re having a lovely Sunday morning. 🙂

I’m just straightening up my work area while I wait for the coffee to brew. Tabs was raising hell last night, running laps around the perimeter of the bedroom in the dark, so El Hub let him out just before dawn. I hope he makes it back in time for kickoff.

Here’s a quick tip for cleaning those makeup brushes (click here for the video).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

One Way to Save on Makeup Brushes

January 30th, 2009 by Karen 34 Comments

How’s it going, girls? Did you do anything fun tonight? I just got back from the movies with El Hub. We saw Rachel Getting Married. I thought Anne Hathaway did a great job. That girl’s got game, but if you decide to see it, make sure you’re in the mood for a long, slow talkie… yep.

Before we left for the movies I was thinking about makeup brushes. If you’re new to makeup or looking to build your collection of makeup brushes, here’s one way to save a few bucks (click here for the video).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Watch out Sonia Kashuk! Here Comes Eco Tools

January 5th, 2009 by Karen 38 Comments

Drugstores aren’t always home to great makeup brushes, which is why Sonia Kashuk took so many of us by surprise.

But Sonia’s not the only one making superb yet affordable makeup brushes. Say a warm hello to Eco Tools and their fantabulous 5-Piece Brush Set ($10)!

They’re the softest drugstore brush heads I’ve ever used, even softer than Sonia Kashuk’s. That, coupled with the great price, makes this kit (which includes four travel brushes and a carrying case) a total steal.

From left to right: Eye Shading, Concealer, Powder/Blush and Baby Kabuki brushes

Made from the synthetic fiber, Taklon, Eco Tools brush heads feel both silky AND soft, LOL! — like my favorite fussy tabby’s fur (meow!).

The kit goes on sale next month and comes with the following:

Baby kabuki brush: While not as dense as my MAC 182 Buffer Brush, this lil’ baby applies powder with aplomb. The small brush head really gets into the nooks and crannies around my nose.
Powder/blush brush: You can use this brush to apply mineral foundation or face powder. I like to use it as a blush brush (both powder and cream), because the head fits precisely onto the apples of my cheeks.
Concealer brush: I like the precision of very thin concealer brush heads. This head’s a little too big for my taste, but it still works like a charm, applying Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows like a pro.
Eye Shading Brush: A tapered brush great for simple washes of color over the entire lid, for crease work and for blending.
Cosmetic Bag: Cute and tiny, this cotton and hemp bag carries all four of the kit’s brushes with room to spare.

Eco Tools wants to go green. Their brush heads aren’t made from animal furs, and their brush handles which fit nicely in the palm on my hand (I wish they were longer, though, sigh), are made from sustainable bamboo and recycled aluminum.
[Continue reading…]