TJC: The Guide ~ How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

I have been wearing makeup since the age of twelve.  Well, at twelve black eyeliner and a green lipstick that turned red (I can’t remember the brand) were all the rave to me.  I did not have my mother’s permission to wear makeup, so I would wait until I got to school and put makeup on.  Or, I would put on very little hoping she didn’t notice, but she always noticed.  At the age of fifteen I discovered my love for eyeshadow.  Over the years, my makeup collection has become a bit more widespread, and I now wear everything from foundation to illuminators.  My favorite brands include MAC, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent.  I have tried multiple brands of brushes, but I am partial to the brushes by MAC.  I (like so many of you) had not mastered the art of cleaning my brushes (without destroying them).  That was until I found this wonderful how-to article.  I tried the steps below using the product recommended, and needless to say my brushes are clean and still in tip-top shape.  I hope the article helps you as well.  Enjoy ~ xxxooo

makeup-brushes-1-e1365620189510Written and photographed by Erin Gerlach of The Sparkle

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1. Don’t be afraid to get your brushes wet. Start by running the bristles under a tap, ensuring they face downwards at all times during the cleaning process.

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2. Once the brush is damp, lather with clarifying shampoo, working the soap deep into the bristles with gentle circular motions. Reapply the shampoo until the water runs clean when squeezed out of the brush. We like Neutrogena’s Anti-Residue Shampoo ($5.59).

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3. Rinse the brush and squeeze out any excess water, shaping the brush into its natural form.

4. Lay the brushes flat to dry overnight. Laying them flat ensures water doesn’t leak into the handle of the brush, which can loosen the glue over time causing the brush to deteriorate and eventually break.

4. Lay the brushes flat to dry overnight. Laying them flat ensures water doesn’t leak into the handle of the brush, which can loosen the glue over time causing the brush to deteriorate and eventually break.

TJC: Video Inspiration ~ Halloween Faces By Pixiwoo

Everyone knows my obsession with the ladies of Pixiwoo. Here are a couple of Halloween face ideas for you! Enjoy! ~xxxooo

TJC: Video Inspiration ~ The Blonde Bombshell by Pixiwoo

“There was my name up in lights. I said, ‘God, somebody’s made a mistake.’ But there it was, in lights. And I sat there and said, ‘Remember, you’re not a star.’ Yet there it was up in lights.”  ~ Marilyn Monroe

In celebration of MAC’s new Marilyn Monroe collection, I have searched the Pixiwoo database for “Marilyn” make-up tutorials.  I hope you all enjoy! Have a FABULOUS weekend! ~xxxooo

TJC: “Visual” Inspiration ~ Lash Days

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Today I saw “MY” celebrity lash specialist, Courtney Maloy, for my two week fill. I was excited because I have been so in love with my lash extensions. When I arrived she already had ideas of alternate choices for my lash look. Yes, ladies there are options! Because I love color, we went with blue extensions and I’m ecstatic about them. When she suggested blue, I wasn’t sure of what to expect. But, even the blue looks very natural…with a tint of course. If you wear eyelashes (strips, etc.), contact Courtney with 13 Twenty VI! Once you get eyelash extensions, you will never wear strips again! I’m in love! ~ xxxooo

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TJC: The Guide ~ Wednesday With Pixiwoo

TJC: Beauty Spotlight ~ 10 Fast Easy Fixes For Common Beauty Problems

When I read the article below, I couldn’t help but laugh.  I’ve needed every tip here at one point or another.  I really hope it helps you as well.  Enjoy! ~ xxxooo

*The Gospel According To Glamour*

The Beauty Problem: You’ve Got Red Lipstick on Your Teeth.

Racy red lips are the epitome of sexy. That is, until you smile and realize that your lipstick has somehow migrated off your pout and onto your two front teeth. 1) Embarrassing! 2) Talk about sex appeal gone in an instant!

The Solution: As soon as lipstick’s applied, always press crimson-color lips onto a folded square of tissue to blot. Then stick your forefinger in your mouth and slowly pull it out to remove any lipstick that you may have mistakenly applied on the insides of your lips. For extra protection, swipe a super-thin coat of Vaseline across your top row of teeth; it’s far too slick for lipstick to adhere

The Beauty Problem: There’s Eyeshadow Fallout All Over Your Cheeks.

Dusting powder eyeshadow onto your lids after you’ve done your foundation can end up being a time-consuming mistake. Why? Chances are, a little excess will trickle down and settle onto your cheeks, and you’ll have to immediately touch up your face.

The Solution: When applying shadow, fold a single square of tissue and hold it underneath each eye. It will always catch any loose pigment fallout while protecting your freshly done foundation

The Beauty Problem: You Have Deodorant Marks on Your Clothes.

The last thing you want to see on your sexy LBD or favorite blouse is a tacky trail of chalky white streaks, and the last thing you want to do is head back to the drawing board to try to find something else to wear.

The Solution: Switch to an invisible solid formulation. But in the meantime, gently buff the affected area with a dryer sheet to remove the white residue. If you don’t have one handy, remove the garment and gently rub the white-marked area of the fabric together (against itself) to remove all traces. (Be sure to pat underneath your arms with a towel to get rid of the remaining excess residue before you put the garment back on!)

The Beauty Problem: Your Mascara Is Clumpy.

It’s OK to admit that you want to look like you were naturally blessed with Kardashian-like eyelashes, but know this: There’s a fine line between long, lush lashes and Tammy Faye Baker–ville.

The Solution: First, toss out your mascara—it’s probably far too old. Next, gently clamp your lashes with a baby wipe between your forefinger and thumb, and pull lashes all the way through to remove any excess formula. Then put a little Vaseline on your fingertips and lightly run them across the tips of your lashes to separate, darken, and define them.

The Beauty Problem: You’ve Put On Way Too Much Blush.

Perhaps you were bit heavy-handed with the rouge? You could wash your face and start from scratch, or you could completely throw caution to the wind and step outside looking like Bozo. For the record, we vote for neither.

The Solution: If it’s powder blush, liberally dust loose translucent powder over your cheeks to diffuse the color. If you’re wearing cream blush, tone it down by sponging an ever-so-slight amount of liquid foundation on top.

The Beauty Problem: You’ve Put On Too Much Perfume.

So maybe you were a tad overzealous when spritzing on your fragrance. It may not be a huge problem to you, except now everyone in a two-mile radius knows it. D’oh!

The Solution: To quickly tone down a heavy scent without showering, try one of these three tricks on the overly perfumed areas: 1) Cover up the smell by countering it with a fragrance-free lotion; 2) remove a layer or two with a baby wipe; or 3) neutralize it by dabbing your skin with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.

The Beauty Problem: Your Beautiful Bronzy (Fake) Tan Is Uneven.

Bronze here, pale there—le sigh! If you’ve committed the ultimate fake tan faux pas, it’s OK—practice makes perfect. (No one learned to master the art of evenly applied self-tanner on the first try anyway!)

The Solution: Keep liquid bronzer on standby to hide streaks and quickly distribute color to any areas you may have mistakenly missed. If it’s still too sheer, dust over it with bronzing body powder for a sexy, evenly tan finish.

The Beauty Problem: Your Flyaways Are Frizzy.

Your hairstyle is anything but sleek and chic when some of your strands flat-out refuse to unfrizz.

The Solution: As silly as this may sound, if fighting the frizz is a daily plight, you might want to keep a box of dryer sheets under your bathroom sink as well as in the laundry room. Rubbing one over your hair drastically reduces humidity-related static cling, allowing fussy strands to fall right into place. (Bonus: They make your hair smellahhhmazing, too!)

The Beauty Problem: You’ve Popped a Pimple.

Yes, they’re unsightly and annoying, but performing amateur plastic surgery on a mountainous pimple may cause it to become infected.

The Solution: To reduce swelling and inflammation, wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and use it to apply pressure against the zit for five to 10 minutes. Apply an antibiotic ointment to safeguard from infection, and follow with concealer to cover any remaining redness.

The Beauty Problem: Your Fingernails and Toenails Have an Icky Yellowish Tint.

While dark-color nail polish may be incredibly trendy, consistent wear can leave your natural nails looking like they’ve been permanently dyed a scary shade of sunflower. What now?

The Solution: To restore your nail beds to their natural nude hue, mix a few drops of fresh lemon juice with ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide in a plastic bowl. Completely saturate a few cotton balls in the mixture and rub your fingernails and toenails until the stain is removed. Moving forward, be sure to double up on your base coats!

Read More http://www.glamour.com/beauty/2012/07/10-fast-easy-fixes-for-common-beauty-problems#ixzz21jJi0a92

“The Make-Up Chronicles” ~ lawd make me ova

In addition to my “hair salon”, I also taught make-up “artistry” as a kid.  Nothing was professional about my classes, but I taught my friends the fundamentals of make-up.  Or, maybe I just taught them the “fun” of it!  I’ve always had an appreciation for colorful looks. Yellow, to me, represents joy, liveliness and radiance.  This look was pure fun and I definitely enjoyed playing with colors.  Hope you enjoy ~ xxxooo

Eyes: MAC Chrome Yellow

MAC SableLoreal HIP FlashyMAC Fluidline Gel Blacktrack

MAC Eye Pencil Ebony

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Cheeks: MAC Wonder Woman Amazon Princess

Lips: MAC Hug Me

“Wouldn’t Cha Know!” ~ beauty tips courtesy of essence

 

BEAUTY TIPS

Lipstick

DON’T THROW AWAY the last bit of lipstick in the tube.

Scoop it out and put it in a plastic case (like the travelsize ones found in drugstores), then mix with shea butter. Voilà! Tinted lip balm.

Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Soap

Flush Your Pores

“SPLASH YOUR FACE 20 times with lukewarm water mixed with the lather from your cleansing bar, followed by ten splashes of cool, clean running water. This helps soften the skin and flush out the pores.” — BEATRICE SIMMONS, ATLANTA Shown: Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Soap ($39, ernolaszlo.com).

mascara

In a rush?

Use a waterproof mascara; it dries faster than other formulas.

woman's face

APPLY CLEAR MASCARA over your brows before you tweeze.

The mascara makes it easier to grab one hair at a time and, therefore, be more precise.

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Wash Your Brushes

Wash your brushes and combs with a clarifying shampoo to quickly zap oils and product buildup, just as it does for your hair.

pillowcase

Change Your Pillowcases

“Change your pillowcases weekly so the oil from your hair doesn’t transfer to your face and cause breakouts. — EDRICA SCOTT, HEPHZIBAH, GA

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Stain Remover

SOAK DISCOLORED FINGER-NAILS in denture cleaner to lift stains left behind from dark-hued polish.

Suave Dry Shampoo Spray

NEED A HAIRDO REFRESH in between washes?

First spray hair with a dry shampoo; next, comb through hair with a blow-dryer (with comb attachment) on a warm setting. This rids your hair of product buildup and gets it a little straighter in the process. Shown: Suave Dry Shampoo Spray ($3, drugstores).

False eye lashes
Falsies

TO GET A BETTER GRIP when applying false eyelashes, let the glue set on them for 30 seconds. The glue will get a little tacky, which will make the false lashes easier to set in place on the lash line. Wet glue tends to slip and slide.

baking soda, sea salt and bath mix

DIY

“Make your own skin smoothing and softening bath soak with a mix of sea salt, dry milk and baking soda.”
– DIVINEANGELIC ROGERS VIA FACEBOOK

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 SPF 4

Protect Your Lips

LIP GLOSS IS LIKE AN OIL and attracts the sun, so don’t forget to put sunscreen on your lips first because they can burn easily. Plus, sun damage is one of the culprits behind lip discoloration. Shown: Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 SPF 4 ($7, kiehls.com).

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Nude Lips

TO CREATE OUR MOST NATURAL nude lip, before you apply a café au lait shade of gloss, put on a bit of concealer that matches your skin tone.

olive oil

Dry Skin

“To soothe dry skin or eczema, take a bath using cold-pressed castor oil and olive oil.” — ANDREA WEAVER, ATLANTA

For more beauty tips from Essence, click here.

 

 

“She Had Me At Ruby Woo” ~ a make-up tutorial

“Urban Decay Sale” ~ fifty percent off (or more)

If you love Urban Decay make-up, now is the time to buy! There are multiple items on sale for up to 50% off (or more)!  Click the pic below to indulge.  Enjoy ~ xxxooo…

New Sale Items!

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