Lipstick Lallygagging

We've all been there. You see a commercial of a beautiful model/actress/famous for something or other on your TV screen. They tell you, in their oh-so-reassuring voice, that this lipstick is the one and only. That there can only be one lipstick. And that you, too, can be as beautiful as them if you just purchase this magical product.

You assure yourself that this product would look so great on you, make your makeup look complete, and makeup all your cosmetic dreams come true. So, like so many of us, the next time you are at a drugstore you go to the store and purchase the $7.00-$10.00 lipstick you are convinced will be amazing beyone belief because as we all know finding that one great lipstick is like having a great pair of jeans---finishes your look without making you look like you tried too hard.

When you are driving home, with your new purchase in tow, you feel like:

And then you get home, open that plastic, protective sheath and it's like

And then you apply it to your lips, look in the mirror and you feel like

You realize you purchased the wrong color, the wrong texture, the wrong everything. It's a mixture of feelings when this happens really--disappointment, sadness, and then finally dejected acceptance. Then, you have to either go through the inconvenience of a return or waste your money on a whole pile of nothingness. And let's face it, it's the lattter option that usually wins out. What a bust!!!

So I wanted to compile a post of some lipsticks that not only work great for me, but that I think would be very successful on most skin tones. But, wait for it, there's MORE!!! These lipsticks....build up drama...building...building......ARE $1.00 OR LESS!!!!!

You heard me right, dear readers. You shouldn't expect anything less of Mary and I than to always try and save...you...money. If you're in the green, we're serving our means!

The first color that I want to talk about is:
BRAND: N.Y.C
SHADE: SHEER RED
PURCHASE LOCATION: WALMART
COST: 0.93
USES: DRAMATIC MAKEUP, RETRO MAKEUP, BOLD LOOKS, FORMAL PARTY MAKEUP,FALL MAKEUP
APPLICATION TIPS: SINCE COLOR TENDS TO BLEED A BIT, APPLY TO LINED LIPS WITH A LIP BRUSH, CRAFT BRUSH, OR SMALL CONCEALER BRUSH. RE-APPLY AS NEEDED.

ACTUAL LIPSTICK

SWATCHED

MODELED: LIPSTICK

SUMMARY: All-in-all this blue-tinted red lipstick goes wonderfully with fair skin. Yet, it's light enough that you can kind of build the color to your desired brightness for all skin tones. It's a really striking red and one I think would be universally flattering. I donned mine (pictured above) with Wet N' Wild Lipliner in "Berry Red" (BONUS: It's also less than $1.00) and just put a little NYC "Brighton Beach Peach" lipgloss in the center (which is totally optional p.s.) This would be the perfect red to keep in your purse around party season (i.e. Christmas, New Years, etc.)

The second color in the favorite lipsticks under $1.00 is:
BRAND: WET N WILD
SHADE: LIGHT BEIGE FROST
PLACE PURCHASED: WALGREENS
COST: 0.99
USES: EVERYDAY, PROFESSIONAL, SPRING/SUMMER, GIRLS NIGHT, DATE NIGHT
APPLICATION TIPS: COLOR BLEEDS JUST A TOUCH. APPLY TO LINED LIPS AND MAKE SURE TO APPLY GLOSS TO PREVENT DRYING.

ACTUAL LIPSTICK

SWATCHED

MODELED: LIPSTICK

SUMMARY: This light red, coral-esque color would be so pretty on almost every skintone! It's a light color that can build up to your desired intensity. This shade would be perfect for an everyday professional look, or bright summery and spring makeup looks. Put a little on for a sheer, small swipe of color. Add more if desiring a more formal look. For the look above, I lined lips with Rimmel lip pencil in "Tiramassu" (BONUS: This cost me $1.67 on sale at Walgreens--keep your eyes peeled for all their great sales.) Then I dotted a small bit of NYC brighton beach peach all over the lips.

And last but certainly not least on the lipstick countdown is:
BRAND: LA COLORS
SHADE: TWINKLE
PURCHASE LOCATION: DOLLAR TREE
COST: $1.00
USES: EVERYDAY, GIRLS NIGHT, DRAMATIC MAKEUP, MOD LOOKS, SIMPLIFIED MAKEUP, NEUTRAL WEAR
APPLICATION TIPS: Since this color is light in it's own right, apply it with heavy gloss for an everyday wear or with the attached gloss only in the center for more formal look. Do not need lip brush or liner for this lipstick.

ACTUAL LIPSTICK

SWATCHED ON HAND (TOP: LIPGLOSS BOTTOM:LIPSTICK)

That's right....it cones with a gloss! Another plus...it kind of smells like bubblegum.

 

 

MODELED: LIPSTICK AND LIGLOSS

SUMMARY: This awesome little lipstick comes with it's own corresponding lipgloss. It's a very light, neutral pink color that would certainly look good on almost every skin tone--especially paired with minimalistic makeup looks like the one sported above. Very cute color and could be used as either a lipstick or a gloss....and makes each, seperate item 0.50 EACH.

 

I really hope that you guys enjoy this post and find it helpful in your upcoming makeup adventures!!! Also, if you guys want help scouting other makeup products on the cheap please let me know as I'm always scouting for the next big save. We love requests :)

 

Until next time, legendary lipstick looks!!!

 

Eliz



 

 

 

 

Pinning = WINNING!

Hey lovelies!

Just wanted to share with you all that we have a Pinterest now! So if you're in the "pinning" world, go ahead and follow us to keep up to date with all the Budget Beauty Blog craziness!

Click here! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.


That is all. Keep checking back...ideas are a'cookin'!

Follow Us

Hey guys!!! Happy Friday!!! I hope that you are all gearing up for an awesome weekend!

As always, Mary and I appreciate you stopping by and visiting our fun blog! I recently realized that you have to be a follower of our page in order to post questions or comments, so I decided to post instructions as to how you guys could do that!

Take a gander at the instructions below and please don't hesistate to share your requests with us. We love fun comments and requests!

HOW TO FOLLOW US HERE:

1) Log into your personal, gmail account
2)Go to blogger.com
3)On the left-hand side click "add"
4)Copy copy and past address budgetbeautyblog.blogspot.com into URL box
5) Click okay when it says "follow"

That should do it!!!!

Again, thanks for stopping by and we look forward to hearing from you!

Fantastic Following,
Eliz

Mary's Favorites Under $5

Ooohhh my gosh, I made a video. 

And this is ONLY for Elizabeth, because I like her so much and she thinks that people need to be aware that there are, in fact, TWO members of the Brunette Duet. I would not torture you with my duck voiced awkwardness out of some misguided sense of self-importance.

Ugh. I could write for pages about a single eyeshadow, but if you put me in front of a camera, I'm like

Cue ALL the "Umm's!" 

Also, I'm going to work on rectifying the utterly CRAPTACULAR quality of this vid. The sound is terrible (maybe a good thing?), and the quality is just POOR. But it's my first go, so it can really only get better from here. 

Thanks for watching, and if you have any questions or requests, leave us a comment!

Smell that sea air!

Hi, BBB readers! I've just returned from a (very) brief beach holiday with my Mom (which was lovely, btw). Whilst there, I noticed that almost all the little shops and boutiques touted the same item over and over again. It fell under the "beauty and cosmetics" heading, so obviously my curiosity was IGNITED. Naturally, I had to try it. 

The product?

It was Inis, a unisex cologne/perfume that is manufactured in Ireland and is said to capture "the energy of the sea" (quick lesson: inis is Irish Gaelic for "island" and is pronounced "inn-ish" not "inn-iss" as we would Americanize it). I had to spray some of it, because I'm always looking for perfumes that transport me--that's probably my biggest requirement when looking for a scent. It has to remind me of something or somewhere, and I absolutely love anything tropical (my favorite go-to scent is coconut anything, often resulting in me smelling like suntan lotion...I REGRET NOTHING!). 

Inis is absolutely unique in my opinion. The opening is spicy, but not in an overwhelming way, and it quickly dries down to more "aquatic" notes, with this constant undercurrent of spicy-citrus flavors (neroli and bergamot, not sweetened lemons or oranges) and the sea (don't ask me how they bottled it, I think it's pretty darn magical!). The result is this mystifying, unusual combination of smells that would be ideal for either sex, and leaves a lingering impression of the ocean. 

It does not smell to me like "the beach." As aforementioned, the beach to me smells like coconut, maybe some citrus, and tropical flora. This perfume smells like the sea, the actual physical ocean. They somehow managed to capture the essence of sea water, with its changeability from serene one moment to tempestuous the next. This doesn't smell like the clear waters off the coast of the Islands. It's like the moodier waters of the Atlantic. It was conceived in Ireland, after all. They were working off the Irish sea, not what we here think of as pristine still waters with white sands. 

And the smell does transport me! It's like they captured what you smell like after spending a day in the salty sea air (only minus that sticky salt feeling and bad hair). I love love LOVE this smell, and will repurchase when I'm out. 

I'm not huge into "marine" smells, but this one is fantastic (and I think if I had a boyfriend, it would smell awesome on him too!). The lasting power is pretty good on me. By a couple of hours in, it's not very strong but every once in a while I'll get a whiff of it and it's like, "WHOA, what's that amazing fragrance? Oh yeah! It's ME!" It just smells very fresh and clean, and mildly like the ocean, so naturally, that's an A+ from Miss Mary! 

You can get it on Ebay for around $10-$20. I'd suggest getting a small bottle first to try and see if you like it as well as I do--perfume is so highly individualized. The only other place I've seen it physically carried is in Irish shops and at the Scottish Highland Games they have here in Winter Springs each year, so I think getting it online would be almost necessary. But for the price and the uniqueness of the smell, I think that's definitely worth it! 

-Mary

Vintage Vices at Vintage Prices

So in case you have been living under a rock for the past year....old hollywood glam looks are very, VERY much in demand right now. Take one small glance around the "hair and makeup" section of Pinterest (I know, I know...a gut-wrenching challenge for most of you ;) and you are sure to spot a pin up curl image or fifty. To add, you will most likely note the bright red lips and heavily defined eyebrows that denote old hollywood glamour of another generation (more specifically the 1940's and early 1950's.)

Here are a few, recent photos of celebraties sporting vintage makeup and hair to illustrate my point.

 

                         I personally also love the history behind this beautiful cosmetic culture.

 

You see, in the 1940's, many American women were still reeling from the throws of WWII. Many still had husbands, family members, etc. away serving the country. Therefore, during this time period, many women were called upon to backfill the necessary, factory positions that were left vacated  by the servicemen overseas.

 

Although materials were scarce during war-time, it seems that women of this generation took comfort in perfecting the "look" of the 1940's. In a sense, and understandably so, it made women feel good to still look and feel so ultra-feminine in a difficult time.

 

So, being incredibly innovative, the women of the 1940's found a few solid features to make the focal point of their makeup. To add, they picked hairstyles which could be duplicated with just three things: water, bobby pins, and TIME (lots of it...most women slept in their pin curls).

 

Here is an article that details this in a little bit more detail.

 

http://anniecouture.hubpages.com/hub/1940s-Hair-and-Makeup

 

I think it's fantastic that after all the advances made since the 1940's to society in general, women still view this "old hollywood glam" look as one of the most beautiful (and popular). People of notoriety still sport these simplified, vintage looks, to date, despite having every option of cosmetic at their very fingertips.

The only thing that makes me a little disappointed about all that is seeing so many articles out there that advertise/push "vintage" products for beaucoo bucks. I'm not saying a few staple pieces aren't sometimes fun to splurge on...but $78.00 for one red lipstick is a little much (as I literally saw advertised somewhere). Our sisters of the 1940's would be shocked at paying such prices!! :)

 

Thankfully, my amazing and beautiful sister-in-law volunteered so that I could experiment with pin up inspired, old hollywood makeup and hair. I will list for you guys some, of the many, cosmetic items I used in the corresponding looks that are chippity cheap cheap CHEAP and that still made a big impact once applied.

 

CASUAL LOOK

 

 

 

INEXPENSIVE PRODCUTS USED

 

*PRODUCT: REVLON COLORSTAY FOUNDATION SHADE:110 Ivory PRICE: $9.99

*PRODUCT: MILANI BAKED BLUSH SHADE: LUMINOSO  PRICE: $7.49

*PRODUCT: MAYBELLINE EYE QUAD SHADE: MOCHA MOTION PRICE: $4.99

*PRODUCT: WET N WILD MEGA LINER SHADE: 868 DARK BROWN PRICE: $2.99

*PRODUCT: AUSSIE MEGA SPRAY SHADE: N/A PRICE: $3.99

 

Oh yah..and if you're wondering about the cute little accessories she's sporting, I got the gloves at Goodwill for 0.53 and the hair clip at Dollar Tree.

 

VICTORY ROLL VIXEN

 

 

INEXPENSIVE PRODCUTS USED

 

*PRODUCT: WET N WILD BLUSH SHADE: PEARLESCENT PINK COST: $2.99

*PRODUCT:MAYBELLINE LASH STILLETO SHADE: BROWNISH BLACK COST:$3.99

*PRODUCT: LOREAL LIPSTICK SHADE: TRUE RED COST: $8.95

*PRODCUT: BELLA BOBYPINS SHADE: N/A COST: $1.00

 

As far as the accessories go on this one, I got the pearl bracelet again for $2.00 at Goodwill. Cute for anything :)

 

OLD HOLLYWOOD GLAM

 

 

 



 

 

 



 INEXPENSIVE PRODUCTS USED







 

PRODUCT: LA COLORS AUTOMATIC PENCIL SHADE: BLACKISH BROWN COST:$1.00

PRODUCT: WET N WILD H20 PROOF LINER SHADE: BLACK COST: $3.99

PRODUCT: NYC LIPSTICK SHADE: SHEER RED COST: 0.93

PRODUCT: GOT 2 B GUARDIAN ANGEL THERMAL SPRAY COST: $7.99

 

So there you have it!! I hope you can used a few of these products to get the look and follow the trend (or should I say ongoing fashion revival?!). If you guys have any questions about the products used or how I got the looks, leave me a comment below.

 

HOW TO ACHIEVE GLAMOUR WAVES

 

Hey guys! I had an awesome viewer request go learn how to achieve these waves. I hope you enjoy the video below? Any questions? Any further requests? Don't hesitate to ask!

 

 

 



 



 

 

Five Dollars or Less

Hey guys!!! I hope that you are all enjoying this beautiful Tuesday afternoon. This afternoon, I went scouring the local drugstore to see what I could find. I was kind of surprised that there werent that many deals at the one I visited, the prices were pretty high, AND there wasn't a clearance basket in sight.

It got me thinking about some recent purchases I've made, for five dollars or less, that I REALLY love. Remember, a common mistake to make when shopping for drugstore makeups is to think that quantity (pricetag) equals quality. I made this video for you guys going over quality and quantiy buys from the drugstore. Enjoy!!

Getting Comfortable with Wet N Wild Part II

Hey guys!!! So I could not wait to share my second "Comfort Zone" eye look for St. Patrick's Day. As you might recall, I used mostly the "green" side of the pallet for the last, traditional smokey eye video. However, I avoided the greenest color in the pallet for the eyelid.

Since it was St. Patty's day, I went all groovy green style and created this look below.

Whole St Pattys Day Look

Comfort Zone Look #2

 

The only other color I wore for this look was this guy. I got that eyeshadow for free (expect a post on how to get freebies soon) so I tossed it in.

 

 

 

Since this was such an occasional, dramatic eye wear look I decided not to do a video on how I got the look. But if you guys want to see it let me know and I'll be happy to show ya! I've been finding a few things I'm loving lately for $5.00 or less so I'll be posting that this week as well!!!!



Honey, we're foam! Exfoliating Sugar/Honey Mask

As previously mentioned, like one thousand and five times, I love makeup sooo much! I love the way it can make you look, how you feel when you wear it, and just how many amazing cosmetic products there are out there these days (although I'm sure my wallet disagrees ; ). I enjoy, so much, getting dolled up to go out on the town and making sure my "look" for the evening is just so.

However, ladies, I'm sure you can relate when I ask you: is there really any greater feeling than getting HOME from the aforementioned night on the town, washing off all that makeup, and donning your favorite ridiculously dorky looking PJ's?!

As much as I love wearing makeup, the act of taking it all off at just before bedtime can be just as enjoyable for me. If you read articles, from several well-versed authors, they highly recommend washing your face daily/nightly as one of the top beauty secrets out there. Check out the link below and skip right to "wash face" section. Also, if you have a few minutes, check out the warning against pricey products (woohoo ladies!!).

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/fashion/27SKIN.html?_r=0

 And, if you think about it, you really need great skin before you can even think about getting that flawless made up look. Just like an artist, think about perfecting your canvas before anything else. Baby that skin :)

I used to be the number one rule breaker of this sensible rule of thumb. In college, I'd inevitably arrive home at oh dark thirty, after a lonnngg night of who knows what, and crash in bed without doing a thing to cleanse my poor badly abused face. The results would end up with me in the morning looking something like this:

Gorgeous look no?!\

After about my Junior year in college, I finally wised up and realized that doing all that putting my face through all that mess made me break out...real bad. Enter another stupid move. Me going to the drug store buying the most expensive night creams/face washes/anything else that said the word "face" on it in a flawed attempt to remedy the breakouts. I think I once spent $35.00...at a drugstore...for like two products. Between myself and my hubs...for a couple weeks of nicely-washed faces, this was a pretty poor investment. Especially considering this was college...and most nights a "good meal" was ramen noodles.

 

Now that I have moved past all that nonsense, and into this phase of my life, I typically buy generic exfoliating scrubs for $3-$4. I love the price point there for 2-3 weeks. Also, I just feel like those exfoliating scrubs give my face a good washing.

Lately, though, I've been checking out the ingredients on the back of the label. It kinda weirds me out how much stuff is in some of those scrubs. As of recently, I've been super allergic to some ingredients in various facial products...so the idea of lathering on different formulas (whatever face wash was on sale that week) made me feel kinda anxious.                      

 

 

I decided, at that time, to get serious about looking for a face wash that I could make at home. This would help in two ways:

1) I would know what was in the stuff heaped on my face

2) It would save some cash

 

I tried a few items, but I wanted to write about my very favorite one!!! When I was a little girl, I could swear one of my (grandmothers? aunts? great cousins? I cant remember exactly) told me about the beauty treatment they had sworn by. They told me the face wash they used on a consistent basis was...wait for it.... a sugar scrub.

 

At the time, I remember thinking that was really silly. Like "sugar's for baking/cookies/pies/whatever other sugary crap I can eat all the time because I'm a kid! You are TOO much whoever awesome person you were." Umm yah. Then I grew up and realized old secrets are the BEST secrets.

 

 

 

Today I gave this recipe a shot because I had all the ingredients on hand. I thought, "why not?!" So I assembled my ingredients:

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_2319579_make-honey-sugar-facial-scrub.html

 

 

The recipe called for just honey and sugar

 

 

 

 

Then I basically took three TBS of honey and one TBS of sugar and mixed them together. It was SUPER thick. It almost took on the consistency of caramel. And, p.s., you really don't need that much. For future reference I will cut the recipe down to half.

 

 

I then applied it all willy-nilly style in circular motions on my face. It smelled absolutely scrumptious and made me really want a donut, but it did look absurd. Check it out!

 

 

 

The directions said to lie down for 25 or so minutes while you let it sit, but as the wise old sage Georgia Brown says 

One of my favorite quotes EVER!!!!

 

I have a problem sitting still so, while I did let the MASK sit, I did anything but. I washed dishes, pledged my coffee table, and put the mask supplies away and washed the bowl. I have to say....that mask was not going ANYWHERE. The honey was on...there...man.

 

Per the instructions, I took lukewarm water and scrubbed the mask off after about 25-30 minutes. I washed in circular motions for about 50 seconds and then patted dry with a towel. I then applied toner and moisturizer.

 

All I have to say after all this is: HOLY CRAAAAPP MY FACE FEELS INCREDIBLE!!! I mean, seriously you guys, it feels like I went to some expensive spa and a cool, trendy facial. My skin feels squeaky clean and bright. Seriously amazing and wwwwayyyyy/eeeeonnnss/liiigghhttyyeaarsss better than washing with the day to day exfoliating scrub. Also, my lips were chapped before and now they feel great.

 

 

 

I really think everybody should give this a shot and see what they think. I'm anxious to get some feedback about if your results were as wonderful as mine. This is definitely on my list of things to do for every two weeks.

 

Until next time, superior sugar scrub!!!

Eliz

 

P.S. I also have to take just a quick second to plug my partner Mary D. She and her mom make these soaps (which she gave me a sample of the other day...I know....coolest friend ever.) First of all, they are packaged so beautifully I just couldn't believe it. Also, they smell so unique and alluring, they just make you feel pampered and pretty. I've been washing my face for day-to-day use in the blue and white seabar and it leaves me smelling incredible. I actually catch delicious whiffs of it for a few minutes afterward and it's like: AHHHH. Not to mention, it leaves my skin delightfully soft and moisturized somehow. They are all natural and hand-made soaps. I put the link here for you guys to check out, as the bars are very affordable and awesome for the general consumer!!!

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SudsAndLather?ref=search_shop_redirect

 



"'Item two: rosy cheeks.' Obviously."

(This post is reposted from Mary's personal blog.)

If it's good enough for Jane and Michael Banks to put on their "requirements for a Nanny" list, then CLEARLY it must be important.

I'd like to review a product I just recently tried. It's Physician's Formula Happy Booster Blush, which I actually first read about on Nylon's blog.


So here's the deal: it supposedly has mood-boosting ingredients which, coupled with the cute color, makes you happy. Really? I mean, HAPPY MAKEUP?! I saw this and was like:

According to their site, it's made with plant extracts that supposedly mimic the effects of endorphins. Not sure I buy it. I mean, I've only worn it a couple of times, and I felt relatively cheery, but that could just be because I've been in a good mood lately.

Regardless of whether it makes me happy or not, I LOVE the packaging. It's super cute. The little heart designs in the actual blush are cute-- probably the thing that makes me happiest about it, haha! I got it as a V-Day gift to myself. PERFECT for Valentine's! The compact itself is red metallic, and underneath the blush is a "secret" compartment which holds the brush and a mirror. Really convenient.

It comes with your standard crappy little blush brush, but it's better quality than some. I still recommend getting a better blush brush for more even and accurate application (currently using one from Sonia Kashuk that I've had for ages...it's excellent!).

The one I got is the blush and the color is called "Rose." I was hesitant at first because it's a pretty bright, bordering on hot, pink. But on a recent trip to Sephora I tried Tarina Tarantino's blush in Carved Rose, which is a pretty hot pink, and it was surprisingly flattering. Just not to my wallet. Anyway, the nice thing about this palette is that you get a wider range of shades, and they all blend very nicely on the skin into a soft, rosy pink. It's pretty.

They say it smells like violet. There's definitely a *hint* of scent, but I was super worried it would be overpowering. It's not. It's barely noticeable, which is perfect.

Overall, I REALLY like it. I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say it's universally flattering, but it works really well even with my super fair coloring. It's adorbs to look at, so if you're curious I would say give it a go. It runs for about $10, but I got mine with a $3 off coupon at CVS. Definitely worth it and would make a SUPER cute Valentine's Day gift for someone you know or YOURSELF!

ETA: It's been a couple years since I wrote this post, and I still recommend this blush if you're looking for a great drugstore deal (I was recently gifted a "higher end" blush and am using that up, at present)! I wore this blush every day for about a year, and still love the color payoff and how rosy it looked. I did not, however, notice it making me any happier in a clinical way (though it made me happy every time I looked at it...so cute!). I still recommend it, though!

Cosmetic Cleaning....on the Cheap

I HEART makeup.

Now when I say I love makeup and cosmetology...some of you may be thinking my love is like this.

But, dear readers, you'd be wrong to assume that. The love I feel for makeup is above and beyond what is normal for any human being. When I walk into any makeup store...any store at all...I instantly feel like

And then I have to tear myself away pretty quickly. Not leaving the store in a sufficient amount of time could easily result in:

I don't even want to calculate MENTALLY what I've probably spent on makeup and hair crap throughout the years because in a word....it's depressing. I especially love my makeup brushes which have lasted me FOREVER!!!

The only real qualm I have with my brushes is how friggin dirty they have gotten over time. I mean...it's pretty gross. I attempted to use those spray makeup cleaners, water, and even those expensive wipes and NOTHING came even close to restoring my beautiful brushes to their former glory.

This is when I came up with a brilliant plan to find a DIY makeup brush cleaner. I scoured opened  a few windows in the internets for hours minutes on end looking for the perfect solution. And then, dear readers, I saw what I had been ferverently nonchalantly looking for.

I located a brilliant DIY makeup brush cleaner idea. The recipe called for just two simple ingrdients: white vinegar and dish soap. Most of us probably have those two items lying around anywho. So I decided to give it a whirl!

I just added a tablespoon of dish soap and vinegar to the cup of warm water as instructed. It kind of came out cloudy looking like this:

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

<i>Yes that is one of my engagement photos on my glass. I know, I know....I'm awesome ;)</i>

Then I basically just began dipping my brushes in one by one---giving them a slight push towards the bottom of the glass. I swirled each brush for about five seconds, then removed it from the water, reshaped it, and laid it on a towel to dry.

<i>You could literally see the old makeup residue coming off in the water as depicted above!!!</i>

If you arent already fully convinced that this technique is not only inexpensive but HIGHLY efficient, here is further proof on one of my favorite MAC brushes.

<b>BEFORE</b>

<b>AFTER</b>
Aye carumba!!!!! I'll definitely be using this method monthly to clean my brushes!!!! Does it leave your brushes smelling like vinegar? Eh....maybe a little...but nothing you couldn't get past and just LOOK at how clean they are!!!!!!! Not to mention, it's nothing that I can post for proof, but holy guacamole....the brushes feel like HEAVEN!! I used a dish soap that is intended to be soft on hands and I soooo recommend it for those of you trying this tutorial. You can pick up a small bottle at the dollar tree and my brushes now feel even better than new!!!!

Take it from me and give this method a try this weekend :) You won't be sorry you did!!!!
Until next time, marveleous makeup cleaning!!!
Eliz