Coming clean...

Let's face it, washing makeup brushes is no fun. It's time consuming, messy, and my hands always end up looking like a prune. 

My brushes never seem to get completely clean no matter what I use. Especially my foundation brushes. I can get the tips clean, but never all the way to the top of the bristles, closest to the ferrule. 

Recently I watched a YouTube video by GlowofGrace in which she used Dr. Bronner's bar soap to clean her brushes. The method was simple enough, I decided to try it for myself. Like Rachel (GlowofGrace) I purchased the tea tree oil formula. I figured the anti microbial properties of the tee tree oil were better for my brushes. Gotta get those things clean AND sanitized.

Here is my dirty foundation brush before I washed it:

I started by wetting it under warm running water. 

I gave it one pass over the bar of soap and rinsed it once. I could already tell that this was going to be amazing. 

I re-wet the brush and swirled it over the soap and in my palm a little more:

(I put the bar in a travel soap dish to make life easier)

I rinsed and repeated a few more times to make sure I got all of the foundation out of my brush. This whole process took less than 3 minutes. That is the fastest I have ever washed a foundation brush. And it is CLEAN! 

I will never go back to brush cleanser or baby shampoo. This is by far the cleanest that my brushes have ever looked. I am actually looking forward to cleaning all of them because it's so easy. It doesn't feel like a huge chore anymore.

Target had Dr. Bronner's soap for around $5.00 a bar. My Target didn't have the tea tree formula. A friend of mine found it at a local health food store, and it was under $4.00! Score!

Top 13 of 2013...

Now that 2014 is in full swing, I thought it would be fun to look back on my favorite beauty and makeup products from 2013. Minus 1 or 2 products, most on this list were new things that I tried (and LOVED) for the first time in 2013.

In no particular order ;)

1. Batiste- dry shampoo in the blush scent- I've never tried any other scents, but I love the fresh, florally smell of this one. This dry shampoo beats all the high-end ones I have tried. $7.99 on Drugstore.com with a BOGO 50% off.
http://www.drugstore.com/batiste-dry-shampoo-blush/qxp480186?catid=183495


2. It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Product- I cannot say enough about the way this makes my hair feel. I spray it in before I blow-dry and it leaves my hair so soft. Definitely worth the hype and the higher price tag. I've purchased this at Walgreens, and Ulta. It's also carried at most salons.
http://www.drugstore.com/its-a-10-miracle-leave-in-product/qxp225941?catid=183472

3. NARS Smudge proof Eye Shadow Base- The only eye primer (high and low end) that keeps my eyeshadow from creasing. I have gone through a few tubes of this over the past year and I'll keep repurchasing as long as they keep making it. $24 at Sephora
http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=NARS%20Smudge%20Proof%20Eyeshadow%20Base%20P261211&skuId=1236843&productId=P261211&_requestid=182816

4. Clinique Bottom Lash mascara- I picked this up almost a year ago, on a complete whim. I love using mascara on my bottom lashes, but it always ends up traveling onto my face, making me look like a racoon. This mascara DOES NOT travel. Ever! The little bitty wand is great for the bottom lashes, also. $10 at Sephora
http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=CLINIQUE%20Bottom%20Lash%20Mascara%20P279510&skuId=1305358&productId=P279510&_requestid=183062

5. EM Lash Gallery Dramatic Volume Waterproof Mascara- Phew! That's a mouthfull! I will admit, I am a mascara junkie. It's not that I need a lot of mascaras. It's just that I have trouble finding one that makes my lashes look AH-MAZING. Well this one does it. This is the first mascara that holds my curl. And holds it all day! This was actually in an Ipsy Glam Bag from a few months back. As soon as I'm out, I will definitely grab a second tube. $20 at EM Cosmetics
http://www.emcosmetics.com/lash-gallery-dramatic-volume-waterproof-mascara/DW-DRAMMASCWTPF.html?dwvar_DW-DRAMMASCWTPF_color=S1155600


6. Lancome Le Curler- Speaking of curly eyelashes, enter holy grail eyelash curler! I picked up this curler while visiting my mom out of town. I forgot my curler at home and decided to try this one. For the first time ever, I can curl my lashes before my mascara and they stay curled! Pair that with the EM mascara I just raved about, and I have an eyelash winning combination! $23 at Sephora
http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=le%20curler&skuId=1399690&productId=P310620&_requestid=183788

7. Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation- This wasn't a new discovery for me in 2013. However, I keep trying new foundations, in hopes of finding the next best thing, and I always come back to this one. I love the full coverage. It doesn't make my skin oilier or drier. It's just a great foundation. And compared to other department store foundations, it's actually well priced. $27 from Mac Cosmetics
http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/158/1231/Products/Face/Foundation/Studio-Fix-Fluid-SPF-15/index.tmpl

8. MAKE UP FOREVER HD Microfinish Powder- I love the matte finish this gives me on top of my foundation. I honestly think it prolongs the wear time of my foundation. It's a great setting powder and doesn't give that white reflection when photographed.  I'm working on a sample from Sephora right now, but as soon as that's done and gone, I will snatch up the full-sized jar. $19-$34 from Sephora.
http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=MAKE%20UP%20FOR%20EVER%20HD%20Microfinish%20Powder%20P210400&skuId=1510247&productId=P210400&_requestid=184168

9. Soap & Glory Handfood Hand Cream- This hand cream smells amazing, and leaves my hands so soft. I have bought so many of the small tubes that I think I finally need to get the large size. I keep this in my desk at work. It really helps with all the hand-washing I have to do throughout the day.
$5-$12 at Sephora
 http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=SOAP%20%26%20GLORY%20Hand%20Food%E2%84%A2%20Hand%20Cream%20P294731&skuId=1368711&productId=P294731&_requestid=184389

10. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hr Skin Protectant- Also something I first encountered via a sample. They know how to get you! I do not like the scented version of this moisturizer, I prefer the un-scented. I'm glad there's an option. This is a very thick, petroleum based balm. I love this as an overnight moisturizer. It works amazing on dry heels, lips, and cuticles. $19.50 at Macy's
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/elizabeth-arden-eight-hour-cream-skin-protectant-fragrance-free-17-oz?ID=642889&CategoryID=30078#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D4%26kws%3Delizabeth%20arden%20skin%20protectant%26slotId%3D2

11. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush- This brush is the best, and most affordable foundation brush I have ever used. It buffs and blends foundation perfectly. $8.99 at Ulta, although they often do BOGO 50% off their brushes
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4260015

12. NARS Lovejoy Blush- NARS blushes are extremely long wearing. Lovejoy is a perfect bronzey-rose that I love to throw on when I don't know which blush to wear. It goes with everything. $29 at Sephora
http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=nars%20lovejoy&skuId=696062&productId=P2855&_requestid=185757


13. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes- I own about 10 of these blushes and I just cannot get enough! I love every color from this line. They have mattes, shimmers, and full on glitters. These blushes are so pigmented, a little goes a long way. It's a secret goal of mine to own every color they make ;)
$26 at Sephora, often on the Tarte website for 20% off.
http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?keyword=TARTE%20Amazonian%20Clay%2012-Hour%20Blush%20P278610&skuId=1306844&productId=P278610&_requestid=185941

I cannot wait to see what beauty products I fall in love with in 2014. I already have my eye on a few new goodies that I can't wait to get my hands on.

Happy 2014!