Beauty Makeover

Maybe you don’t need a makeover, but your beauty tools probably do. Put your best brush forward with this good grooming guide that will keep you and everything in your makeup bag looking immaculate.
 

Low Maintenance Cleaning
Keep it simple by cleaning everything at one time, in one solution. Hair appliances, brushes, combs and makeup brushes can all be cleaned with a sink full of warm water, a teaspoon of baking soda and a squeeze of anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid. The baking soda will do double duty, softening your hands while freshening your beauty tools.

Start by gathering an old toothbrush, cotton swabs, cotton balls, a nail brush and some clean, dry towels. Wash each item separately, refilling the sink before starting on the next item. Rinse all items thoroughly in cold water and dry in the sunlight to prevent mold. Be careful when cleaning appliances – make sure they’re unplugged and cool to the touch. Never immerse in water.

Blow dryers. Dryers overheat and burn your hair when they become clogged with hair or lint. To prevent this from happening, clean the vents at the end of the dryer with a dry infant toothbrush or a cotton swab. Use a keyboard vacuum or a can of compressed air to remove dirt from inside. Wipe down the casing with a damp cloth and let dry thoroughly before use.

Hot rollers. Remove rollers from the heating unit and let them soak a few minutes in the detergent solution, before scrubbing with a nail brush. Rinse in cold water and lay them on a towel to dry. To clean steam curlers, carefully slide the foam covering off of each curler and wash gently. Rinse in cold water, then blot excess water with a towel and place on a fresh towel to dry.

Curling iron. Dip a cotton ball in the detergent solution and run it up and down the curling iron’s metal shaft. Repeat with fresh cotton balls until all buildup is removed. Dry with a clean towel.

Hair brush and comb. Remove hair from brushes by running a wide-tooth comb through the bristles. Soak brushes and combs in hot detergent water for 5 minutes, then scrub with a nail brush. Rinse in cold water and dry on a towel.

Makeup brushes. Bristles are hiding places for dirt and bacteria, which can lead to skin irritations and breakouts. Working one brush at a time, dip the bristles in the soapy water and gently lather with your fingers. Rinse bristles under running water. Wash again and rinse until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze the bristles with a towel, smooth into place, then dry flat.

Stowing with Style
The best-kept beauty secret – creative catchalls keep essentials close, but organized.

• Hang a plastic spice rack inside your bathroom cabinet to hold makeup bottles.
• Stash brushes and combs in pretty glass tumblers or vases.
• Keep makeup must-haves – products that you know work and you wear everyday – in a carry basket by the sink. When you’re rushed, everything you need is in one place.
• Use wipe-clean acrylic canisters to hold cotton balls and Q-Tips®, while hair accessories, scissors, bobby pins, safety pins and other everyday essentials stay tidy in acrylic trays.