The Ultimate Guide To Makeup Brushes & Tools

The Ultimate Guide To Makeup Brushes & Tools by Anna Hunter* is described as being 'Your essential guide to the tools, brushes and applicators that make ALL the difference'.  Anna Hunter is an award winning Makeup Maniac columnist for Get The Gloss and this guide is the first in a series of practical, download-and-keep guides and a must read!

The guide is broken down into three parts and throughout you will read about:

• The history of makeup brushes and makeup tools 
• The pros and cons of natural and synthetic brushes
• The tools and applicators that will revolutionise your beauty routine from start to finish
• The best methods, gadgets and products for brush cleaning
• The latest makeup brush and tool development and technology set to change the face of makeup artistry
• How to look after those brushes

The guide is a mere 44 pages long and is packed full of advice from top makeup artists such as Daniel Sandler, Kevyn Aucoin, Lee Pycroft, Justine Jenkins and Lou Dartford and is such a good read, I had devoured it within an hour, thoroughly enjoying a break from reading my usual gory blood curdling Crime Thrillers, to something a little more practical, educational and incredibly useful.

The book starts with some historical factors about makeup with a trip back to Ancient Egypt and the wings of Cleopatra's Eyeliner, to 17th Century Rouge and what use a Hares foot had for blusher or Squirrel Hair for makeup setting!.  I was fascinated by the history of make up brushes and the little unknown fact about a little town of Kumano in Japan, where an astonishing 15million brushes for some big brands such as RMK, Shiseido and Suqqu.  

The past I really enjoyed was the Tool and Brush Wardrobe which offered an in-depth analysis of brushes for concealer, your eyes, cheeks, lips, adding a base and eyeliner.  There is a brush or tool to suit every mood, need, technique, trend, face shape and perhaps most importantly, the ones which are right for you. I have now found some more brushes that I feel I need for my growing collection and some that I already have, but perhaps don't really need.

A chapter I think everything should read from this mini guide is called 'Coming Clean' and it is about looking after your brushes and tools and whilst cleaning them might not be exciting, it is one of those essential tasks. This chapter takes you through how to wash your brushes effectively and how you can do it using different products from shampoos, solid cleansers and even foams and brush conditioners.  How and why you should dry your brushes in a certain why and is there finally a way to use a face wipe without being vilified? Well you will have to read this guide for yourself.

You can purchase your copy of this guide here for just £4.95.

Makeup Revolution Pro Hygiene Sanitising Solid Brush Cleaner

When the Makeup Revolution Pro Hygiene Sanitising Solid Brush Cleaner popped through my letterbox I was intrigued to find whether or not something that cost £5 would be any good, remember I have mentioned on many occasions that this is not a brand to be judged by its prices.

Described as being the perfect on-the-go solution to instantly sanitise, cleanse and condition your make up brushes with no mess, little effort and something that is easy to use, I gave it a whirl.  Now I hate cleaning my make up brushes, it is boring, laborious and I always chastise myself for leaving it until I have barely none left, before having to clean them all.

In order to give this a try, I found one of my dirtiest brushes (yes I know, minging) and followed the instructions.  You simple wet the brush and gently place into the solid brush cleanser until it starts to foam, which it does after a few seconds, this then works to remove the residue, the swirl the brush into the palm of your (clean) hand and when you do this, all the gunk that has accumulated literally dissolves, running away into the sink.  Once this has been completed and you are happy, simply rinse with the brush and leave to dry.  Having used the solid balm, there is a little dirt left on the top from where I wiped by brush around it, but to remove that, you simply run it under water to keep the balm clean.

As you can see, this solid cleanser does an exceptional job at dissolving the make up from this brush and leaves it looking like new, the once white bristles that had turned orange are now white again and it works for every kind of brush you have from lip brushes to eyebrow brushes. 

For just £5 this is brilliant value for money and it is perfect for cleaning any brush and is the perfect on the go cleaning essential.

This post may contain PR Samples and/or Affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclaimer page.

Ole Henriksen Three Little Wonders Mini Gift Set

Ole Henriksen products are something I feel I should know more about than I do, until now having only ever used Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser and a sample of Truth Serum Collagen Booster from a beauty box, I was delighted to give the Ole Henriksen Three Little Wonders Mini Gift Set a try.

The Three Little Wonders Mini Gift Set contains three deluxe samples of products; a 9.76ml sample of the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster, a 7ml sample of the Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment and a 7ml sample of the Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation and all for just £18. What I love about this set is that the sizes are perfect for giving you a weeks worth of usage and in that time you can make your own mind up as to whether or not you wish to purchase a full sized version.

The Ole Henriksen – Truth Serum Collagen Booster contains five potent forms of vitamin C which work within the serum to correct dark spots, uneven skin tone and dullness to lighten and tighten the skin. It is also packed with powerful antioxidants and the serum is like a daily vitamin for your skin, boosting collagen production and keeping your skin nourished and protected. Add to that the Grapefruit and orange extracts purify the skin, green tea helps to protect, whilst rosehip extract strengthens and finally sodium hyaluronate binds moisture to the skin.

Packaged inside this tiny bottle, with a pump (yay) you only need to press it once for enough serum to cover the entirety of your face and neck.  It smells just absolutely delightful, quite citrusy with a hint of Rosehip and on the skin, it absorbs almost immediately.

The Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment is described as being an overnight nourishing cream which works to balance and brighten your skin while you sleep. It is infused with youth- enhancing ingredients to smooth the texture of your skin whilst fortifying the skin’s natural barrier. So with Alpha Hydroxy Complex being at the heart of the formula, they are enriched with what is described as being potent glycolic, lactic and fruit acids and they work to deeply penetrate your epidermis to encourage cell renewal and in doing so, they reveal much smoother skin. If that isn't enough, the Fruit Acid Complex, which is a concentrated cocktail of bilberry, sugar cane, sugar maple, orange and lemon all work to lightly exfoliate your skin’s surface, breaking down the bonds of dead skill cells and boosts the elasticity of the skin’s surface - all whilst you sleep!

The texture is quite a watery gel so you only need a small amount as it is a case of a little going a long way. One the skin there is no scent that really stands out but as it settles and then absorbs, I did feel a slight tingly sensation which quickly subsided leaving my skin feeling really hydrated and smooth to the touch.

The final item in this trio is The Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation and it is described as being a lightweight moisturiser that helps combat the effects of sun damage. The forumla is oil-free and is designed to help fade dark spots, freckles and other sun damage concerns as the cream instantly nourishes and evens the skin’s tone and texture. It uses what is referred to as an advanced blend of Actiwhite™ and liquorice which work to correct discolouration and also provide intense free radical protection to prevent further damage. Finally there is the inclusion of Fruit acids which work within the formula to re-texturise the skin, vitamin C to stimulate collagen production for additional anti-ageing benefits and finally, a dose of antioxidant vitamin E which ensures your skin is well nourished.

This is quite a rich moisturiser though incredibly lightweight on the skin. It works really well with my skin and I add it after using the Truth Serum. It does refresh the skin and instantly leaves the really hydrated and nourishing feeling.

So there you have a little trio of lotions and potions which work together to restore the youthful glow back to your complexion and it is currently on offer with Escentual for just £15.30!

Benefit Cosmetics #boldisbeautiful

On Sunday 8th May 2016 Benefit Cosmetics be taking to the streets of London to raise funds for the Bold is Beautiful project, while having a whole heap of fun! But there is a serious side to having fun of course. Throughout the whole of May Benefit will be raising funds for two great charities, Look Good Feel Better and Refuge and there are a few ways within which you can get involved.

Firstly, you can donate directly to either or both charities which are Look Good Feel Better and Refuge:

Look Good Feel Better is dedicated to improving the confidence and wellbeing of people undergoing treatment for any sort of cancer. They improve self-image and appearance through free skincare and make-up workshops and masterclasses along with online support to help regain a sense of control and improved self-esteem.

Refuge is committed to a world where domestic violence is not tolerated and where women and children can live in safety. They aim to empower women and children to rebuild their lives, free from violence and fear. They provide a range of life-saving and life-changing services and a voice for the voiceless.

Secondly, there is the March which I have mentioned and this is the route:

Start & End Point: Cavendish Square

Registration opens at 10am

March starts in two waves at 11am and 11.45am

The route is 4.5 miles long, so depending on your walking speed, it should take you between 1.5 to 3 hours to complete. There will be checkpoints along the route, featuring goodies, activities and photo opportunities galore.

Thirdly you can book a Brow Wax and 100% of the Brow Wax profits will go to these charities.  Or you can be on your look out for a High Brow Tea Event! Throughout May and June, the Bold is Beautiful Project will tour the UK with a pop-up 'High Brow Tea' (on wheels) in collaboration with Tea Pigs.  Guests are able to attend the event in pairs to experience a Tea for Two, with on board brow services to get those brows perfected!  Look out for further details from the Benebabes!

Are you going to join in?