Showing posts with label Sigma Beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sigma Beauty. Show all posts

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Keeping your Makeup Brushes clean

Ola beauty lovers! Today's discussion is going to be make up brushes, and how to keep them clean. Now I know that make up brushes can be expensive. So you want to make sure you take care of them so they last a life time. God knows that ain't no girl got money to blow on make up brushes every couple months to replace a good set that you have already spend money on, and used to the ground.

Now there are plenty of different make up brush brands you can choose from when you purchase yours. Me personally, I have a wide range of brands. Sigma Beauty Brushes, Elf Brushes, MAC Brushes, Real Techniques Brushes, Sephora Brushes, Sedona Lace Brushes, Urban Decay Brushes, Quo Brushes etc. As you can tell I have a wide range of different brands. All their prices range from less expensive brands and expensive brands.

No I did not get all these brushes at one time. Yes I purchased these brushes with my own dollar bills. These brushes are my collection of brushes over the years of doing makeup on myself and we are taking like as of Grade 8. Makeup brushes are like an investment. Sure you buy makeup and you use it and once you finish the product you toss the package and move on, BUT Makeup Brushes, if they are taken care of properly are with you for LIFE. So I want to take care of my investment so that I don't have to keep replacing my investment. Make sense? Well to me it does.

Moving on, there are two different ways to clean your brushes. If you daily need to clean your brushes because you use a whole bunch of different shadow colors or pigments then you would need to do what is called a "Spot clean". That is just a quick disinfectant to remove any surface bacteria and color on the brush if you plan on dipping it into another product when you are applying a face of makeup. I have two options in spot cleaning. The first is the more expensive root, and that would be purchasing the MAC Makeup Brush Cleanser, pour some into a little spray bottle, and spot clean by spraying the solution on your brush and wiping the brush back on forth on a Kleenex or towel. The second option is least expensive, take a small spray bottle, pour distilled water and a few drops of tea tree oil in the water. Close the top, shake well and spray, there you have a cheap BUT effective solution to spot clean your brushes.

The last cleaning type is called "Deep Clean". If you are a makeup artist and use your brushes regularly on clients then a deep clean for your brushes is a must after you use them on each client. If you only do makeup on your self then I suggest a deep clean of your brushes between once a week, to every other week, or once a month. My skin is very acne prone, so I try to deep clean mine once a week. If your skin is not as sensitive or acne prone you could wait longer if needed. Deep cleaning your brushes is when you take these suckers to the sink and use a deep cleanser for brushes or shampoo (regular or baby shampoo), or gentile dish soap. There are so many expensive deep cleansing brush soaps that are probably great, but realistically not everyone has the money to blow on stupid things like makeup brush cleaners when you have other important expenses. Therefore, the least expensive way to deep clean your brushes would be taking shampoo/dish soap or hand soap that is already in your house and rinse the brushes under water then swirl them around in the soap in a bowl making sure that soap gets deep into those bristles to kill any germs or bacteria and wash out any of the left over make up in between the bristles. Once its swirled around, rinse the brushes thoroughly and re shape them with your fingers, and lay out to air dry. If you find that your shampoo is to drying on the bristles mix in some conditioner in your soap solution and there you have a cleanser and conditioner for those brushes.

I know you are thinking girl I ain't got time for this, but listen to me, if you don't make time for this, your are going to be putting on your makeup with the most disgusting bacteria filled brushes that you will begin to break out, or your skin will look horrible when you apply your make up on if you don't cleanse your brushes.

It ain't pretty when you buy that expensive NARS Laguna bronzer and you go apply it with a bacteria filled brush. NASTY. I can't stress enough to make sure you clean your brushes!

That is as simple as it gets. Below I have included some photos on the products I use to clean my brushes.



Go checkout my YouTube Channel:  http://www.youtube.com/user/MacGirl25Antonietta 
Connect with me:
Pinterest:  AntoniettaNacc
Luvocracy:  Antonietta Nacc
Twitter:  AntoniettaNacc
Instagram:  AntoniettaNacc
Business Inquires Only: MacGirl25Antonietta@yahoo.ca


Until next time beauty lovers! xo
MacGirl25

Mac Brush Cleanser


















Mini Spray Bottle



Shampoo


















Dish Soap


Hand Soap














A quick glance at my brush collection




Saturday, March 1, 2014

Saturday Favorites March 1, 2014

 

Ola beauty lovers! Here is a video of my weekly favorites for this past week :) Enjoy!



Go checkout my YouTube Channel for more videos:  http://www.youtube.com/user/MacGirl25Antonietta 
Connect with me:
Pinterest:  AntoniettaNacc
Luvocracy:  Antonietta Nacc
Twitter:  AntoniettaNacc
Instagram:  AntoniettaNacc
Business Inquires Only: MacGirl25Antonietta@yahoo.ca

Until next time beauty lovers <3 
 MacGirl25 

Thursday, January 30, 2014

January Beauty Favorites 2014

Ola beauty lovers. I can not believe another month has gone by. It seems like just yesterday I was back to work from the Christmas Holidays. So today we are talking about favorites of the month. just to warn you if  you are interested in seeing swatches then please make sure you visit my YouTube Channel MacGirl25Antonietta.

1. Wet 'n Wild Eyeshadow Palettes- "Comfort Zone" & "Sweet as Candy"
- Love these palettes. They are great for every day use. The pigmentation is great. A tiny bit powdery but they are still easy to blend with. Very affordable less then $5 at the drug store.


 2. Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser
- Everyone and  their mother has this new face primer from the drug store. I was really impressed by this primer. It does the job to eliminate un-wanted oils throughout the day. Affordable drug store price (around $8) and a little goes a long way. This product is very silicone based I find, but when you apply it to your skin, it makes your skin feel like silk. This is a great alternative to the Benefit Porefessional and is a fraction of the price of Benefits product.



3. Sigma Beauty Eyeshadow Base in Persuade
- I have been using this all month long. This is a great dupe for the MAC's Painterly Paint pot. It is a great pinky toned base you can use under shadow or on its own. I have been using this on its own with some eyeliner and mascara, then I pop on a bold/bright lip and out the door I go. These bases do not crease, they do not move which is a bonus. I got mine on line at SigmaBeauty.com.



4. Rain Cosmetics Eyeliner: Bangin' Baby Brown
- Shopped my collection and found this gorgeous chocolate brown eyeliner in my drawer. I purchased this puppy off Hautelook a while back. So I decided to use it the last few weeks and have been loving it! The liner is so rich and creamy. Easy to apply and work with. The only downfall is that it is not waterproof. BUT if you can get past that, it's a great product. I don't remember how much I paid but Hautelook always has flash sales at discounted prices so I know it wasn't full price.


5. Lip combo of the month: MAC Lipstick in Sushi Kiss & Nyx Cosmetics Xtreme Lip cream in Nude Peach Fuzz
- Been loving this combo all month long. It gives my lips the most amazing nude peach lip. The extreme lip cream goes on last because it has a lasting power to it so the product will last longer on your lips even when drinking or eating! Go check out my instragram for photos @AntoniettaNacc





6. MAC Lip gloss in Love Child
- Been also wearing this gloss on its own for those days I just want something quick on the lips. I am almost finished this tube so I am working on getting it empty for my back to MAC products. It is a great mauve purple shade perfect for the winter cold months. Very pigmented and not over sticky.


7. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
- Here is another eyeshadow/base I have been loving this month. Affordable, pigmented, lasts all day with no creasing. Just great if you don't have time to play with a palette. This is the best thing to get up and go. You can find these at your local drug stores.


8. LUSH Mask of Magnaminty
- LOVE LOVE LOVE this mask. This is my holy grail mask. I tell you, if you read my Clarisonic Diaries entries you will know this mask has changed my life for the good. All natural ingredients, has peppermint, kaolin, and adzuki beans for exfoliating. This stuff seriously made my break outs shrink in a matter of using it twice in a week. Will always repurchase this bad boy. The small jar goes for $12 and the bigger jar is $24. Personally these are the more affordable prices compared to Glam glow at $70! Believe me Lush Mask of Magnaminty is worth the try, if you don't have this then GO GET IT WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR WOMAN/MAN!


9. Estee Lauder Sparkling clean oil control foaming cleanser
- Got this baby at one of the MAC Sales I went to last year. Really been loving this stuff. Makes my skin feel squeaky clean and really helps control my oils. It is pricey regular price $50plus but I scored mine for $20 at the sale which was great. If I ever go again I will pick some more up. I will never pay full price for this, if I need to I can use drug store cleansers there are a few I enjoy from the drug store as well.



10. Tim Hortons Blueberry White Tea
- My ultimate favorite tea. Tim Hortons discontinued this tea for a while and now they brought it back which made my month. Been drinking this tea all month long. Love it!



 Well everyone that was my monthly favorites for January, I hope you all enjoyed. For swatches please go check out my YouTube Channel MacGril25Antonietta. Thanks for coming back and reading my posts!

Instagram: @AntoniettaNacc
Twitter: @AntoniettaNacc

Until Next time Beauty Lovers!
MacGirl25
xoxo






















Saturday, December 28, 2013

December Beauty Favorites 2013

Ola beauty lovers. I just can not believe it is the end of 2013 already. My has the time gone by quick. I remember just starting out this blog in May and thought we have plenty of time till the end of the year.
But that time has crept up on us fast. Today I am going to talk about my monthly favorites. Now a lot of you may ask "What about your yearly favorites?" since we are at the end of the year, and I plan on doing a yearly favorites next week some time, I just need a minute to get together my favorites of the year. So today will be my monthly favorites. I don't know about you all but I just love these types of posts or videos because they tell me what that person enjoys using daily to monthly. Let's just jump right in.

1. California Mango Nail Cuticle Oil
- Every winter my cuticles get to the point where I am afraid to leave my house looking like a crusty handed girl. No lie, so every time I give myself a manicure (every 3 days or so) I drench my nails and cuticles with this oil to ensure the moisture is put back into my nails and cuticles to prevent cracking, peeling, splits, breakage and all that jazz you ladies know about when it comes to natural nails. I have a refillable mango cuticle bottle to put in this little jar so this is my go to cuticle oil. Very affordable at Sally's. You can really use any cuticle oil you have at your finger tips, and if you don't want to go out and buy it, then just stick some olive oil in a little reusable cuticle bottle and use it that way. Very cheap and at your finger tips :) Love you girls!


2. Mango Vera Hand & Body Lotion: Professional size
- Again every winter my skin just gets so dry that I get dry rashes because my skin gets overly dry. So this huge bottle of body lotion has been my go to for months, but especially this month since this month is when it got really cold in Canada. This lotion smells like mango with a hint of Aloe Vera. Very affordable under $10 at Sally's and lasts a long time. I have had this bottle for about a year and use it every day. Doesn't leave your skin greasy and that is why I enjoy it so much!





3. L'Oreal Youth Code Eye cream
- Got this eye cream months back at Wal-Mart for under $10 and it has lasted me so long, I am trying to finish it, I enjoy it a lot as a drug store under eye cream. Doesn't leave your skin greasy, and works great when you apply it before your makeup/concealer. I have dry under eyes so this stuff helps out with moisturizing.




4. Lancome Multi Vital Face Cream (Deluxe Sample size)
- I have so many face creams to get through, and so far out of the ones I have tried, I really enjoy this Lancome one. The amount of moisture built into this cream is phenomenal. This has SPF 30 which is an added bonus, and when I apply it before my foundation, it applies smoothly and doesn't leave behind any greasiness. Love this cream this winter. I can imagine the regular tub is expensive so I will hold off buying it until I finish the rest of my creams. #Beautyloverproblems




5. Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy Perfume
- Been a fan of Britney Spears since I was 9. Don't judge lol anyways, loved her perfumes as well. Midnight Fantasy is a great perfume for those who do not like the strong scents out there. This perfume you can spray on a few times and the strength will not increase from when you apply only one spray. Very subtle and smells soft. This perfume has been my go to all month long, I have been enjoying it. You can get these perfumes at your drug store.



6. Maybelline Color Tattoo in "Bad to the Bronze"
- These are great alternatives to the MAC paint pots in you don't want to go spend a lot of money on the MAC paint pots. I have a few colors in my collection but this month I have been using the Bad to the Bronze shade. Love this color for all over the eye lid by it self with nothing else. Simple and classic especially for those days you are rushing out the door. These color tattoo's go for $7-$9 depending on where you get them. Love these baby's. Word on the street is that there are limited edition ones that are matte and are the same color as your skin tones but I haven't been able to find them. But nonetheless these are great.




7. Sigma Eyeshadow Base in "Persuade"
- Another lazy route I have been going is applying a shadow base and some liner with mascara and out the door I go. When I do that I have been going to my Sigma shadow base in Persuade. Love this pink flesh tone. It just makes your look so much more crisp and simple. Love it. I think these bases go for around $10 give or take a few bucks. The staying power of this base is long lasting and keeps the look fresh throughout the day. Love it. This is also another dupe for Macs Painterly paint pot.



8. Clinique Intense Chubby Stick Lip Balms
- Now these balms I have done a more detail review a few weeks ago. But I just love, love, love these sticks. They are so pigmented, moisturizing, and they don't chap my lips like matte lipsticks do in the dead cold of winter. Love these, I now have six shades, I got a few from Christmas :)




9. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
- For those days when I use shadows, my go to palette this month has been the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I received it in the mail at the end of November and I did not put it down once this month. I also did a more detailed review on this palette, so go check out my previous posts! Anyway, love this palette, love the rose gold theme, and I love how its a more subtle palette that I can work with for work on an everyday basis.




10. Clarisonic Mia
- I have had this baby for two months now and I have been using religiously since it arrived. Love this thing to exfoliate and polish my skin. The amount of dirt it removes that I didn't see it before is mouth dropping. I don't know what I would do without this baby now. It is expensive, but it is so worth it in the long run. I have the Clarisonic Diaries posts to tell you my journey with this baby but I must warn you, it is a love hate relationship. Go check out my posts and you will see why!
http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/2013/12/clarisonic-diaries-dec-6th-2013.html
http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the-clarisonic-diaries-nov-23-2013.html
http://macgirl25.blogspot.ca/search?q=clarisonic+diaries 





11. TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Protection
- This is one of the most well known products over YouTube. This is my heat protect-ant I use every time I flatiron my hair. Love this stuff. Doesn't leave your hair greasy. Keeps your hair soft and silky and is VERY affordable, about $5. Love this stuff so much that I have a back up of it. Yup I am not ashamed.



12. Biosilk Silk Therapy Serum (Sample Size)
- Got this as a sample at the Toronto Hair Show and I have been using it since March and its been lasting me ages. Love it! It makes my hair feel so silky and soft after I blow dry it. It makes me want to caress my hair all day. I definitely notice a difference when I don't use it and that should tell you something! I am not sure what a regular size bottle would cost, but if you can get your hands on the sample size it should last you a while. Love it, been using it all month long.


Well ladies and gents, that is all of my favorites for this month. Hope you enjoyed, and I wish all of my fellow readers a Happy and Safe New Years! Don't forget, if you are drinking, DON'T DRIVE!

P.s. Don't  forget to check out my YouTube Channel: MacGril25Antonietta

Until next time beauty lovers <3
MacGirl25


Thursday, June 27, 2013

Sigma Synthetic Kabuki Kit 5 Brushes

I know I am a MAC Cosmetic lover. But there are certain things that I just can't bring myself to spending that much money on. For example, MAC Make Up Brushes are great! Don't get me wrong, I have maybe at the most 3 or 4 of  their eye brushes. But as a staple I just can't afford all of their face brushes when they go for $30 a pop. So I went on a limb and purchased my very own set of Sigma Face Brushes from their web site.

These brushes are very affordable. Individually they range between $8 - $16 each. In a set of 5 face brush set you are paying about $76 plus tax. Which is cheaper then spending $16 each on them or in a MAC world $30+. Not to mention the Sigma Beauty website always has a 10% off discount code each month so you can use that towards your entire purchase.

I have all great things to say about these brushes. They apply your make up on so beautifully that your skin looks flawless. Ever since I started using these brushes I have recieved more compliments on my makeup.

The best part is that they do not shed any hair. Its really important to take care of your brushes so they last a long time and you get your moneys worth, so once a week or even once every two weeks make sure you clean your brushes to get rid of all that bacteria and dirt build up on them. (Stay tuned for a Do it yourself: how to clean your make up brushes)

For a cheaper alternative these brushes are fantastic. I would definitely purchase more brushes from them in the future.

This set of 5 kit comes with the following: Note the descriptions below are straight from the Sigma Website, I will post the link below.

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Synthetic_Kabuki_Kit_5_brushes_p/smax06.htm
 
F80 - Flat Kabuki™: Application of liquid or cream products to flat areas of the face such as the forehead and cheeks.
F82 - Round Kabuki™: Blend mineral products onto the skin.
F84 - Angled Kabuki™: Buff cream blush or bronzer onto the skin.
F86 - Tapered Kabuki™: Apply cream and liquid foundations onto the harder to reach contours of the face.
F88 - Flat Angled Kabuki™: Blends foundation easily onto  hard to reach areas of the face. Angle fits all areas of the face seamlessly. Works especially well on cheekbones and contours of the nose.


Until Next Time Beauty Lovers <3
MacGirl25