The Tuesday Tip: Bacteria-Free Brushes

A makeup brush can be your best friend, as well as your frenemy. Brushes can make cosmetic application an absolute dream, however did you know that they can rapidly accumulate bacteria, dust and dirt? Well they can girls, so start shitting yourself...

Ask TBI: How Do I Clean Makeup Brushes?

Question: I'm always told that makeup brushes need to be cleaned regularly. What is the best way to clean my brushes? And how often should I do it? - Anna, San Francisco.

Answer: It is best to clean makeup brushes once a month, as dirty brushes can lead to breakouts, brush damage and - worst of all - shit makeup application. When it comes to cleaning brushes, simply wash each one individually in a bowl of warm water (or under a running tap) using either a gentle shampoo or brush cleaning solution. One of the best brush cleaning solutions is the MAC Brush Cleanser 233ml (£12.00 maccosmetics.co.uk / $15.00 maccosmetics.com). After all of the oil and dirt has been removed from your brush, give it a final rinse and then squeeze out all of the excess water. It is best to clean makeup brushes in the evening so they can dry naturally overnight.

The Tuesday Tip: How To Remove Too Much Blush

If you ever go blush crazy and end up looking more clown that cute, fear not! There is a very simple way of fixing the problem without having to redo your entire makeup.

If you overdose on powder blush, dust some loose translucent powder over your cheeks to diffuse the colour. On the other hand, if cream blush is to blame, tone it down by sponging the tiniest amount of liquid foundation over the top.

The Lookbook: Kylie Jenner

The 'Kylie Jenner Lip' has been a big talking point amongst beauty fans these past weeks. Whether little Miss Jenner is injecting those lips with fillers or extending them with liner, they look amazing and girls everywhere have been dying to know what colour she puts on them. For those who care, she applies MAC's Whirl Liner across the entire lip. She also revealed that MAC's Velvet Teddy is another one of her favourite lip colours.

Her makeup is always flawless, so it's no surprise that there are already hundreds of tutorials on how to replicate it. I am obsessed with her everyday makeup look, so I created something that was similar but a little softer.

Here is what I used to create the look...

Skincare:
- Antipodes Apostle Skin Brightening & Tone-Correcting Serum
- Dermalogica Age Smart Skin Perfect Primer SPF30
- Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Eye Gel
- Homemade lip scrub (recipe here!)

Makeup:

- bareMinerals bareSkin® Pure Brightening Serum Foundation SPF20

- Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Light Golden

- Cover FX Illuminator in Moonlight

- Max Factor Wild Mega Volume Mascara

- MAC Spiked Eye Brows

- DHC Liquid Eyeliner EX

- MAC Beurre Cremestick Liner

- Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Addiction

- MAC The Perfect Cheek Blush

Tools:

- MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush
- Real Techniques Blush Brush
- Bobbi Brown Eye Brow Brush
- Japonesque Power Curler

Now it's time to show me your 'Kylie Jenner' inspired makeup look. Just Tweet or Instagram me your #lookbookselfie!

Weekly Worship: Real Techniques Mini Brush Trio

Price: £9.99 / $10.00

Stockist: Boots / realtechniques.com

This week's worship is going to the new, unbelievably cute, Real Techniques Mini Brush Trio.

This gorgeous and ultra-handy new brush set includes:

• Mini Foundation Brush - to apply and touch up liquid foundation or concealer

• Mini Shading Brush - to apply eye shadow

• Mini Face Brush - to apply powder bronzer and blush

These brushes make perfect handbag accessories, as they are small and lightweight and make great touch-up tools!

Although these mini brushes take a little while to get used to, they work just as well as their full-size sisters. Each of the brushes features a hand-cut head which allows for precise application, as well as plush, cruelty-free bristles that help create flawless, high-definition results.

What I love most about this trio is that they are each very adaptable. The face bush works really well with foundation, the foundation brush is great to applying highlighters and the shading brush is perfect for covering lips and blemishes.

Not bad for £9.99...

Review: Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer Brush

The Promise: "This brush is the key for creating a natural finish by expertly blending bronzer or finishing powder".

The Price: £12.99 / $13.00

The Stockist: Boots / realtechniques.com

The Review: Retractable makeup brushes are a godsend, however many on the market are lacking in quality. However, this is not the case with the Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer Brush.

The brush itself is a duo fibre stippling brush that is completely synthetic - no animal cruelty here! However, don't be put off by the synthetic hairs - this brush is really dense, soft to the touch and creates a really smooth application. It is designed for use with both bronzer and face powder.

This brush provides an even, natural-looking finish. You can apply an adequate amount of powder without looking at all cakey, and a good amount of bronzer without looking like an Oompa-Loompa.

The retractable function of the brush is quick and easy to use. When you are finished with the brush, you just pull up the inner part of the tube and pop on the lid. The lid stays in place securely, protecting the brush from germs and dirt that may be lurking in your handbag.

The Pro: The perfectly designed case keeps the brush as clean as possible. This is a huge (and essential) benefit considering this brush is used to create a flawless base! 

The Con: I can't find fault with this brush, I absolutely love it! However, if I had  to choose a con, it would be the brush's thick handle. It is not as comfortable to use as other (non retractable) brushes.

PR sample