So.... I've now missed two days of VLOGMAS unfortunately. I didn't get a video up on the 16th, even though I very well intended to, but that's just not how the cookie crumbled my friends. As most of you know, I am a proud mother and wife and we had a lot of stuff going on this past Tuesday so I was unable to work on both my channel and blog.
Now that that's out of the way, today I'm going to be sharing with you how I clean my makeup brushes. I have tried Johnson & Johnson's Baby Wash, Dial Soap + Olive Oil, and the Blender Cleanser Solid. Out of all three my favorite hands down is the Blender Cleanser Solid. It is so easy to work with, is less messy, is very effective at removing all traces of makeup, and makes washing brushes much faster. I had heard that there was an inexpensive bar soap called Dr. Bronner's that was a dupe for the Blender Cleanser Solid. I had ran out of mine, so I figured it was a great time to test out that rumor.
I found mine at Target and there are a few different scents to choose from, and each scent has a different colored packaging. The scent I chose is the Hemp Tea Tree. It is very fragrant and smells very minty and spicy, which I happened to enjoy very much. I decided to go about it the same way I would the Blender Cleanser Solid. I wet my brush and the bar of soap itself. I then swirled my brush onto the soap, and once I felt like I had enough product, began swirling the brush into the palm of my hand to really work the product into the brush and get a good clean.
The first thing that hit me was the smell, it was very strong but not overpowering. The second was how much the soap lathered. When a soap lathers and foams really well, I know it's doing it's job. After swirling the product-filled brush into my hand, I rinsed it and all of the makeup melted right off. Some of my brushes I go over twice with soap, specifically my foundation brushes because those tend to hold on to more product. After washing and rinsing, I wring out my brush, shape and fluff where it's needed, and lay it on a towel to dry overnight. I continue this same routine with all of my brushes.
The Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps are 100% a dupe for the Blender Cleanser Solid. I'm going to go as far to say that it's actually better! My soap smelled so good, and I couldn't believe how much I was able to lather my brushes, and how clean it was able to get them. Once they were dry, they looked brand new. The were completely clean, and were moisturized. The soap did not dry them out in the slightest, which I was worried about. They were very soft, fluffy, and conditioned.
I will not be repurchasing the Blender Cleanser Solid and am now converted to the Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. If you love the Blender Cleanser Solid, or just haven't found a good brush cleaner, I highly recommend Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. You can find them at Target, and even at some grocery stores.
Today I'm doing a First Impression on the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation. I've been wanting to find a really good powder foundation for the colder months because I absolutely love the finish that it gives. I think the finish of a powder foundation is so beautiful, more natural than a liquid, and effortless. I also wanted a powder foundation because a powder is so much quicker to apply than a liquid, which comes in handy during the week when I want to look put together, but don't want to put in the time or effort.
Tarte recommends you use the Airbuki Bamboo Powder Foundation Brush with this foundation. I was playing around with the brush while I was at Ulta and it seemed really nice and high quality, but it also reminded me of a brush that I already have, the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. These brushes don't look alike by any means, but the bristles and density of the Airbuki is what reminded me of the Real Techniques brush. The Real Techniques Buffing Brush has short, dense bristles like the Airbuki, so I wanted to try applying with that first to see how the application would go.
Upon first applying the foundation, I immediately knew I was going to be love it. It went on so smoothly, and feels very lightweight on the skin. The finish of this foundation is absolutely stunning! It's not completely flat, or matte, like most powder foundations can be. It gave my skin the most subtle glow which made my skin look, and feel, healthy. I was also really glad that I went with my gut instinct about the Real Techniques brush, because it was the perfect tool to use with this foundation.
I wore the foundation for 8 hours, with no touch ups because I really wanted to test out the lasting power. I was very pleased with the lasting power, and the wear time. The foundation held up very well, and still looked as pretty as it did when I first applied it. I did have a little shine by the end of the day, but it was nothing that I was bothered by, or concerned with. A little shine does not bother me because it adds a bit more of a glow and makes my makeup look even more natural.
I wouldn't go as far to say that this is a full coverage with just one application. I would say that it is a true medium coverage with one application, and can be built up to full coverage which I really appreciate. I tend to go for a medium coverage foundation because I like some of my freckles and other features to show through.
I give this foundation a huge A+ and am so happy with it. This is exactly what I had in mind, and what I wanted, when I was searching for a powder foundation. If you have been contemplating this foundation yourself, I absolutely recommend it and give it my stamp of approval. Also, if you want a new tool to apply it but don't want to spend the money on the Airbuki brush, the Real Techniques Buffing Brush is a wonderful choice and works really great.
I hope you enjoyed today's post and video. Let me know if you'd like to see another First Impression on any other products!
