And now, vegan makeup brushes

Dear Rissa, 

I love putting on makeup, but my makeup brushes are falling apart and need to be replaced. But I want to get vegan animal-friendly makeup brushes. Do you know where they are available? I also want my brushes to last longer this time. I admit I didn’t take good care of my old brushes. I’m sure you’ve also invested in your own set of makeup brushes that you take care of. Please advise me on how to care for my own makeup brushes.

Carmela Grace

Yes, animal-friendly vegan brushes are finally available here! I got my own set last December during the bazaars, but you can buy it online. Check out www.beautyandminerals.com for the Charm Essentials Vegan 14-pc. Makeup Brush Set (only P2,500 for the set of 14 brushes; individual vegan brushes start at P199 and up). These brushes are made from superior-grade, animal-friendly, vegan hair. The set includes the most useful kinds of makeup brushes any woman will need: a powder brush, blush/contour brush, foundation brush, big eyeshadow/concealer brush, small eyeshadow/precise concealer brush, crease blending brush, pencil point smudger brush, classic blending brush, shading brush, angled eyeshadow brush, angled eyeliner brush, pointed eyeliner brush, brow spoolie, and the precise lip brush with cover. It also comes with its own lightweight pretty pink roll-on pouch, making it so convenient to take with you wherever you go.

I actually own other sets of Charm makeup brushes already (they’re as soft as branded brushes but at a fraction of the price!) but when I saw they came out with vegan brushes, I just had to have them! Each day you prettify yourself, your conscience is clear that your makeup tools are animal-friendly and cruelty-free. I’ve been using them for over a month now and they stay incredibly soft and feel luxurious on the skin! What I like about Charm brushes is that they always make me feel like a makeup pro. The quality of brushes is so superb that they pick up the right amount of product and blend makeup so flawlessly.

When you invest in quality makeup brushes, you want them to last long. Caring for them not only extends their shelf-life but also keeps them in tip-top condition for your next use. Here are my tips to get the best from your brushes: 

1. Give them a frequent wash like every two weeks especially if your skin is oily, if you use multiple colors of a product, or if you switch from products with powders to those that are cream-based. Wipe off excess color and powder by dusting the brushes against a clean tissue after every use. This helps avoid product build-up.

2. Makeup brush cleaners can be quite expensive. A little trick I learned from makeup artists is to use good quality shampoo — the same one you use for your hair. Be sure to rinse them out thoroughly. If not, you’ll notice that your makeup brush will start to feel just a tad greasy and less “fluffy.” 

3. Whatever brush cleaner you decide to use, just be careful not to let any cleaner or water run inside the ferrule (the metal part of the brush which collects and holds the hair, keeping it bound to the handle) — this can weaken the glue used to hold the hair and cause shedding problems or even wobbly handles. 

4. Wash your brushes in the direction of the hair. Place some shampoo on your fingertips and gently shampoo the hair. When I shampoo my brushes, I like to also swish it around in my palm to work off any stubborn eyeshadow or foundation. Always thoroughly rinse brushes under gentle running water. Gently press it flat in a towel to dry. It’s also a good idea to lightly press it back into shape. You can then leave it to dry flat on a towel or hang it up (suspended) with the hair tip facing down. 

5. Never dry brushes facing upwards! Don’t dry your brushes in a glass with the hair pressed down the container or facing up. The hair should not come into contact with any surface whatsoever while drying. Makeup brushes that dry upright (with hair pointing or facing upwards) cause water to run into the ferrule. Not only will this cause the handle to come loose or hair to shed, it will also cause the hair on the makeup brush to fan out. The bristles will bend and flop over into a completely different shape, making normal makeup application very difficult. 

6. Lastly, be careful not to overwash your brushes. This can make the bristles brittle and scratchy. If, like professional makeup artists, you find yourself using multiple colors that require the brush to be clean, consider buying more than one of the brush you use most often.

Red alert: Becca’s Sheer Tint lip color in Tatiana is a dramatic red lipstick for perfectly shaded and sumptuous lips.

Rissa

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Tips On Red Lips

Dear Lucy,

I fully agree with you when you say that red lips make your face brighter almost immediately, but it is so tricky to apply! You have any tips?

Maniya

I agree that red lips can be tricky. First, the face has to be flawless; if it’s not, then it has to at least look flawless, and there are many ways to do that.

Secondly, if you go for a glam look and red lips have to be applied precisely, then to make the process easier, you first stain your lips with red lipstick using your ring finger. When done, line your lips using a lip liner with a blunt tip; a fine line will make it look harsh and your lips, thin and pursed.

Lastly, it is easier to use a sheer lipstick that will deliver intense color. For that, the best that I have found so far is Becca’s Sheer Tint lip color in Tatiana.

 Lucy

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Facelift Without Surgery

Dear Tingting,

I am afraid to get a facelift. Are there other alternatives I can avail myself of to look young again?

Tet

Surgical facelifts are falling out of favor, what with these newer, injectable options to hold back the signs of aging.

Injectables plump up hollows and fill in marionette lines (those deep grooves from the nose to the mouth that appear as we age). 

Fillers are a tremendous tool in replacing the volume lost to aging, from the face to the neck and breasts. Some create lumps, some are short-acting, some last for up to two years. 

Dermal fillers are a gentler alternative to surgery. They are reversible (most last from six to nine months) and much cheaper, depending on the areas to be filled and to what depth.

If you want to know the derma who does these things, I know Dr. Val Herbosa and her husband Dr. Benny offer these procedures in their clinic at Makati Medical Center. Also, Dr. Buse of Belo Medical.

 Tingting

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Send e-mail to Tingting Cojuangco at tingtingcojuangco@yahoo.com. E-mail Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Mananquil at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil.