Makeup Mondays With Mario: How To Clean Makeup Brushes

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Hey Mario,

I'd like some advice on how to best clean my makeup brushes. I don't know if I should be using soap, shampoo or a special kind of brush cleaner. And how often should I be cleaning them? I've spent a small fortune on brushes but have no idea how to care for them.

Thanks so much!
Ella


Hi Ella,
 
It took years of experimenting with different techniques and products to clean my brushes and I've found a way that works for me. I hope it does for you as well.
 
To clean brushes with natural or synthetic bristles, I use a basic hair shampoo. First run water over the brush hair then rub into the shampoo in a circular motion (I pour a bit of shampoo into a bowl). Rinse under running water again to get all of the soap out. I finish off by squeezing the water out, making sure not to pull on the hairs.
 
To dry your brushes, you should lay them flat on a towel. If you stand them up in a cup to dry, the water seeps into the handle and causes the brush to weaken and fall apart over time.
 
Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,

Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

Makeup Mondays With Mario: Brushes That Won't Break The Bank

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Mario,

How are you? I have been following your work and reading your blog for a couple of years now and you are my go-to guy for anything makeup and beauty related. I noticed in pictures that you have a ton of brushes that seem to be from different brands and I know that good quality brushes are important. Can you please recommend brushes that are good but affordable and preferably from one company? I have a couple of MAC brushes but I can't really afford to buy a whole set right now. Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays!

-Danielle

Hi Danielle,

I totally understand where you're coming from when it comes to brushes being pricy! Finding very good, inexpensive brushes that last long and work well will sometimes require a bit of research. Research and testing takes all the fun out of it so heres my recommendation that I'm certain you will be very happy with. Try Sigma brushes. Sigma is a line of professional brushes that are all high quality and won't break the bank. They offer a bunch of brush sets that you can choose from as well as individual brushes.

Happy Holidays to you as well and thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays With Mario!

xo,
Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

Philosophy The Color of Grace Makeup Collection

the color of grace collection, $20-37.50: Inspired by philosophy's best-selling fragrance (and my favorite), amazing grace, the color of grace is makeup that embraces your inner girl with all things pink and beautiful. Philosophy created skin-loving formulas in perfect pink shades that deliver sheer color and heavenly luminosity for a look that is soft, graceful and inspired. Everyone looks prettier in pink lighting. The color of grace is universally flattering and created for all women who want to feel sweet, kind, pretty and feminine. Available at philosophy.com, Sephora and Nordstrom stores in April.

the color of grace heavenly light pink illuminator, $28: A pink light, liquid luminizer that combines skin-loving moisture and brightening botanicals to restore radiance for heavenly luminosity.

the color of grace amazing grace shimmering face powder, $29.50: a sweetly shimmering, silky, pale pink powder that brightens your complexion and creates a soft focus glow as it releases an uplifting, feminine hint of amazing grace fragrance.

the color of grace art of blushing, $35: a multidimensional palette of three silky, sheer blushes in perfect pink shades surrounded by luminous highlighter, to deliver pure color and light for skin that looks soft, luminous and inspired.

the color of grace amazing grace coloring book, $37.50: a purse-sized palette of perfect pink shades for lips, eyes and cheeks to create the face of grace. two eyelighting shadows, two perfect pink lip glosses, an all-over cream illuminator, powder blush and a shimmering face powder scented with a touch of amazing grace fragrance.

the color of grace go with grace face brush, $20: heavenly pink, kabuki-inspired natural hair brush that provides flawless application and blendability of powder or blush. In a pretty-to-go, retractable case.

the color of grace eyelighting shadow duo, $22: sheer washes of color that light up the eyes with delicately shimmering minerals. Available in a luminous duo: heaven/earth.

the color of grace angel kiss lip gloss, $17.50: Grace your lips in creamy, dreamy goodness. The color of grace angel kiss lip gloss loves lips. It blends high-shine, sheer color with lip-caring goodness. Helps enhance the softness and natural rosiness of lips, while a hint of vanilla-mint flavor refreshes the breath.

Top 10 Makeup Brushes to Add To Your Collection

Hey dolls. We spend a lot of time here talking makeup. But you do realize that your cosmetics are only as good as the tools you apply them with, right?

For those of you in need of some new brushes to round out your collection, head on over to Daily Makeover for their top 10 picks.

MAC Lillyland

When MAC meets the lore and legend that is Lilly Pulitzer, you get a fabulous and funky fun new chapter: a bit of Mar-a-Lago, some well-to-do winky-wink, and a dash of retro-modern pop culture mayhem in prints and colours that make it hip to be in permanent happy land!

A collaboration that feels like the best tongue-in-chic resort retort, with all the wonderful prints and Key West colour combinations Lilly has done so beautifully since, well, forever!

Fly down to South Florida, with MAC in Lillyland!

168 Large Angled Contour Brush, $32
For expert application of cheek contour. This brush is a large angled contour. The fibres form a buffed edge and are soft and firmly bundled.


239 Eye Shader Brush, $24.50
Soft and dense to shade or blend eye shadow or emollient-based products. This brush has a tapered, rounded edge with smooth, firm, fine fibres. It can be used to build intense colour on the eyelid.



Technakohl Liner, $14.50
Purple Dash: Intense aubergine
Graphblack: Rich graphic black



Lipgelee, $14
Resort Life: Off -white with pink pearl
Lush & Bright: Bright pink-yellow-coral with pink pearl
Preppy: Blue-pink with pink pearl
Shift to Pink: Light violet with silver pearl



Nail Lacquer, $12
Coconut Ice: Light yellow-peach-pink (Cream)
Steamy: Hot pink (Cream)



Paint Pot, $16.50
Bare Study: Soft beige with gold pearl (Frost)
Rubenesque: Golden peach with gold pearl (Frost)
Fresco Rose: Pink with matching pearl (Frost)

Pearlmatte Face Powder, $27

Pearlmatte Eye Shadow, $19.50



Cremeblend Blush, $18.50
So Sweet, So Easy: Light yellow-pink
Optimistic Orange: Bright coral
Joie-de -Vivre: Peachy coral
Florida: Bright fuschia

Available in North America on January 7, 2010 at all MAC locations and maccosmetics.com. Available internationally in February 2010.

Sonia Kashuk Glitz & Glam Brush Set: Holiday Beauty Guft Guide

You know how some people say, "Oh, you shouldn't have" when you give them a gift? Well, sometimes, they actually mean it. This holiday season, give that makeup lover in your life beauty goodies they won't be tempted to re-gift. Like, such as, Sonia Kashuk's Glitz & Glam 4 Piece Brush Set.

The set includes four mini, high-quality makeup brushes - tucked into a sparkly black cosmetics case. The makeup bag has ample room for a couple of lipsticks or glosses, in addition to the brushes that come with...but it's so petite that you won't have any probs fitting it into your most compact clutch.

Sonia Kashuk Glitz & Glam 4 Piece Brush Set is $12.99 and available at Target.

For more expert gift picks, check out Spoiled Pretty's 2009 Holiday Beauty Gift Guide!

Halloween Face of the Day

Even though I don't have fun plans this Halloween (aside from cheering on my Phillies in Game 3 of the World Series), I decided to have a little fun with my makeup. Here's the recipe:

1) Apply Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer to moisturized face
2) Apply Make Up For Ever HD Foundation using the Beautyblender sponge
3) Using short strokes, use Diorshow Brow Styler to fill in brows
4) Apply Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Original) to entire lid and to under lower lash line
5) Using MAC 242 Shader Brush, apply a nude, matte eyeshadow (one that matches your eyelid) to lid - from lash line to brow bone; I used MAC Soft Brown
6) Line the top inner rim of the eye with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero
7) Using Zero Eye Pencil, line the upper lash line - curving the line at the outer corner - to create a "cat eye"
8) Using Stila #7 Precision Crease Brush, apply the darker shade from MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo in Midnight Madness to the crease and outer corner of the eye
9) Blend the eyelid using MAC 217 Blending Brush
10) Using MAC 266 Small Angle Brush, line the lower lash line with MAC Paint Pot in Delft
11) Apply MAC Pigment in Teal on top of the Paint Pot line, using MAC 219 Pencil Brush
12) Blend the lower lash line using MAC 217 Blending Brush
13) Coat upper lashes with Lancome Hypnôse Drama Mascara in Excessive Black

14) Apply MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Cheeky Bronze to cheekbones using EcoTools Bamboo Powder Brush
15) Apply Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss Stick in Nude Almond to lips
16) Apply MAC Dazzleglass in Phiff! on top of lipstick

Happy Halloween! Go Phillies!

PS - Just in case you were wondering...yes, I'm wearing the H&M beret I raved about the other day.

PPS - If you have a pic of your Halloween makeup, I'd love to see it and , possibly, post it. Email me.

Bobbi Brown Chrome Collection

"Chrome is cool and icy - it's a very modern, but still pretty way to illuminate the skin." – Bobbi Brown

This fall, Bobbi introduces the Chrome Palette ($75) - her cool, contemporary take on holiday beauty. Featuring icy shimmering accents for eyes and lips, this chrome fold-out palette includes everything you need to create countless party-read looks including: 10 eye shadows, 4 lip shades, a Mini Eye Shadow Brush and a Mini Lip Brush.

Chrome lips are another trend Bobbi loves for the holiday season - which is why she is introducing three new limited edition products for lips: Port Lip Color, Chrome Metallic Lip Color and Plum Pearl Metallic Lip Color ($22).

The collection also includes Bobbi’s holiday Chrome Mini Brush Set ($55) - the perfect present for the beauty-junkie in your life (or yourself). The set, which comes in a chrome zip-around cases features a Mini Face Blender, our new Mini Angle Eye Shadow Brush and a Mini Eye Liner brush.

The Chrome Collection is currently available at bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

Once You Go MAC Style Black, You Never Go Back

Haven't you heard? Black is the new black.

For the past six months, I was anxiously counting down the days until September 24th. Not because it was my birthday, but because I had insider information that MAC was re-releasing its Volcanic Ash Exfoliator as part of the Style Black Collection. If you're a Spoiled Pretty regular, you've probably heard me mention it once or twice...or, possibly, a million times. That's how much I adore this scrub.

I’ve tested an excessive amount of exfoliants, so it takes a serious scrub to even get my attention...and the Volcanic Ash Exfoliator is, hands down, the best EVER. Yes, I said ever - as in since primordial soup 'til today.

Originally released as part of MAC's Future Earth collection last summer, it became a cult classic. Those who missed out were singing the shoulda woulda coulda's. And those who got a taste were wishing they could jump in a DeLorean, rev up the Flux Capacitor and go back to June 2008 and snag a lifetime supply. I fell into the second category, rationing my Volcanic Ash Exfoliator like it was a bag of beans on a season of Survivor.

Now that MAC has answered my prayers (and even packaged it in a convenient tube), I've stocked up and I suggest you do the same. It's already sold out on maccosmetics.com, so I suggest you do your best Sherlock Holmes impression and sleuth that sh*t out (hint: Macys.com and Nordstrom.com still have it in stock).

And don't just buy one lonely tube. Ah, naw. by the time you buy one, try it, and realize you can't live without it, exfoliating fools will have wiped out the supply. So just trust me on this one, act like you're at Costco, and buy in bulk.

The Style Black collection also includes these other gems:

Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask, $19.50
Formulated with volcanic ash and natural oils, this ash-black facial mask simultaneously deep-cleanses and treats the skin. When water is added, the mask heats up and the oils instantly lubricate the skin, leaving it feeling soft and clean. Helps keep skin moist, clean, soft and evenly textured.

Mineralize Eye Shadow, $19.50
Cinderfella: Mineralize black with silver pearl (frost)
Gilt By Association: Mineralize black with gold bronze pearl (frost)
Blue Flame: Mineralize black with blue pearl (frost)
Young Punk: Mineralize black with pinkish purple pearl (frost)

Cream Colour Base, $16.50
Black: Creamy true black
Bat Black: Blackened burgundy with pink pearl

Penultimate Eye Liner, $16.50
Rapidblack: True black

Greasepaint Stick, $17.50
Intense black

Eye Kohl, $14.50
Smolder: Intense black

Cremesheen Lipstick, $14
Black Knight: Creamy true black

Mattene Lipstick, $14.50
Night Violet: Deep purple grape
Midnight Media: Dense matte black

Glimmerglass Lip Gloss, $18
Bling Black: Sheer black with gold pearl (as seen at NYFW Fall 2009)
Blackfire: Sheer black with pinkish purple pearl
Blackware: Creamy true black

Nail Lacquer, $12
Seriously Hip: Black with gold particle pearl
Baby Goth Girl: Black with pinkish purple pearl
Nocturnelle: Black as night black

214 Short Shader Brush, $23


The Style Black collection is now available at MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com.

Birthday Cat Eye

I have been told my many a professional that my eyes were made for makeup. Not to sound cocky or anything, but I'm pretty sure that when God formed me in the womb, s/he said to her/himself, "Wow...when this girl grows up, she's gonna rock a fierce cat eye."

So to celebrate my third annual 29th birthday, Mr. Spoiled Pretty and I dined at Tinto, one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia - and I sported this ferosh feline eye.

Here's the recipe to replicate the look:

Apply Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion to entire eye, lashline up to brow bone.

Using MAC 242 Shader Brush, apply Stila Kitten Smudge Pot on the lid - from lashline to crease.

Using MAC 217 Blending Brush, lightly apply Stila Kitten Eye Shadow to the lid - from lashline to brow bone.

Using MAC 266 Small Angle Brush, line the eye with Stila Black Smudge Pot, flicking at the edge.

Prime lashes with Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster. Before it dries, layer Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara on top.

Finally, dip MAC 210 Precise Eye Liner Brush into Stila Kitten Eye Shadow and apply to inner corner of the eye, in a sideways V.

And here's a bonus - thanks to the products' staying power, your eye makeup will have nine lives. Meow!

Darac TourQuam 3-D Face Sculpting Brush, Nothing Compares 2 U

After using Darac's TourQuam 3-D Face Sculpting Brush, I have one thing to say to all of the other makeup brushes on the market: you should be ashamed of yourselves.

For applying powder products, nothing compares to the TourQuam brush. Nothing.

This Jetsons-esque tool has a magnet hidden in the handle. Because all powders have an iron oxide, magnetic base, this brush attracts the perfect amount of product. Which means no wasting your precious powders. And no more tapping and blowing on the bristles to avoid looking like a character straight outta Kabuki theater. So not necessary.

Seriously...even you unintentionally heavy-handed makeup junkies will be amazed at how this brush keeps your 'more is more' tendencies in check.

Lately, I've been using this brush in tandem with my LORAC TANtalizer Baked Matte Satin Bronzer and Fresh Freshface Blush Powder - and I can honestly say that my golden glow and flushed cheeks have never looked more natural.

Darac TourQuam 3-D Face Sculpting Brush, nothing compares 2 u!

Darac products are available at QVC and daracbeauty.com.

MAC Love That Look

MAC Love That Look: An intensified take on everything incredible about MAC Starflash Eye Shadow, with a formula so astro-silky, creamy, cushion-like, and pearl-finished, in a fantasia of 12 fabulously frosted shades. Four Pearl Glide Liners to give the people what they want, essential Zoomblack Mascara and the 217 Blending and 239 Eye Shader Brushes that can make any first-time-tryer a true believer. Love That Look… Everybody interesting does!

Starflash Eye Shadow, $14.50
Grand Entrance: Frosty neutral peach beige
Dreammaker: Frosty yellow gold
Smoke & Diamonds: Frosty dirty taupe
Glamour Check!: Frosty reddish brown
Strike a Pose: Dirty/Deep blue green
Ego: Light yellow pink
Fashion Groupie: Light blue violet
Unbasic White: Bright off white
One-Off: Midtone green with silver pearl
Rated “R”: Bright yellow green
Style Snob: Dirty pink brown with gold pearl*
Fashion: Light grey green with gold pearl

Pearlglide Eye Liner, $14.50
Black Russian: Black with navy blue glitter
Rave: Deep purple with purple glitter
Molasses: Dirty brown with mid-tone brown glitter
Fly-By-Blu: Light blue with blue glitter

Zoom Lash Mascara, $13
Zoomblack: Rich black

Brushes
217 Blending: For shading or blending of colour or creamy products ($22.50)
239 Eye Shader: Soft and dense to shade or blend eye shadow or emollient-based products ($24.50)

*Style Snob Eye Shadow (above) is, hands down, the winner of this collection. Snatch it up before every other beauty lover in town beats you to the punch.

Available now at all MAC locations and maccosmetics.com.

MAC Colour Craft

Every Artist must be daring if she wants to hone her Craft, and post-summer 2009 colour was conceived with that kind of creativity in mind.

A sensibility that surpasses expectations with inventive new Mineralize Eye Shadow pinwheel designs that combine new hues in modern, neo-geo ways; Lipglass gets a lift too, now with three shades swirled to create a one-of-a-kind marble finish delivered in a new, sleek vial. The small but seriously artful 109 and 226 Brushes are musts… add the newest colour sensations in complementary Lipstick, Mineralize Eye Shadow and Mineralize Blush, and any glamorous gallery will go gaga to give you your own one-woman show.

Lipstick ($14)
Madly Creative: Pink neutral with white pearl
Ever Embellish: Plum brown with red pearl
Made with Love: Bright coral pink
Colour Crafted: Milky pink
Trimming Talk: Bright fuchsia
Most Popular: Purple with yellow undertone

Lipglass ($17.50)
Pretty Pattern: Warm dirty beige
Crazy Haute: Blue pink
Nice Mix Up: Burnt ginger
Funky Fusion: Pink coral
Eclectic Edge: Cool violet
Miss Marble: Muted pink

Mineralize Eyeshadow ($19.50)
Assemblage: White with silver pearl / Deep Grey / Black with silver glitter / Warm yellow gold
Odd Bits: Mid-tone Silver Grey / Dusty Rose with gold pearl / Dark burgundy / Peachy bronze
Fashion Patch: Ice Blue / Off white / Black with silver glitter / Light white pink
Eccentricity: Rich gold / Light violet / Deep plum/Rich bronze
Natural Flare: Copper / Yellow orange / Dirty brown / Rich gold
Girlish Romp: Dirty violet / Yellow white with gold pearl / Light pastel coral / Mid-tone pink

Mineralize Blush ($21)
Hand-finish: Light pink with deep gold veining
Fad-dabulous: Dirty Burnt coral with yellow gold veining
Daft Pink: Deep blue pink with light white yellow veining
Improvise: Mid-tone neutral coral with light white yellow gold veining
Cheek & Cheerful: Mid-tone bronzy brown with yellow gold veining
Style Demon: Dirty brick red with copper veining

Mineralize Skinfinish ($27)
Sunny By Nature: Rich Bronze with pink pearl
Cheeky Bronze: Soft Golden Coral with bronze pearl
Porcelain Pink: Soft pinky coral with gold veining
Triple Fusion: Soft Champagne Gold/Soft Golden Pink/Rose Pink with Golden Nuances
Smooth Merge: Soft Champagne Pink/Deep Rose/Pale Cool Pink
Warm Blend: Antique Gold/Mahogany/Copper

Brushes
109 Small Contour Brush: For application, blending and contouring of powder products. ($32)
131 Duo Fibre Powder Blush: Flat, tapered brush that contains a combination of short and long fibres. ($40)
226 Tapered Blending Brush: Small tapered blending brush for application and blending of shadow. ($24.50)

Available July 9, 2009 at all MAC locations and maccosmetics.com.

Lancôme's Declaring Indigo Fall 2009 Color Collection

This morning in Paris, the Lancôme makeup team unveiled their fall 2009 color collection, Declaring Indigo.

Created by Lancôme artistic director for makeup Aaron De Mey, this collection celebrates Paris in all its vibrancy. Aaron chose shades that represent the glamour, the energy and the passion of Paris - indigo blue, bright red and luxurious gold.

Lancôme debuted a few key shades during Fashion Week. At Chris Benz, all three Le Vernis nail colors were showcased: Golden Audacity, Indigo Paris and Rouge Liberty.

Lancôme spokesmodel Daria Werbowy is the face of the collection. She was photographed by Mario Sorrenti for the ad (above).

Declaring Indigo will be available for sale starting in August, but Nordstrom has a limited-edition Declaring Indigo brush-and-makeup bag set available for pre-order now.