Starting the New Year with Clean Brushes!

Wow. It has been an incredibly long time since I've posted. I decided that this year I'm going to make more of an effort to post tutorials, both in video and photo form. I'll throw in other random posts too, but as I'm working towards understanding hair and makeup techniques better, I'll share my experiences. 

If there is anything in particular that you'd like to see this year, please let me know. Now on to the tutorial.

I clean my makeup brushes using two different techniques. The deep clean technique, using shampoo and water, is done on a bi-weekly basis. I clean my brushes after each use with the Mary Kay Brush Cleaner to extend the life of my brushes. A bonus is that I minimize breakouts and muddying my cosmetics by keeping the brushes clean and dry.

We'll go over the shampooing method first. I should say that this process can be a bit time consuming, depending on how dirty your brushes are and how many you have. But if you spot clean the brushes after each use, you can minimize the time that this will take. It is also important to understand that using this method, brushes will need to dry for at least a few hours before the next use. 

First step: Gather a small bowl and fill partially with warm water and mild dish soap. I use dish soap for this step because it will help break up any grease that might have accumulated in your brushes. Set your brushes in the bowl so that the bristles are completely submerged in the water and let sit for a few minutes.

Next, squeeze a dime sized drop of shampoo onto the back of your hand. I'm using Herbal Essences because it is mild and in my shower. Any kind of shampoo will work, but keep in mind that shampoos without sulfates are preferable because of the gentleness of the shampoo.

Take your brush, which has been soaking in the bowl with warm water and dish soap, and dip it into the shampoo. Gently swirl the brush on the back of your hand in the shampoo. You should immediately see the makeup begin to run down the sink. While swirling on hand run under lukewarm water.

 

Rinse well with lukewarm until the water runs clear. Spread the bristles with your thumb and forefinger to ensure that all makeup and shampoo has been rinsed.

Take a paper towel and lightly squeeze the bristles until all excess water has been removed.

Lay brush over edge of table so that the brush can dry without flattening the bristles. And you are all done! Yay!

The next method is for daily brush cleaning. This is by no means an appropriate way to sanitize brushes for professional use, but rather a way to keep your personal brushes sanitary.

For this you will need a paper towel and a brush cleaning spray. I use Mary Kay brush cleanser. 

Spray three or four pumps of cleanser onto the brush until the bristles are sufficiently damp. The goal here is to get the bristles wet, not sopping.

Lightly run bristles over a dry paper towel in the same way that you would over your face. This will dry the majority of the cleaner and product off of the brush. Let dry standing upright or laying over the edge of a counter. Should dry in a matter of minutes.


Congratulations! You have clean brushes. Yay!

Looking forward to a great year with you. Thanks for sticking with me!

xo janaya

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Adventures in Goal-Making

i've made one resolution for 2013, and that is to avoid resolutions at all costs. the stereotypical new years resolutions that is. i'm sure i'll resolve something or another during the year, but as i never ever EVER keep them, i figured it would be best not to make them. however, i've got many goals for the year, and i thought (though i'm not sure why you'd be interested) i would share :)

• 365 projects: a different series of things that i want to do every day, and i've got a few.
• positive affirmations
• devotional and journaling
• 6 o clock club (waking up every morning at 6 am)
• work out and eat healthier
• cut out fast food
• recumbent bike and weights
• stretching daily
• directorship and earn the use of my free mary kay car
• get my bachelors degree!!
• be more joyful and less snarky
• decorate and declutter my home
• spend more time sewing!!
• learn the proper techniques instead of winging it
• build wardrobe basics
• use the family binder that i created last summer
• including the use of meal planning and budgeting
• wear more leopard print
• read at least 52 NEW books this year
• blog a minimum of 3 times weekly
• visit ikea (woohoo!)
• do at least one sew weekly challenge a month

i know that list is pretty extensive, but i'm excited to cross off bits of it here and there throughout the year :)

it's going to be great, i can feel it!

xo

                 janaya

Blessings and Achievements of 2012

and yes. there are twelve of them.

i'll be honest, this year was not the best of years for me. i went through a lot of difficult personal things, and struggled with some demons. but despite that, the year also held an abundance of blessings to be thankful for and achievements to be proud of. here is just a small list to sum it up. 

1. i married my best friend and soul mate! most definitely the best part about the year. hands down.

2. my beautiful baby madison niece came into existence. and she is freaking wonderful. (auntie nina has barely STARTED with the spoiling.)

3. relationships with all of my sisters has grown stronger this year. i am so incredibly thankful to say that i am closer to all of them than i have ever been before.

4. my relationships with all of my parents (in-laws too) have also gotten stronger this year. even if it was difficult at times.

5. i (finally!) have a home of my own. and boy is it fun!

6. i've settled into a style that i feel at home in. from hair to clothing, i finally feel comfortable with my appearance. it's made life so much easier for me. 

7. i've gotten quite skillful at setting my hair and other various vintage hair and makeup techniques. it seems silly, but i'm incredibly proud of that. i've also stuck to my goal of setting my hair before bed most nights. even on my worst hair days, i'm now able to do something cute with it. it makes me happy.

8. i got my first full time (benefits included) big girl job!! woohoo!!

9. i learned some difficult, but life changing lessons.

10. i've strengthened my self-confidence and self-worth.

11. in the last two months of the year, i've cut soda almost completely out of my diet. again, may seem small, but for me that's a gigantic achievement!

12. i entered into my first pin-up contest!

phew! i can say that just writing out this list has helped me feel optimistic about this year. even through the struggles and dark points of the year, great things DID happen.  2013 is going to be even more blessed!

what have your biggest blessings been this year? 

xo

             janaya