They have a huge effect on the outcome of your makeup application so I thought I’d “shed” some light on the topic.

Finding bristles everywhere?

All brushes can shed but a good quality brush should only do this when it’s new. Bristles don’t always make it securely into the brush’s band during production so they eventually fall away. Shedding should stop shortly after the first time you clean it, which is always before it touches your pretty face of course. Shedding that begins months into using a brush is a sign the bristles are now coming loose from the band for some reason and it’s never good! Brushes made with synthetic hair seem to shed the least. If your brushes are dried out, coarse and shedding… throw them away ladies! There’s no reviving those suckers!

Clean your brushes as often as you clean your hair:

My kit brushes are cleaned after every use for obvious reasons but my personal brushes are as well. Here’s why:

1.  Would you put todays makeup on over yesterdays? Using the same brush is essentially doing just that. Even worse, if you’re using different colors each day and not starting with a clean tool, you’re compounding the issue by muddying the two together and never getting the true color of either shade.
2.  Don’t invite breakouts! When clients tell me they’ve stopped using a product because it randomly started to break them out or irritate their skin, I always ask how often they clean their brushes. Assuming the makeup wasn’t expired, dirty brushes have typically been the culprits. Dirty brushes are not dermatologist approved I assure you : )
3.  I want my brushes to last while maintaining their shape and softness.  You can use shampoo & conditioner to clean, and then hang them to dry to maintain their shape. There are also many brush cleaners on the market. I prefer using rubbing alcohol on synthetic brushes because it’s fast and gets them their absolute cleanest (in my opinion). I learned this tip years ago and my brushes are in perfect condition! You’ll find most brush cleansers sold have a high percentage of alcohol in them for this reason.

Learn to be light handed. 

 Different brushes do different things. Jamming a brush in your eye shadow/blush then rubbing it as hard as you can onto your skin defeats the purpose of using multiple brushes. If your bristles are bending all over the place all you’re doing is ruining your eyeshadow/blush and brushes in the process. Try to use only the top of the bristles to pick up product and just as lightly, apply your makeup. Try not to alter shape of the brush in the process. Glide, don’t smear the shadow across your lid for example. You’ll love the way your makeup looks and your makeup and brushes will thank you

There’s a lot more I want to say about brushes so check back for Part 2 . I’ll cover how to use them to get the results you want, go over the different shapes and give you pointers on how to easily figure when to use the various brushes. I’ll also be reviewing and link to a particular set of brushes that I’ve been loving!

Happy Primping!Pin It

For those of you who would like to start incorporating new trends, colors  & techniques into you regular makeup routine here’s what I recommend trying!

1) Don’t replace all your makeup at once.

This can go from exciting to frustrating pretty fast!  Focus on one feature at a time and master that area before moving on.  Simple right?  Considering a lot of us shop from our phones, check bank balances and order dinner all before missing a Facebook status update, I figured we could all use the reminder to slow down.

2) Timing is everything!

Getting ready for work is not the ideal time to try something new.  It tends to feel rushed and rarely leads to positive results. Try waiting until you have some down time and nowhere to go when practicing. No extra time? Play with makeup before getting ready for bed. If things go south you’ll be washing your face soon anyway right! The more you practice the less time you will need to get ready each day.

3) Remember it’s only makeup not a tattoo! 

Afraid to pull the trigger on the fabulous new eye shadow palette you want but wonder how the colors will look on you?  Buy it and try it silly! If you’re not happy just bring that puppy back to the store! People are always surprised to learn that they can return makeup. As long as you haven’t used a majority of the product most stores are happy to help you find something you’ll use. Especially when it’s another one if their products! Shop away girls!

Example Return Policies (always confirm a stores policy before you buy):

Sephora

Ulta

4) Avoid the drama!

If you have always looked to Jennifer Garner for makeup ideas don’t go for Lady Gaga in the spirit of change. Most likely you won’t like it or keep it up for very long. If you are determined for a dramatic new look, inch toward it ever so slightly. In the end you will still end up with a totally new you!

5) Play the Waiting Game.

Sensing a theme of patience here? Whether you are planning a major change or altering something small, wait a couple of hours or even days before making the ruling as to if you like it or not. Check the mirror every now and again throughout the day and see how it makes you feel. If you have been wearing the same colors in the same way for years then the slightest difference can take some getting used to.

6) Survey Says…

Try not to let friends & family be a deciding factor. Wait until you know if you intend to continue with the look and use their opinions to simply reinforce your decision.  We all want our loved ones to think we look great but please only survey people who share your style views. Football fans & baseball fans share a love of sports but not the same team. Asking someone who doesn’t wear makeup if they like your new red lipstick is probably not going to go your way.

Check back soon for some “how to” tutorials, tips and product reviews to help get you started! Feel free to ask questions in the comment section!

Happy Primping!Pin It

This is the 4th year Bella B has won the Bride’s Choice Award from Wedding Wire! So excited! The award is given to the top 5% of Wedding Pros nationwide!

Hello everyone!

Thank you for checking out my blog! This is my very first entry so I’m super excited! My plan is to post makeup tips, tutorials and product reviews as well as fun information regarding different wedding related topics! If you have any specefic makeup questions or areas of interest that you’re hoping I’ll cover, please feel free to leave me a comment below.

Be sure to follow Bella B on Facebook and Twitter!  I’ll update them both when a new blog post goes up!

Goodbye for now!

- Lindsey