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!

Bed Head Foxy Curls Styling Iron Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to the winner of the Bed Head Foxy Curls Styling Iron Giveaway - C and C girl.

She has won the Bed Head Foxy Curls 1-1/4 Inch Tourmaline Ceramic Conical Styling Iron, which creates softer, shinier, natural looking curls and waves – without frizz. The iron heats up in just 30 seconds, and the temperature dial has multiple heat settings that can be adjusted to suit your hair texture. The cool tip lets you get a grip, without fear of burning your fingers. And forgetful gals will appreciate the iron's automatic shutoff feature – which powers down after an hour.

Many thanks to Bed Head for sponoring this contest. And stay tuned for Spoiled Pretty's next giveaway, which will be revealed very soon!

Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer

My natural nails, sans polish, are so dull that I'm kind of embarassed to go without polish. So when I saw Revlon's new Crazy Shine Nail Buffer at my local CVS, I snatched it up. And, let me tell you...the name is accurate. Crazy accurate, in fact. My iPhone photo above doesn't do the shine justice.

The double sided buffer smoothes and evens out the nail surface - creating an outrageous, mirror-like finish. The tool promises to create 400% more shine than bare nails. To be honest, I couldn't tell you the difference between a 100% and 400% increase in shine, but I will say that it looks like I'm wearing a clear topcoat on my nails. And this was achieved in about three minutes (all 10 nails) - no drying time necessary. What I also love is that you can use the white side on polished nails - to restore shine when your mani is looking a lil murky.

Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer retails for $3.99 - but right now it's on sale at CVS for $2.99.

Gold 'N Hot 1875 Watt Foldable Handle Travel Dryer

To get my relaxed hair poker straight after shampooing, I rely on a comb/pik attachment when blow drying. I own a “universal” pik attachment that fits perfectly on my beloved Conair Infiniti Pro, which is fine 99% of the time. But a full-sized dryer is a bit bulky to travel with, especially when you’re a chronic overpacker like myself.

Problem is that most travel hair dryers have a wide barrel that isn’t compatible with pik attachments. For what seems like forever, I’ve searched for a travel dryer that comes with a pik attachment – to no avail. After endlessly searching in stores and trolling the Internet, it got to a point that looking for travel dryer with a comb attachment became – to steal a phrase from Cher Horowitz – "as useless as searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie."

But a few weeks ago, my pik attachment prayers were answered. While browsing around Folica.com, I came across the Gold 'N Hot 1875 Watt Foldable Handle Travel Dryer. Folica.com sent me a sample to review and take on my trip to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami this past weekend (more on that later) – and after using it, I can tell you that it is exactly what I’ve been searching for all of this time. In fact, this travel dryer is so fabulous that you could use it as your regular dryer.

Unlike many travel dryers which are just glorified fans blowing hot air on your hair, the Gold 'N Hot 1875 Watt Foldable Handle Travel Dryer has all the power of a full-size dryer but in a lightweight, foldable model complete with concentrator and comb attachments! Two speed and heat settings along with tourmaline conditioning and worldwide dual voltage ensure that you have perfectly styled hair no matter where you travel. And how cute is the giraffe motif on the sides of the dryer?

Whether or not you use a pik attachment, the Gold 'N Hot 1875 Watt Foldable Handle Travel Dryer is an excellent buy. And did I mention that Folica.com has it marked down from $50 to just $29.99? Bottom line: this travel dryer blows the competition away.

Bed Head Foxy Curls Styling Iron Giveaway!

Bed Head Foxy Curls 1-1/4 Inch Tourmaline Ceramic Conical Styling Iron creates softer, shinier, natural looking curls and waves – without frizz. The iron heats up in just 30 seconds, and the temperature dial has multiple heat settings that can be adjusted to suit your hair texture. The cool tip lets you get a grip, without fear of burning your fingers. And forgetful gals will appreciate the iron's automatic shutoff feature – which powers down after an hour.

To catch some Gisele-esque waves, follow these instructions:

For a looser curl at the ends, take a 2-inch section of hair and put the end under the kink-free mini clamp. Hold the iron at a vertical angle and rotate it, wrapping the hair tightly around the barrel. Hold the iron in this position for a few seconds, depending on your hair type. Release the clamp and pull the iron out from the center of the curl. For a looser curl at the roots, place hair closest to the roots under the mini clamp and wrap hair down the barrel, leaving the ends out. Repeat this process until your desired look is achieved.

Natural curls are never uniform in size or direction – so to create "maybe she’s born with it" ringlets, it's best to alternate curling methods. Once you've finished your entire head, let the curls cool and then gently shake them or loosen them by finger combing.




This week, Spoiled Pretty is partnering with Bed Head and giving a Foxy Curls Styling Iron away to one lucky reader. To enter, leave a comment below. Be sure to post your email, Twitter handle (make sure you're following @spoiledpretty so I can DM you) or some other way for me to get in touch if you win. Contest open to U.S. residents only.

Contest ends on Friday, July 22 at 5pm ET. I'll announce the winner then. Good luck!

Winner of the ghd Iconic Eras of Style Giveaway

Congrats to the winner of the ghd Iconic Eras of Style Giveaway - Jessica Lucente!

Jessica will receive the Boho Chic set - which includes the ghd Gold Professional 1" styler, two sectioning clips and a step-by-step booklet showing you how to recreate iconic styles at home - packed in a heat-resistant, brown fringed clutch!

I own the same set and I'm obsessed. It's like the styling iron of my dreams, made real. I love that it heats up in mere seconds, and beeps to let me know it's time to do the do. And the contoured plates allow me to create both straight and curved styles. It also shuts off after 30 minutes of inactivity, which is a big plus for me because I'm constantly paranoid that I've left my flat iron plugged in and I'm going to burn down the house. But my favorite feature is the plate guard - it slips on like a cap so you can just throw your hot-as-hell styling iron into your bag (or wherever) without fear that it'll singe up all of your stuff. Love that!

Jessica is going to love it too. Congrats, girl!

Many thanks to ghd for sponsoring this giveaway and to everyone who entered. Check back tomorrow for Spoiled Pretty's next giveaway!

Sedu Revolution Tourmaline Ionic Styling Iron

When I showed up at work last week with a halo of shiny, bouncy curls, all of my co-workers wanted to know which salon I had visited. They were all very surprised when I told them that I styled my own hair – in 10 minutes, no less. They were even more shocked when I told them I didn’t own a curling iron.

So what’s my secret? Sedu Revolution Tourmaline Ionic Styling Iron. It’s a three-in-one straightening, curling and wave making machine. The ultra-smooth, polished plates seals the hair cuticle and easily glide through hair, delivering high shine. The anti-slip edges capture all of the hairs, so that each section gets evenly straightened/waved/curled. The iron has adjustable temperature control that goes up to 450°F – and it heats up to the desired temp in less than 25 seconds – so even when I’m in a rush (which I always am these days), I never have to wait to style my hair.

What’s even better is that, in addition to basic black, it comes in…

PINK!

The Sedu Revolution Tourmaline Ionic Styling Iron retails for $160 and is available at folica.com. Kinda pricey, I know…but when you consider that this one tool is all you’ll need to style your hair (it’s great for travel!) and how well it performs, you’ll realize that it’s worth the investment. Buy it now and you’ll thank me later.

ecoTools EcoPouf Giveaway Winners

Congrats to MaryBeth and Selina314, winners of the ecoTools EcoPouf Giveaway.

They will receive the world’s first 100% recycled plastic bath sponge! The EcoPouf sets the standard for bathing, showing beauty buffs everywhere that getting squeaky clean and supporting sustainability can go hand-in-hand.

ecoTools products are sold at Target stores.

ecoTools EcoPouf Giveaway!

Go green while you get all spring clean with ecoTOOLS EcoPouf!

A little lather goes a long way as the pioneers at ecoTOOLS introduce yet another eco-innovation with the world’s first 100% recycled plastic bath sponge! The first of its kind, the EcoPouf sets the standard for bathing, showing beauty buffs everywhere that getting squeaky clean and supporting sustainability can go hand-in-hand.

The EcoPouf is available at Target stores, but you can win one for free. ecoTOOLS is helping two Spoiled Pretty readers go green without spending any greenbacks!

To enter the giveaway, leave a message in the comments section; make sure to leave your email or another way for me to get in touch, just in case you get lucky. Contest is open to U.S. residents only. The giveaway ends at noon (EST) on Friday, April 30, 2010. Good luck!

And don't forget to enter Spoiled Pretty's other Earth Day-inspired beauty giveaways!

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.

Makeup Mondays With Mario: Five Must Have 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.


Hello Mario,


Being able to ask you a beauty question is such a treat because I'm such a fan of your work. My question is this: I’m in the market for some new makeup brushes and I’m wondering which you recommend. I'm not looking for brush set suggestions – I'm more looking for awesome brushes to round out my collection. Please help!


Thank you,
Mariah

Hey Mariah,


Makeup brushes are so important to me and I use tons of them! Here are some of my favorite brushes that I've been using for years: Stila #15 Double-Sided Crease and Liner Brush; I use the smaller side for a detailed crease. Stila #24 Double-Sided Illuminating Powder Brush is great to contour the cheeks and frame the face with bronzer. I also like Make Up For Ever's Eyebrow Brush. The Concealer Brush by Benefit Cosmetics is great for working under the eyes and my favorite Retractable Lip Brush is by Billy B Beauty.


Hope you get to try some of these brushes to round out your collection! 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!

Winners of the ZENO HOT SPOT Giveaway!

Congrats to Holly B and Tania Katherine, winners of the ZENO HOT SPOT Giveaway.

The ZENO HOT SPOT Blemish Clearing Device is the new secret weapon in the war against pimples. This hand-held device uses a single ingredient you can actually pronounce - heat - to destroy the bacteria that causes your pimples. The result: quick and painless pimple relief. Unlike other treatments, HOT SPOT can eliminate or significantly reduce 90% of blemishes within 24 hours.

Many thanks to ZENO for sponsoring this giveaway. And stay tuned for Spoiled Pretty's next giveaway announcement, coming later today!

ZENO HOT SPOT Giveaway!

The makeup artists behind the scenes at Fashion Week can work wonders, but no model wants to be that girl showing up at call time with an unsightly blemish.

It is with this in mind that ZENO launched the ZENO BlemishBuster Hotline. This emergency "skin-tervention" service is available exclusively to models walking the runway at New York Fashion Week. All it takes is a simple text or email, and within six hours, a new ZENO HOT SPOT Blemish Clearing Device will be delivered to her door - charged up and ready to zit zap.

The ZENO HOT SPOT Blemish Clearing Device is the new secret weapon in the war against pimples. This hand-held device uses a single ingredient you can actually pronounce - heat - to destroy the bacteria that causes your pimples. The result: quick and painless pimple relief. Unlike other treatments, HOT SPOT can eliminate or significantly reduce 90% of blemishes within 24 hours.

Intrigued? Want a ZENO HOT SPOT of your own? Of course you do. Models are already blessed with tiny waists, un-cellulite-y thighs, and legs for days...so why should they be the only ones with photo ready and fabulous skin? Spoiled Pretty feels you, which is why I'm partnering with ZENO for a giveaway.

Two lucky readers will win the ZENO HOT SPOT (retail value $39.99), to keep their skin in the clear!

To enter the giveaway, leave a message in the comments section; make sure to leave a way for me to get in touch, just in case you get lucky. Contest is open to U.S. residents only. The giveaway ends at noon (EST) on Thursday, February 25, 2010. Good luck!

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.

On The Cuff: Stop Water From Running Down Your Arms!

Don't you just hate when you're washing your face at the sink, and the water's going everywhere? It's running down your arms, onto the counter, then dripping on the floor. It's like, damn - I just wanted to wash off my makeup...I didn't need a bath! After you finish cleaning your face, you end up having to clean up the entire bathroom. What a pain, right?

Well, if you can relate then read on...because I found a product that will keep your sleeves dry and your bathroom floor puddle-free. Add this to the "why didn't I think of that" list...

On the Cuff is a set of sponge bracelets that you wear on your wrists. When you're washing your face, instead of the water running down your arms, the sponges absorb the water. The cuffs are one size fits all, so they stretch to accommodate both men and women. When they get dirty, just rinse with warm soapy water, squeeze and allow to dry.

What's even better is that On The Cuff can also be used when washing the dishes, washing your car and cleaning the shower. The only thing I'd change about On The Cuff is the color. The industrial yellow sponge looked kinda cheap and lackluster against my cafe au lait skin. A pair in fuchsia or cerulean would be super chic.

On the Cuff comes in packs of 2 ($7.99) or 8 ($24.99). Both packs come in reusable mesh bags, and the larger pack even comes with a drying rack.

Makeup Mondays With Mario: Curling Stick Straight Lashes

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.


Hi Mario,

I have this problem where I have to curl my lashes several times throughout the day. When I first put on my makeup in the morning, I curl my lashes and then apply the mascara, but it seems that right when I walk out the door they are sticking straight again. I have no idea what to do. Can you please suggest some things that might help?

Thanks, Jen


Hey Jen,

Rest assured that you're not the only girl with stick straight lashes! Before you start your face, curl the lashes once, counting to 3 or 4 seconds per pinch on each lash. This way, they will be evenly curled. Go ahead and do your makeup as normal. After the eyes are done, curl lashes one more time. Apply a curling mascara. There are tons of different curling mascaras on the market. N.Y.C. New York Color makes a great and affordable one. Brush out the mascara with a clean wand so it's not too clumpy. Once it's dried or almost dried, curl one more time, not pressing too hard. Finally, apply another coat of mascara. Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays!

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!

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!

Winners of the Beautyblender Giveaway!

Sorry this post is so late...

Let's congratulate the winners of the Beautyblender Hot Pink Holiday Giveaway: Kelly Nelson and Arlene Pappalardo. These readers will receive the Hot Pink Holiday gift set ($23.95), which includes Beautyblender and 3 oz Blendercleanser in an organza drawstring carry pouch.

Many thanks to Beautyblender for creating such an amazing products and for sponsoring this giveaway!

Beauty Bloggerati Spotlight: Sponsored by Tweezerman

Top makeup artists recommend the award-winning Tweezerman Slant® Tweezer for expert brow shaping. The perfectly aligned, hand-filed slanted tips grab every hair, every time with exact precision. This holiday season, tweezing aficionados and novices alike will adore these festive Tweezerman stocking stuffers at a range of prices:

The Petite Tweeze® Set ($25) contains smaller versions of the Slant® and Point® Tweezers, which are ideal for grooming on the go.

The Special Edition Polka Dot Swarovski® Crystal Slant® Tweezers ($40) are adorned with delicate Swarovski crystals to add a hint of glamour to the everyday. Available in Midnight Sky, Signature Red or Neon Pink.

The new Winter Print Mini Slant® Holiday Tweezers ($15) are the perfect holiday beauty treats, are petite enough to fit in the palm of your hand and come decorated with either a snowflake or star motif in shades of red, blue or green.

Special Offer! Get 10% off your entire order at tweezerman.com. Get free shipping when you spend $40, and a free gift when you spend $75.

I TEMPTU. Do You?

I recently received the TEMPTU Airbrush Makeup System to test and review for Spoiled Pretty, and I'm really dreading having to give it back. That's how amazing it is. Watch the video to find out why I'm awarding TEMPTU with 'holy grail' status.


TEMPTU is a great holiday beauty gift (the recipient would love you forever). The TEMPTU Airbrush Makeup System is available at Sephora and costs $225. A duo of foundation pods (there are 12 shades) costs $55. Blush pods (4 shades) are $30 and highlighter pods (4 shades) are $35 each.

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