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Beauty Vixen

Cleaning your makeup brushes and sponges is a necessary but tedious task. I know a lot of people put it off, reuse dirty brushes or just don't clean them. I met a few people who don't clean them because they don't know how to. So today I am going to give a review of my latest cleaner from EcoTools and a little tutorial on how to clean them properly. Because honestly, I just can't handle seeing people submerge their whole brushes in video anymore, or people use crusty, dirty brushes.
First up, parts of the brush. There are three basic parts to every brush: the bristles, the handle and in between the ferrule. The ferrule is the metal part that holds the bristles together and to the brush (there is also the crimp, which is where the ferrule is pressed tight). That being said, it is filled with glue to get that job done. The number one thing to know is that you do not want to get water into the ferrule. If you do that glue will dissolve over time, and your brush bristles will fall out. It is not good.

SOOO....Don't submerge your brushes in a bowl; just dip the bristles in the water and soap.

Steps to clean your brushes

  • Hold brush bristles downward to prevent water from seeping into the ferrule (metal part).
  • Wet only the bristles with lukewarm water — avoid soaking the handle or ferrule.
  • Apply brush cleanser or gentle soap to a cleaning mat or your palm.
  • Swirl the brush gently to loosen makeup and oils.
  • Rinse bristles downward under running water until water runs clear.
  • Gently squeeze out excess water with a clean towel.
    • Reshape the bristles while damp.
  • Dry brushes with bristles facing down — use a brush rack or prop them at an angle to keep water out of the ferrule (I like to use a towel that I have rolled one side up to create a slope) or flat (but downward is better).
    • Space them out so air can circulate around each brush.
  • Let them air dry completely before storing or using again.

EcoTools Makeup Cleaner For Brushes, Brush and Sponge Cleansing Shampoo

Ingredients: WATER (AQUA, EAU), DECYL GLUCOSIDE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFOACETATE, LAURYL GLUCOSIDE, GLYCERIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM PHYTATE, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE
Ok, on to the review. I have tried a lot of cleaners, and this one is really nice. It foamed up a bit, but not too much. The products on my brushes cleaned up with little effort, and they rinsed quite easily. In the end, I needed much less product than I usually do to clean my brushes, which was fantastic, because cleaner brushes with less product means less rinsing and scrubbing.

I also found it really great at getting my sponges clean. I often struggle to get foundation out of sponges, but it made the job slightly better, which is a win for me.

The formula is Fragrance-Free, Vegan, and free of parabens, phthalates, sulphates, and petroleum-based ingredients.

My brushes felt great once they dried., I have tried other shampoos (the very famous baby one) that left any natural brushes I had feeling dry.
Pros:
  • Cleans brushes well
  • Rinses well
  • Fragrance-free
  • Uses less product
  • Under $20 CAD
Cons: 
  • None
Overall:

I have countless brushes in my possession. I tend to use them and put them aside to be cleaned and wait until my pile is a gigantic bin full (seriously, I have not counted my brushes, but I suspect I have over 300 of them). All this means I have cleaned a lot of brushes in my day, and I still hate it, but a good cleaner makes it quicker and easier to do while keeping your brushes in the best shape possible, and that is exactly what this shampoo does.

Ecotools products can be found in Canada at Walmart and Amazon.ca
*This product was provided for review; all opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!
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If you are still out searching for the perfect holiday gift, some stocking stuffers or even something just to spoil yourself with as the season hits high gear? Well, I have you covered. I've got a bunch of items that are both budget friendly and easy to find at drug stores. grocery stores and mass retailers.


Yardley London Eau De Toilette / English Rose / English Lavender /Lily Of The Valley / 50 ml  / $18.99

Yardley has been been around for 250 years and holds two royal warrants, making it both legendary and timeless. I personally adore their body care lines and their scents. English Rose has been all time favourite of mine for quite some time and I always get compliments about when I wear it. This holiday season giving a bottle of one of their classic scents may make the perfect gift. 

With three absolutely timeless options, English Lavender, English Rose, and Lily of the Valley, there is one to suit just about everyone.  

Yardley London Soap / English Rose / English Lavender /Lily Of The Valley / 120g / $2.00

If you're looking for that perfect under $5 stocking stuffer, Yardley's soap may be the right gift. Who among us doesn't need more soap? We are all washing our hands non-stop and they actually work great for the body too. With the same rich scents as the perfumes these soaps accompany them very nicely.

I have the English Lavender here and it makes for a relaxing night time shower or bath soap. That being said the English Rose and Lilly of the Valley are equally as nice and for $2 they won't break the bank while filling a stocking up nicely.

Real Techniques Artist Essentials Brush Set / $29.99

Real Techniques has been in my brush collection since they first launched years ago, I still love their brushes and would recommend them to anyone looking for good quality brushes.

This set features some of their best brushes in one handy kit at a decent price. This one is great for any beauty lover, new to makeup or someone who you know just would appreciate some nice brushes.

The set contains 5 brushes, RT 217 Expert Edge Large, RT 421 Soft Accent Brush, RT 420 Spotlight Fan Brush, RT 317 Smudge Liner Brush, and RT 425 Lip Smudge Brush.

Real Techniques Sparkle On The Go Brush Set / $14.98

This brush set is perfect for any makeup lover in your life. At around $15 it makes a great gift or stocking stuffer.

You get three brushes in silver with mini handles, so it is great for travel, the gym, washrooms, desks with limited space, just about anywhere. It also comes with a limited edition purple Miracle complexation sponge. The brushes included are 406 Mini Medium Sculpting Brush, 407 Mini Multitask Brush, and 200 Mini Expert Face Brush.

Dr. Teal's Set / Relax & Relief / $9.97

Dr. Teal's is a staple in my house, I always have at least one of their salts and bubble baths in my house at all times. I love a relaxing bath and that is exactly what they deliver. 

I picked up this set because their Relax and Relief line has been a favourite of mine and I really liked the look of this set. The Relax & Relief line features Eucalyptus and Spearmint.

You get 5 pieces in this gift set, 396 g Epsom Salt Soak, 88 mL Foaming Bath, 88 mL Body Wash, 30 mL Body Oil, and 28 g Body Lotion. Overall it is a great way to try out and get a little bit of everything from the line.

There also is a similar Sooth & Sleep Regimen 5 piece set, 5 pieces Eucalyptus Regimen set and a 3 Piece assorted Epson Salt set for the holidays and all for $9.97.

Freeman Purifying Avocado + Oatmeal Clay Mask / $4.97

Freeman is a brand that I have known, trusted and used for over 25 years. Whether it is for my face or body (have you tried their Bare Foot Peppermint lotion? so good), they manage to provide quality care for my skin at an affordable price.

Their Purifying Avocado + Oatmeal clay mask is a great deep cleaning mask that manages to hydrate at the same time. It is gentle on my skin but also really effective, which is why I think it would make a great gift for anyone's stocking this time of year. At about $5 it is affordable and also a really big tube. 

Body Fantasies Gift Set / Pink Vanilla Kiss / $13.00

Body Fantasies make cute little gift sets that are sure to please without breaking the bank. I got the Pink Vanilla Kiss set which features a full size Body Spray, Body Wash as well as mini versions of the Body Spay and Body Lotion. 

Pink Vanilla Kiss is a sweet vanilla scent that is not too overwhelming but also just really nice for the holiday season. I think this makes a great gift for anyone who you know loves fragrances, I personally know my mother in law would love it. 

There is also a Twilight Mist  version available.

Do you have all your gift buying done yet? What kind of beauty gifts do you like to give or get?

*This post features Pr samples as well as purchased by myself items. All views and opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliate links.

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Post features PR samples

Profusion Magnetix is a line of synthetic brushes that have magnets in their handle base. This lets them stand up on their own when used with their base. Since the handles are flat you can actually get them to stand up on most tabletops, but the magnetic base makes it much more stable and really helps stop them from falling over.
I tried out the Display Stand that comes with and Eyeshadow brush as well as a Blush Brush.

Display Stand and Eyeshadow Brush
The shadow brush has a nice firm texture to it. It has an oval shape to it is a great everyday shadow brush. The stand has rubber feet that stop it from sliding around, make it easier to pick up and works with all the brushes in the Magnetix line.
Blush Brush
I like this brush more than I thought. It is a great size for blush but also works well for all-over powder or even selective powder placement. I don't apply too much product and it blends very well.
Overall these are some really nice brushes that happen to have the extra perk of being able to stand upright with their own stand. All this while being a pretty rose gold shade. They also are reasonably priced between $10.99 and $17.99. 

You can pick up Profusion Magnetix brushes at Farleyco, Lawtons Drugs and select IDA, Guardian and Pharmasave drug stores.

*Products were sent to me for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own 
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Christmas is almost here, but if you are anything like me you probably still have some gifts to buy. Today I am going to talk about some great stocking stuffers or value gifts you can easily find and pick up.

All these items are from FarleyCo, a great Candian distributor of beauty products, they can be found on their site but also many great stores like Rexall, London Drugs, Walmart and others. Check out FarleyCo.ca to find out where each brand is sold.

Flexitol Very Dry Skin Cream ($12.99):

Dry skin is all around this time of year, and I think I can fairly state that everyone would appreciate a little bit of extra skin cream in their lives.

I personally wash dogs for a living and then dry them, my skin gets dry and chapt and well frankly bleeds. One thing my skin cannot handle is fragrance this time of year or added water, which is why Flexitol's Very Dry Skin Cream is so great.

It is thick and a little goes a long long way, all the while being made for very sensitive skin that is reactive. It has 12.5 Urea in it, which is known to aid those with extremely dry skin. Safe for those with Eczema, Psoriasis, Dermatitis and just winter itchy skin this stuff is amazing I highly recommend trying it out. Oh, it also isn't greasy.

EcoTools Start the Day Beautifully Kit ($18.99):

With an eco outlook to their brand, EcoTools is one of the best brush lines out there. They always have great sets and kits that make for great gifts. This year their STart the Day Beautifully Kit caught my eye.

With 5 brushes (angled foundation, blurring, defined crease, angled liner, full blush brush) it has everything you need for your whole beauty look as well as a great tray to store them in and look cards to help you create the perfect look.

I think this set is the perfect gift for anyone who just doesn't' know where to start with makeup and brushes or a teenager. I remember getting my first brush set from my mom when I was 16 for Christmas and it started a love affair that has never ended. At $18.99 it makes a great stocking stuffer too.

7th Heaven Masks ($1.99+):
I love a good face mask, and I can almost be certain that your loved ones do too. 7th Heaven makes fantastic masks in pouches that mean you can pick up one or a few for everyone whos stocking you need to fill. They are easy, fun (I mean look at that packaging) and they are great quality. Since they are individually wrapped, they never dry out, get oxidized or get contaminated by our fingers, making, plus you can try out a who bunch of different one at a very low without committing to a large container, all at reasonable price point.

I have the Pink Guava Peel-Off one here, but I have in the past I have used their mud sheet masks and even foot ones. My hubby always loves a good peel-off mask, so this one is a great one to toss into his stocking this year.

Mesmoreyes Full 3D Lashes ($6.99):
Lashes are fun and always a welcome addition to my life, so if I like to get it I like to give it. Mesmoreyes Full 3D Lashes have multi-layered lashes for a 3D effect. They also have a bunch of different shapes available with handy eye shape descriptions so you can get the right fit for your lashes (or your loved one).
I really love Mesoreyes' lashes, they are fantastic quality at a good price. Plus clear bands are what I love so I love these (naturally).
Real Techniques Mini Brushes ($8.99):
I love REal tEchniques, this should be no surprise to you. I have so many of their brushes, sponges and sets, all of which I love. Their Miracle Sponge is my ride or die sponge, you will be prying that from my dead hands one day. That being said RT has some great mini brushes for the holidays. I have the Mini Medium Sculpting Brush here and it is adorable.

So it is tiny, which automatically makes it adorable, but it is also just as good as the full-sized versions. There also is an Expert Mini Face and Mini Multitask Brush. Pop one of these into a stocking and I am sure you are going to hear an AWWW because it is so darn cute.

So there you have it, some fun beauty stocking stuffer ideas. I personally would love to get any of them in my stocking this year.

What do you love to find in your stocking?

*These products were sent to me to review from FarleyCo. All views and opinions are my own.
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Applying a face mask can be a bit messy at times and frankly removing them can be too.
Eco-tools solves both these dilemmas with their Facial Mask Mates. You get a flat brush with soft but firm bristles to help you scoop out and evenly apply your treatments. There is also a trio of sponges that help you remove the mask without ruining every facecloth in your home.
The brush is flat and firm (but soft bristles still) so you can scoop product and spread it around on your face easily. I love to use it for any type of mask, but it works really well on clay ones that I find can be a bit messy to apply. Also great for any mask in a packet, you can squeeze it right on to the brush and apply bit by bit.

The sponges look like cellulose but are really made of natural plant pulp. You can use them wet to remove your mask or just daily for cleanser removal. I find I miss fewer parts of the mask with the sponges then I do with a facecloth as well as I remove exfoliating particles much quicker. I really hate it when I wash off an exfoliator and still feel little granules on my face. 

The sponges clean up really easy, I just wash them with the same cleanser I use for my brushes, but hand soap does a great job too. I just set them aside to dry and reuse them.
Overall I am really loving how this kit helps make my mask application and removal less messy and more effective. I also love not staining all my facecloths with clay masks, that is always a plus.

Do you have any tools that help you with your mask routine?
*Product was sent from PR for review purposes; all views and opinions are my own.
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Spring is just about here, and that can only mean one thing, a new Spring launches from Mary Kay. This Spring brings some new permanent items as well as a few limited edition ones.

Mineral Eye Colour Quad ($21 each) 
In the past I have been a big fan of Mary Kay's limited edition eyeshadow sets, they have great formulas, colours and they fit in their compacts or can stay in their case. This spring they have impressed me once again.
These quads are smaller and only take up half of their palette compacts but that actually is great because you can fill the other half with a blush or three other shadows of your choice.
Berry Haute is filled with purple and pink berry rich shades that I really am drawn to. 
Jade Go is a quad that features rich greens and a deep sapphire blue.
I am more in love with Berry Haute then Jade Go, but I think they both perform nicely, but not as nice as last years spring shades. I really like how they are half sized this time so you can do more with your palette.

Essential Brush Collection ($75)
Mary Kay has simplified brushes by creating a set of six brushes with shapes that help make applying makeup easy.
Made with synthetic fibers these brushes are stylish and portable in their own pouch. With an allover brush, cheek brush, all-over eyeshadow brush, eye crease brush, eye smudger brush and a lip brush.
I am an avid brush fan (I have over 300 brushes) so when I get the chance to try out something new I get pretty excited. Since I started using these brushes, none have had any bristle fall out....none not one. I really like the handles on these brushes, they get fatter at the ferrule which making holding them close to the bristles very comfortable. The cheek brush is my favourite, it is angled and has a little indent into the ferrule so you can grip it close and blend out your blush, highlight, bronzer or contour easily. The bristles also are very soft and densely packed in.

Satin Body Collection
This line of body care products features the light and lovely scent of White Tea and Citrus. The same scent was launched just over a year ago for their Satin Hands Pampering Set (which is a favourite of mine) and the Satin Lips Sugar Scrub and Butter Balm. The line also features Shea Butter to moisturize extremely well.
Revitalizing Shea Scrub ($22), is a creamy scrub that can be used daily to gently exfoliate dead skin. While I like the creaminess of the product and that it can be used daily, but it really isn't strong enough for my dry flakey skin and I did not find it really did anything for me. I do think it would be great for someone with very sensitive skin that reacts badly to stronger exfoliants.  Indulgent Shea Wash ($22), is a clear wash that manages o alter really well and leave my skin feeling very clean and soft without drying it out. I feel my skin always feels really nice when I am done using it. Silkening Shea Lotion ($22) is a lotion is a medium thickness for a lotion, which is much preferred to a more liquidy lotion to me. It smells nice and the scent manages to linger quite a while on the skin after use. I particularly like how it absorbs quickly but also is not greasy at all on the skin. Satin Body Whipped Shea Crème ($26), This is almost a body butter, super thick that you have to dent it when you use it. Due to the fact it is whipped it feels light on the skin. I love how thick and rich it is but also not greasy at all. My skin instantly feels relief from dryness and softer. This is the one product in the line that is Limited Edition, so get it while you can.
Overall I really like what Mary Kay has for spring this year. The body wash, lotion and creme are really nice and great for the spring, the smell is one I really like and the products work really well. The shadows are nice shades and bold for the springtime. The brush set has some great quality brushes that manage to feel soft and not shed while having a great design.

*Pr samples featured. All views and opinions are my own.
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It is time to look at a few of the holiday option that Quo has going on this season. Every year they launch a variety of items, this year is no different, and I happen to have three to look at today.

Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe ($30.00)
This lipstick set features four stunning lipsticks in beautiful gold tubes. They happen to have a nice weight to them, which adds to their glam and makes them feel very luxurious if you ask me.
They all are matte, have a nice creamy texture to them and are quite opaque. Despite having mango butter in them, my lips feel dry the next day. I do find they have a great wear time as well as general feel to the formula.
One of the nice things about a set like this is that you can keep them all for yourself (what I am doing), give them as a gift for one person or break them up into little stocking suffers for a few people, which makes it versatile as a gift.
Hidden Treasures Cosmetic Crackers ($18.00)
Crackers are a tradition in many homes during the holidays, it is mine. These cosmetics ones made by Quo add a little bit more glam to the night. I personally love crackers but hate it when I get a lame gift, so often the get left at the table and tossed at the end of the night. Frankly usually we get a kick out of the lame jokes and me refusing to wear the paper hat (its not happening people). These crackers skip the lame toy, hate and joke and stick with a lipgloss and eyeshadow duo instead.
Non of the products have colour names, so I just grouped them as they are in the crackers. There is a matte cream and matte brown shadow paired with a rosy gloss. The next set has a shadow duo with a light champagne with brown shade with a with a mauve gloss. Finally a shadow duo with grey and taupe shade with a milky light pink gloss.
All the glosses are shimmer free and have a nice amount of pigment to them. The shadows are not the most pigmented, but that actually makes them good to give out since you don't know what everyone's taste can be like.
Soft Focus Highlighting Palette ($30.00)
Finally I am going to look at this brush and highlighter set. It features a palette with three highlighters in it with varying textures.
The brushes are amazing! I mean it. I have used the rounded one to blend blend blend away lines ever since I got it. I put on contour that is a bit harsh, buff buff and its gone. The other brush is just as nice, It has quickly become my go to bush and highlight brush. Both are incredibly soft and have won me right over, they are just fantastic.

The palette has a pretty leafy pattern on the outside and has a nice weight to it, nothing to heavy while not feeling flimsy. The highlighters are very nice, some more shimmery then others, but all apply really nice to the skin.
The shade on the left is a neutral beige, centre is a Pearl highlight that has a slight pink tone to it and the right is a golden powder. At first I thought that I wouldn't like the ones on the left and right since they looked too shimmery (the right one especially), but it turns out they look great on the skin and the shimmer doesn't come off too glittery when applied. The only real down side is that there isn't too much of difference between the shades. My favourite one is the middle one, there is just something about it that makes my skin look fantastic.
There are plenty of other fun new items in the Quo Holiday 2016 collection, 27 items in the collection total. I personally am eyeing a brush set or two brush set and the contour set.

Is there anything from the Quo Holiday 2016 Collection that has caught your eye?
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About Me

Jill Oliver-Fox is a Toronto based beauty blogger with a love for beauty, food, and pets. She began the blog in 2009 and hasn't stopped since. To read more about Jill and the Blog, click here.

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