Product Review: Sephora Facial Cleansing Brush

       

This is the Sephora "Cleaning Me Softly" Facial Cleansing Brush and I just wanted to drop in to share my opinions about it. This is a facial brush that you use to deep clean your face instead of using just your fingers.

I originally bought this brush because I had some texture on my skin that I wasn't a fan of and wanted to get rid of. I have normal skin and never really breakout aside from single blemishes during that time of the month. However, I occasionally get lazy and don't cleanse my face enough or sleep with my makeup on. This is probably why I developed some funky texture on my cheeks. I tried different exfoliators that I already had and nothing seemed to make it go away. They were these annoying under the skin acne bumps so its not like I could drown them in salicylic acid and extract them.

Since I work at Sephora, I know all about all the different facial cleansing brushes that are on the market. Although I have never used the Clarisonic, I would say that this is a cheaper alternative. The Clarisonic is an electric powered cleansing brush that is said to deep clean and remove impurities that you would never be able to get to with just your fingers. I have heard rave reviews on the Clarisonic but I'm a girl on a budget and I'm not about to cough up $200 for that.....YET.

I have used this Sephora Facial Cleansing Brush for about a month now and I have definitely noticed a difference in the texture of my skin. The brush is not electric like the Clarisonic. You have to manually rotate it in circular motions, but I think I can handle that. The funky texture on my cheeks is almost gone and I am so happy. I also notice that my skin is overall more soft. This brush has definitely helped me deep clean my pores and exfoliate away any texture or dead skin. All you have to do is get the bristles wet and squeeze out a pea size amount of your favorite cleanser onto the brush. From there, wet your face and massage the brush in circular motions on your face. You can always press harder or just lightly press depending on the sensitivity of your skin.

ALRIGHTY. Here's what this product claims to do:
-provide a deep and invigorating clean
-be gentle enough for the most delicate of skin
-easy and comfortable cleaning
-helps reach difficult areas

http://www.sephora.com/cleaning-me-softly-facial-cleansing-brush-P392375?skuId=1653070&icid2=products%20grid:p392375

So the 2 biggest claims are that it is gentle but it will deep clean. Is it just me, or does that sound like an oxymoron?? I mean in the name itself it markets itself as super gentle. I remember asking an associate when I bought it if it was really that gentle.......

MY THOUGHTS:
It is NOT gentle. I don't have sensitive skin and I still found it to be quite abrasive. I even consider myself to have pretty tough skin. I love to exfoliate and when an exfoliator doesn't have the satisfying scratchiness to it, I get very frustrated. I use this brush at night to remove my makeup. I do not use it twice a day like some people. I find that it takes off all my face makeup and successfully gets all the gunk out of my pores. I have pretty large pores and they can look even bigger when I don't cleanse my skin properly. My nose can be problematic too. It can get really oily and gross but then some days it will be so dry that it starts to peel. This brush is great to exfoliate away that dead skin when it is dry, but also get it all squeaky clean when I'm having a gross oily day. Even though this brush is not actually gentle at all like it says, I still really enjoy it.

When I first started using it, I was expecting it to be gentle. So when that wasn't the case, I contemplated returning it. However, I wanted to give it a second chance so I tried to find a use for it and I did! If you find it to be too abrasive, try using it to remove a clay based face mask. I love to use it for this because some clay masks can be a pain to rinse off and you end up making a mess. BUT if you use this brush damp and gently massage it on the dry mask, it breaks it right down. This eliminates the mess of water everywhere and the extra time it takes to rinse it the old fashioned way.

WHO THIS PRODUCT IS FOR:
Anyone who has texture or large pores and needs a deeper clean should go out and buy this right now. It is only $10 and I saw a difference in my skin within weeks. I'd say that is definitely worth ten bucks.


Thank you so much for taking the time to read this review and let me know what you think if you've tried this product!

June 2016 Favorites

June is long gone and July is in full swing! I didn't know it was possible for 30 days to go by that fast. July is here and I couldn't be happier because I have my first visitor coming TOMORROW!! My boyfriend is finally coming to see me and this place I have called home for the past month and a half. By the way, shame on you all that it has taken a month and a half for someone to come visit me. And a broke college student at that! A very generous and loving broke college student though :-)

Anyways!! As far as makeup goes, I was not able to test out many brand new products this month unfortunately. Unpaid internships force you to make sacrifices..... However, I did fall in love with some products I already had in my stash. My grown-up gig has me working very long hours and I need my makeup to last AT LEAST 9 hours, sometimes more. Keep scrolling to see why these products are superstars!

*Lancome CILS BOOSTER XL Mascara Base*

$25.50

http://www.sephora.com/cils-booster-xl-super-enhancing-mascara-base-P128706

*Sephora Collection Outrageous Curl Mascara*

$12

http://www.sephora.com/outrageous-curl-dramatic-volume-curve-mascara-P386619

This has been my go-to mascara combo for the entire month of June. It gives my lashes the perfect balance of volume and separation that I desire. The white tube is the Lancome CILS Booster XL Mascara Base. I apply this to my lashes first. This product conditions and lengthens your lashes before you apply your mascara. It is infused with micro-fibers and Vitamin E that give you the extra length and thickness. Don't let the white color scare you off! This allows the black pigment of your mascara to stand out more and be more intense in color. 

The Sephora Collection Outrageous Curl Mascara definitely surprised me. When I first received this small sample size, I did NOT think I would like it because of the short and stubby mascara wand. Plot twist. I actually love it and will be purchasing the full size when I run out. The bristles on the wand are short rubber bristles and are pretty far apart from each other. This is exactly why I thought I would hate it. When I first used it, my lashes were a clumpy mess. I was frustrated but I decided to give it a second chance. The trick is you have to rotate the mascara wand towards you as you run it through your lashes. This helps to distribute the product evenly on all of your lashes instead of it collecting and clumping up at the base of your eyeball. You do have to take your time and pay attention to what you're doing when applying it. This isn't a mascara you can just throw on while you're sitting at a stop light. But trust me, it's worth it!

These two products were a match made in heaven and you can see the end result in the picture above. So the moral of the story here is to not judge a book by it's cover, always give second chances and all great things take time. Who knew makeup could be so philosophical?

*Sonia Kashuk Pointed Blending Brush #109*

$5.99

http://soniakashuk.com/products/pointed-blending-brush-no-109/

I have had this eye shadow brush for a very very long time and it has definitely stood the test of time. I want to say I have had this brush for over 2 years now. I don't know the exact length of time because a $6 purchase at Target is not as memorable as doing substantial damage on my wallet at Sephora. I use this brush LITERALLY every day. It is a must have in my book. If you struggle with applying eye shadow and getting the colors to look blended, YOU NEED THIS. Of course Sephora has some great high end brushes that will work also, but this is only $6...... 

The trick to using this brush is to apply a light amount of eyeshadow to the crease of your eyelid in windshield wiper motions. If you continue to sweep the brush back and forth, the shadow will eventually be beautifully blended and you will see no harsh lines. If you don't know where the crease of your eye is, it is the area of your eyelid where your eyeball meets your brow bone. Just start with a shadow that is lighter in color and has a matte finish. From there you can build up the color by doing the same motion with a color slightly darker and so on. This will help you gradually build up the color instead of starting with a deep chocolate brown right from the start. That can be a little scary for beginners and hard to blend out. This will also ensure that you have beautifully blended eyeshadow!

*Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick*

Lolita 2

$20

http://www.sephora.com/everlasting-love-liquid-lipstick-P384954

If I could have my lips dyed this color, I so would. Just like how you can get your brows or eyeliner tattooed on, I would like my lips to be tattooed this color. (I'm not really going to, Mom.) But seriously, this lipstick is the perfect shade for me. It is not too bold so I don't feel like a clown when I wear it to the office. But it is also something a little bit more than your typical nude pink lipstick. It has warm undertone and even has a bit of terra cotta color to it. On Sephora's website it is described as a "chestnut rose" but it is such a unique shade and looks different on every skin tone. The formula is also amazing. It goes on like a gloss and completely dries down to a matte finish.  Because of the matte finish, it can be a bit drying. Just make sure your lips are hydrated and exfoliated. My favorite thing about this lipstick is the lasting power. It. lasts. all. day. I will work a 9 hour day and be eating, drinking and talking all throughout the day and will have no need to touch up. It is also kiss proof which makes it perfect for date night! If this particular color doesn't make your heart flutter like it does for me, go check out the other shades in the line and you'll be sure to find a favorite!

*Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush*

Mood Exposure

$38

http://www.sephora.com/ambient-lighting-blush-P384963

I have quite a few blushes and this is probably in my top 3 out of all of them. This blush is so natural and subtle yet still gives my cheeks a beautiful flush of color. While working at Sephora and Ulta, I have noticed that a lot of people are scared of wearing blush. My mom is definitely one of those people. I admit, some days I am in such a rush to get out the door that I don't want to mess with blush either. If you are in a rush, or don't know the correct way to apply blush, you can easily get that clown look. There are a lot of ways you can goof up so I understand the fear.

Too much product.

Too high on your cheeks. 

Too low on your cheeks. 

Too close to your nose. 

Too far back and onto your ears. 

Wrong formula.

Wrong color.

Too much sparkle.

The list can go on forever. This blush, however, eliminates all that stress from your life. The color is a natural pinky plum that has a soft glow to it. There is no chunky glitter, just a radiant natural finish that gives a soft look to the skin. The formula itself is described as an "airy, lightweight powder." The natural color and lightweight formula make the blush goof-proof. It is hard to apply too much because the color is subtle and the powder is easy to blend and never patchy on the skin. All you have to do is apply a small amount on the apples of your cheek and sweep your brush backwards toward the edge of your face. 

And viola!! You can see how all the products come together in the picture below. This makeup look is perfect for the office because it is fresh and makes me look awake without looking too done up. 

Last but definitely not least, I'd like to throw in one random favorite of the month. This might trump all the products I just talked about because some days I use this 3 or 4 times a day.....

*Lapper Tray*

https://www.amazon.com/Lapper-Circular-Patterns-Non-Slip-Package/dp/B0084US1M2

This awesome tray has replaced my kitchen table this summer. My "table" here in Colorado is actually a vanity. Having my makeup displayed nicely is more important to me than having a proper place to eat. Because of that, this tray is perfect for me! It keeps my food off my actual bed so nothing gets stained and provides a hard and flat surface so nothing falls over. The tray itself is dishwasher safe and has silicone mats to help grip your plates and cups. If you look at the pictures they use on Amazon, it shows people using them outside by the pool and at backyard barbecues...... I guess eating in bed is frowned upon, but when you're an adult and you live alone, you make your own rules. Regardless, I have LOVED this tray and reccommend it to anyone living in a dorm room, small apartment or if you just like eating in bed :)