How To: Tighten Pores & Improve Your Complexion

This is a very easy and inexpensive way that I like to do once every two weeks or so to really shrink my pores and give my skin a little extra TLC. This works extremely well and you will definitely notice a difference in your skin after just one use!

 

Products you will need:

• Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ($6-8, you can find this online or at a health food store).
• Distilled white vinegar
• A manual complexion brush/ Clarisonic (or something like this). I use just a typical complexion brush, but anything like this will work just fine.

 

Here are the steps:

• Mix equal parts of the clay and white vinegar in a small bowl (a teaspoon full of each is plenty) until the consistency is a liquidy paste.
• Immediately apply the mixture to your face and neck evenly (if you let it sit in the bowl for too long, it will dry out).
• Let this mask sit on your face for about 10 minutes (it will get stiff quickly and if you experience a slight stinging sensation, that is just the vinegar in action!).
• After letting the mask sit for about 10 minutes, run your complexion brush under warm water and gently massage away the mask. This does get kind of messy, but the clay cleans up easily and is totally worth it!
• After all the mask residue is gone, pat your face dry with a clean wash cloth or paper towel.

That’s it!

This is extremely easy and does not take too long to see great results! You can do this in the morning before you do your makeup and go about your day, or at night before you go to sleep.

Makeup Guide: Must Have Brushes (Drugstore)

My two favorite makeup brush brands from the drugstore are from Elf and Real Techniques. In my opinion, these are some of the best brushes on the market in general, not just at the drugstore. While I love all the brushes from both brands, these are the staples that I think every makeup lover should have in their collection!

Elf 

I love Elf brushes! They are extremely good quality yet very affordable. I personally use their face brushes more often than the eye brushes but they are all amazing!

Ultimate Blending Brush ($6)

I use this brush to apply foundation every time I do my makeup. It has replaced my Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki as my go- to foundation brush.

 

Stipple Brush ($4) and the Small Stipple Brush ($3)

I love to use the larger stipple brush to apply my blush. This might sound odd but it gives a beautiful and even application every time! It is also great for bronzer. The small stipple brush is hands down the best brush to blend out cream products (contour and blush). Using this brush makes it so easy and quick. The small stipple is also a dupe for the MAC 130.

 

 

Small Tapered Brush ($3)

I love using this brush to set my under eye area or dust off any baking. To be honest I am not sure what the actual purpose is of this brush, but I use it everyday and it is awesome to set areas of the face with powder.

Blending Brush ($6)

I love using this brush for contouring. It is fluffy enough to blend out the product and make the contour look “natural”, but flat enough to really fit into the hallow under the cheekbone.

Eyelash and Brow Spoolie ($1)

This is just your typical spoolie brush, but for a buck it is perfect for combing out the brow hairs before and after applying product. I use this everyday and even though it just seems so simple and unnecessary, I cannot go a day without using this one!

Real Techniques 

Real Techniques is my absolute favorite brand of drugstore brushes (Tip: Ulta usually has them on sale for buy one get one half off!). The quality of these brushes is just out of this world and they are so inexpensive! I use their face and eye brushes over some of my more expensive brushes every day! It is really hard for me to narrow down my absolute favorites but here are the ones I use on a daily basis!

Miracle Complexion Sponge ($6)

This is my favorite makeup sponge on the market! All I can say is that using this sponge has made me regret spending the $20 on the original Beauty Blender. 

Blush Brush ($9)

This is the best brush (for any price range) for applying blush. It just allows for an easy and even application. It is also great for bronzing up the face.

Powder Brush ($10)

I love this brush for setting my makeup with powder or for applying bronzer as well. If I am in a hurry, I just use this to brush on some translucent powder and bronzer and I am good to go! I just love how big and luxurious this brush feels as well.

Retractible Stipple Brush ($10)

I love this brush so much I can’t stand it! It is travel friendly which is always a plus and the brush hairs are the perfect density. That sounds strange, but when you use this brush you will understand what I am talking about. I love using this to apply bronzer and even foundation. It does not leave a streaky finish (due to the perfect density of the bristles) and I am just obsessed with it. If I had to pick one brush from Real Techniques, it would be this one.

Setting Brush ( $8)

I love using this brush for setting the under eye area and dusting off any baking. It is also great for getting a really precise contour and really carve out those cheekbones. If I am in a hurry, I also like using this brush to use whatever bronzer I have out to pop in my crease if I am in a rush and going for a more natural look.

Starter Set ($11-18)

The price on this set has a larger range because on the actual Real Techniques site is is $18, but I got mine on drugstore.com for $12. I love this brush set so much and there is not one brush from the set that I do not use. The first brush is great for applying a cream base and blending that out, the second brush is a awesome crease brush, the third is the perfect size for smoking out the bottom lash line, the fourth I like to use if I want to apply a dark eyeshadow as a liner, and the last brush I use to fill in my brows or on the bottom lash line as well.

I really hope this was helpful to some of y’all looking for great drugstore brush options! I know Elf and Real Techniques are already extremely well known brands but I just wanted to share my favorites!