Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

If there's one beauty ritual I hate, it's cleaning my makeup brushes. Shampooing 20 brushes is a pain in the butt- but waiting for them to dry is even more excruciating. Unfortunately, I have to clean them at least once a week or grime and bacteria will build up on them and break me out. I used to use MAC's makeup brush cleaner ($14, maccosmetics.com) but it can get pretty pricey in the long run since it's not concentrated.

Finesse Clean + Simple Shampoo for Dry/Color Treated Hair

This week, I decided to try Finesse Clean + Simple Hypoallergenic Shampoo for Dry/Color Treated Hair ($4 for a 10 oz. bottle, Amazon.com). This is a great product to use for your makeup brushes because it cleans them quickly and removes all traces of makeup but doesn't leave any residue or contain any sulfates or other skin-irritating ingredients. It also won't dry out your brushes because it's meant for dry hair and contains light moisturizing ingredients.

NYX "Haute Jersey" Palette: It's Like Snooki-in-A-Box

Like any other born-and-raised New Yorker, I was bred to hate all things Jersey. That is, until I started watching Jersey Shore on MTV. For the record, my boyfriend and I only started watching that show so we could bash the pumpkin-orange, fist-pumping mess of a cast but, admittedly, I'm kind of obsessed with it now. (Hey, every girl's allowed to have some guilty pleasures.)

Now, to my even greater shame as a New Yorker, I have another Jersey-related obsession: the "Haute Jersey" palette by NYX Cosmetics. (Although the name will always be an oxymoron to me.)

NYX Cosmetics Haute Jersey Palette, $25

This palette is like Snooki-in-A-Box:  the leopard print (which is definitely what drew me to this thing in the first place), the bronzers, the intense eye shadow colors... as Ms. Polizzi would say, "It's fuckin awesome."

NYX Cosmetics Haute Jersey Palette, $25

Obsessed: AXParisUSA.com

If you're looking for cute dresses for any occasion, check out the trendy online store AXParisUSA.com, originally from the UK. (If you love Bebe and Arden B., you'll love this site.) I just bought 3 gorgeous maxi dresses for less than $25 each. (I would've bought more... but I'm running out of hiding places for all the boxes of stuff I buy online and my boyfriend is starting to ask questions... And we can't have that.)

Metallic One Sleeve Wet Look Dress, $24.99

Chiffon Sleeve Bodycon Coral Dress, $32.50

Jewelled Trim Navy Dress, $38.50

Strapless Studded White Dress, $38.50

Happy shopping!