Sensitive skin is an issue many people struggle with worldwide. And if we’re being honest with ourselves this really shouldn’t come as much of a shock. The majority of our makeup and skincare products are filled toxic chemicals that are harmful to the human body; both inside ands out. Naturally, our skin is going to become sensitive to such ingredients with the hope that we avoid “said” products altogether. Though avoiding harmful ingredients would be the ideal lifestyle choice, the unfortunate reality is that this process is a lot easier said than done.
Check out the ingredient label for any cosmetic or skincare product and you won’t find a short ingredient list…what you’ll find instead could more accurately be described as an essay of words that appear to be written in a foreign language. To make matters worse, the ingredients used in such products consist mostly of chemicals. Seriously, check out the ingredient label on your cosmetic or bath/body product and see just how many ingredients are simple ingredients like water or salt. In my experience, I’m lucky to find one such ingredient and it’s usually “Water.” However, they do not specify the source of their water, therefore it could be water from a contaminated puddle on the street…not exactly the kind of clean source one would hope for in any product let alone a product meant for application on the skin.
Like I said, these types of ingredients can feel impossible to avoid because practically every product contains them. If you try the more “natural” route, you will find products that claim to be healthier because they use a “plant-based” formula instead of a chemical one. However, did you know that Soy or soy-based ingredients fall under the umbrella of “plant-based” ingredients???
I’ve tried the chemical-based products and I’ve tried the natural products, but I’ve been disappointed by both. This trial and error process did help me to discover one interesting thing about the natural products though…
My seizure activity increased when I used the natural, plant-based products as opposed to the products containing straight-up chemicals. And not just with one single product either. I tried, at the very least, 15 different natural products and I experienced adverse reactions to every single one. It is difficult to chalk it up to coincidence when product after product causes a very obvious increase in my seizure activity.
Based upon this experience, I now actively avoid natural products where cosmetic and skincare products are concerned. I am also incredibly wary where other natural products are concerned because of the frequent use of soy in such products. These products may be labeled as “natural,” but that in no way makes them healthier for you.
My search for the perfect formula for both my cosmetic regimen and my skincare regimen continues to be an ongoing process. However, my search for an excellent cosmetic tool cleanser may be over…and this is, after all, just as important as your cosmetic product choices.
What you use to clean your beauty tools directly affects the state of your skin because these products make direct contact with your face and neck. Plus, if you are using a cleanser that isn’t getting the job done, then these could be causing unnecessary breakouts, as well. And we do NOT want that!
So, what do we do to avoid chemicals in our beauty tools and, therefore, on our skin as well? And how do we get our tools clean in a way that makes them look brand new?
Keep reading to discover a simple, yet effective solution.
Shampoo and colloidal silver. That’s it. This may sound too good to be true, but it isn’t. The shampoo will provide a gentle, yet effective cleanse for your brushes while the colloidal silver will act as the anti-bacterial agent your brushes need in order to kill existing bacteria and prevent future bacteria growth. It’s pretty simple.
There is no perfect shampoo product for the purpose of this article. I would recommend using the same shampoo product you are currently using for your hair because if you can use this product without any problematic skin reactions then it should be fine when coming into contact with your facial skin. When you think about it, the shampoo rinses down your skin while in the shower so if you were going to have a reaction you would have noticed by now.
That being said, I will note that I prefer to use the Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo. It is a product my skin is familiar with and it is also a product that I know will not cause an increase in my seizure activity, which is always preferred. This shampoo smells good, it works wonders at cleansing both makeup brush bristles as well as sponges like my BeautyBlender. If you’d like to give it a try, I provided the link above for the Oribe website. If you’d like to sample the product before making a loyal commitment to the product, I recommend purchasing their travel shampoo product (1.7 fl.oz.) for $17.
Colloidal Silver, on the other hand, is a must buy from Sovereign Silver only. This product is one of the best because the company takes the time to produce and package an excellent quality product. I actually use this Colloidal Silver as an anti-bacterial eye drop as well as an anti-bacterial spray for my hands. Whenever I use the typical anti-bacterial products such as Purell Hand Sanitizer, I always feel like I need to wash my hands afterward because they feel coated in a layer of gel. Colloidal Silver can be used without any of these adverse effects. It is wonderful and most definitely the healthier choice!
The Colloidal Silver comes in a dropper-style glass bottle. I love the glass, but the dropper is not ideal for the purpose of evenly spreading product across all of the bristles on a brush or the entire body of a sponge applicator. Disinfecting the entire area is our goal, therefore, I recommend purchasing spritzer style bottles and transferring the product to that instead. You can find an excellent quality product here.
An additional ingredient option to use for the purpose of cleaning your makeup tools is Avocado Oil.
The oil is an effective tool for drawing dirt, bacteria, and oils from your makeup brush or sponge thereby giving the applicator a deep clean. A true deep clean is what we’re looking for, after all. So, it is best to mix one drop of shampoo for every three drops of oil. However, if you’re like me and you wash lots of tools at once I like to mix 1 teaspoon of shampoo for every 1 tablespoon of oil. Pour your mixture into a bowl of lukewarm water (start with 1 cup), mix well (until combined), and dip the head of each brush into the bowl. Swish the brush around the bowl in a circular motion while using your hand to thoroughly rub each brush. Gently squeeze the brush head to remove any existing makeup product.
Yes, there is always the option to use the generic tool cleansers provided by cosmetic companies and maybe my suggested method of cleaning isn’t something that peaks your interest, but it is the healthier option for your skin. Take the BeautyBlender cleansing oil, for example. It is pre-made and pre-packaged in a pretty little bottle. It is made specifically for cleaning your BeautyBlender so that must mean it is the optimal cleansing option, right?
Honestly, every makeup product contains chemicals as do their partner cleansing products so at this point it isn’t a matter of avoiding chemicals, it is a matter of maintaining your youthful skin.
If any of my readers has experience with the BeautyBlender applicator sponge and cleansing oil, then you will know that this particular “cleanser” is actually incredibly harsh. The product actually strips the pigment from the sponge after only one cleanse. For those of you without personal experience with a BeautyBlender, here’s a little insight…BeautyBlender sponges are BRIGHT pink therefore removing the pigment is an incredibly difficult feat to accomplish when using any other cleansing products.
In addition, it takes quite a bit of cleanser to fully remove all traces of existing makeup from the sponge when using the BeautyBlender product. The sponge absorbs this cleanser into its fibers during the cleansing process just like it does with your foundation during the application process, which means traces of the cleanser will easily be transferred to your skin whenever you use the sponge. Not exactly ideal for those of us trying to avoid personal contact with such harsh products. So, I figure, why not just avoid it altogether???
I used a tiny bit of shampoo mixed with avocado oil to clean my beauty blender and it took maybe a minute to get ALL product removed from my sponge. It truly looked like a brand new BeautyBlender, bright pink and gorgeous. Absolutely no pigment was removed during the cleaning process, which means this method is A LOT more gentle! Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to cosmetics and if you’re happy with your methods then more power to you! However, I think we can all agree that it is never too soon to begin applying anti-aging methods to your skincare regimen. Youthful skin is always preferred. If you wish to maintain your youthful skin, the more gentle cleansing method is your ticket to achieving this goal.
***Side Note: When drying your brushes, be sure to set so that the brushes are hanging off the edge of a surface or if you fold a wash cloth in half, set brushes so that the bristles hang off the edge. You only want the metal base of the bristles and the handle to rest on the washcloth. In this way, you will prevent mold growth inside of your brush and you will allow the brush head to maintain its natural shape. If you lay your brush flush against the wash cloth or any other flat surface of your choice, your brush will be flattened on one side and full on the other. I have made this very mistake before in the past and trust me when I say it is NOT a good look.
Plus, this method will help to extend your brush’s shelf life by preventing mold growth. If I’m confusing you with my directions for brush placement, check out the pictures above or below and you will see how I arranged my brushes along the folded edge of the washcloth.
“The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.”
– Audrey Hepburn
Sources:
Amazon:
(Spritzer Bottle Product): https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Sprayer-Essential-Colognes-Perfumes/dp/B079DXHBDS/ref=sr_1_15?crid=21D6ODJRS140S&keywords=spritzer+bottle&qid=1574287928&sprefix=spritzer+bo%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-15
BeautyBlender Sponge: https://www.sephora.com/product/beautyblender-P228913
Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo & Conditioner: https://www.oribe.com/shop/shampoos-conditioners-treatments/gold-lust-repair-restore-shampoo.html
Rocky Mountain Avocado Oil: https://www.rockymountainoils.com/avocado-oil.html
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