Showing posts with label How I. Show all posts

Current Faves | Underarm Deodorant Routine

Now that the summer season is in full swing, these two guys have been a lifesaver for me and my underarms.

Current Faves, Underarm Deodorant Routine

Stick deodorants were a part of my routine since I first started to buy deodorants in elementary school. A teacher I had then gave us a talk about growing up and body changes. One of the things she mentioned was body odor and deodorants. Can you believe that happened 13 years ago?

Since then I have very diligently applied deodorant every morning. I tend to get smelly even if I don't feel like I am sweating a lot. Genes...what can ya do?

Current Faves, Crystal Body Deodorant Spray, Natural Aluminum-free Deodorant

I forgot how long ago I decided to switch over to natural deodorant sprays but it has definitely been my staple underarm odor defender for at least 1 year.

The main reason why I changed from the traditional deodorants to this natural option was due to the yellow stains on my sleeved shirts. You know...those horrid patches where the shirt sits near your armpits! I've seen articles and tips where people use panty liners as protectors. But that idea never sat well with me. It would be an extra step in the day to remove the padding and I assumed having padding in the pits area couldn't be all that comfortable.

Even though the health trend is pretty strong nowadays, I didn't even know much about the supposed harmful things related to aluminum ingredients in the big name deodorants. This was solely an aesthetic reason.

Current Faves, Crystal Body Deodorant Spray Label, Natural Aluminum-free Deodorant

The ingredients list on this is short but whatever is in there is effective. Few spritz on the left size, few spritz on the right side, and done! It may not block your body odor 100% but the smell is neutralized enough, at least for me, so that it isn't so offensive. I feel confident enough to even hold the over-head bars in the New York City subways when I am wearing a tank in the summer heat.

I didn't realize it before but I think the key player in the odor neutralizing is Sodium Bicarbonate a.k.a. baking soda. If you're looking into natural deodorants, it is probably better to go with one that has this ingredient in it.

Crystal brand's Body Deodorant Spray is one that I have used over and over again. It may be a little difficult to find in drugstores like CVS and Walgreens but some may carry it. If not try a GNC shop (that's where I found my most recent one). Otherwise natural supermarkets like Whole Foods also carry other brands of deodorant sprays as well.

Current Faves, Deodorant Sprays

The Crystal deodorant spray is scentless. The only scented deodorant spray I have tried is the Welda Citrus Deodorant. I found this one at Whole Foods when I was in need of a travel-sized deodorant.

Current Faves, Welda Citrus Deodorant Spray Label

For those that like a scent this may be the way to go but the ingredients list doesn't look as natural/minimal as the Crystal spray. This Welda spray has alcohol and fragrances as the top few ingredients. Those sensitive to these may want to skip it.

If I were to compare the two the Crystal spray is more deodorant like (neutralizes odor) while the Welda spray is more body spray like (adds a better scent on top). If you are looking for an anti-perspirant these probably aren't the products to look at.

Current Faves, Etude House Put Your Hands Up Deo Multi-Powder

After spraying my underarms, I like to go about my skincare and makeup routine to give the spray a chance to dry. Before changing into my clothes for the day I make sure to tap each armpit with this Etude House Put Your Hands Up Deo Multi-Powder (boy that was a mouthful).

I picked this up while in Korea last summer and am loving it. Even though the deodorant spray isn't tacky or anything when it dries, there is still the slight moist feeling sometimes when I don't wait long enough. The powder helps to set it much like how one would use powder to set liquid makeup.

Current Faves, Etude House Put Your Hands Up Deo Multi-Powder Label
Current Faves, Etude House Put Your Hands Up Deo Multi-Powder Label

The Etude House powder seems to have talc, silica, dimethicones, and other things I've heard that people could be sensitive to. But I am sure other powder products like talc-free baby powder will probably have the same effect as well. It is just that I really like this oversized puff applicator/container. It makes applying the powder a breeze. I will definitely be cleaning it out and reusing it after I use up the pre-existing powder.

For those who are feeling crafty there are many tutorials to make DIY natural deodorant sticks, sprays, and powders. I only recently found those out so I may or may not try it in the future. Will definitely share results if I do.

What's your deodorant routine like (if you don't mind me asking)?

How I | Deep Clean Makeup Brushes

I am really bad when it comes to washing my makeup brushes. I always put off doing this chore because the whole process just takes too long and my hands get all wrinkly & dry afterwards. I usually go through all of my brushes before I am practically forced to clean them.

But the cleaning is inevitable. It is very bad for the skin to always use dirty brushes. So I limit each brush to no more than a week of usage if it is for powder/dry products and at most one use only if it's for cream/liquid/wet products. Typically, with all my brushes, it takes a month or so before another washing is due.

Since I started using makeup brushes, the process of cleaning has always been to put some shampoo onto the brush, lather & swirl on my palm, rinse, and repeat. This is the long way that everyone else is probably used to. A while back all these 'fancy' things like cleansing mitts and such came out. But they were too pricey and unjustifiable for me to try.

Then for some reason, a couple of months ago, I decided to try something different.
I found a plastic cup, put in some  Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap & Daiso Detergent & water into, and made a soapy mixture.
I am not sure how 'innovative' this is but it was new to me!

*I really love using Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap for brush cleaning. There are a few other bloggers who really like it too so I thought I would give it a try. It takes most of the makeup off and the foam/soap washes away well. When I used baby shampoo, it would still be soapy after many many rinses. Not sure why, but it was. The Magic Soap comes in many scents like Almond, Mint, Lavender, Scent-Free/Baby, and some others that I can't remember off the top of my head.*

**The Daiso Detergent for puff and sponge is extremely good for getting off any stubborn stained makeup from the brushes. I don't really like the smell of it and it is pricey to order through eBay (no Daiso in NYC)... so I only use a couple of drops in the mixture.**

I dip/dunk my dirty makeup brushes in the mixture multiple times...

*Be sure NOT to do this step too vigorously or else the water will pump through the ferrule (metal part) and might loosen it ... LIGHT DUNKING IS KEY!**

**You could also swirl & swoosh your brushes in the water. It might take a bit longer for makeup to come off. But this action actually works better for smaller makeup brushes.*

***I typically dump out the dirty mixture and make a new one if it turns really cloudy and has a dark-ish color.***

Doing it this way usually takes a lot of the makeup off!
Afterwards I still swirl the brushes on my palm to make sure everything is clean.
Then I rinse it under the faucet, squeeze out the water, and brush out the excess water onto a (paper) towel.

I leave the brushes on a window sill to dry.
My brushes dry even faster in the colder months because most of the radiators in my house are under the windows. I used to place the makeup brushes onto paper towels to dry but didn't like the fact that it sat on something wet for so long. There are the brush drying trees and DIY brush drying hangers which essentially do the same thing, this just isn't upside down and there aren't any extra costs.

I found that by cleaning this way it took me a lot less time to wash everything. & I think it might even use less shampoo. I think...But since I never really measured or anything I am not 100% sure on this point. It just seems like less product would be used. Right?

Do you always dread having to wash your makeup brushes? How do you usually clean them?
If you try this method, let me know how it goes for you! :]
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