How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Germs and bacteria are not new to us, this year has made us keenly aware of them, though. Right? No doubt, we have all taken extra steps to keep our homes and spaces clean amidst the coronavirus. But, you may have neglected to clean one super grimy item(s) in your beauty arsenal. Your makeup brushes!!!! 

Over time, makeup brushes & sponges collect skin cells, oil, bacteria, dust and other nasties that can clog pores, lead to infections and break your skin out. Gross! Not washing your brushes can also shorten their life span, and ruin your investment into them. So, what do we do? To take care of your tools, and your skin, its important to wash your brushes regularly. Ideally, makeup brushes would be washed weekly. However, working this into your monthly cleaning routine would be a great start. New routines can be tricky, but fortunately, for this one you’ll just need a gentle soap and water. Most brushes can be cleaned with a simple, unscented castile soap.

  1. Pretreat Extra Dirty Brushes. Similar to how you’d pretreat a stain in your laundry, some makeup brushes may need to be massaged with an oil to break down any built up product. For example, if you use a gel or cream eyeliner and a separate brush, that thick, pigmented product will need an oil to help break it down before washing it with a soap. For this, I recommend your favorite olive oil. One little drop will help you break down thick, waxy eyeliner. 

  2. Rinse Your Brushes With Warm Water At The Most. Like the hair on your head, using too hot of water on your brushes can ruin them. Only use room temperature, or warm water on your brushes to help preserve the bristles and not break down the glue inside of the ferrel of the brush ( the metal part that keeps the bristles highly packed). 

  3. Add In The Soap. Add a drop or two of castile soap to the palm of your hand, and using a gentle swirling motion, massage the brush into the palm of your hand. You’ll see the old makeup start to break down. Gross!

4. Rinse And Repeat. Continue this process until the brush rinses clean.

5. Press And Dry. Gently press out any excess water from the bristles, and lay the brush on a towel to dry.

Drying brushes upright in a container may cause the glue inside of the ferrel to decay. Once the brushes are dry, you can totally store them upright for easy access. This may seem daunting if you have never washed your brushes like this, but don’t worry! Once you get your assembly line going, you’ll be good to go. If you’d like to see exactly how I clean my brushes, watch the full tutorial below. Stay safe!

~Shana

Our Most Popular Youtube Videos

YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. That's where we, and our clients, go for tutorials and honestly, a lot of our entertainment. About 5 years ago, I created a YouTube channel in an effort to help clients with their makeup and hair styling issues. The channel has evolved a bit, but we thought it could be fun to share our most popular YouTube videos over the past few years. Take a look, and tell us which one is your favorite!

This first one is my go to makeup look for a full salon workday or date night.

"How to use Velcro Rollers" is my most watched video for sure. I slightly cringe as I look back at a lot of these, because I've changed my filming techniques and equipment out a few times at this point. Many are blurry or could have better editing, but it makes me appreciate how much I've learned in the past few years. 

This next tutorial is my favorite way to style my hair to day!

The escape room vlog was my first time branching away from just beauty content. Some of our best friends opened an escape room in Wilmington, NC and invited us to preview their first room. This was also fun to film, because Jeremy and I both took a role in creating it. Three take aways from this video: (1) I have the most supportive husband, (2) I'm surprisingly helpful in escape rooms, and (3) if you're in NC, you must check out Green Light Escape Room in Wilmington, NC.

Let's discuss this hair.......

What a wild ride! I hope you enjoyed looking back at these videos with me. When you're visiting the YouTube channel, please 'like' the video and subscribe to the channel to keep up with all of our adventures. I hope you have an amazing day!

~Shana

What I'm loving right now...

As many of you know, I've been cleaning up my act lately... Well, beauty-wise, that is. I'm also trying to shop more intentionally and support companies that are really trying to make a difference. I love that! 

IMG_1963.JPG

Let's start with non- beauty favorites. If you ever scroll through the Salon Hue Instagram, you'll know that we LOVE Purpose Jewelry. These delicate, handmade pieces are made by women rescued from human trafficking. Then, the company uses proceeds from jewelry to help rescue and rebuild the lives of even more women.... How amazing is that?!?!?! The Sundust Earrings and the Journey Ring have, honestly, become my daily jewelry staples. I've also been loving a company called Brandless. It's an online marketplace that has low-cost organic, fair trade, and even gluten free items. They over everything from toothpaste to groceries to dishes for your kitchen. We have loved every item that we've gotten from them, I just placed another order yesterday! An easy, eco-friendly swap I made last month was purchasing these reusable cotton rounds. Most of us use cotton balls or pads to remove makeup, or apply facial toner, and then we just toss them away. These cotton rounds from Marley's Monsters are washable, so you're not just creating more garbage. They are holding up really well, and I think its even a good swap cost-wise. Awesome!

IMG_1966.JPG

I'm feeling so good about my makeup routine these days. I'm almost completely converted to green, non-toxic makeup, and my skin is feeling happy, calm and nourished. I give a lot of that credit to the Herbivore Lapis Oil. This oil hydrates the skin, but is also naturally anti-inflammatory, so it's great if you're acne prone or even get the occasional hormonal breakout. If I do end up needing to cover a pesky blemish, I reach for this Well People Concealor. Holy macaroni, Its awesome! It's perfect for covering blemishes or even hiding tired under eye circles. It's not at all drying, and can be built up easily for more coverage. Also, you can get it at Target. Its so nice that its that accessible to consumers. My last love for the past few months has been the brand 100% Pure. This is a non-toxic, green beauty line based in California that has skincare, makeup and even nail polishes. I'm mainly using this Pretty Naked Palette for my day to day makeup looks. It has a blush, a highlighter and three eyeshadows. And, if we're being honest, I've used all the shades as eyeshadows depending on my mood. The shadows are easy to work with, and it doesn't have any nasty chemicals in it. If you're in the market for a new lip color,  the 100% Pure Lipsticks feel so comfortable on the lips an come in a beautiful range of colors. They're perfect for anyone!

IMG_1964.JPG

What beauty and lifestyle products have you been loving lately? Would you like to see more of my 100% Pure makeup collection? If so, let me know in the comments below! Also, for even more details on the products check out the Youtube video below. I hope you have an amazing rest of the week!

~ Shana

May Favorites

Why, hello there, Old Friend! So, It's been a bit since we've chatted and I've shared the beauty and lifestyle goodies that I've been loving. The past few months have been kind of a blur, but even in that blur I've fallen in love with a few things that I have to share with you. 

For those of you that REALLY know me, you'll know that I'm a huge office supply and stationary nerd. After feeling overwhelmed with my "life notebook", a little notebook I always kept with me for notes, lists and rants, I finally gave in and got a proper bullet journal. Bullet Journaling is an analog system for organizing your thoughts and plans. This particular notebook features an index, numbered and dotted pages. Now I can keep track of all of my crazy thoughts....or at least try to.

To help set the mood for a bullet journaling session, I've really enjoyed burning this Velvet Moss & Jasmine candle from Capri Blue. I'm just kidding, I don't "set the mood" for bullet journaling. How much of a nerd do you think I am? Don't answer that. But, I'm in love with this fresh clean scent. It's not too overpowering, yet will fill the room. I suggest repurposing the beautiful mercury glass container as a vase, or a chic way to store spare change. I picked mine up at Raleigh's Blue Water Spa, they have several other yummy scents that I know you'll love.

Time to chat about beauty! I've said for a long time, that I don't see the point in spending a ton on mascara. I can honestly say that this "high/ low" combo has my heart. After forgetting to put on mascara one day, I picked up this NYX mascara at the drugstore. The Faux Lash formula contains fibers to add length and volume, but these fibers don't flake and create a mess on my face. I find it layers perfectly with this volumizing mascara from RMS Beauty. I've recently been exploring Green Beauty and RMS is a name I kept hearing about. And, there's a reason for it. I first do a coat, or two, of the RMS Volumizing Mascara then, to create a false lash effect, I layer on the NYX. The two combined create an extremely glamorous look to the lashes. That being said, the RMS is an amazing stand alone mascara. I love the buildable formula, the full brush, the wear of the product itself, and I love that I don't have to worry about the ingredients in the product at all. If you're interested in elevating your makeup from an ingredients standpoint, and not just by branding, try a few things from them. You'll love them, I know.

During the past few months, I've been playing with different textures of cheek and eye colors. I've been loving how products like Glossier's Cloud Paint and RMS Lip2Cheek meld into the skin. They both create a natural flush to the skin and last most of the day, even on my oily skin. When I want a pinky flush, I opt for the Lip2Cheek in Demure. This product is nice because its perfect to dab onto your lips for a fresh wash of color, I keep it in my handbag for touch ups throughout the day. When I want a little more of a peachy glow, I opt for Glossier's Cloud Paint in Beam. The texture of this cheek color is very thin, but easily buildable and blendable. A little goes a long way with these Cloud Paints, but don't be intimidated, they really are fool proof. Both of these products are perfect for the no fuss makeup girl. They both are formulated to be applied to the skin with your fingers, how easy is that? When I want a bit more "pop" on my cheeks, I top them with Colour Pop Smokin' Whistles Highlighter. This creamish textured product can be used for a subtle highlight or a more statement glow, if you know what I mean. 

After a year of loving my trusty Naked Concealer by Urban Decay, I felt it was time to try something new. I decided to pick up the Glo Minerals Oil-free Camouflage Concealer. This creamy concealer covers discoloration, and even covers dark under eye circles. This formulation lasts on oily skin, and is also perfect for more mature skin textures. Perfecto!

As a hairstylist, my hands are in water constantly. That makes it really hard to keep traditional nail polish on my nails. After hearing Kate, from The Small Things Blog, talk about the Essie Gel Couture polishes, I knew I had to try them. The texture of these polishes is a touch thicker than a traditional polish, and a lot thicker than a normal Essie polish. I recommend using your favorite base coat, then applying two coats of the Essie Gel Couture polish of your choice. I highly recommend letting each coat dry for three minutes before applying the next. Finish with your favorite top coat and you're good to go for days. These polishes are beautiful and durable, what more could a girl ask for? 

I hope that you've enjoyed this look into my favorites. What have you been enjoying? Leave a couple of your favorites in the comments below. Have you tried any green beauty products lately? Share your faves in the comments! I hope you have an amazing day!

~Shana

What's in Her Bag? ~ Lena

If I had two words to describe Lena's makeup routine, they would be "Glam Girl." She rarely leaves the house without her signature winged liner and lipstick. That's why I knew I had to dive into her makeup bag. Little did I know, that I would find some of the most coveted beauty items on Youtube in her stash. 

Lena uses MAC Cosmetics Lightful C Tinted Cream to even out her complexion. This new-age CC cream contains a radiance booster and vitamin C to help the skin now and over time. It, also, contains SPF 30, which is great since we are coming into Spring and Summer here in the South. To keep her eye shadow in place, she swears by the MAC Prep and Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base. It keeps her shadow in place throughout the workday and into the evening. Isn't that every girl's dream? I thought so....

Most of Lena's eye looks are created using the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. This palette truly is perfect for creating anything from subtle day looks to dramatic date night eyes. She creates her signature winged liner with a MAC 208 angled brush and Pro Longwear Fluidline in Black. Fluidline is a great product for winged liner because its longwearing, while also being inky and dark. To finish her eye looks with drama, she layers two mascaras on top of one another. She loves how Benefit's They're Real Mascara adds length to her lashes, and she can't live without the curl and lift that Benefit's Roller Lash gives her. 

Now, on to how she gets her signature glow! Lena defines her facial features using the MAC All the Right Angles Contour palette in light, which includes a cream highlight, a shimmery powder highlight and a cool toned contour shade. When she wants the tops of her cheeks to have a little more "pop", she gives them a sweep of MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skin Finish. This gilded, peachy, bronze shade has a cult following on Youtube, and for good reason. It is buttery soft, and can be used as an eyeshadow and highlighter all over the face. To give the apples of her cheeks a fresh flush, she swears by MAC Peach Twist blush. It has a natural, pinky peach color and adds a soft amount of glow to the skin. When I saw this in her collection, my first words were "I may need this." EEK!

Remember how I said that Lena rarely leaves the house without lipstick on? Well, I wasn't kidding. If she's feeling a matte, stay all day kind of lippie, she's going to go with her favorite liquid lipstick. Kat Von D Lolita 2 is a long wearing, terra cotta nude shade. If she's feeling a little more rosy of a lip, she reaches for Marc Jacobs Kiss Kiss Bang Bang lipstick. Even though this is a more traditional lipstick formulation, it gives the lips nourishing color and wears off naturally. For a more everyday, natural lip, Lena lines and fills her lips with MAC Staunchly Stylish lip liner, then tops it with MAC Cremesheen Glass in Just Superb. Just Suberb is perfect for layering  and provides tons of moisture to the lips. It's the perfect topcoat for any lippie combination!

I'm so happy that I got to share my sweet friend's makeup bag with you! I haven't used a lot of MAC products in the past, so it was really nice to see what new things they've come out with, as well as play with some cult favorites from their line. What are your favorite products in your makeup bag? Any that you couldn't live without? Tell me about them in the comments below. Thank you so much for spending a little bit of your time with me, and I'll see you next time! 

~ Shana

Photo of Lena taken by Silverfeather Studios

Photo of Lena taken by Silverfeather Studios

3 Ways That Apple Cider Vinegar Can Make You More Beautiful

I know what you're thinking. Apple cider vinegar? Yes, apple cider vinegar. ACV as some call it, and yes, Pinterest will back me up on that too, is a common household product that you'll find near the back of your pantry. Until recently, I always had ACV because it was always needed in obscure recipes. Now, I seem to be burning through it, because I've recently worked it into my beauty routine 3 different ways. 

The First way that I incorporated apple cider vinegar into my routine is with this hair rinse. In a reusable sports bottle, combine 1 cup of water with 1/2 cup of ACV. After you've shampooed your hair, I recommend using the Wella Elements Shampoo, pour the mixture over your scalp and ends. Let it sit on your hair for about 3 minutes, then rinse, and follow with your favorite conditioner. The Wella Elements Conditioner is perfect for adding light moisture back into the hair. This rinse has so many benefits. Apple cider vinegar helps balance the pH of the scalp which can help keep dry skin at bay, and it also adds shine by locking down the cuticle of the hair. This rinse is especially helpful for removing product buildup, and locking in your hair color. 

The Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse pairs perfectly with Wella Elements Shampoo and Conditioner 

The Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse pairs perfectly with Wella Elements Shampoo and Conditioner 

The Second way that you can use ACV in your beauty routine is by diluting it with water to make a toner for your skin. I recommend using the same ratio to water as above, 1:2. Saturate a cotton swab with the mixture and apply it to your entire face, not including the eye area. This toner helps tighten the skin and helps treat and prevent breakouts. Love it! And, yes, it smells funky at first. However, it does go away once your skin dries, so just try to tough it out.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baby!

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baby!

The Third, and possibly most startling, way to use ACV is as a mouth wash. Once again, dilute with water in a 1:2 ratio. This pre-brushing mouthwash can help fight chronic bad breathe and help whiten teeth, without damaging your enamel. I recommend swishing it around for 10- 15 seconds before you brush your teeth, then you can enjoy your perky smile! The taste is aggressive, strong, heinous even... but you do get used to it. And, if my ratio is just too strong for you to handle, just add water!

In the past year, I've been shifting my beauty products to the more natural, simple, and ethical side of things. I love that I can incorporate something that is already in my pantry, and that is affordable, into my routine. Have you used ACV outside of the kitchen, yet? Maybe around the house.... Let me know how you use this multitasking tonic in your life in the comments below!

~ Shana 

My Morning Skincare Routine

For many years, the concept of a skincare routine baffled me. When I was young, I was extremely oily and acne prone, and as I've gotten older I'm still pretty oily, but I turn combination in the colder months. Fortunately, I've grown to appreciate my oily skin, I realize that it keeps my skin hydrated and may help me age a little more forgivingly. Even if that is the case, I do think it's important to use good skincare. I started dabbling in "anti-aging" products in my early twenties, my thought was that if I was going to freeze my face at any point, thats probably the time to do it. The quality of my skincare was elevated when I met two of my friends who are aestheticians, someone who specializes in taking care of the skin. These two introduced me to most of the products and brands that I continue to use today. 

I think it's important to cleanse, moisturize and protect the skin daily, so that's what I do. Most days I use the Clarisonic Pro Cleansing Brush along with my Glo Therapeutics Purifying Gel Cleanser to cleanse my skin in the morning. This cleanser is perfect for ridding the skin of dirt and excessive oils, however, I never feel that it strips my skin of moisture. I have pretty tough skin, so I can get away with using my Clarisonic Brush once a day. When I feel that my skin needs a little more of a pick me up, I also exfoliate with the NIA24 Physical Cleansing Scrub. I know it sounds aggressive, however, the particles are very fine and gently exfoliate the skin without aggravating it. Once I've cleansed my skin, I move onto the lotions and potions... 

thehuelifestyle skincare

If I have any residual eye makeup on, I use this Pevonia Botanica Eye Makeup Remover. The solution is very gentle and has never irritated my eyes. I like to apply an eye cream during the day, and I've used the Vital Eye Cream from Glo Therapeutics for years. They recently starting packaging it in this convenient tube situation which seems much more hygienic and easier to use. Jeremy and I have used Glo Therapeutics Oil- Free Moisturizer for years as well, its lightweight and has never made me greasy. I think its funny, though, because I've started adding 2 or 3 drops of Beauty Counter's Balancing Facial Oil to my daily moisturizer, which makes me think my concoction isn't oil free anymore. The Balancing Oil heals and lightly nourishes my skin, and it absorbs quickly into the skin.  The oil is the newest addition to my routine, and I think I love everything about it, from the scent to way it moisturizes my skin. It makes my morning routine feel a little more luxe.

Thehuelifestyle

We all know that investing in our skincare is well worth it. And, having a quality morning skincare routine can truly add that extra pep into your step... and your skin! 

What skincare products do you use in the morning, to prep your skin for the day? Share your tips in the comments below.

~ Shana

What's In Her Bag? ~ Hi, Felecia!

I don't know if you're as nosy as I am, but I LOVE to go through people's makeup bags. I like seeing how simple or elaborate their day-to-day makeup routine is. And, I'm often surprised by my friends collections, even though they claim to be "easy" or "low-maintenance". That's why I wanted to start a new series where I feature the makeup bags of the beloved ladies in my life. I want to see what they are using, what they are loving, and if they have any secrets that they are keeping from me. 

I have a diverse group of friends, and I love it! I've got the singles, the moms, the low fuss, the fussier, the hippies... They're all over the place. I thought it was fitting that for my first feature friend, I'd introduce you to Felecia. She's a 27 year old mother of 1, who does administrative work for She and her husband's companies, family photography and runs her own blog. That's a pretty busy lady! Felecia describes her makeup routine as " Fast and Furious" because she's always on the go. That's something that we can all relate to, right?

Felecia's Everyday Makeup

Felecia's Everyday Makeup

Felecia perfects her complexion with Lancôme Tient Idole Ultra, which doesn't clog her pores. She uses MAC Studio Finish Concealor to cover dark circles, without creasing. To add definition to her eyes, Felecia swears by the Tarte Energy Noir Face Palette. The fresh blush and the purple toned eye shadows make her eyes pop! She finishes off her eye look with this Marcelle Mascara, she discovered it through Birchbox, and likes that it curls and lengthens on the first pass. Who wouldn't love that? Her last step is to add a natural amount of color to her lips and for this she uses Lancôme Color Design Lipstick in The New Pink. Felecia loves this lipstick because it's her perfect "My lips, but better" color.  

Photo of Felecia by Aria Images

Photo of Felecia by Aria Images

I loved peering into my friend's makeup bag, and I'm honestly inspired to up my makeup game. What are your must-have beauty products? Leave your favorites in the comments below, and keep an eye out for our next installment of "What's in Her Bag?"