Speed Up, Freshen Up, Clean Up - Get more life outta your stuff

Since it's a officially the new year I thought I'd share a few mini-revamps for some commonly used beauty things. They'll save you some dough, and speed up, freshen up and clean up some of the things you use every day.

Think of it as a New Year's Resolution that takes less than five minutes.

1. More Power for Your Blow Dryer
Have you ever noticed how your blow dryer loses power over time? My normally tornado-like blow dryer had gotten kinda weak. I remembered seeing something on the packaging (that I threw away) about cleaning the lint trap, but I'd never done it. Turns out it's super easy to get rid of the linty buildup on your blow dryer. For most blow dryers, just unscrew the air intake cap. Then, rinse the cap in the opposite direction of the air intake to rinse away the lint & dust.

This made a MAJOR difference in the power of my blow dryer. The volume of air coming out is much more intense and I feel like it's new again. Your blow dryer should be able to blow your wet hair around fiercely. If it doesn't, check your lint cap and see if it needs to be cleaned. If it's still weak, by a new one because you're wasting your time with a wimpy blow dryer.

Bottom line: Don't waste time with a wimpy dryer. Check the lint trap and see if you get more pep. If not, toss it.

2. Old Polishes New Again

Gunky polish is nasty. Plus, it doesn't go on easily, clumps up, and shows brushstrokes. What you DON'T want to do add nail polish remover into your polish. While it may help the problem temporarily, it will eventually accentuate the gunk problem. You want to use nail polish thinner. I bought a bottle of this stuff 4 or 5 years ago and STILL have it. It lasts forever, and just a few drops will make your polish last until it's gone.

Bottom line: Go spend $3 on thinner and get tons more use from your $9 bottles of polish. AND NEVER use remover to thin your polish.


3. When Was the Last Time You Cleaned Your Brushes?

Oh, what's that? You've never cleaned your makeup brushes? Now's your time. Use baby shampoo, it's the gentlest of formulas and will keep your brushes from drying out. Wet your brushes, add a few drops of shampoo and work into a lather. This is actually kind of fun as you watch the colors wash down the sink. [Personally, I do not like the alcohol brush-cleaning sprays. While they may keep your brushes from becoming a petri dish for bacteria, it seems like they make the bristles dry and feeling crispy after extended use.]

Oh, and don't use hand soap (Ahem, experience speaks here...). Baby shampoo is really mild and rinses well. Dry your brushes flat, since you don't want excess moisture to seep through into the barrel. It's recommended to clean your brushes once a week, but if you ask me, you're in good shape if you do this once a month.

Bottom line: Clean brushes equals clean skin.

These small fixes will continually extend the life of some of your day-to-day faves. Give them a shot!