How to clean your makeup brushes!

Hey y'all! 

This is a blog post I had on one of my old pages, but I decided to move it here to FF so you all could see how I clean my makeup brushes! 

A dirty makeup brush does not work as well as a clean one because they carry germs, old makeup particles and the bristles are dirty and worn down! Using a dirty brush can also create and promote acne from the germs they carry, and nobody wants that! Now I know many people may use makeup brush cleaners, like Smashbox or even MAC, I myself even have some but let me tell you why I don't like them: What you use to clean your brushes should be gentle enough to apply to your skin, and cleaning your brushes is like washing your hair, you wouldn't wash with chemicals would you?! Brush cleaners tend to use some chemicals that your skin may be sensitive to. The products I use are safe to use on your skin, and depending on what kind of soap you use, it shouldn't aggravate sensitive skin!

Dirty Brushes!

WHAT YOU NEED TO CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES:
*Antibacterial soap or dish soap (2 parts)
*Baby shampoo/ soap (1 part)
*Olive oil (1 part)
*A plate to mix your ingredients
*Paper towels for drying
Here's what I used:

Because I have sensitive skin, my dish soap is Palmolive soft touch with aloe, so it's gentle yet effective, and I highly recommend it for cleaning your brushes! (It smells great too!)
NEXT:
1. Mix 2 parts dish soap, 1 part baby shampoo, and 1 part olive oil. I used tablespoon increments.
The soap works to deep clean your brushes as the olive oil works to keep the bristles smooth and soft!

2. Clean 1 brush at a time:
-Scrub and swirl your brush on the plate.
-Under warm, running water: Swirl the brush in the palm of your hand, cleaning all the bristles completely, as well as the handle of the brush (germs accumulate there too!)
-Rinse brush completely
-Place temporarily on a dry paper towel as you finish cleaning the rest of your brushes



3. When all of your brushes are clean, keep them on a paper towel with the bristles hanging over an edge so they don't deform as they dry.

All clean and drying!

Without a good deep cleaning of my brushes every once in a while, I would forget that the tip of my MAC 130 is not actually foundation color, but white! I like to clean my brushes about once every 2 weeks, however you can do it as often as you like (the more often the better)! The mixture I made was the perfect amount to clean about 10-15 brushes of various sizes! 

Long live your brushes and happy cleaning everybody!

XOXO, Kara 

Five on Friday! {May 30th, 2014}

Happy Friday everyone!

This is usually a day that I strongly look forward to every week because it means the weekend is here, and I also love Friday nights! However, that has not so much been the case for me lately. I broke my leg almost a month ago and had to get surgery. I'll put up a post about it soon, but my five on Friday will surely be a bit lacking because of it, so I apologize in advance! While I haven't left the house in over a week I have I still have a few things to talk about. Thanks for following along! Here we go: 

{One}

The Fault in Our Stars 

This book is nothing short of AMAZING. I just finished it last night and I'm not lying when I say that I literally bawled my eyes out. I don't want to give any spoilers for those who haven't read it but I was surely enthralled. The story is just beautiful and it surely pulled at the strings of my heart. If you haven't read this book yet then it is a MUST READ! 

{Two}

Clean and Clear face toner

My broken leg prevents me from doing so many things, including the simplest of tasks. I'm religious when it comes to my nightly routines but I've had to alter them a bit since this all went down. Because I am not washing my face in the shower every night before bed like I normally do, I take a cotton pad and clean off my face with the Clean and Clear toner. It cleans the dirt and oil off of my face from the day and leaves me feeling refreshed before bed.

{Three}

Tropicana Orange Juice

 So random I know. I'm not usually a huge orange juice drinker, but I have been since I broke my leg. I have to take aspirin twice a day in order to prevent a blood clot in my leg, so I've been taking it with orange juice. Don't ask, but it's surely one of my 5 this week!

{Four}

Instagram

Fearlessly Forward now has an Instagram page. Have you followed yet?

{Five}

YouTube favorite of the week: The LaVigne Life

As I'm already a full blown YouTube addict, I have become even MORE addicted. How is this even possible? Easy! Break your leg. In addition to my usual beauty and lifestyle vloggers, I also follow a lot of daily vloggers. The LaVigne Life is HILARIOUS! And his kids, especially J3 are just too dang cute! IF you're bored or in need of a laugh I suggest you watch here! 

Thanks for catching up with me this week!

XOXO, Kara 

Follow Fearlessly Forward on Instagram!

Hey y'all! 

I've created a Fearlessly Forward Instagram page as well as added the badge to my profile for easy access! My Instagram page will include photos of recent posts as well as snapshots of things I enjoy in my daily life. I'm kind of an Instagram- aholic (is that even a thing?) and I would really love for you to follow me! 

XOXO, Kara 

Five on Friday! {January 17th, 2014}

 

{One}

Because I'm taking an online course for this J- term, yet I'm still at school, I have a lot of time to utilize and experiment with my makeup skills! I've been snapping pics of the products I used for looks I've really been enjoying!

 {Two}

Since so many of my friends are away studying abroad this J- term, campus seems empty! Last weekend my roomie and I got all dressed up with nowhere to go! We love getting pretty!

{Three}

So… It's been a long time coming but I've finally purchased Jesus Calling, and I'm so happy about it! This little book is so fulfilling and joyous and I really enjoy reading the daily devotions and feeling closer to Jesus.

 

{Four}

I will go into more detail about this in another post, but since I've been in college I've really developed a lot of routines, and I've recently perfected my tooth care routine and store it all in this adorable caddy that matches my roommates! Can you say twinsies?!

{Five}
Check out these cute nails… I'm obsessed with glitter (how can you not be?) and decided on some Julep glitter tips matched with Essie Tart Deco! 

Looking Back... 13 Highlights of 2013

2013 was a jam packed year- the good (and mostly good), a little bit of bad, and not too much ugly. I decided to construct a list of the 13 highlights of my year, and believe me, it was hard to chose because there were so many! 

{1} Getting accepted into college. A lot of them.

{2} Going to Chicago to visit my sister

{3} Successfully completing my senior year and indulging in senior activities

{4} Graduation!

{5} Visiting the 9/11 memorial in NYC

{6} Going to Texas for the first time

{7} Going to the Taylor Swift Concert

{8} Visiting the Lake- my happy place

{9} Going to Country Fest

{10} Becoming a God Mama

{11} Becoming a real college student

{12} Starting Fearlessly Forward 

{13} Finishing my first semester of college

But most importantly... being blessed with another year of life with my dear friends and family...new and old. 

XOXO, Kara 

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Where has the time gone?!

Hey y'all!
I cannot believe how long I let this blog go without writing a post! Shame on me! But, I am happy to say... I am officially done with my first semester of college! And what a semester it was, let me tell you! It started off pretty bumpy for me, I guess you could say I had a hard time transitioning. And as I am still transitioning, it does get better. I made some friends, got involved in clubs and activities, and successfully finished out my finals! College is not easy, especially finals week (ugh!), but I have learned that you have to make the most of it. It was your decision, and it would be silly not to. I am, however, very thankful to be home from winter break! After all that hard work, it is really a nice break, and well needed at best. As I hope to make blogging a bigger priority in my life, (it is going to be one of my new years resolutions), I will be working up some new blogging ideas and hope you all bear with me as I try to make the most of this new found passion of mine!
Stay tuned for whats to come...
XOXO, Kara

Weekend Recap! {October 19th-20th}

Last weekend was a great weekend, mainly because I got to go home! As much as I love being in beautiful upstate New York, some of my favorite fall pastimes take place at home in Massachusetts. I was fortunate enough to be able to go home with my roommate- she lives 45 minutes away from me which is awesome! I also lucked out with perfect weather, and one of my favorite events, the Head of the Charles Regatta, also took place that weekend! I was stoked to say the least! So on Saturday morning my daddy and I headed into Harvard Square, got some Starbucks (this girl had to have her PSL!), and made our way to the river! I love the Head of the Charles because there are so many great companies there giving away samples of their products- and I love free samples! And the races too of course...It's just a fun event all around!

Outfit: Sparkly Dorothy red Toms, American Eagle Jeans, Old Navy top, Michael Kors bag & Watch, Alex and Ani bangles

After spending some time at the race, daddy and I made our way over to catch the last half of the Harvard football game! Then we went out for a lovely dinner at our local pub, and I went out for froyo with one of my friends who goes to college at BC! I love getting to see my friends when I'm home!

On Sunday, daddy and I went apple picking, one of my all time FAVORITE things to do during the fall! I'm also obsessed with apple cider, cider donuts, and picking pumpkins! Can you tell that fall is my favorite season?!

Nails by Julep!

Leggings and top by Old Navy, necklace by Charlotte Russe, MK bag and watch, not pictured: gray Toms

That night, my best friends and I went to Witch's Woods, my favorite halloween amusement park! The haunted hay ride is the best! I was so happy to spend a jam packed weekend full of great fun and memories with my friends and family. There's really nothing I love more! Happy fall!

XOXO, Kara