Cinco Vidas

Many natural makeup brushes are made with squirrel hair.

If you regularly use brushes to apply your makeup, you know the advantages—they make it easier to control application, blend, and create a natural look, without the contamination risks of using your fingers. But when it comes to what kind of brushes to use, should you choose synthetic or animal hair?

For years the professionals have preferred animal-hair brushes, citing their softness, ability to “carry” color, and usefulness for specific natural-looking applications. But we wondered—are animals harmed in the making of animal-hair brushes? (more…)

When you’re going through chemotherapy or radiation, you have to be careful of your skin. Treatment makes it dry and sensitive, which is why we advise you to avoid any harsh ingredients in skin-care products and use only the most gentle formulas.

But what about your makeup? Again, you want to use gentle, sensitive-skin formulas that are free of toxic chemicals, but as you’re perusing your drawer of products, one more thing you may want to consider is your makeup brushes. Where did you get them? What kind are they? When was the last time you washed them?

The most important thing about your brushes is that they’re soft. And believe it or not, that could mean either natural or synthetic bristles. (more…)

If you’re going through cancer treatment, applying makeup can be risky business. One slip with a pair of dirty tweezers could set you up for a serious infection. One tug with the eyelash curler could leave you with no eyelashes at all. Suddenly that set of styling tools has gone from a harmless batch of brushes to a dangerous stash of weapons!

Okay, so we’re being a bit dramatic, but the point is, you have to be a little more careful while your immune system is waging the fight of its life. Here are a few tips for choosing the safest makeup tools to use on your fragile skin. (more…)