It’s Time to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

How often should you be cleaning your makeup brushes? After every use.

…in an ideal world, that is. Brushes, especially when damp, are prime breeding ground for bacteria, and collect lots of dirt and oil. While cleaning them after every use is ideal, most of us just don’t have the time.

What you can do instead: sanitise them with a rinse-free cleaner after every use and do a weekly deep cleaning with:

The way to wash your brush is pretty much the same no matter your choice of cleaning solution. Run your brush under lukewarm water, with the brush facing downwards. Try not to wet the the part where the bristles meet the handle as you might ruin the glue after many washes.

Gently rub your brush over the bar of soap to rid makeup and dirt; do this until your brush is free of visible makeup.

Wash your brush the same way you would with a dish washing liquid, but with a few drops of baby shampoo instead. For an added antiseptic benefit add a few drops of tea tree oil.

Johnson’s Baby Shampoo is a favourite amongst beauty gurus; get it from your nearest pharmacy.

SOURCE: ecotronics.co.uk

You can also opt for specially formulated brush cleansing liquids. The Liquid Blender Cleanser is a liquid brush cleaner from the makers of the beautyblender sponge. This paraben-, sulfate-,  phthalate-free cleanser is suitable for washing brushes and sponges.

Buy it from Sephora.

SOURCE: beautyblender.com

These are suitable for cleaning brushes with synthetic hairs. Run it under lukewarm water to rinse the brush, then add a few drops of hand sanitiser or dish washing liquid to a shallow bowl of lukewarm water. Swish your brush around until the makeup and dirt are gone. Finally, rinse off under lukewarm water.

To keep your brush hairs nice and soft, add one part extra virgin olive oil to two parts of dish washing liquid.

If you’re looking for a quickie (though less thorough) cleaner for after every use, then try a spray-on cleanser. Since you won’t need to rinse them, your drying time is a lot shorter.

Try the Too Cool for School Art Class Brush Cleanser Mist from Hermo.

SOURCE: vutydesign.com

Washing your brushes with a solution of two parts water and one part vinegar will disinfect your brushes. Once you’ve disinfected your brushes, wash it with a baby shampoo.

• Lay them on a table, but propped up with a kitchen towel so that the bristles don’t touch the table. This allows them to dry naturally. Keep the room ventilated or with the fan on.
• You can also dry your brushes in front of an air conditioner or a heater, although be warned that hot temperatures might eventually wear down the glue on your bristles.
• If you’re in a rush, use a blow dryer on a cool setting.