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If you use makeup daily or even every so often, you can guarantee that your makeup brushes will need to be cleaned. Any type of makeup can clog your brushes, including water or oil-based products, and powdered makeup.
Brushes can lose performance if there is a makeup build-up on the bristles. But the most alarming issue is the fact that bacteria can also cling and multiply on the brush. No one wants to spread bacteria over their face and neck, especially when you’ve just cleaned your face.
There are many different types of brushes that you can use to apply makeup. These include foundation and concealer brushes, blush brushes that give you a little bit extra, bronzer and contouring brushes, and many more are available to purchase.
This guide will help you to clean your brushes correctly and get them back to their optimal performance so that you can prolong the life of each of your brushes.
Method For Cleaning Makeup Brushes
1. Choose the brush you want to clean. It’s best to clean your brush in either the bathroom or kitchen, as you will require running water. Preferably clean your brushes in the bathroom, as you will need a small amount of shampoo or soap. You’ll also need a sheet of kitchen towel at the end of the process.
2. Firstly, wet the brush bristles under running water. Warm water is best. Don’t use hot water, as heat should not go near where the hairs are glued onto the brush.
3. When wetting the bristles, make sure the water doesn’t cover the top, where the bristles are glued onto the rest of the brush.
4. Squeeze a little bit of shampoo or soap onto the palm of your hand. Shampoo works the best, especially when you have used a variety of makeup types.
5. Then gently swirl the bristles in the shampoo or soap to create a gentle lather on the bristles.
6. You are now ready to rinse the shampoo or soap off. Place the bristles under running water. This water should be the same temperature you used to wet the bristles.
7. Make sure water doesn’t get onto the glue area.
8. Once you’ve removed all of the shampoo or soap, clasp the bristles gently to apply a little bit of pressure – but not too hard – to help remove excess water from the bristles. Make sure you don’t pull the bristles when you do this, as they might fall out.
9. To dry, place them on a piece of kitchen towel. The brush needs to lay flat.
10. Dry times vary depending on the conditions, but it’s best to allow them to dry overnight to ensure they are thoroughly dry before you use them.
When To Clean Your Brushes
Ideally, every day. However, this is not practical for many people with busy lives, and it would become a chore having to clean them every day.
It would be best to do them at least once a week. Maybe cleaning your brushes on a Sunday night is your best option, so that they are ready to go for the whole week. This also gives you a routine and will help you to remember to clean your brushes!
You can clean more than one brush at a time. The best way to do that is, once you have lathered each brush in shampoo or soap, just lay it flat while you do the same to the other brushes. Then rinse them off one after the other. This will save you time.
If you use your brushes for liquid makeup, you should clean these at least twice a week. That is if you have spare time.
Why Should You Clean Makeup Brushes?
Makeup brushes can contain a lot of bacteria, and the more makeup you put onto the bristles, the higher the number of bacteria. Another reason why you should clean your makeup brushes is due to the build-up of makeup in the bristles. This will affect the performance of the brush and won’t give you the finish you were hoping for.
If you use powdered makeup that’s applied directly to the bristles by dipping the brush into the product, a clean brush is paramount. Each time you dip your unclean brush in the product, the bacteria is going into the makeup.
Some makeup contains antibacterial properties. Although, after a while, these become redundant and won’t work to keep your makeup-free from bacteria. This is why a clean brush is always needed.
Bacteria that can be found on makeup brushes include e.coli and streptococcus. Putting these types of bacteria onto your face and neck is not a good idea, but you can easily prevent it by regularly cleaning your makeup brushes.
So, set yourself a reminder to clean your makeup brushes at a time that suits your schedule! Start cleaning them to ensure you get the most out of your brushes.
