How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

It's the step we all-too-often skip but one of the most important processes to ensure your makeup application is as flawless and hygienic as possible. 

We use makeup brushes multiple times on our face and in our products but when is the last time you cleaned your brushes? Best practice is probably to wash them after every use but who really has time for that?

I try and clean my brushes every few weeks if I can. If I find I'm breaking out or my makeup feels a bit muddy, it's usually sign that a brush cleaning is long overdue. It's so easy to clean a beauty blender sponge because they're supposed to be damp when using them. Brushes have to be totally dry though, and that's when cleaning them becomes a pain. 

Even so, it's important to keep them clean so that they last longer, but also because a clean brush is the best way to apply perfect makeup. Luckily, cleaning them is really easy.

1. Assemble your brushes 

Personally, I like to wash all of my brushes at the same time. Even if I haven't used the brush since the last cleaning, I'll do it with the others because most of us store ours in the open air and dust can settle on the bristles.

2. Rinse under luke-warm water

Rinse off all your brushes with luke warm water. Try not to let the water get too hot otherwise you can melt the glue that is holding your brush bristles in place

3. Fill your palm with specialist brush cleanser or baby shampoo

I don't actually have specialist brush cleaning products because I'm broke so I make do with what I can get my hands onto on the cheap. I like to use a very mild baby shampoo that isn't going to dry out my brush bristles but will foam enough to get between the fibres and remove stubborn makeup.

4. Swirl your brush in your palm 

This will help get the makeup out from between the bristles. Don't worry if your palm starts to look filthy - the more product coming out, the cleaner your brushes will be. Keep swirling until the cleanser/soap is running clear.

5. Rinse brush under running tap

Try to avoid getting the piece holding the bristles wet if you can. The glue holding the brush together can't take water or heat very well and keeping this dry will help your brushes last as long as possible.

6. Squeeze out excess liquid and leave to dry tilted downwards

It's important that none of the damp or leftover water makes it's way into the top part of the brush with the glue. I use a wooden spoon and some paper towels so that all my brushes lie at a tilted angle. If you have a two-sided brush like my foundation brush, leave this flat so that neither side is compromised. I then like to put mine on a tray in front of the dehumidifier so that they dry as quickly as possible. Try not to leave them out in the sun to dry as this can melt the glue.

I hope this was helpful to some of you. As we approach Spring, I'm taking a moment to spring clean my makeup collection. There's nothing better than fresh makeup!

Tabitha 

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