Everything You Wanted To Know About Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

• #Why do you need to clean makeup brushes?
• #What will you need for the job?
• #Steps of the cleaning process
• #Maintenance of makeup brushes

If you’re someone who puts on makeup regularly (or even a makeup enthusiast or collector), you’ve probably got a lot of brushes, and of different kinds, in your makeup kit. Right from the powder brushes to eyeshadow brushes, the variety available for doing your makeup can seem quite endless. Then there’s the beauty blender too, that egg-shaped pretty little sponge that has revolutionized the way makeup is applied, allowing you to blend cream, powder or even liquid formulas seamlessly into your skin.

#Why do you need to clean makeup brushes?

You already know how important your makeup brushes are if you’ve been using them for some time now. But why exactly is it so important to clean them from time to time, even if they’re not kept out in the open? Your face goes through a lot in the day when you’re out there. However, it is not just the dust and pollution that affects your face, dead skin cells and bacteria can clog your skin pores as well, not allowing it to breathe.

Not cleaning your makeup brushes regularly can lead to bacteria building up on them, which then gets transferred onto your skin when you use the brushes. This kind of bacteria build-up can lead to acne and breakouts on your face. Not just that, but the build up of product on your makeup brushes can ruin the bristles as well, affecting not just their shelf life but also their efficiency in application. 

• How often should you clean the brushes?

It needs to be understood that maintaining a balance in how frequently you clean your brushes is necessary. Cleaning them too often can lead to the bristles, and hence the brush, getting spoiled. However, the brushes need to be cleaned and disinfected at least once a month. Those brushes which are used near the eyes need to be washed more often than the others, twice a month, at least.

Cleaning the brushes regularly keeps the product and dirt from building up on them, thereby maintaining their effectiveness, cleanliness and even extending their lifespan.

#What will you need for the job?

While just holding the brushes under the tap is still better than not cleaning them at all, you’d want to do a better job if you’re going to do it at all. To do so, there are certain tools and products that can help you cleanse your makeup brushes much more effectively. The things you’ll need to keep handy include a bottle of olive oil and a gentle liquid antibacterial soap (harsh ones can spoil the bristles on your brushes).

You could also opt for those professional makeup brush cleansers if you’re not looking to make too much of a fuss out of it. Keeping a comb with you allows you to give the brush a much deeper cleansing by running the comb through the bristles. Using baby shampoos or conditioners also helps you keep the bristles nice and soft. There are also special brush cleansing gloves and mats available in the market that make the job easier for you.

#Steps of the cleaning process

The first thing you do is wet the sponge or the bristles of your makeup brush under lukewarm water. Then take some of the brush cleansing liquid or soap onto your palms or in a bowl. Then, dip the bristles in the liquid and twirl the brush a few times. Rub the bristles or the sponge in between your fingers gently so as to get all of the product or debris out from it.

It always helps to add a few drops of olive oil to the soap or the brush cleansing liquid. This helps get any oil-based product out from the brush or sponge as well. Then, hold the brush or sponge under the tap till all the soap and debris are removed from it. Squeeze out the remaining water gently and straighten up the bristles (you can even run a comb through the bristles in order to do this). Repeat the process with all of your makeup brushes before keeping them for drying. Always keep or hang the brushes with their bristles facing downwards. You can even use a blow-dryer to get them to dry (although we’re not very supportive of the idea unless you’re using the dryer on a low setting).

#Maintenance of makeup brushes

Even apart from cleansing them regularly, there are other ways in which you can maintain the makeup brushes in optimal condition. Always keep the brushes dry and with the tips facing upwards. Keep the brushes stored together in a well ventilated area and keep disinfecting them from time to time as well. However, if you notice that the bristles have turned hard or have started to fray or lose their shape, know that it is time that you throw the brush away and buy yourself a new one.