You have makeup brushes to thank for flawless foundation application and properly contoured cheeks. Because of that we cannot forget about the buildup of dirt and oils on those brushes which can cause skin breakouts and possible rashes. But this buildup can disappear with a weekly cleaning of your makeup brushes. But how often should you be cleaning the makeup brushes? Well, for makeup brushes you use on your face (i.e. foundation and concealer) you would clean these brushes once a week. When it comes to brushes you use for eye makeup, you should clean in between uses. However, you should WASH these brushes on a monthly basis.
METHOD OF CLEANING:
- What is the proper way to clean your brushes:
- Squeeze 2-3 drops of a gentle shampoo (i.e. baby shampoo) into a glass or mug and fill it with warm water;
- Wisk your brushes in the soapy water, then massage the brush bristles to get the rest of the grime;
- After getting the grime from your brushes, take clean water squeeze the water out;
- Lay the brushes on a flat on a clean dish towel to dry
The most potent brush cleaner are the ones you have in your kitchen, for example Dawn dishwashing liquid. This soap will remove almost anything. Dawn will also clean your makeup sponges. Just let your sponges soak in a glass with Dawn and water. Then rinse with warm water, dab on a clean paper towel and repeat. Finally, place the sponges in a microwave for a few seconds to rid of the bacteria.
As soon as you see your makeup brushes are not getting as clean like they once were, it may be time to replace them. As a rule of thumb, replace your makeup brushes every three months.
With very fluffy brushes, i.e. powder brushes, you will see they are ready to be cleaned based on product build-up at the base of the brush or the bristles.
Beware not to over clean your makeup brushes. Overly cleaned brushes will not pick up product very well. And do not dry your brushes in a vertical position. It will make water leak into the ferrule (the piece which joins the bristles to the wand) and then loosen the glue, causing loss of bristles. Brushes do a horrible job when they become too pinched or squashed.
These are just a few steps to clean your makeup brushes. The main point is to make sure you keep your makeup brushes clean as they help prevent skin breakouts and assist in a better application of your makeup.