Cleaning your makeup brushes regularly should be an essential step in your beauty routine. This ensures that the application process is as seamless as possible, with expert-grade blending. In addition, it also prevents breakouts and other skin problems from occurring. Here are five essential tips that will help you pursue this correctly.
5 Brush Cleaning Tips
1. Choose the Right Cleanser
The choice of soapy solution is essential to most makeup brush cleaning routines. The right product can make all the difference in the world in terms of hygiene, as well as the overall lifespan of your beauty tools. Fortunately, there are quite a few options on the market that you can try out, and they come in a variety of formulas.
If you prefer a standard liquid formula, one brand known for its selection of cleansers you should consider is Clinique. The classic Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser retails for 18 dollars and delivers excellent results. To save a few bucks, you can also try the MAC Cosmetics Brush Cleanser. The company is known for their excellent products, and this one fits the bill.
Brush cleansers come in solid balm formulas as well. The renowned Beauty Blender brand has one, as does Japonesque, a company known for their luxe cosmetics. For the more affordable version, Makeup Academy also produces a brush cleansing balm that comes in a pot, and it can be yours for under 10 dollars.
Of course, you don’t need to purchase intricate products for this purpose. Household products work just as well, and by far the number one recommendation is the 4-dollar Johnson’s Baby No-More-Tears Shampoo. Mix it with coconut oil or apple cider vinegar to enhance its disinfectant properties to maintain proper brush hygiene all the time.
2. Use Gentle Motions
After choosing your cleanser, it’s time to apply it to the bristles. First, wet the hairs of the brush with warm water, not hot. Avoid getting moisture on the handle, as this might break down the glue that holds the beauty tool together. Now it’s time to apply the detergent you chose for the process. Massage it in gently using the palm of your hand.
If you want to invest in an additional utensil to help you with the process, a brush cleansing mat or glove is perfect for this step. Due to the wide variety of textures, you can give the bristles a deep clean and eliminate every single bit of residual makeup and dirt. Make sure to sanitize this surface regularly to maintain hygiene throughout.
3. Rinse and then Repeat
For brushes you don’t use often, a single round of washing should do the trick. The situation is different for tools you use daily to apply foundation, as well as other products. Due to the frequency of use, these collect a lot more excess. Thus, try applying the age-old saying of ‘lather, rinse, repeat’ when washing them to ensure that they are spotless.
4. Let Them Dry Properly
After the washing process is completed successfully, the brushes need to be left out to dry. Never position them with the bristles facing up, as this will cause water to seep into the glue and dismember the brush over time. To preserve the lifespan of your favorite makeup applicators, lay them flat on a towel with the hairs hanging over the edge.
This is generally a good approach, but it might damage the shape of larger and fluffier brushes. One solution to this issue would be to hang the tools to dry upside down. Secure them using hair ties on a towel rack or some other type of bar, and you will be amazed at how quickly the job will get done. Your brushes will be ready to use in no time at all.
5. Wash Brushes Often
Finally, don’t forget to wash the brushes often. According to celebrity makeup artist and beauty brand founder Bobbi Brown, face base tools such as concealer and foundation brushes or blending sponges need to be washed at least once a week, if not more often. Eyeshadow applicators are fine with just a biweekly cleanse.
For all your other tools, a monthly bath is more than enough. Sort them after the frequency of use above all else, as brushes that are indispensable in your arsenal will collect bacteria a lot faster. In addition, dirty applicators leady to patchy blending and an overall cakey look. Nobody wants that, so why not sanitize whenever necessary?
Final Thoughts
Washing beauty tools at home is simple when you have the right products on hand and master the technique. With the assistance of your favorite cleanser, as well as thoroughness and a gentle hand, the bristles of your brushes will be disinfected and ready to use over and over again. Just remember to do this as often as possible. After all, nobody wants an uninvited breakout.