Quality makeup brushes don't stay quality forever. Although they have longevity, we owe half their lifespan to how they are made, and the other half to how we care for them. So yes ladies, it's 50% our responsibility!
We appreciate cleaning makeup brushes may not seem like the most glamorous of tasks, but keeping them clean and sanitized is an essential step. Just think about all the dirt and grime that accumulates on those bristles, and how terrible it can be for our skin. Clogged pores and breakouts are one of the main concerns that lead from this, and lets face it, we can really do without them!
You may have come across a variety of brush cleansers and various tutorials which go through the process- but it needn't be that complicated. Today, we're simplifying things by showing you a super easy way to clean your makeup brushes, and by using some basic beauty buys!
Check Your Brushes
The first thing to consider is your actual brush collection . Looking at the brushes you use everyday, just ask yourself this little question: are they of a suitable quality for daily use? Or, do they look like something the dog's chewed up? Be brutal here. Brushes that are years and years old really shouldn't be touching your face, especially if you're not in the habit of regular cleaning. If you need some brush recommendations, 6 of our personal favorites are featured below:
So, that's the brush situation out of the way - now for the cleaning! All you need to grab is some of items below, save some time aside at once or twice a week, and work on revealing super clean, new looking brushes. Shall we begin?
What You Will Need
- A bar of soap
- A Sponge
- A Pure or Mild Shampoo
- Specific Cleanser
- A Bowl of Water
- A Towel
Method
Soap: Cleaning with a bar of soap is much easier than messing with thick gels or concentrated liquids, but make sure you use ones packed with natural ingredients and are as natural as possible. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and wet the brush bristles. Swirl the brush onto the bar of soap until it lathers up, then rinse the brush in lukewarm water. Repeat until you feel enough product has been removed - two or three times over the soap should be enough if you get into a regular routine. When rinsing your brushes, try to avoid getting any metal handles into the water - we don't our lovely clean brushes suffering any tarnishing! Gently squeeze out an excess water, lay them flat on a clean towel, and allow to air dry for at least 6 to 8 hours.
Light Shampoo and a Sponge: Take a clean sponge and wet it lightly using lukewarm water as above. Take a mild, gentle shampoo - the ones which are used for babies are the best! We personally love Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns, but you could just get double use out of one of your shampoos packed with natural ingredients (such as the Alterna Bamboo range). Wet your brush and squeeze a small amount of shampoo onto the sponge, and swirl your brush on the sponge. Once a rich lather has formed, rinse your brush with lukewarm water. Repeat if necessary, and rinse thoroughly to ensure no traces of shampoo are left. Once again, squeeze out the excess water and lay them flat on a clean towel to dry.
Beautyblenders: Another popular form of 'brush' for makeup application is the hugely loved Beautyblender. The process for these is just like cleaning an actual brush, except you can get a dedicated cleanser for these to ensure they stay in optimum condition. So if you're a Beautyblender worshipper- give your favorite sponge a bath with this newly-formulated Liquid Blendercleanser. Made especially for soaking out tough stains, the demineralized water and natural sea salt are earth-friendly and keep your Beautyblender - and brushes too- squeaky clean. Using a damp Beautyblender, press on the pump nozzle, distributing cleanser onto the surface of the sponge. Lightly squeeze and work into a lather. Rinse and repeat if needed. Remove any excess water and place Beautyblender in a clean ventilated area for drying. This cleanser works miracles on soaking out tough stains that have built up over periods of time too!
And there you have it. An couple of easy and inexpensive methods to make sure your makeup brushes are kept clean and bacteria free. Now all you have to do is remember to do this on a weekly basis for optimum results! (But we'll let you off if you slip a little...). Remember, cleaning your brushes is vital in helping preserve your makeup brushes...
Remember, cleaning your brushes is vital in helping preserve your makeup brushes. If you feel the need to update your own brush collection, check out our tools page.
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