When was the last time you’ve cleaned your makeup brushes?
Let’s admit, we all tend to neglect this rather boring chore… In fact, according to recent surveys, 39% off makeup brush users cleans them less regularly than once per month, and 22% admitted to NEVER cleaning their makeup brushes…
Just imagine all of the bacteria harvesting on all of your makeup brushes if you aren't doing this!
It’s important to clean your makeup brushes regularly, below we will show you how to clean them and why it is super important to start making this your monthly chore or weekly chore depending on how much makeup you wear.
Why should you clean your makeup brushes?
The answer is simple, your makeup will look better on when using clean makeup brushes (clean makeup brushes = flawless application) and not to mention your brushes will last longer.
If your foundation brush is washed regularly this prevents the brushes bristles from clumping and helps you create a flawless look with your makeup brush every time.
Unlike other makeup tools like beauty blenders that need to be thrown every 3 months, if your makeup brushes are properly washed and looked after they can last for years.
When you regularly clean your makeup brushes you are also making sure the bacteria that is transferred from your face to your brushes are removed. This helps prevent acne and other skin conditions.
Cleaning your makeup brushes is super important, use these steps to make sure you keep your brushes in mint condition for years to come. Don't rush these cleaning steps and ruin your makeup brushes like above.
Here's a step by step guide how to wash and dry your makeup brushes the right way!
Follow these seven easy makeup brush cleaning steps below.
1. Dampen ONLY the brushes bristles with the lukewarm water.
Try to keep the handle tilted to prevent water getting into the glue and the wood (handle). This will help to prevent glue from loosening up and breaking the bond between the handle and the bristles.
Don’t soak the brushes in water - this will loosen up the glue that holds the bristles in place. This will also cause the paint to dry & crack.
2. Place a drop of your preferred cleanser onto the palm of your clean hand or use a solid gentle soap bar (we prefer the organic green tea & olive oil one) instead.
3. Swirl brush (bristles) onto the soap bar (or a palm of your hand) until soapy. Squeeze the dirty water of brush bristles. Run only the bristles under running water.
4. Gently massage the tips of the brush (bristles only) in your palm to double cleans it.
5. Squeeze the access dirt and water out of the brush bristles.
6. Rinse the bristles throughly under running water.
Tilt the bristles down to prevent water getting on the glue and brush handle.
7. Squeeze out the access moisture with clean towel.
How to dry your makeup brushes?
Don’t place wet makeup brushes to dry in a cup/ brush holder, bristles up or down.
This will damage the bristle shape, loosening up the glue that holds bristles in place and the water excess from the wet bristles will make the wooded brush handle to expand, damaging handle and cracking the paint on it.
Instead lay down makeup brushes on a clean towel and let it air dry.
If you can, place the brushes on the edge of the table/ chest of drawers/ etc. with only the handle on the towel and the bristles in the air.
Or alternatively, fold towel under the brushes, so the brush bristles would be placed in the air (as shown in the picture above). This will help keep the bristles in the original shape, prevent from water getting onto the glue and brush handle.
Leave brushes to COMPLETELY dry before using it again. (Usually it takes around 5-7 hours for bigger brushes and up to 2 hours for smaller brushes.
We recommend to wash brushes before the bed time, so it’s clean & dry, & ready to be used the next morning.
How often should you clean your makeup brushes?
When it comes to makeup brushes, how often you should clean them really depends on how often you use them. If you use them every day, then you should clean them at least once a week. But if you only use them once in awhile, then once a month should suffice.
The reason why you need to clean your makeup brushes is because they can collect a lot of dirt and bacteria over time. And when you use them on your face, that dirt and bacteria can then transfer onto your skin and cause breakouts. So it's really important to keep them clean!
So follow our makeup brush cleaning steps above to help you keep your brushes in the best possible condition.
Let us know below if you found these tips helpful!