are you cleaning your makeup tools?
I remember back when I first started wearing makeup, I had no idea what I was doing. I put foundation on with my hands like sunscreen and lined my entire eye black. I didn't know that doing your brows was vital and I didn't know that you were supposed to wash your makeup brushes. I used the same crummy cheap brushes for a VERY long time. It got to the point that my makeup no longer went on well because they were so smooshed, caked up with makeup and the bristles started fall out. I eventually just threw them away and bought new ones.
After a few years of just throwing brushes away when they got too bad to use, I finally started thinking, "Hmm... there has got to be a better solution..." Duh. Wash them, Leah. Well here is the thing, no one told me that you were supposed to wash them. I had no idea. So this blog is intended for beginners who are just starting to play with makeup, people who don't have a friend telling them the "do's" and "don'ts" of makeup, and those who are just trying to learn more about taking better care of their makeup brushes.
So what's the deal? How often should we be washing our makeup brushes and beauty blenders? Well here is the not so fun answer: It's different for everyone. Yup!
Spoiler alert, there is no one "right" way because we all have different circumstances.
Here is the breakdown of how you should be cleaning your brushes:
If you are a makeup artist, or have clients that you are doing makeup for, you should be cleaning them after every use. You don't want to contaminate your makeup or spread any germs from one client to another; you will have to clean them every time they are used.
If you wear makeup daily (or even more than half of the week) you should ideally be washing your brushes every week. Especially your brushes that are using the most product and covering the largest areas of the face; such as foundation, concealer or powder brushes.
If you don't wear makeup everyday, or not very often, you should be washing your brushes every two weeks. This is also true for brushes you may not use very often such as eyeshadow brushes or detail brushes that may only be used here and there.
Everyone should wash their makeup brushes at a minimum of once a month. If you are someone who really is pressed for time, is forgetful, or just hates washing their brushes, make sure you dedicate at least one day a month to washing these tools. You are rubbing them all over your face, after all... and they can be extremely dirty. Not cleaning your brushes often enough effects the "flawlessness" that you get when applying your makeup. It also makes a difference in the amount of product you are using and can aggravate acne prone skin. You want to make sure that you are getting rid of all of that bacteria sitting on your brushes, getting dipped into your makeup, and then being spread on your face. Gross.
Now that you know how often you should be cleaning your makeup tools, lets talk about how you should be cleaning your makeup tools. In general, you should wet the brush, apply cleaner, rinse and repeat until the water runs clear (or no more makeup is visible) and then let air dry.
If you invest in your makeup brushes and get nice ones, you shouldn't have much trouble cleaning them. They will be well made and able to withstand the water, cleanser, and swirling motions. If you have pretty cheap brushes, they may not make it through one wash. In which case I would recommend you take the time (and money) to get a nice set that you like.
Try to avoid soaking the brush in standing water for an extended period of time. If the metal part (that connects the bristles to the handle) gets wet for a long time, it can affect the bond of the glue inside which may lead to your brush falling apart, and/or the bristles just completely coming out, one by one. I would recommend just getting them wet/rinsing them under running water.
Once your brushes are good and wet, it's time to get a cleanser. There are a bunch of options out there for cleaning your brushes. You can get a specialty brush cleanser soap, organic dish soap, or even just hand soap in a pinch. As long as you are getting the makeup and bacteria off the brush, that is the main thing that matters. I have been using the Vic Beauty Brush Cleanser with a makeup cleaner pad I got off Amazon. This brush cleanser is a natural antibacterial cleanser for brushes and makeup blenders. It is an unscented, non-abrasive formula that removes makeup residue and buildup, while prolonging the life of your favorite beauty tools. If you want to try this brush cleanser for yourself, just click the button below:
You can find these type of makeup cleaner mats almost anywhere now. They have become very popular and are available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Put a dollop of the cleanser on the brush itself and work it into the bristles. You can swirl it around the palm of your hand, massage it with your fingertips, or swirl it around the brush cleaner pad (if you have one). You can let the cleanser set for a minute if you'd like or just go ahead and start rinsing everything out.
Continue to rinse until the water runs clear or there is no more makeup visible on the brush or sponge. Squeeze, shake, or tap your brush to get all of the excess water out to speed up drying time. You can lay your brushes out flat on a towel on a level surface (like your bathroom counter) or you can hang them upside down to help the water drip out. An easy way to do this is to take small rubber elastic hair ties and make a C shape around your towel rod in your bathroom. Slide the handle of the brush through the top and bottom of the "C" and it will secure it to the towel rod. Now it can hang and dry "upside down."
If you want to take your cleaning a step further, you can also sanitize your brushes after washing them. I started adding this extra step in lately and it makes my brushes smell so clean and feel so soft! I've been using the Vic Beauty Face & Body Anti-bacterial Spray. It's formulated with a trio of good-for-your-skin ingredients like Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, and Aloe Vera to keep your skin moisturized and germ-free. It kills 99.99% of germs in less than 30 seconds and is dermatologist tested against skin irritation. If you'd like to add sanitization to your brush cleaning routine, click the button below to grab your own sanitizing face & body spray:
Don't forget, there is free shipping on every order of $75! Feel free to reach out any time if you need help with product questions, suggestions or recommendations.😊
Check out the quick video below to see this pair in action!
Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more beauty related videos.
Like the Just A Struggle Bus Mom blog? Make sure you click the button below to subscribe to my email newsletters! Stay in the know of recipes, things to do & see, local finds, kid activities, holiday inspiration, and beauty tips, tricks, tutorials and techniques!