MAKEUP BRUSH CLEANING TIPS
You have your daily makeup routine, but do you have a regular makeup brush cleaning routine? Many people don’t realize just how important it is to clean your brushes regularly. When you let makeup pile up on your brushes, it can cause hygiene issues, and it can also affect the quality of your makeup application.
Here are some of the most important reasons why you should be cleaning your makeup brushes on a regular basis.
Your brushes accumulate bacteria if not cleaned
When you don’t wash your brushes, they naturally accumulate bacteria and dirt from the environment around them. A dirty brush can be s a breeding ground for nasty bacteria.
A dirty brush is more likely to irritate your skin
When you don’t wash your brushes, they become caked with makeup. When this happens, your brush is no longer as soft or pliable as when you first used it. The caked-up makeup makes your brushes feel harsh on the skin and can be irritating.
Dirty brushes make it difficult to get the makeup look you want
Blending is one of the most important steps in achieving a beautiful makeup look. But it’s very hard to blend properly when you are using dirty brushes. When you have makeup built up on your brushes, your shade will be a blend of all the buildup colours already on your brush. Clean brushes will make it much easier to achieve the flawless look you want.
Dirty brushes can contaminate your makeup
When your brush is not regularly cleaned, it collects bacteria and dirt. Then, when you dip your brush into your makeup, the brush bacteria can get into the makeup product. Once the bacteria is in your makeup product, it is in an environment where bacteria can grow very easily.
It’s also important to note that you should always throw your skincare and makeup products away after a certain period of time, as they have a very limited lifespan. Mascara and liquid eyeliner are typically only good for approximately three months. Knowing when to get rid of these products should play into your overall strategy for keeping your makeup clean and healthy.
Cleaning brushes makes them last longer
Your brushes are an investment, so it’s important to take care of them to make the most of your hard earned money. When you clean your brushes, it ensures that they will maintain their quality and won’t be bent or damaged by makeup buildup.
How to care for your brushes
Washing your brushes on a regular basis may seem like a chore at first, but it’s actually quite simple. Once you make it a part of your regular routine, you will wonder why you never did so before.
To start, you’ll need to find a gentle dish soap or you can DIY your own natural cleaner. We shared our favourite Natural DIY Formula below for you.
- Work the brushes gently into the soap, moving the bristles in different directions so soap fully soaks into each bristle from all sides
- Run brush under lukewarm water, gently pushing soap and water out of the brush using your fingers
- Run brush under water until all the soap and makeup has come out, and then gently press the bristles of the brush together until all the excess water has come out
- Repeat this process until all the makeup is out
- Use your fingers to reshape brush and leave out on a clean washcloth to dry.
- You should clean your brushes two to four times per month, depending on how often you use them.
Clean makeup brushes are part of a healthy home environment and skincare routine. They are worth the small amount of time it takes to make this happen. It’s about self-care!
The Formula: Natural Makeup Brush Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup distilled water
- 2 TBSP vodka or rubbing alcohol or Witch Hazel
- ½ tsp sweet almond or olive oil (recommended for real hair brushes)
- 2 tsp castile soap or dish soap
- 20 drops tea tree essential oil
- 8 oz glass bottle
- Pour all of the ingredients, except the water, into the glass bottle. Swirl the mixture to combine everything.
- Add the distilled water to the bottle until it’s almost full, leaving about ½ inch of headspace. Shake well to combine.
- If you put the mixture in a glass spray bottle this mixture can be used to spritz and rinse brushes after each use for an easier clean.
Additional Tips
- Don’t prop the brushes up to dry, as the water can drip into the glue on the handle.
- The brushes should not be soaked, as this can degrade the glue and loosen the bristles.
- Since this brush cleaning solution is mostly water, this solution will have a short shelf life. Discard the solution and make a new solution frequently.