Makeup use often gets the bad reputation of causing acne by clogging the pores. While this may be true for some people, the real culprit could be your makeup brushes. Or rather the fact that your make up brushes have become a breeding ground for bacteria leading to acne.
Having the clean makeup brushes is the backbone of your make up regimen. Your brushes need to be kept in optimum condition so that your make up application is flawless. Keeping your brushes clean is a key part of having them in optimum condition Cleaning your makeup brushes is the behind the scenes part of your makeup routine, which is not glamorous but has a significant effect on the finished product.
Cleaning makeup brushes is not fun, especially if you have a lot of them-I do so getting into the habit of scheduling when you clean them can reduce your anxiety and guilt of seeing dirty brushes. Cleaning your brushes does not have to be a full-fledged event each time. You can have daily maintenance and weekly spots cleans to tide you over for the deeper clean when you have more time.
Why you need to clean your makeup your brushes regularly
If you are on this blog you probably have a keen interest in skincare and want to have flawless skin . Using dirty brushes can completely undo all the work you have done with your skincare routine and wreck your skin.
You may be wondering? what is all the fuss about cleaning makeup brushes? How much damage can dirty brushes cause really? Well, let me tell you
Less chances of acne and breakouts
With repeated use makeup brushes collects skin cells, dirt and oils which become a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria. Poorly cleaned brushes or badly cleaned brushes are not a good idea
Smoother make up makeup application
Repeated use of makeup products without cleaning your make up brush means you brush will be clogged with makeup residue. Over time the residue will affect subsequent makeup application making the end result uneven and streakier. This will be even worse when you use highly pigmented and brightly coloured products, with each addition making the result look muddy and undefined.
Make your brushes last longer
If you want your tools to last longer, taking care of them is part of the equation. So cleaning your makeup brushes frequently can preserve the integrity of the bristles especially if they are made from natural hair. If you like expensive luxury brushes as much as I do then keeping them clean makes them last much longer and saves you money.
So if you need to keep your skin flawless have a full slay and have your brushes last much longer you need to keep your makeup brushes clean.
So how often should you clean your brushes?
Most dermatologists suggest that we clean our makeup tools on a weekly basis to avoid bacteria build-up. However, if you have oil, acne-prone skin or notice you have more acne than normal then you need to clean your brushes more frequently. This includes disinfecting them after every use.
Foundation and concealer brushes need to be washed weekly this also includes brushes which are used to apply other cream and liquid products.
Eye shadow, blush and other powder brushes can be cleaned less frequently – bi-monthly is fine since powers are less likely to be a breeding ground for bacteria.
For professional artists, cleaning your brush is extremely important and you must wash each brush after every client.
Types of brush cleaning
There are different methods to clean your make up brushes irrespective of the type of bristles they are made from. The different methods depend on the amount of time you have available and the frequency.
To determine the best method to clean your makeup the material their bristle are made of because different brush bristles have different needs. Natural hair brushes are more delicate while synthetic brushes are hardier.
Dry method
This is what you should do on a daily basis. After each use wipe of your makeup brush on a dry microfibre cloth to remove any leftover product. This daily removal of the excess product allows your brush to remain relatively dry so is less of a breeding ground for bacteria. Do not use a paper towel or tissues because some of them may break off and remain inside brush bristles. There are wipes specially designed for the daily disinfection of your brushes so those may be an option.
Spot cleaning /disinfection
This is in-between the deep clean and the daily cleanse and should be done on a weekly basis. Here you use an alcohol-based liquid cleanser to clean your make-up brushes. Depending on the specific product you get you can spray or dip your brush bristles into the solution then wipe them off on a microfibre brush to remove the residue. Repeat this until you don’t see a residue on the towel. The benefit of using an alcohol-based cleanser is that it sanitizes your brushes and dries quickly as well. Do not use this on natural hair bristles, the alcohol will denature and damage them.
Deep cleanse
This is the be-all and end-all of all cleansing method and should be done monthly at the basic minimum for all your makeup brushes. For the deep clean you can use a mild shampoo, conditioner or a special solid or liquid brush shampoo. Using the right type of cleanser is important so your bristles do not get damaged or frayed.
Brush Shampoo Recommendations
How to clean your brushes
When cleaning your brushes work make sure you work with their shape so that they do not become distorted. Do not wash them too vigorously otherwise the bristles may break or spay out reducing their ability to perform when dry. To minimize that from happening if the brush is round or domed use a swirling motion when you wash, while for flat brushes use a side to side motion.
Choose a cleanser designed for your specific brush type, especially for natural bristles brushes which come with especially recommended cleansers.
For the cleaning proper you need a bowl of Luke warm water, a clean white towel, and mild shampoo or brush cleanser.
- Wet your brush under running water to remove loose particles of dust and makeup
- Next, place the pea-size amount of brush cleanser into the bowl of lukewarm water or the palm of your hand.
- Gently swirl the brush around in circles over the bottom of the bowl or massage the bristles in your palm
- Don’t press so hard that the brush fans out completely , maintain the integrity of the bristles and keep swirling until there is no residue
- Swirl and rinse, swirl and rinse until the brush is clean and wash under the tap until the water runs clear.
- Once your brush is clean and rinsed, gently squeeze it with the towel to remove excess water.
- Let the brush dry with its bristles hanging off the edge of a counter. This allows it maintain its shape and get ventilation from all side.
Do not dry your brushes on a towel it can lead to mildew forming on the bristles.
While washing makes sure you keep the ferrule (the metal part that joins the brush head to the handle) dry, otherwise the water and soap loosen the glue and lead to the bristles coming off. Likewise do not dry the brush vertically with the brush head at the top for the same reason.
Brush cleaning tools
Apart from soap and water there are some tools which can help facilitate the cleaning of your brushes by making it easier to remove/loosen dirt from the bristles?
no productsVera Mona Colour switch
This cleans your makeup brushes without soap and water. It removes the residue using friction as the bristles scrape against the sponge. Just make sure to wash the sponge to prevent bacterial build up in it as well.
2X Sigma Spa brush cleaning glove
The Sigma 2x cleansing glove proves the surface friction so that soap and water are able to deep clean your brushes. One side of the glove is designed for smaller eye and lip brushes while the other is ideal for larger, fluffier face brushes.
Electric brush cleansers
These electric brushes are available from several brands and can be used to clean brushes of different sizes using a spinning motion. Electric cleaning brushes also dry your brushes once they are clean so you hit two birds with one stone and get a clean and dry brush.
So are you one of those who already clean their brushes in line with dermatologist recommendations ? or are you one of those that need an extra push? Personally, I wash my brushes weekly, using baby shampoo or the beauty blender brush cleaner because I have oily and acne-prone skin. Do you have any brush cleaner recommendations, not on the list? let me know in the comments
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