Thanks to the beauty gurus here at Sweet Lemon Magazine, you already know the six must-have makeup brushes to have handy at your vanity. These brushes will keep you looking flawless and, if you invest in the right kind, they will last for the long haul. Dare I ask: have you ever cleaned those brushes of yours? (Confession: I didn’t until recently!) The ugly truth is that makeup brushes are breeding grounds for bacteria with your dead skin, old makeup, and excess oil clogging the bristles day after day. Not enough to convince you to clean your makeup brushes on a regular basis? Then maybe it helps to know that cleaning your brushes will prolong the life of your brushes and, as a result, ensure that the investment is worthwhile!
- First, wash your hands. After all, we are trying to keep bacteria at bay!
- Run your brush under lukewarm tap water to rinse out any excess makeup. Keep the brush facing downward to prevent any water from getting in the handle and loosening the glue that holds the brush together.
- Wet the palm of your hand with water, or fill a shallow bowl with water, and squirt a pea size to dime size of shampoo in the center, depending on the size of the brush. (See below for makeup brush cleaner recommendations.)
- Gently swirl the brush around in a circular motion to loosen the makeup, dirt, and oils.
- Rinse the brush under running water, gently squeezing the excess water from the brush.
- Lay the brush flat on a wash cloth, reshaping if needed, to dry overnight. (Tip: Make sure you clean your brushes after you’ve already applied your makeup for the day!)
Makeup brush cleaner recommendations: I use the BareMinerals Well-Cared for Conditioning Shampoo ($14.00) because it’s a gentle cleanser and also provides deep-conditioning, which helps prolong the life of my brushes and keeps them soft. Trying to save money and prefer to use products you have on hand? Any gentle shampoo or baby shampoo can be just as effective!
Want to go the extra step and prevent the daily build-up of bacteria? It doesn’t hurt to spray your brushes daily with a brush-cleaner spray. Sephora makes a spray (starting at $6.00) that disinfects your brushes (no rinsing needed!) after daily makeup application.
In the end, cleaning your brushes = less grime on your brushes, less bacteria on your face, and less potential for breakouts!
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