When was the last time you gave your blusher brush a wash? What about your compact sponge? A week ago? A month ago? Never…..?
Washing make-up brushes is a pretty monotonous task. However once you get into the habit, it becomes second nature, and there is a certain satisfaction once they’re all clean.
Great…. but why should you wash your brushes regularly?
- At it’s most basic level it’s the clean and sanitary thing to do. Dirty brushes carry bacteria, and bacteria multiple rapidly. So to avoid spreading that pesky spot or skin condition you need to keep everything fresh and clean.
- The other perhaps less obvious reason is to get maximum results during application. A foundation brush that is slick with over a fortnights worth of product and skin oils isn’t going to give you that flawless finish, you’ll have to work harder to spread the foundation and blend brush marks. You’ll also find you waste product as a lot of it will be retained by the saturated fibres.
- To get the true colour from your products. A dirty brush can affect the colours of your eyeshadows and foundations because as you lift and apply fresh product you’re mixing in the old oxidised colours clinging to the dirty brush. This will make blending messy and uneven.
- To extend the life of your brushes. A regularly cleaned shadow brush can easily last you up to five years. A dirty brush, sodden with makeup can mildew and even rot. The fibres can fall out and lose shape. Ultimately you will have to replace it a lot sooner if you don’t look after it.
My kit is washed after every use and I normally spot clean (not a substitute for proper washing) during as well…. but what about my own brushes, the ones I use personally on a daily basis?
As a general rule I give everything a good deep clean every week. I own all manner of branded brush cleansers (Estee Lauder’s is a favourite) however these don’t come cheap and there are definitely more affordable options out there.
White soaps are an excellent alternative, Dove & Simple are two favourites. I prefer the Simple though as it’s completely unperfumed and doesn’t leave a soapy scent on the brush fibres. Mixed with some luke warm water these are also mild enough to use on natural hair, without damaging it or shortening the life span of the brush.
Always remember to swirl the brush downwards either directly into the bar or into a lather in the palm of your hand. Take care not to immerse the ferrule (the metal bit just beyond the brush head) as this area contains the glue holding the brush head together. Water will break down the glue, even in the most expensive of brushes, resulting in hair loss or worse, a broken brush.
Once your brush is rinsed clean, take it between your thumb and fore finger and gently squeeze the excess water out. Now is a good time to smooth problem brushes into shape (like the MAC 168 & 217). Never be tempted to rub your brushes on a towel to dry the excess off or even worse a hairdryer, this might be quicker but it will damage the fibres and encourage splaying.
Now place the brush on it’s side to dry, ideally with the brush part hanging off the edge of something. You’re doing this to allow the air to circulate the head 360 degrees, resulting in an even drying process which is better for retaining the original brush shape. Don’t be tempted to leave them drying on a towel, this will encourage mildew growth and bacteria, defeating the purpose of cleaning them in the first place.
On the odd ocassion white soap can have problems lifting strong shadow colours from brushes (most recently MAC’s Bright Future dyed my 239 yellow…), in this instance I simply use a little drop of olive oil, swirling the brush in a few drops of if this is normally enough to shift the most stubborn of stains. You’ll want to rinse the olive oil out with another little bit of mild soap after.
Make sure your brushes are 100% dry before putting them away (I normally leave mine overnight) in either a brush roll or upright in a pen pot/ cup.
Soooo……what are you waiting for stinkers?? Get washing!! 
xox
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes Miss! I keep looking at my pot of brushes and thinking – get them washed you fithy thing! xxx
Ohh i was just wondering how to wash my new brushes! thanks
xx
I have a bottle of baby shampoo in my bathroom storage box purely for the purposes of cleaning brushes. I refuse to spend £15-ish on a branded brush cleaner when this does the same thing for a tenth of the price. I'd rather spend my cash on things to make the brushes dirty!
I've got a pretty big tidying/sorting to do list for this evening and washing my makeup brushes is definitely on there.
Know what I will be doing this evening…. washing my brushes! I usually use an antibacterial facial wash but the bar of soap is a good idea.xx
i good tip is to use dog shampoo as opposed to baby shampoo. dog shampoo isn't like human shampoo, it cleans without stripping any oils. So is is actually better suited
I usually use a drop of shampoo. Usually whatever cheap shampoo is hanging round the back of the shelves in our bathroom. I really like the aldi one at the moment. I've been having trouble cleaning my foundation brush (I use oil-free foundation) but I think I'll give the olive oil trick a go! Thanks Arlene!