Clean makeup brushes is a step that is all too often overlooked. To ensure that the application of your products is even and that your skin is healthy, it is important to wash them at least once a week, if not more, for concealer brushes, fond of complexion and lips. Depending on how many brushes and sponges you have, the task can quickly turn into a chore. Discover all the possible techniques to clean your brushes quickly and efficiently.
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Why clean your brushes is important?
“The layers of oil in your skin, mixed with makeup pigments and dead skin cells, make brushes a breeding ground for bacteria,” makeup artist Caroline Barnes reveals at Glamor UK.
In practice, what does that mean? Quite simply that each time you use a brush or a sponge that has not been cleaned, bacteria will come to contaminate your skin… Nothing dramatic in itself, but if you already have an altered hydrolipidic barrier, it is possible that this gesture, when repeated, may cause some pimples to appear.
To find out if this is your case, Lynne Sanders, cosmetologist, advises simply to keep your eyes open on a daily basis: “If you’re one of those people who do the right thing and still don’t understand why you still have rashes, pimples… Take a look at the tools you use to apply your products.”
Do some brushes and sponges need more attention than others?
Bacteria thrive easily in a humid environment. Thus, some brushes may be more likely to become breeding grounds for microorganisms. “Foundation brushes can accumulate microorganisms faster than dry powder brushes, ” explains Stefanie Williams, also at Glamor UK.
It is therefore advisable to clean the first ones at least two to three times a week, against once a week for powder brushes.
As for natural hairs, they are porous and may therefore require more maintenance. “They become soft and useless if they are not washed. As the fat accumulates, the hairs are unable to apply makeup evenly, ” warns Caroline Barnes.
How to clean your brushes and sponges thoroughly?
Whether you have natural or synthetic bristle brushes, the gesture remains the same. However, the natural hairs being more fragile, it is necessary to proceed to the cleaning gently. To do this, all you need to do is provide yourself with a mild soap with a neutral pH, a natural Marseille soap or a baby shampoo. There are also many cleansing solutions already prepared (called cleansers) sold in stores, but nothing prevents you from making your lotion yourself, DIY way.
Clean your makeup brushes with Marseille soap
To get rid of foundation, blush, highlighter and all the products you may have applied with your makeup brush, you don’t necessarily have to invest in big stuff. Invest in a good Marseille soap or an antibacterial soap, fill a bowl with hot water and you’re done!
Obviously, you also need the helping hand that goes with it … So here’s how.
- Wet the brush generously.
- Rub it on the damp soap (placed in a bowl for convenience) and lather the bristles.
- Rub the soap-soaked brush in the palm of your hand to make sure the bristles are fully saturated with the soap.
- Rinse thoroughly with clear water, holding the brush for 2-3 seconds to check that all the makeup is gone. If not, repeat the operation.
- After making sure that the brushes are all clean, wring them out and lay them flat on a towel to dry them properly. This detail allows water not to flow into the handle!
Clean your makeup brushes with a glove or a silicone brush
If you want to invest in a tool that will make your job easier, here are different versions of a silicone utensil that is called a glove, mat or brush cleaner. It will serve as a platform to rub the brush and allow the makeup to go away quickly.
Makeup brush cleaner, ODN, € 4.95
How do I clean my makeup sponge?
Even if you will find tutorials that will explain to you that using dishwashing liquid works very well to rid your sponge of makeup that has accumulated on it, we advise you not to rely on it. Quite simply because this product is not made to clean a utensil that we rub against the skin on a daily basis, even if it is rinsed properly.
The right gesture? Fill a bowl with water, add a little cleansing oil and place the sponges on top. Then put everything in the microwave for less than a minute. Once out, do not touch the bowl as the water in it is probably too hot; wait for it to cool and then wring out your sponges until they are completely clean.
Don’t have a microwave? Heating up water and adding a few pumps of makeup remover oil only takes a few seconds longer! And in the end, you will get the same result.
Can we put our sponges in the washing machine?
Hmm… That sounds like a good idea, but even if the washing machine sends water at high temperature, it does not guarantee optimal washing of sponges which sometimes need a double pass to come out perfectly clean.
In this game, your hands are therefore your best allies.
How to dry your makeup brushes?
Drying is as important a step as cleaning, during which you have to be a little patient. Once rinsed, lay your brushes flat on a towel for a few hours so that the water is completely absorbed. If you want to save a little time, you can wring them very gently in a towel or absorbent paper, being careful not to change the shape of the bristles. However, it is preferable to dry them upside down, hanging them by the handle, or hanging them on a tower provided for this purpose. The hairdryer is a faster solution but it should be occasional since the strong heat emitted by the device can burn the bristles of your brushes. It is therefore very important to set it to the coldest temperature and the lowest power.
How to maintain your makeup brushes on a daily basis?
If you want to prolong the life of your accessories, we advise you to store them away from dust, preferably in a dry environment. Brushes will keep better if placed in a jar, head up. It is also recommended to clean your makeup bag regularly to avoid the proliferation of bacteria. Another accessory that deserves to be washed very often: the eyelash curler. As soon as traces of mascara or eyeliner appear, use a cotton ball and a little two-phase makeup remover, or vegetable oil, to remove them effectively. Finally, if you are short on time, we recommend using cleaning sprays that disinfect the bristles of your brushes in seconds. If they do not purify them in-depth, they nevertheless allow them to be able to be used immediately.
