Whether you’re someone who only wears makeup on occasion or someone who wears it every day, keeping your makeup brushes clean is a necessity. Not only do brushes get caked up and stiff if they aren’t properly maintained, but they also harbor a ton of bacteria which leads to breakouts and irritation. Although cleaning them seems like a pretty basic step, most women overlook keeping their makeup brushes maintained properly. If you’re someone who has no idea where to start, then here are a few steps on how to properly clean your makeup brushes. If you’re not someone who’s interested in DIY concoctions, then you can opt to buy professional makeup brush cleanser. You can find them at all major beauty retailers such as Sally’s Beauty Supply, Ulta and Sephora, and even at department stores like Target and Walmart. Makeup brush cleanser usually runs about $6-30 depending on the brand, but you can remain certain that the brushes will be clean without risking the chance of the bristles loosening up on you. Since most brush cleansers come in a spray bottle, all you have to do is spray the brush enough so that it is soaked, rub the bristles back and forth on a clean paper towel until there’s no makeup left, and lay it down to dry. You may need to rewet the brush if there’s a lot of makeup caked on to it, but the initial application is usually enough. Most brush cleansers dry very fast, which is a plus since the water won’t have the chance to loosen up the glue and cause the bristles to start shedding. This option is also great to use every day after you’ve applied your makeup to ensure that your brushes remain clean throughout the week. Making your own brush cleanser is very easy and can save you a lot of money. What you’ll need is: A shallow bowl Baby shampoo/ Gentle cleanser Warm Water Clean Paper Towels/ Towels Put about a tablespoon of cleanser and warm water into a bowl. Then, swirl each brush around in the bowl to ensure that the makeup begins to lift off of the bristles and allow them to soak for about 10 seconds. Rub the bristles on a clean piece of paper towel until no makeup is seen. Re-dip the brushes if it isn’t quite as clean as it needs to be. After that, rinse each brush under cold running water in order to seal the hairs, blot dry with a paper towel, reshape the bristles with your fingers (if needed) and lay them flat to dry. Another drying method is to lay the bristles diagonally so that the bristles are pointed down, but not resting on the bristles. This will allow the water to drip out of the brush instead of settling in the base of the bristles. So, there you have it! Two easy ways to properly cleanse your makeup brushes. Now, in order to keep your brushes in their best condition you will want to cleanse them at least once a week, especially if you apply makeup every day. Also, making sure that the brushes aren’t drying in an upright position (bristles pointed to the ceiling) will ensure that the glue that holds the bristles together doesn’t loosen up and cause the hairs to shed.
