How To Tuesday: Clean Those Brushes

Makeup brushes...we all have them and we love to use them. However, how often do you clean them?  If it took you more then 30 seconds to answer that then you are not cleaning them enough.  Brushes are an investment and you want them to last.  Cleaning your brushes weekly will not just help maintain the lifespan of the brush, it also helps stop the spread of bacteria.  Dirty brushes contain old makeup, dirt and debris, dead skin cells and oil.   If you keep on using these with all of your makeup you are just creating a giant bacteria breeding ground and problem skin for yourself down the road, gross.

However all of this can be avoided with regular cleanings.  Wash them at night and they will be dry and ready for use the next morning.  All you need to clean them is a brush cleaner or baby shampoo and a sponge, olive oil, and rubbing alcohol.

How to clean brushes:

•brush cleaner- thanks to a dear friend who gave me this as part of a gift I have been using blendercleasner solid by Beauty Blender.   It's an amazing product and so simple to use.  Wet you brushes with lukewarm water and twirl the bristles directly onto the soap.  Rinse the brush with water until it runs clear and no longer feels soapy.  Be sure to avoid getting water past the shaft( metal part) of the brush, this prevents rusting and having your bristles fall out.  Squeeze out the excess water and place your brushes on a clean, dry towel to air dry for about 6-8 hours.

•baby shampoo and a sponge-  the process is pretty much the same.  Wet a clean sponge with lukewarm water and squeeze some baby shampoo onto the center of it.  Wet brush and swirl the bristles into the shampoo. Rinse with water until it runs clear and no longer feels soapy.  Squeeze out excess water and lay on a towel to dry.

•olive oil- if you have brushes that have waterproof makeup on them or gel liner, this is your secret weapon.  Pour a little olive oil into a paper towel.  Swirl your brush into the oil to remove the stubborn makeup.  Proceed to wash your brush with your cleansing routine of choice.

•alcohol- after your have cleaned all your brush and let them dry you want to clean the handles.  Pour some rubbing alcoh onto a paper towel and simply wipe down the handles.

There you have it, simple yet effective ways to clean your brushes.  I hope this helps you ladies out. Let me know if you have any other tips that you would like to share. Happy cleaning!

Love|Makeup|Nails,

Alexis