Why and how to clean your makeup brushes?

Make-up brushes, sponges and beauty blenders are essential accessories for beauty enthusiasts. However, these tools are real germ nests if they are not cleaned daily. The bacteria that are lodged there can not only cause the appearance of pimples, but especially impact on the quality of makeup. Overview of tips for washing them well.

Baby shampoo, a washing product for makeup accessories

Make-up brushes are essential accessories for beauty treatment as they are used to spread the products. Foundation, eye shadow or even blush are tools that must be handled with skill and technicality to achieve a good make-up. As a result, tools are found daily with the remains of these products: between the bristles of the brush or on the surface of beauty blenders (ideal sponges for applying foundation). These residues promote the expansion of germs and other bacteria that may affect the health of the skin and the quality of makeup.

It therefore becomes essential to clean this equipment to avoid the appearance of pimples or other allergic reactions. However, not all cleaning products can be used. In order to ensure the quality of the cleaning of these accessories, baby shampoo is recommended. It is soft and does not risk damaging the bristles of the brushes. Here's how to do it:

Immerse makeup brushes in a small bowl filled with water with a small amount of baby shampoo. It is necessary to rub lightly between the hairs in order to get rid of the remains of makeup. The color of the water in the bowl should take on an orange tint. These are the beauty product deposits that are lodged between the bristles of the brushes.
Discard the dirty water from the brushes and fill the bowl with clean, clear water. Then, rinse the make-up tools well, making sure to remove all traces of shampoo. To do this, just rub them gently. This not only allows them to be washed, but also to check if there is still any residue between the fibers.
Squeeze the water from the brushes with a soft terry towel, lightly pressing the bristles of the applicator. Abrupt movements must be avoided so as not to damage the tools, in particular by pulling their hairs.
Dry the brushes by positioning the head downwards so that the water does not remain between the fibers. Using clothespins, hang and dry these accessories on a clothesline. If the brush handles are too thick, use rubber bands to hang them up.
Cleansers suitable for makeup brushes

Many don't know it, but professional make-up brands have designed specific products to clean makeup brushes and sponges. Those who do not have time to devote to cleaning their beauty accessories can use them to maintain them. In fact, all you have to do is spray the bristles of the brushes with the cleaner, rub with paper towels, then let the tools air dry.

These cleansers are to be used after each make-up session or at least once during the day. Indeed, the cleaning of these accessories must be done every day so as not to allow time for the products to become encrusted between the bristles. However, due to lack of time, most users cannot follow this guideline. So, professionals recommend washing facial makeup applicators two to three times a week and eye brushes every three weeks.

It is to know that there are cleansers of makeup brushes which do not need rinsing. Products to have on hand for those in a hurry.

Lukewarm water, soap and olive oil to clean makeup brushes

Cleaning makeup brushes is not a task to be taken lightly. If the maintenance has been botched, the consequences can be numerous, in particular the degradation of the accessories. Indeed, a lack of maintenance decreases the lifespan of make-up brushes. However, if the cleaning is carried out correctly, the user not only increases the life of the brushes, but also preserves his skin.

Various simple products can facilitate the cleaning of these accessories namely water, mild soap and olive oil. Here are the steps to follow to properly clean the applicators:

pour lukewarm water into a bowl and add a few drops of olive oil;
take the brushes and immerse them in the solution;
lather the bristles of the brushes with the soap and leave them in the bowl for a few minutes;
Then rinse everything with lukewarm water, rubbing the bristles to remove the rest of the soap, the olive oil fat, but especially the makeup deposits;
Dry the brushes horizontally, ensuring that the head protrudes from the cabinet where they are placed and is suspended in the air.

Lukewarm water is used in this trick because it makes cleaning easier and helps remove product remnants faster. The use of mild soap is recommended so as not to attack the brush hairs. As for olive oil, it is an effective detergent, but it must also be rinsed to prevent the fat from sticking to the fibers.

Makeup Brush Cleaning Machine

Besides the specific products for cleaning makeup brushes, there is a complete kit for their maintenance. There are make up brush cleaner machines available. This is a machine similar to a centrifuge where the brushes are installed and then immersed in a container with lukewarm water and mild soap. The machine will then swirl the brushes in the bowl to remove any makeup residue. The rinsing and drying process is the same as for the previous methods. A kit recommended for beauty professionals as its use greatly facilitates the task.

In all cases, effective cleaning of brushes and even makeup sponges depends on the use of appropriate products and the frequency of maintenance. In other words, with Makeup brush cleaner machine,  you must not use too aggressive soaps which risk changing the texture of the hairs of the applicators or rubbing them too hard. The use of hot water is also prohibited to prevent the fibers of the brush bristles from losing their flexibility.

Accessories are like cosmetics: if we want a perfect complexion, we must first of all take care of our brushes, makeup brushes and sponges! So to prevent germs and bacteria from invading your makeup brushes, you now know how to do it!