Keep 'Em Clean
Rachel Spillane shares the importance of keeping your makeup brushes clean and three common mistakes to avoid that will keep your kit looking brand new.
It’s not the most glamorous way to spend an evening, but giving your makeup brushes a good scrub twice a month is really important. Using a host of different products, spot concealing and sharing your makeup brushes with family or friends means your brushes become exposed to a number of elements, some of which can be quite damaging to your skin. If you never even think about cleaning your brushes, don’t worry - you’re not alone.
According to a Huffington Post survey, 61 per cent of women clean their brushes once a month, if at all. Another 39 per cent clean their brushes less than once a month and 22 per cent admit to never cleaning their brushes. The two most common reasons? Lack of time and lack of know-how.
If you’re meticulous about your skincare routine, the same dedication should be applied to your brush upkeep.
After all, they come in contact with your skin almost daily. And washing your brushes is a walk in the park, and can sometimes be really therapeutic. Dampen the bristles, use a coin-size amount of brush cleanser, lather, rinse and repeat.
Be sure you lay your brushes flat when leaving them to dry overnight so they maintain their shape. That’s all there is to it, but if you’re still wondering why you should bother at all, here are three reasons why you should be washing your brushes regularly, and three common mistakes to avoid…
>> SKIN HEALTH Dirty brushes being reused on our skin can cause breakouts, acne and irritation. But, they can also cause more harm than we realise. Sebum, impurities, pollution, dead skin cells and bacteria such as staphylococcus and E. Coli can build up in the bristles of your brushes very easily with daily use. All of these can damage your skin, and may even cause infection.
>> PERFORMANCE Have you noticed when you first use a new foundation brush, it gives you a flawless finish? Everything is buff ed beautifully into the skin but then over time, it can look streaky? It’s likely there is product build-up within the bristles. You can buy the best makeup brushes but if they are full of product and unclean, they won't perform well and your makeup won’t sit right.
>> LONGEVITY If you’ve invested in your makeup kit (and some brushes ain’t cheap!) you’ll want them to last. It’s the same as an artist investing in good paint brushes, or a chef with kitchen knives.
Keeping your brushes clean will help them last longer and perform to the best of their ability.
Three mistakes to avoid…
Do not soak
Soaking your makeup brushes in water is a sure-fire way to damage your brushes. The water can affect the bonding between the brush handle and the bristles and will cause the bristles to shed.
Using boiling water
Most think boiling water is the best way to kill bacteria on their makeup brushes but lukewarm water and an antibacterial brush cleaner are best. Boiling water will damage the bristles whether your brushes are synthetic or natural.
Using a spray cleaner
Spray cleaners are great for day-to-day use as most are antibacterial, but they won’t thoroughly clean your brushes. Find a cleanser that creates a decent lather and use it with warm water to deep clean your brushes.