How to clean your makeup brushes – 5 easy tips
When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? Well, that is the thing.
We can never find the time to clean our brushes. However, it is very important to do so. Using dirty makeup brushes it is not good for our skin and our makeup blending is less effective, so it is highly advisable to clean your brushes after use.
What is the best way to clean makeup brushes?
Let us have a proper look at how to clean makeup brushes thoroughly and efficiently. Here are our five tips:
1. The quick solution
You should clean your brushes as often as possible. One quick solution if you have limited time to clean your makeup brushes would be spraying a bit of cleanser onto the bristles of your brush, then gently wiping it on a clean cloth. Then, simply leaving the brush out to dry before using it again.
It is important that you do not spray too much product on the brush as this could damage it or dry it out too much.
2. Do not be tempted to speed up the process
Sadly, the washing machine is not an acceptable shortcut as its heat will break down the glue that holds the brush to the handle.
Nor should you try to speed up the drying process using a hair dryer, although it might seem like a good idea. This, in fact, can damage and warp the bristles on your brushes.
Cleaning your brushes may be one more chore to add to the schedule, but it does pay off in the long run: clean your brushes regularly and your skin will improve.
3. Know your brush and wash it when required
We use brushes for different purposes: we apply either liquid or powder products and these brushes need to be cleaned and washed at different rates.
You should deep clean the brushes you use to apply liquid textures at least two to three times a week, versus once a week for powder brushes.
And then store the brushes in a cool, dry place, avoiding warm, damp bathrooms. Synthetic brushes usually last longer and are lower maintenance than natural ones.
4. How can you tell your brush is clean?
How regularly you wash your brushes, we will see later in this article, really depends on how often you use them.
Something that is very important in any case is being able to tell your brushes are clean and there is no more sign of old makeup.
It is pretty obvious when it comes to brushes for liquid foundation or concealer because the bristles clump together. But what about a powder brush? If the bristles are of a rainbow of colour, it means it needs some further care and that is how you know it.
5. Top tip for a healthy brush
Whether you are rinsing your brush with lukewarm water, or deeply washing it, or cleaning it using our KIKO Milano no-rinse brush cleanser, it is very important to let your brush dry properly before using it again.
If you are travelling and you need to clean your brush, make sure it is 100% dry before doing anything with it. In particular, make sure it is dry before you put it back into your beauty case in order for the brush to be usable next time and not acquire smell, mould while in the case.
If your brushes are not fully dried when you use them, you are not going to be able to apply your makeup optimally. The most effective way to dry your makeup brushes is to use a large bath towel and wrap it around each makeup brush individually, then to let them hang on a drying rack so that the bristles do not get bent.
How often should you clean makeup brushes?
So, how often should you clean your makeup brushes? The right answer is every time after you use them.
Remember that you do not have to deep clean them every time.
One quick solution for cleaning your makeup brushes would be spraying a bit of cleanser onto the bristles of your brush, then gently wiping it on a clean cloth. Finally, simply leaving the brush out to dry before using it again.
However, it is recommended that you deep clean your brushes at least once or twice a week, depending on the brush and frequency of use.
How to clean round makeup brushes
What about round makeup brushes? Our last paragraph is dedicated to round brushes, which need extra care as they are more difficult to clean and dry. To clean them you should follow these simple steps:
1. Wet the bristles with lukewarm water.
2. Place a drop of your cleanser of choice into the palm of your clean hand.
3. Gently massage the tips of the bristles in your palm.
4. Rinse the bristles thoroughly.
5. Squeeze out the excess moisture with a clean towel.
6. Readjust the brush head back into its original shape.
7. Let the brush dry with its bristles hanging off the edge of a counter, which allows it to dry in the correct shape. Never let your brushes dry on a towel as the bristles can turn mildewy.
So now you know why, how often and how to clean your brushes properly. We know this may sound like another unnecessary chore, but we assure it pays back in terms of longevity of the brush and better results achieved when used.
Furthermore, a clean brush really prevents blemishes on your skin, so it is definitely something to be added to your skincare routine!