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Serious question: when was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes?
Wait, they need to be cleaned?
Well, don’t worry.
You’re not alone.
So what does that other 17 percent know that we don’t?
Turns out clean makeup brushes are actually pretty important, both for your health and for your wallet.
“Keeping them sanitized regularly is key.
Regular sanitation will keep your makeup brushes soft and free of unwanted build up, bacteria, and gunk.
Particles can be trapped between the hairs.”
Ready to join the smart ones cleaning their brushes?
Here are a few cleaning tips to get you started.
How often should I wash my brushes?
Turns out we should be quickly cleansing our makeup brushes aftereveryuse.
I know, I’m not exactly at the every year mark, let alone every use.
This can be a quick spray clean.
Try spraying an alcohol-based solution on your brushes daily to avoid dirt and bacteria build-up.
Then go for a deeper clean every two to three weeks.
Saddoris uses a little baby shampoo on her makeup brushes every week.
Aim for every one to three weeks for a deep clean.
A deep clean can mean anything from a rinse with baby shampoo to an olive oil soak.
The longer you go between cleanings, the more gunk and bacteria you’ll need to remove.
The most important thing is to set a schedule that you’ll actually remember!
Then just spray, wipe, and head out the door.
“Washing makeup brushes is super important and is really simple,” beauty and lifestyle expertDelaila Catalinotold me.
Alejandro Falcon recommends cleaning your makeup brushes by hand every two to three weeks.
First, dab your brushes with water and a drop of gentle face cleanser or baby shampoo.
Massage the bristles with your hands, and allow the brushes to dry overnight.
In addition to baby shampoo, regular dish soap can do the trick as well.
We all want to achieve that perfect smokey eye, but doing so requires switching between eyeshadow colors.
In between eyeshadow colors, simply rub the brush along the patch to remove any leftover makeup.
This will keep your shadow colors looking bright and radiant.
However, that doesn’t mean the handle shouldn’t be cleaned at all.
We touch that thing everyday, so it’s important the handle gets a good wipe down as well.
“This will clean the handle and also disinfect.”
What about mascara brushes?
Another brush to think about is the one for your mascara.
“As for brushes like mascara wands that can’t be cleaned, TOSS THEM.
Mascara expires after 3 months.”
A new bottle of mascara is a lot cheaper than treatment for an eye infection.
Check out any tool you use regularly, such as nail clippers and tweezers.
According to Vucetaj, we should be cleaning our other beauty tools with an alcohol swab every month.
What product should I use?
The best product for washing your brushes depends on your preference.
Baby shampoo is nice and gentle.
Dish washing detergent is helpful when your makeup is especially stuck on your brushes.
You could also go the professional route.
Alejandro Falcon recommends theOsmosis Colour Cosmetics Brush Cleanerfor $12.
Natural beauty advocateBritanie Faithprefers making her own natural solution when cleaning her brushes.
If you’d like to go the DIY route, first gather your supplies.
You’ll start with extra virgin olive oil, liquid Castile soap, and distilled white vinegar.
Pour a small drop of olive oil into a shallow dish and press the brush bristles into the oil.
Swirl the brush around to ensure it’s moistened, but ensure the oil doesn’t touch the handle.
Then fill another shallow bowl with the soap and some warm water.
Swirl the brush through the soapy water, then dip the bristles into your white vinegar.
Gently wring out any extra water from your brush and allow it to dry.
Why is cleaning so important?
Now that we know how to clean our brushes, let’s face it.
Are we really going to be doing this deep clean each week?
First, consider how dirty makeup brushes affect your health.
“For teens, dirty brushes can lead to acne,” family safety advocateAllison JacobsontoldThe Cleaner Home.
Did you say premature wrinkles?
Okay, hand me the dish soap.
Cleaner makeup brushes can also lead to clearer skin.
“The bacteria is just being reapplied all over your face again.”
Save some dough
Dirty makeup brushes don’t just affect our health.
They steal from our wallets as well.
Finally, let’s face it.
Quality makeup brushes are expensive.
to protect your investment, see to it to clean them regularly.
Otherwise you’ll wind up right back at Sephora dropping some major cash all over again.
