When it comes to your skin – never take chances! The cleaner your brushes the better.
People often ask me how they should clean their brushes and how often. My reply would be a simple one, after every use. Obviously for most women this is not possible, so I would recommend washing your brushes at least once a week – minimum – to prevent product build-up.
I wash my brushes with baby shampoo. The reason for this is that it does not damage the bristles of your brushes and if it does such a thorough yet gentle job for babies, it will do the same for your brushes. When I need a deeper clean, I sometimes add a splash of Detol to my water, just to ensure all germs are eliminated.
Here is my step-by-step brush cleaning method
- Wet the bristles with warm water. Be careful not to wet the whole brush as the warm water will break down the glue that holds the bristles together.
- Lather the bristles with some baby shampoo and gently wash your brush. Every now and again bringing it under the water and rinsing off the shampoo. Once no colour comes off the brush, consider it clean! However, keep rinsing the brush until there is no shampoo left.
- If there is still residue on the brush, I repeat the process. If not, I squeeze the water out of the brush and lay it flat on a towel next to the sink to dry. It is important that the brushes lay flat. This prevents any water running down into the ferrule (metal piece keeping the bristle in place)
It’s also important to keep a look out for when you should replace your makeup brushes. “As long as your brushes aren’t shedding, smell, or are severely discoloured they can last a lifetime,” explains makeup artist Ashleigh B. Ciucci. “I have a MAC brush from 1994!”
