Tackling the Beast, Bacteria - Make Up Brushes 101 ~ Simply Clean!

Taking care of  your Make-up Brushes

Clean your brushes regularly. It is imperative you make a point to clean the accumulated gunk out of your brushes. It will keep the build up of dirt and bacteria from clogging your pores. This is not only good hygiene(for you, your skin, etc.), but it keeps your brushes in good shape.

Daily or weekly maintenance.  Purchase  a travel size spray bottle at the dollar store or Walmart and combine 1 part rubbing alcohol with 4 parts distilled water or my favorite is 1 part tea tree oil and 4 parts distilled water.  Spritz brushes with the solution after applying makeup and gently swipe back and forth on a paper towel or a clean wash cloth to remove the makeup and sanitize. This is a quick and simple solution!

Monthly maintenance. Fill a bowl with very warm water and a drop or two of your face cleanser or gentle hair shampoo then gently swirl the bristles (NOT the entire brush)  in the water to remove dirt. Rinse brushes with hot water (careful not to get the water too hot that you burn yourself). Squeeze out excess water!

Always reshape your brushes while wet. Once you’ve washed your brushes, make sure you reshape them before they dry. Whatever shape your brushes are left in to dry is the same shape they will be when they are dry. You don’t want your contour brush looking like a tapered blush brush, do you? Similarly, if the shape is off, wetting/washing your brush will allow you to reshape a brush.

Never stand your brushes up to dry. You do not want to let in water or dampness into the ferrule portion of the brush (the metal part, right above the brush head), because it can weaken, erode, or loosen the ferrule making your brush wobbly. Always lay your brushes flat on an absorbent surface (like a wash cloth or towel–probably one dark in color!), and if you can manage it, turn your brushes after an hour or two or clean your brushes overnight and they will be good to go in the morning!

Condition your brushes regularly. On top of cleaning, conditioning your brushes with a quality hair conditioner will help keep the bristles soft. It’s not something that needs to be done as often as general washing, but it is a good idea to do it a few times a year.( A good reminder as the seasons change!)  Mostly, it depends on how often you use and wash your brushes.