How To Properly Care For Your Makeup Brushes } ~

Brushes are often a necessary part of your beauty routine, but when cared for incorrectly, these makeup heros can become your worst enemy. First of all, brushes can be expensive. If you invest in a great set, you have to wash them properly or they'll quickly deteriorate. The other downside to dirty brushes is that in addition to applying makeup onto your face, you'll also be spreading germs and bacteria. That's a recipe for breakouts! Clean brushes mean clear skin. Do you really need another reason to get scrubbing? 

Find out what products to use for washing different types of brushes, how often each should be cleaned, and how to dry them properly post-cleansing. 

Washing Natural Bristle Brushes 

"Brushes that are used for dry products, like powder, bronzer, and blush can be cleaned just once a week with a moisturizing white bar soap, like the Dove Beauty Bar," "These brushes can last for years." 

You can also use a gentle shampoo to clean brushes! "I prefer using shampoo for soft, natural bristle brushes or eye makeup brushes but only when the colors used aren't too dark, like if you're using a lot of neutrals. Rinse the bushes in water and then swirl it into the soap so it lathers up. Massage through it and be sure to clean all of it, not just the tips. The same goes for if you're using shampoo. Pretend you're massaging your hair! Make sure to rinse until the water runs clean." 

Washing Synthetic Bristle Brushes 

"Synthetic brushes that you should be using for cream or liquid products, like lipstick, gel liner, gloss, cream blush, foundation, and concealer should be cleaned every other day. Wetness breeds germs! You should also invested in an alcohol-based brush cleaner for these, like the Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser. For waxy, creamy stuff like lipstick, gloss, gel, and cream liner, you need the alcohol to break down the grease in the product. These types of brushes should be tossed and replaced every four to five months." 

Washing Powder Puffs 

"These are a breeding ground for bacteria! Clean them every week with soap and warm water and know that they won't last as long anyway, so don't be stingy about replacing them. Your powder puff that came with the compact will not last until you finish the powder, so after many weeks of cleaning it just buy new ones." 

Washing Tweezers, Lash Combs, and Lash Curlers 

Barose points out that these tools are often neglected in the cleaning process, but they're not very difficult to clean. "Spray these with alcohol-based brush cleaner, like the Mac Brush Cleaner, and wipe." 

Drying Brushes 

"Once clean, use a dry towel and gently squeeze it around the bristles so it's no soaking wet. Lots of girls clean their brushes and then stick them in a cup, so the water seeps into the space where the bristle meets the handle and it ruins the glue, leading the brush to fall apart. Lay them on dry towel on a table and let the bristles hang off the edge of the table so it's not laying flat against the table. This way, you'll protect it's shape. 

Always lay brushes closer to windows. If you leave them to dry in places with no sunlight, like in bathroom, they'll have a funny odor, similar to damp laundry. You can also leave them near a heater (but not too close!) to dry."