Cleaning Makeup Brushes

You know the importance of washing your face every day, but what about the tools you use on it? Cleaning your makeup brushes, sponges, and tweezers will not only prevent skin irritation, breakouts, and infections, but it can also prolong the life of your tools.

Many people don’t clean their makeup brushes as often as they should, but it’s very important. Brushes collect dirt and oil from your face while applying makeup, plus they keep makeup residue on the bristles. The bristles are a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause acne. Leaving makeup on the bristles for too long can cause the bristles to stiffen. Not only will stiff bristles irritate your skin, but they can ruin the brush. After investing in a good set of brushes, you should take care of them to make them last as long as possible, so cleaning brushes regularly is a month. Makeup Geeks recommends cleaning your brushes at least once a week.

To wash your brushes, InStyle recommends using dish detergent because it can break down the oils and products that can ruin the bristles. Thoroughly wet the brush with lukewarm water, avoiding getting water into the ferrule (the metal part that attaches the bristles to the handle). Apply a few drops of detergent to the palm of your hand and swirl the brush around in your hand. Work up a good lather, then rinse the brush with lukewarm water. If the brush feels slick, continue to rinse because it means that there is still detergent on it. Disinfect the handle by applying rubbing alcohol to a paper towel and rubbing it on the handle. How you dry the brush can have a big effect on how long your brush will last. To dry the brush, lay it flat on a paper towel. Placing it in a cup bristles-down will bend the bristles; bristles-up can cause water to seep into the base and rot the brush from the inside.

Makeup sponges should be cleaned to ensure you’re not spreading bacteria all over your face. Rinse the sponge with warm water after each use, then squeeze out the excess water and let it dry over a paper towel. Every few days, drizzle some baby shampoo or a gentle facial cleanser onto the damp sponge and work it into the sponge with your hands. Rinse it well, squeeze the water out, and leave it to air dry on a paper towel. High-quality sponges can be washed many times, while cheaper ones will only last through a few washes.

Even little foam eye shadow applicators should be cleaned. Wash them carefully with water and a drop of dish detergent, working the detergent in with your fingers. Rinse well and allow to air dry.

Tweezers are another beauty item that don’t get enough cleaning. Even if they look clean, they can be covered in germs and bacteria. Removing ingrown hairs can get blood and pus on tweezers, and the skin’s oils will transfer to them every time you pick them up or use them to pluck hairs. Bacteria and viruses can grow even on metal tweezers. You can quickly clean them with antibacterial soap and water. If your tweezers have come into contact with some heavy-duty germs, you can sterilize them. To fully disinfect tweezers after washing them with soap and water, put them into a pot of boiling water and leave them in there for one minute. Remove the tweezers from the water with a pair of tongs, then dry them on a paper towel. You can then place the tweezers in a jar of 70-percent isopropyl rubbing alcohol for at least 20 minutes to kill any leftover microbes.

When makeup packaging gets grimy, it’s more than an eyesore. Aside from looking gross, the excess product from your fingers that gets all over the containers can harbor bacteria. The next time you handle those jars, you may be applying the bacteria directly onto your face. Wipe down packaging with an antibacterial wipe at least once a week to keep the excess makeup, oils, and bacteria at bay.

Keep your skin happy and healthy by cleaning your makeup tools regularly. With all of the time and effort you put into finding the right facial cleanser and properly washing your face, you should at least show your makeup tools the same courtesy.