Are You A Good Make-up Brush Mommy?

One of the best things that ever could have happened was the creation of cheaper, yet good quality make-up brushes. However, now that we have access to these brushes, there is responsibility that comes with the territory. One of these responsibilities, and probably the most important, is brush cleaning. Of course suggestions run the gamut, but I am going to give you a couple different ways to ensure the brushes you use are in good condition for make-up application, reduce bacteria build-up as often, and ensure your skin stays clear.

That's right, I said it, if you are new to make-up brushes for concealer or foundation, and you notice you are breaking out more often, your brushes may be to blame. This is one of the reasons why make-up brush cleaning is so important. If you are one of these people I described, or you have acne-prone skin, this first method is probably the way to go. 

Brush Cleaning Process 1

1. Purchase a daily brush cleaner. Sephora makes the cheapest one I have seen. It is called Sephora Professionals Daily Brush Cleaner and will run you $6. You can purchase it online here. You can also investigate some of the brush cleaners sold at Sephora, but I warn you, they are generally double, if not triple the price. 

2. Then, what you will want to do is use the spray after each time you apply your make-up. You will spray either your brush or a paper towel and wipe away the make-up traces. This is very important, especially for the items you use that are cream make-up products, such as concealer, foundation, cream eye liner or shadow. The reason is because these products tend to build bacteria faster than powders and can clog your pores or even infect your eyes if you get some in it, which we all know happens. 

3. To ensure your brushes are completely clean, you will want to do a deep cleansing maybe once every month for really acne-prone skin or once every two months if not. I will outline the deep cleaning method below. 

Brush Cleaning Process 2

If you are not particularly acne-prone, don't feel like buying a spray and would rather use something around the house that does not require a strict regiment, the following process should work fine. Just remember, whether you are lazy or busy, cleaning your brushes not only keeps bacteria from building, but it also ensures the colors you apply are clean and as they appear. By using brushes with traces of old make-up you can sometimes end up with a mixed color that doesn't blend well. Trust me, with the highly pigmented make-up, cleaning your brushes is extremely important in avoiding this issue. You will want to do these steps once a month, at least, to ensure your brushes are clean. Some experts suggest weekly, but lets face it, that is kind of a tight cleaning schedule when we are all busy with life. Still, keep in mind that a clean brush equals healthy skin and nicer make-up application. 

You will need

• paper towels or two clean hand towels (not wash rags, the next size up unless you want to use rags, but you will need more of them depending on your brush collection size). 
• hair shampoo, Dial soap, or Dawn dish detergent.

1. Start out with your first brush by running it under warm water.

2. Take a small bit of soap and lather your brush. For flat concealer brushes you can rub the brush between your thumb, and pointer and middle finger. For liner brushes with thin, stiff tips, you will want to essentially scribble the brush on your finger as if you were writing applying gentle pressure. For shadow brushes you can spin the brush between these fingers.  You will notice the color starting to come off in your hands. 

3. Once you are confident you have gotten the brush clean, rinse it under the warm water until the water runs clear. You will also want to rub the brush between you fingers to ensure the water is washing away all soap between the bristles or hairs. 

4. For concealer and foundation brushes, you may want to repeat these steps three or even four times. I have noticed that those brushes are the stiffest and hardest to get clean, so repeating the steps is very important to make sure all make-up is gone. 

5. As you finish each brush, lay it on a clean towel or paper towel until you are done with all brushes.

6. Once all brushes are clean, move the brushes to a second clean towel or paper towel for drying. If you are doing this in your kitchen or bathroom, please move the drying brushes to a new location, such as where you do your make-up. It is incredibly nasty how much bacteria floats around in places like bathrooms and will defeat the purpose of your washing if you leave them in these locations. 

7. Wait for them to dry. 

Note: For the shampoo you use, use something gentle. I used my Nexxus Dualiste volume, color formula because it smells great and isn't very harsh. You can generally use anything, but I try to avoid full color formulas because I worry about what that may mean for washing color out of my brushes. Try also to avoid straightening shampoos as some of those chemicals may be too harsh for delicate brushes. 

My brushes drying after their latest cleansing.