The Correct Way to Clean Makeup Tools

Do you suffer from the sudden appearance of soft pimples on your skin for no apparent reason? Although you apply skin care routine.But these soft pimples are on the increase. Have you ever thought that your makeup tools are the main reason for the appearance of this type of pimple? Unfortunately, unclean makeup tools may cause bad effects on the skin. In addition to that, not paying attention to cleaning the makeup tools will disrupt their work. And you will feel your makeup is dull and inconsistent.

Are you interested in cleaning your makeup tools? Learn in this article the correct ways to clean makeup tools, as it is an important and essential step.

Beauty Experts Opinion on Cleaning Makeup Tools

“Cleaning your makeup brushes and sponges is essential, not just for skin hygiene reasons, but for performance reasons,” explains Robert Sesnick, a makeup artist best known for his work with stars like Cara Delevingne and Hailey Bieber.

Makeup artist Wendy Miyake says, “When investing in high-quality makeup brushes, it is equally important to understand how to properly clean and maintain your brushes. Hygiene and maintenance are number one in ensuring that your brushes are long-lasting and perform at their highest capabilities.”

Dirty brushes and sponges are a safe place for bacteria to collect. So they must be cleaned quickly after each use and deeply weekly. According to the American Dermatology Association, a dirty brush collects product residue, dirt, and oil, making it a breeding ground for germs and bacteria that damage your skin. “When makeup gets old it starts to harbor bacteria, and these bacteria can overgrow on the surface of makeup brushes that don’t have any antibacterial or antifungal protection,” says Loretta Ciraldo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami. “In fact, we know that makeup brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, but we don’t know how common this would be in our home if we were washing them regularly.”

Deep Cleaning of Makeup Brushes

Now we will talk about the most important steps in the process of cleaning makeup tools, specifically makeup brushes:

• Wipe off excess makeup: The first step to deep cleansing is to get rid of excess makeup. You will be surprised by the amount of makeup stuck to the brush. Using a paper towel or a clean hand towel, wipe the brush well the bristles, the handle, and everything. Pass the brush several times on a paper towel until you get rid of the excess makeup. This step will make the cleaning job much easier.
• Run the bristles under the water: using lukewarm water, rinse the brushes, and keep the bristles at a downward angle. This will prevent water from collecting at the bottom of the brush, which leads to the dissolution of the glue that fixes the brush. Also, using hot water damages the bristles over time, especially with frequent cleaning.
• Add water and shampoo: Baby shampoo can do the trick. Fill a sink with lukewarm water and shampoo, and stir each brush into the mixture. Try to get a good foam from the shampoo. After 20 seconds, the color of the water will start to change and become dark. This is evidence of the makeup coming out of the brush. If the brush is very dirty, rotate it on the palm of your hand. For more lather and deeper cleaning, you can use makeup remover instead of shampoo.
• Add Olive Oil or Coconut Oil: If you use an oil-based concealer or foundation a lot, Mix a tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil with the water and shampoo mixture. This will help the makeup break down easier. And the brush will be cleaner.
• Wash the brush well with water: If you want to make sure the brush is clean, repeat the washing until the color of the water becomes clear. Continue washing the brush with water. Keep the bristles slanted down so that the water does not return to the handle. Continue washing until the trace of the shampoo is over. Thick makeup can be difficult to get rid of. If your brush is full of thick makeup, empty the sink and fill it again with lukewarm water and shampoo, and repeat the washing process again.
• Squeeze the excess water: Squeeze the excess water with a soft paper towel. Gently massage the bristles until they are damp. Do not rub them violently so as not to damage the bristles. When the brush is wet do not leave it tilting towards the top, so as not to pour water into the handle.
• Lay out the brushes to dry completely: It may take a few hours to dry completely. Do not use a hair dryer as it may cause damage and deformation of the bristles, especially if they are made of synthetic materials.

Why Should We Clean Makeup Tools?

“Regular cleaning of your makeup tools not only helps keep your skin clean and healthy, it also helps extend the life of your tools,” says makeup artist Ashley Ciocchi. For the product, the hair brush and sponge are porous, so they retain oils, debris, and bacteria. If your brushes are dirty, your makeup application will be difficult, blending will be choppy, and therefore your makeup will be inconsistent.

Also read: Makeup Mistakes that Make You Look Older

Makeup artist Cat Sketch, who has more than 200 brushes to spin around, says, “I suggest you wash your brushes every week. Makeup brushes can build up bacteria very quickly, especially those used around the eye.”

Using dirty makeup brushes can lead to clogged pores and cracking. If you use your brushes a lot, try to clean them on a weekly basis, to keep your skin fresh, especially foundation and concealer brushes, because they are usually covered with a thick layer of makeup.

Also read: Choosing the Right Shade of Foundation

Products Help Clean Makeup Tools

Daily cleaning can help keep your brushes clean and bacteria-free. Use the following tools that can help you clean your makeup tools:

• After using the brush, spray a little alcohol on the bristles of the brush. Then wipe it with a clean towel or piece of cloth. Allow the brush to dry before using it again. As alcohol helps to quickly sterilize makeup brushes.
• If you are concerned about germs on your makeup brushes, you can buy a makeup sterilizer machine. This machine uses UV rays to sanitize your brushes in minutes, making them 99% germ-free.
• Brush cleaning sponge: It cleans makeup brushes without using water. All you have to do is move the brush around the sponge to get rid of makeup residue sticking to it. Its secret lies in the rough, porous structure of the sponge. Friction of the bristles with the sponge makes it completely clean, without using water or shampoo.
• Brush Cleaning Mitt: Another tool that works well to help remove powdered and liquid makeup from brushes. The mitt features two sides: Side to clean eye brushes, and the other for cleaning facial brushes. Using a double glove to clean makeup tools instead of using hands leads to a deeper and more effective cleaning. Some beauty experts prefer to use these products for a faster and safer cleaning.
• Makeup brush cleaning spray: Great product for sanitizing makeup brushes. It contains an antimicrobial solution for bacteria free brushes. Also it makes your brushes sanitized and clean in minutes.
• Electric makeup brush cleaner and dryer: It cleans and dries makeup brushes within minutes, especially for large powder brushes. The device circulates water around the brush, then dries it. It is suitable for those who have many makeup brushes, as it ensures cleaning and drying within minutes.

How to Take Care of Your Makeup Brushes

Taking care of your makeup tools is an important and essential part of your beauty care routine. We will give you several tips to take care of your makeup brushes and maintain their quality for a longer period:

• Weekly deep cleansing: To maintain perfect application of your makeup, longer quality of your makeup brushes, and most importantly keep your skin looking fresh, set aside one day each week to clean your brushes, especially if you use them on a daily basis.
• Treat your brushes like your hair: Make cleaning your brushes a pleasure, with a gentle shampoo that takes good care of the bristles and cleans them.
• Deep cleaning using a suitable product: If the brush or sponge is completely covered with foundation cream, liquid soap works great to dissolve grease. But stay away from harsh detergents that may contain a high percentage of alcohol or strong solvents that may damage brush bristles or loosen the glue that connects the brush, which leads to damage. You can use your skin lotion to clean your makeup brushes.
• There are products for cleaning makeup brushes in the form of a bar of soap or liquid soap. If you do not have it, you can use shampoo or lotion to clean your skin, or even liquid soap that may help break down the makeup and dirt that has accumulated on the bristles without damaging them. Do not use dishwashing liquid because it may contain harsh substances that cause damage to the bristles of the brushes.
• Drying is necessary to protect the brush: Get rid of excess water and pat the bristles with a soft towel to get rid of as much moisture as possible. Try not to let the water get close to the handle because it affects the gathering of the bristles and the handle itself. If you want to dry the brushes after a short time, wrap them in a soft towel and put it in the oven without turning it on. The pilot light inside the oven will dry the brushes in a safe way.

How to Clean Beauty Blender

When your sponge is full of foundation, you will want to get rid of it. But there is another solution that takes no more than five minutes to return the sponge to a new one.

In addition to being a place for bacteria to collect that will harm your skin, the sponge filled with makeup will not work properly, and this will inevitably lead to bad makeup. Here are the steps to clean your beauty blender:

• Wash the sponge well with running water until all the makeup stuck to it falls off and its size expands.
• If you are going to use shampoo to wash it, put it in a basin full of shampoo and water and rub it gently. If your choice is soap. Then rub the sponge directly with the soap and with a gentle scrub.
• Put it back under the running water and gently squeeze it to get rid of the shampoo or soap.
• Squeeze it gently from the water and leave it to dry. You can use the microwave to dry and sterilize it at the same time. Just leave it in a clean bowl in the microwave and turn it on for 30 seconds. The heat will kill any microbes that are still present.
• You can use your washing machine if you have a large number of makeup sponges. Just collect them inside a cloth bag and put them inside the washing machine and wash them in a quick cycle. Then take them out of the washing machine and spread them out to dry.
• You can use the microwave to wash and sterilize the sponge, not just for drying. If you prefer quick methods, wet the sponge with clean water, then put it inside a bowl full of water and shampoo or soap. Put it in the microwave for a full minute, remove the bowl, then pass the sponge under running water while gently squeezing it to extract the makeup residue.
• Shampoo can be used to wash the beauty blender, but you have to wash it with water well to get rid of the effects of the shampoo. And care must be taken to dry it properly by exposing it to dry air, and not exposing it to sunlight that may cause its damage.

Makeup Tools Expiration Date

Regular makeup sponges should be disposed of after each use. While antibacterial sponges such as beauty blender can be safely used for three or four months. Although frequent cleaning prolongs the life of the brush, there are signs that the brush must be disposed of. When the bristles begin to fall out, fray, or change shape, and when the brush becomes compressed, it can no longer do the required task.

In general, the validity of brushes for use ranges from one to three years, depending on the materials the bristles are made of and the number of times they are used. When the bristles become harsh or irritated and begin to fall out, you need to replace the bristles or replace the brush.

Also read: Refillable Beauty Products – Here are 5 Suggestions

It’s great to have your makeup brushes and sponges back the way you bought them. This needs a routine of cleaning them about every two weeks. And don’t forget to give them a quick clean after every use so they don’t get dirty. Daily cleaning helps keep your tools clean and bacteria-free plus so they stay looking great as if you just got it. You can quickly sanitize it by spraying it with alcohol spray after each use, then gently wiping it with a clean towel and patting it dry.

The Quick Way to Clean Makeup Brushes

There is a correct and quick way to refresh your brushes and help you clean your makeup tools easily:

• Wet the brushes with warm water.
• Apply your favorite lotion to the palm of your hand and work up a gentle lather.
• Gently rub the brush on the palm of your hand to get rid of all the makeup stuck to it.
• Wash the brush with water downward, keeping soap and water away from the handle so the bristles don’t come loose.
• Wring out excess moisture with a clean paper towel.

We hope that you liked the article and that you learned the correct ways to clean your makeup tools. Stay safe.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cleaning Makeup Tools

Sources:

glamour

cosmopolitan

wikihow

thespruce

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