Makeup is the part of every woman’s life, and to apply makeup we use brushes, that are generally known as makeup brushes. Properly cleaning makeup brushes is very important. As they also add to the factor of the skin care. Cleaning them regularly can not only help to get rid of the acne-causing bacteria, but also prevent the makeup from getting mixed. So here, are some tips on how to clean makeup brush.
DIY Ways To Clean Makeup Brushes
1. Cleaning Lightly-Soiled Makeup Brushes
a. First examine the brush. Do you use a brush for powder-based makeup, or for the cream-based makeup? If your brushes mostly have been used for the cream-based makeup, they might also need a deep cleaning other than the ones that is used for the powder-based makeup.
b. You can run the bristles of brushes under lukewarm water. But remember to avoid getting any of the water underneath the metal clasp as it can ruin the glue which can hold the bristles together. Try to keep the water running through these brushes until you have rinsed away many of the old makeup. Also make sure that the brushes are angled down in the stream of the water. If water get under the metal clasp of the handle, it can damage all the brushes.
Remember to not use hot water, as heat can easily damage the bristles.
c. In a small bowl or a cup fill with some water. You will need half cup of lukewarm water.
d. In it pour one teaspoon of baby shampoo and stir gently to combine.
If you are not having any baby shampoo, then you can use liquid Castile soap instead.
e. Then dip the brush in a mixture, try to swirl. Only the bottom half of the brushes’ bristles must be swirled into the mixture to avoid the water traveling up to the handle.
f. Remove the brush from the mixture. Loosen the makeup as well as dirt by massaging gently with the fingers using soapy water in the bristles.
g. Rinse all the bristles under the lukewarm water. Continue the massaging of the bristles while running it under water until it do run completely clear. Remember to avoid getting all the handle wet.
h. Pat the bristles dry in a towel and gently remove the moisture. Then fold it around the wet bristles, gently squeezing with the fingers.
i. Then reshape the whole bristles. If they have became crooked. Use the fingers to straighten, pull, spread the bristles back in the original shape.
j. Let the brushes completely dry. Try to not lay them onto a towel as this can cause a mildew. Instead, try to set the brushes down on the counter, with bristle hanging over the edge.
k. When the brushes are dry completely, try to fluff the bristles. The brushes are now perfectly ready to use.
2. Cleaning Heavily-Soiled Makeup Brushes
a. If you are using the brush for a cream-based makeup, then soap and water alone would not be enough to dislodge all the makeup. You might need the help of oil to loosen the makeup completely, especially if it has always been on the brush.
b. Pour the oil on a paper towel. Then fold the paper towel, and pour a very small drop of oil on it. You can also use light olive oil or the almond oil. Run the brush back and forth gently across the towel, loosening all the dirt.
c. Running the bristles of these brushes under the lukewarm water and be sure that the brushes are angled down in the stream of the water. Then avoid wetting that part where the bristles do meet the handle. It can cause rust in the metal clip, or loosen the glue inside. Try to keep running in the water through the bristles until you have rinsed most of the old makeup.
Never use hot water, as the heat can easily damage the bristles.
d. Squirt baby-shampoo in the palm.
e. Swirl the whole bristle of the brush in the palm. Then dipping the bristles in the puddle of the shampoo in the palm. Swirl the brush gently in circular motions. The bristles must be touching the skin. You can see the shampoo in the palm to become dirty. This is because of the dirt leaving the bristles.
f. Rinse the makeup brush under the lukewarm water. Using the fingers to massage the bristles gently as you rinse the shampoo. Once again, avoid getting the part where the bristles can join the brush handle completely wet. Remember to keep doing it until the water do run clear.
g. Pat the bristles completely dry and if necessary, reshape them. Once when the water run clear, from under the water take the brush out gently folding it in a towel around the bristles. Squeeze out the excess water using fingers. Remove the brush from towel, if necessary, reshape the bristles. You can easily do this by pressing gently on them, and fanning them out, or even pulling them together in a point.
h. Try not to set the whole brush down onto a towel, as it can even cause mildew to form. Instead, you can lay over the handle part of this brush on the counter or table, and let the bristles to stick out over the edge.
i. If you are having a poofy brush, then some of the bristles can stuck together, even after it is dried. If this do happens, then pick the brush up and give a brisk flick.
3. Take Care Of Your Brush And Keep Them Clean
a. Not only the dirty makeup brushes do breed bacteria, but they can even affect on the color of the makeup. Some makeup can degrade the bristles, if it has been left on for far too long. Here are some of the tips on cleaning the brushes that is based on the type of the bristles they do have:
- Remember to clean all the natural-hair brushes weekly. This also include brushes which you easily use for any of the powdered products, such as the eye shadow or even bronzer.
- If you have synthetic makeup brushes, then clean every other day. This also include the brushes which you can use for cream and other water-based makeup, such as the lipstick, cream blush, as well as liquid or gel eyeliner.
b. Try not to store the brushes upright while you dry them completely. The water may soak down in the shaft, causing a rust or even a rot. It can also loosen the glue to hold the bristles.
It is safe to easily store the brushes upright once when they are dry.
c. Never use the hairdryer or a flatiron on the makeup brush. The presence of intense heat from the hairdryer or even a flatiron can easily ruin the bristle fibers, even if it is a natural fiber, such as the sable or camelhair. The makeup brushes are much more fragile than the hair on the head.
d. Always dry out the brushes in a very well-ventilated area. If you do dry the brushes in enclosed area, such as bathroom, then this bristles might not get enough air-flow, which might even cause mildew. As this can result in the musty-smelling of the bristles.
e. Store the brushes properly. When the brushes are dry, you can easily store them either upright or in a cup, or even lay them down on the side. Remember to not store them pointing downwards, as the bristles might get crooked.
f. Before you do set the makeup brush out to dry, or between the washes, remember to disinfect the brush with vinegar-water solution. Do not worry, as the strong, vinegar smell will ultimately disappear once the bristles are completely dry. Fill in a small bowl or even a cup with the two parts of water and one part with vinegar. Swirl the brush into the solution, but avoid the part where the bristles and the handle meet, to get wet . Rinse off the brush with some clean water and let it set them out to dry.
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