New makeup and new makeup brushes are a serious guilty pleasure of ours, but what about keeping those pesky brushes clean? With the amount of makeup we like to experiment with, it's safe to say that our makeup brushes tend to get rather dirty easily, and keeping them clean is vital. We've discovered some new tips on how to clean makeup brushes, and here they are!
Why Do I Need To Clean My Makeup Brushes?
Keeping your makeup brushes clean is really important. The build up of product within the hairs of the brush makes applying makeup pretty tricky. With different shades of eyeshadow to blend into your lids and a flawless base needed at all times we find ourselves needing to clean our brushes more often than we'd expect.
Not only that, but makeup brushes actually pick up any bacteria from your skin which then lives inside the bristles. This means that each time you apply makeup that bacteria is in contact with your skin again, but this time it's multiplied! Pretty gross, huh?
How To Clean Makeup Brushes
In case you haven't already heard, the masterminds that are Sam & Nic over at Real Techniques recently released their very own makeup brush cleaner Real Techniques Brush Cleanser. We gave it a whirl and tried it out on our own brushes, and this is how we got on!
- Run the tap and ensure your water is warm, but not hot!
- Dampen the bristles in the water keeping the brushes bristle down to avoid water running into the ferrule (metal part). If this gets wet, this can break down the glue holding together the bristles and cause that ever annoying hair loss!
- Squeeze a small amount of the makeup brush cleaner onto the bristles and rub between your fingers and in the palm of your hands.
- Rinse the bristles underneath the water until the water runs clear, then reshape the brush and allow to dry flat or upside down (bristle down).
We recommend washing your brushes with the cleansing gel once per week, and spot cleaning in between if needed.
How To Use A Makeup Brush Cleaning Mitt
For an even better cleanse, you can swap out your hand for a makeup brush cleaning mitt such as the Sigma Cleansing Mat or the Reasl Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette.
To use them:
- Start by either placing it over your hand or into the sink.
- Add a makeup brush cleanser and swirl your brush onto the textured surface under running water. We love the Sigma one as it features 7 different textures designed to cleanse different sections.
- It will lather up and wash away cosmetics build up, leaving your bristles looking brand new!
- Afterwards, squeeze out any excess water, reshape the brush and leave it flat to dry.
As for our favourite makeup brushes? Real Techniques have a huge collection of expert brushes perfect for everyday makeup. The ones we can't live without are the Powder Brush, a large fluffy brush ideal for applying setting powder or for an extra dusting of bronzer. The Blush Brush is the perfect tool to add a pop of colour to your cheeks, and the Foundation Brush is our go-to for applying flawless foundation. We also love the Miracle Complexion Sponge for blending in concealer, especially for under the eyes after a heavy night!
