Makeup tips: Clean your wet brushes every week for flawless application, clear skin

November 20, 2024 / 13:14 IST

Makeup tips: To ensure their long life, store makeup brushes properly; keep them in a clean, upright container to maintain their shape and avoid dust buildup (Image: Canva)

Cleaning your brushes regularly is important as brushes accumulate makeup residue, oils, and bacteria, which can transfer to your skin. Clean brushes provide better application and blending. Regular maintenance also extends the lifespan of your brushes.

How often should you clean your brushes? While foundation and concealer brushes should be cleaned every week as they handle liquid or cream products, which can build up quickly, clean your powder brushes every 2–3 weeks. Eye and lip brushes should be cleaned every 7–10 days, especially if you are using bold or pigmented products.

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Here’s a step-by-step guide to cleaning and maintaining your makeup brushes to keep them in top condition.

How to clean makeup brushes

What you’ll need:

Gentle cleanser or baby shampoo
Lukewarm water
Towel
Brush cleaning mat or your palm

Also read | Makeup tips: 5 common blush application mistakes that are ruining your makeup game

Step 1: Rinse the bristles

Hold your brush under lukewarm running water, bristle side down. Avoid wetting the base of the bristles where they meet the handle, as this damage your brush and the bristles may fall off.

Step 2: Apply a gentle cleanser

Use a small amount of gentle shampoo or brush cleanser and gently massage the bristles in a circular motion on your palm or a brush cleaning mat to loosen makeup residue.

Rinse the brush under lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Ensure all soap residue is removed to prevent bristles from becoming stiff.

After rinsing, gently squeeze out excess water with a clean towel. Reshape the bristles to their original form to prevent them from drying unevenly.

Step 5: Dry brushes properly

Lay your brushes flat on a clean towel with the bristles hanging off the edge of a counter. This allows air to circulate around the bristles, speeding up drying time and preventing water from seeping into the handle.

If your brushes have stubborn residue, you can deep clean them by using a textured brush cleaning mat that will scrub away deep-set makeup from the bristles. For stubborn residue on synthetic brushes, mix olive oil with your cleanser to break down waterproof products. Alternatively, use a specialised brush cleansing balm to remove heavy-duty products like foundation and concealer.

Also read | Beauty tips: 7 makeup mistakes that can make your skin age faster

It is important to sanitise your makeup brushes as any bacteria they catch will end up on your skin. After cleaning, spritz the bristles with isopropyl alcohol and let them air dry. For quick cleaning between uses, use a brush cleaner spray designed for spot cleaning.

To ensure their long life, store brushes properly; keep them in a clean, upright container to maintain their shape and avoid dust buildup. Avoid sharing brushes as this can spread bacteria and germs. While travelling, use a brush holder or roll-up pouch to prevent bristles from bending or becoming dirty. Replace your brushes if the bristles begin to fall off.

Mistakes to avoid

Soaking brushes: Never soak your brushes in water, as this can loosen the glue and ruin the handle.
Using hot water: Always use lukewarm water, as hot water can damage bristles.
Drying upright: Drying brushes with bristles facing up can cause water to seep into the handle, loosening the glue.

A clean brush not only ensures better makeup application but also protects your skin from potential issues.