How To Clean Makeup Brushes

Protect Your Skin, Makeup & Brushes...

Cleaning your brushes...OFTEN...is a must. Not only do clean makeup brushes extend the life of your brushes, you also extend the life of the makeup products. (Never mind keeping your skin from experiencing unwanted breakouts!)

Every time you open up your makeup item, you expose it to a number of potential contaminants; air, dust, and potentially bacteria (if you are using your fingers for application or unclean brushes or tools).

CLEAN MAKEUP BRUSHES: Steps To Habit...

DAILY

1. At start of makeup application lay out doubled up tissue or paper towel (1/2 sheet will do).
   
2. Before you use each brush, give it a couple of 'painting-like' strokes, back and forth on the tissue, to ensure there is no remaining color or debris in the brush.
3. After using the brush, again 'paint' off the remaining color on the tissue, till there is NO color (keeping your bristles free of product will reduce bristle breakdown and the effort needed when you do wash your brushes) REMEMBER: Never rub the bristles roughly or you will damage them.
4. For wet application makeup (like foundation), brushes need to be cleaned with mild soap and water daily to save your bristles from getting hard and separating ( becoming useless).
   

To clean makeup brushes with soap and water:

Step 1 Rinse your brush using your fingers, and palm of your hand under running warm water; fingers-move your thumb across the bristles in the direction of their tips palm-gentle circular strokes in the center of your palm.

Step 2 Once you have removed the excess product, place a tiny dollop of mild soap in the palm of your hand, again use circular strokes in the center of your palm, get the full benefit of the soap breaking down the product in the bristles, then under running water rinse continuing the circular motion, assisting with your finger tips as needed if the bristles still seem separated in sections. Brush should appear back to normal.

Step 3 Lay FLAT to dry on clean absorbent surface...do NOT stand on end as the water will run down and pool in the handle, resulting in bristles as whole, or one by one falling out.

BI-MONTHLY

Every brush, and tool for that matter, should get a thorough cleaning with soap and water every other month (only if you are in the habit of daily care). Follow the above steps, remembering to be THOROUGH!

You need to invest in the habit of cleaning your makeup brushes and tools, because its likely those brushes were an investment. Your makeup products will also serve you better as they stay clean and hygienic.

Last word on clean makeup brushes...
There are many 'spray' cleaners for brushes available. They are special formulations gentle enough to regularly clean natural hair bristles (regular soap formulation are too harsh). Here are two examples you can purchase ( Follow their specific instructions).
Vincent Longo Hygienic Professional Brush Cleaner and  Sephora Brand Brush Shampoo.

Brought to you by makeup brush cleaner at Beso.com

The above are just a few handy suggestions. As an alternative, you can also use a mild baby shampoo and follow the above steps (I have used this method myself and find it very effective, although some would argue the special formulations will be less harsh).  Likely, if you have invested a lot of $ into your brushes, you may also prefer a specialty brush cleaning formulation.

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