How to Care for Your Makeup Brushes
A good set of makeup brushes can be a girl's best friend, but neglect to care for them properly and they'll soon become your worst enemy. Dirty makeup brushes apply makeup unevenly, cost you time as you struggle to get the look you want, and can contribute to unsightly breakouts and inflammation when bacteria growing in the bristles gets deposited on your skin along with the makeup. Aside from storing them upright and away from humidity (in the bathroom is not a good idea) the single most important thing you can do with your makeup brushes is wash them regularly. Once a week is ideal but twice a month is the bare minimum, depending on how often you use them and for what. When washing any set of brushes first follow any special instructions that came with them. If you have no instructions then the following methods all work well for both natural bristle brushes and synthetics.
Note: You should never soak brushes in water or store them to dry upright as both will allow water and moisture to collect at the brush's base, which can loosen the glue and cause the brush head to become misshapen and/or the bristles to fall out.
Method #1: Shampoo and water
Run the brushes under lukewarm water, apply a small amount of shampoo, facial cleanser, or brush cleaner and gently work into a lather, being careful not to go against the grain or scrub too roughly and risk displacing the bristles. Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear, gently squeeze out excess water, reshape the bristles, and lay flat to dry.
Method #2: Vinegar and water
Vinegar is a natural way to disinfect your brushes, although potentially harsher than shampoo or brush cleaner. Mix one part vinegar to two parts water in a small bowl. Dip your makeup brushes into the solution several times before rinsing under warm water. Repeat until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze out excess water, reshape, and lay flat to dry.
Method #3: White towel
This is the gentlest way to wash your brushes. Start with a clean white towel and spray or soak it with brush cleaner. Then simply wipe your brushes across the towel, in a natural brushing motion, until no more color transfers from the bristles to the towel. Repeat on a section of towel moistened only with water (as a rinse) and lay flat to dry.
Method #1: Shampoo and water
Run the brushes under lukewarm water, apply a small amount of shampoo, facial cleanser, or brush cleaner and gently work into a lather, being careful not to go against the grain or scrub too roughly and risk displacing the bristles. Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear, gently squeeze out excess water, reshape the bristles, and lay flat to dry.
Method #2: Vinegar and water
Vinegar is a natural way to disinfect your brushes, although potentially harsher than shampoo or brush cleaner. Mix one part vinegar to two parts water in a small bowl. Dip your makeup brushes into the solution several times before rinsing under warm water. Repeat until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze out excess water, reshape, and lay flat to dry.
Method #3: White towel
This is the gentlest way to wash your brushes. Start with a clean white towel and spray or soak it with brush cleaner. Then simply wipe your brushes across the towel, in a natural brushing motion, until no more color transfers from the bristles to the towel. Repeat on a section of towel moistened only with water (as a rinse) and lay flat to dry.
