How to Clean Makeup Brushes to Avoid Skin Problems

We women spend a lot of time, money and effort on improving our appearance, yet often forget to take care of our makeup brushes. These essential beauty tools come into frequent contact with your skin, so you want to make sure that you clean them on a regular basis. Establishing a cleaning routine will help prevent bacteria from forming on the bristles, transferring to your face and causing skin problems.

Prepare to wash your makeup brushes. Once a week, gather up all of your frequently used brushes. Grab a bottle of mild shampoo, gentle liquid soap or a specialized makeup brush cleanser. Set two clean hand towels on the counter by your sink.

Fill a clean bathroom sink with lukewarm water and a squirt of your preferred cleansing liquid. If the brushes are very dirty, add a few drops of makeup remover to the water. Soak your makeup brushes in the sink for five to ten minutes. The bristles need to be thoroughly wet for the best cleaning results.

Gently massage the bristles on each brush to remove any remaining makeup, dirt or debris. Be gentle with your makeup brushes. Hard scrubbing can cause the bristles to fall out.

Rinse your cleaned makeup brushes under warm running water. Gently spread out the bristles while rinsing to make sure the water penetrates to the brush's core. Keep rinsing the bristles until the water runs clear of makeup residue and cleansing liquid.

Blot your rinsed brushes with one of the clean hand towels. Gently squeeze the bristles to remove all of the excess water. This step stops mildew and mold from developing on the brushes and transferring to your skin.

Place your blotted cosmetic brushes flat on the second clean towel. Use your fingers to comb out the bristles and mold the brushes back into their original shape. Allow your brushes to air dry completely before you use them.

More Tips and Tricks

Give your makeup brushes a quick clean using antibacterial wipes when you don't have time for a deep cleaning.

Avoid using a scented product to clean your brushes. The perfumes can irritate your skin when you put on makeup.

Never clean your makeup brushes with hot water or dry them with a hair dryer. High temperatures can damage both synthetic and natural bristles.

References

http://extension.usu.edu/saltlake/files/uploads/pdf/newsletters/othfmayjune2008.pdf