Our spa therapists regularly get asked the question ‘what else can I do to improve my skin?’. A lot of our clients already have a good skin regime from cleansing and toning to regular facials. But many forget about regularly cleaning their make-up brushes!
Through daily use, our brushes are collecting dirt, oil, pollution and lots of bacteria, which we are then transferring back onto our face. Often considered a tedious task, it’s extremely important to regularly wash your makeup brushes as otherwise we may face issues such as: spots, pores clogging up, makeup not applying smoothly, a pink eye (aka conjunctivitis) in extreme cases and can even contribute to more wrinkles.
But how long does it take?
This will of course depend on how many brushes you have but roughly around 10-15 minutes for a full set. It’s a extremely simple process to follow and all you’ll need is a soap of choice. My favourite to use is Baby Shampoo as this creates a gentle lather and easily washes away any makeup on the bristles.
The below steps will help you achieve good-as-new brushes/sponges!
- Wet the bristles with lukewarm water
- Place a drop of your cleanser of choice into the palm of your hand.
- Gently massage the tips of the bristles in your palm to create a lather
- Rinse the bristles thoroughly
- Squeeze out the excess moisture with a clean towel
- Re-form the brush head back to its original shape
- Let the brush dry with its bristles hanging off the edge of a counter as this allows it to dry in the correct shape.
To maintain the best results in your makeup, most dermatologists will advise to soak your brushes, especially foundation and concealer tools, around once a week to prevent product build-up. For brushes that are used around the eyes, these should be cleaned at least twice a month. This of course depends on your lifestyle / how often you are wearing makeup, however I’d say more regularly than not is always better.
Frequent cleansing will not only help to keep your skin cleaner, it can also extend the life of your makeup bristles and make for better product application.
Let us know your top tips for cleaning makeup brushes below!
Love,
Rebecca x