If you use makeup, you will probably know that cleaning your cosmetic brushes regularly is an important thing to do. And failing to frequently and properly clean your makeup brushes and sponges can affect the health of your skin and the durability of your beauty tools.
Also, your makeup quality will not be as high if you do it with a clean or dirty brush. With each application, bacteria and impurities accumulate on your products and can end up on your skin, causing pimples and blackheads.
So, knowing how to clean brushes and sponges is critical to skincare, especially when you want to ensure that nothing stands between you and your skin.
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How to Clean Makeup Brushes?
Here are all the keys and tips to make this task as bearable as possible.
Powdered makeup is a pleasant environment for germs and bacteria. To prevent their generation, you should wipe your makeup brushes with wet wipes after use. This way, you can remove most makeup residue and prevent bacteria and germs. Even biodegradable wet wipes will do the work.
The materials needed for the cleaning procedure are:
- Tea tree oil
- Warm water
- Some mild shampoo
- Small bowl (you can use the sink too)
- And a clean, soft, dry towel.
The cleaning procedure:
- Fill the bowl with warm but not hot water.
Ensure the water is warm enough (never boiling) to remove any stuck-on grease and that your fingers can handle it. The warm water from the tap should work perfectly.
2. Prepare a cleaning solution.
Mix 1 tablespoon shampoo with 4-5 drops of tea tree oil in a bowl with warm water. Swirl the ingredients until you create a foamy mixture.
3. Wet the brushes’ bristles with warm water.
Insert the brush into the water vertically, being careful not to wet the handle. It could be damaged, especially if it’s made of wood. Clean the bristles gently with your fingers for about 1 minute.
4. Make circular movements in the palm of your hand.
Rub the brush in the palm of your hand in circular motions. This way, the grease will come off. Rinse with warm water, if needed, and repeat until clean.
If there is layered makeup, apply shampoo directly to your hand and then make circular movements with the wet brush on your palm.
5. Rinse.
When you are finished cleaning the bristles, rinse each brush thoroughly in warm water. Ensure there is no makeup residue on the brushes.
6. Take the water off your brushes.
Use a clean, dry towel for this purpose. Lay the brushes on the towel and blot the bristles to dry them.
7. Give it shape.
Before they dry, it is essential to restore their initial shape. Simply arrange the brush bristles in the desired shape, and let it flow from within. Use an absorbent cloth or paper.
8. Let it dry upside down in a well-ventilated place.
This reduces the risk of moisture-causing fungus growth. Use a clean, dry towel or old cloth to place the brush.
Knowing how to dry makeup brushes and applicators properly is as critical as knowing how to clean them. First, it protects the longevity of your brushes. If water is left in the brush and drips down the handle, it can loosen the glue and cause it to come off. Second, unwanted fungi or bacteria can form if moisture lingers inside the brush.
Last but not least – never try to sterilise your makeup brushes with boiling water.
How to Clean Makeup Sponges?
Another cosmetic item that deserves your attention is the makeup sponge. Just like brushes, they can quickly become damaged and harm your skin if not cleaned regularly. Here’s how to clean the makeup sponge:
- Dampen the sponge with warm water.
You can use warm tap water or damp it in a bowl filled with water. Make sure the sponge is well damp.
2. Use a grease-dissolving detergent.
Apply a few drops of detergent to the sponge. Generate foam to clean it and remove even the most challenging grease stains from the first application.
3. Gently rub the sponge with your hands and fingers.
Take advantage of the foam generated, as it will be your ally when removing makeup residues and dirt from the sponge.
- Rinse with warm water.
Rinse the sponge again with warm water to remove the dirt the detergent extracted.
2. Let the sponge dry.
Let the sponge dry on an old cloth or a damp towel in a well-ventilated place. Allow it to dry entirely before again using it to apply makeup.
Another good thing about using these tips on keeping your cosmetic accessories immaculate is that although there are products designed specifically for cleaning brushes and makeup sponges, you can use products you have at home.
How to disinfect makeup?
As part of your makeup cleaning routine, you should disinfect your products frequently. It’s recommended to have a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol spray on hand, which can usually be purchased at pharmacies or grocery stores.
Isopropyl alcohol dries in a matter of minutes and leaves no residue. However, it is flammable, so caution should be used when using it.
Depending on their composition, you can do this as follows:
- Blush and lip products – spray them with alcohol and let them dry naturally, or wait a minute before cleaning them with a clean cloth. Lip glosses and lipsticks can also be scraped with a clean spatula to clean the surface.
- Pencil format products should be sharpened to remove the product’s outer layer and then sprayed with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Eye products should always be cleaned before application with a tissue to avoid burning the skin.
- The loose powder should be placed in a separate disinfected container or surface, such as a clean tissue, before application.
- Always disinfect the bottles, caps, and outer surfaces because any direct mixing between cleaning products and makeup could damage their composition and irritate your skin. Close each product tightly and wipe it with a microfibre cloth on the outside with warm water and detergent.
Now, all that’s left is to get to work and keep our makeup and all the brushes and sponges clean.
If brushes are appropriately taken care of, they can last years, saving us money in the long run. Replacing them would only be necessary when the bristles begin to fall out, weaken, or appear damaged.
But in any case, it’s like everything else. They will last a long time if they are well taken care of.
Remember that cleaning your makeup and cosmetics is critical for flawless skin. As well as, knowing how to clean your home is crucial to eliminate viruses and bacteria responsible for causing discomfort or illness.
