By Hannah Powling
Do you get those annoying, unexplainable breakouts here and there? Have you thought that it might be down to your beauty tools?
Why?
I cannot stress enough how important it is to clean your makeup brushes. You’d probably be shocked to hear how many of you naughty lot don’t wash your tools often enough…or ever! Research shows 38% of people have never cleaned their brushes, and this absolutely needs to change. Here’s why:
If you cleanse and look after your skin on a day to day basis, only to then follow up with a germy, dusty foundation brush – you’re painting a week’s worth of dirt and grime right back onto your face. Not ideal. New research by Superdrug shows that British women are carrying a heavy amount of bacteria on their makeup brushes without even realising the impact it has on the skin.
Skincare doesn’t stop at just cleansing your face daily – one of the most common causes of acne is due to the bacteria carried on your makeup brushes. Dermatologists and makeup artists do actually advise people to clean their makeup brushes after every single use (!) as brushes can pick up bacteria as soon as they are in contact with the skin.
Realistically, if you aren’t the type that is going to sanitize your brushes EVERY day (we know that most us of lead busy lives and this small task can be easily overlooked or forgotten about) – then how often ideally, do need to cleanse your brushes? Well, it does depend a little on how you store them and what products you are using. If you have a liquid foundation brush stuffed into your makeup bag unable to breathe, it will need much more regular cleaning than, for example, a powder brush that is stored in a brush holder, with air to breathe, and away from all the extra daily cosmetic table gatherings such as hair spray.
A couple of times a week is certainly ideal, and a whole lot better than nothing. It’ll benefit you in ways you probably weren’t even aware of! If the bristles are stuck together at all, then it has been way too long since they last had a wash.
Here are some home truths to enlighten you with;
-Dirty brushes can give you spots.
-Dirty brushes can affect colour payoff in products.
-Dirty brushes ruin your products. That gorgeous blush or expensive eyeshadow you have just invested in – will be built up with moisture and won’t be depositing well on your skin or brush.
-Dirty brushes can kill your brush. So prolong your brushes life too by keeping it clean.
-Dirty brushes can spread infection. Especially from person to person use; not what you necessarily want included with your lip brush right?
HOW
So it is always recommended that you properly wash your brushes under a tap in warm, soapy water, and let dry thoroughly. Doing it the night before is the best way, so that they’re dry for your morning makeup sesh. I’d say once a week at least. But for day-to-day sanitizing – there are a few no-water brush cleansers available on the market to choose from too which make your life a whole lot easier.
B Makeup
B. Makeup Brush Cleanser is an affordable, super quick and easy way of sanitizing your brushes. Simply spray 2 or 3 pumps directly onto brush hairs, against a tissue and massage in with the tissue to remove the makeup. Repeat and rub with fresh tissue until the tissue is clean of product and you have sparkling fresh brushes. This solution is alchohol-based and will try quickly so you wont have to wait too long for your brush to dry so it’s ready to go!
Real Techniques
Sam and Nic have bought us their trusty brush cleansing gel designed for deep cleansing. Using washing up liquid or soaps can be quit´strong for your brushes and take away some of that silkiness – plus you might not want to use all of your expensive shampoo either. It is an easy, quick and incredibly effective way of cleaning your brushes. Oh and it smells amazing too.
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So get cleaning ! There’s no excuses now…
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