Do I really need to wash my makeup brushes?
I get asked this question a lot, so instead of just answering ‘yes’.
Let me explain why regularly cleaning your makeup brushes is so, so important.
As makeup brushes and sponges are swiped across the face, they inadvertently pick up skin cells, sebum and microscopic bits of debris. Our brushes are then stored in a dark drawer or a sealed bag where bacteria is free to breed.
No matter how ‘clean’ your face is prior to make up application, we are living, breathing humans with a very active microbiome and this combo (the skin’s active surface + topical liquids) can turn our brushes into a virtual petri dish of germs.
Unwashed brushes can wreak havoc on the skin- from contributing to breakouts, all the way to potentially causing skin infections -seriously! But the real damage, in my opinion, comes in a quieter manner, because as we’re unknowingly applying a daily bacterial assault on our skin, we’re causing unnecessary stress and consistent irritation- this disrupts our skin barrier function and creates an inflammation response that kicks off a cascade of cell degradation and premature aging.
This bacterial stress presents as reactive skin, splotchy skin, sometimes the skin can feel tight and dry and sometimes the skin can look oily and waxy. When our skin barrier is disrupted or stressed, we see and feel it- so if your skin sometimes feels unbalanced or uncomfortable, especially toward the end of the day, your makeup brushes and sponges could be the culprit.
And hey, if you’ve never really given this much thought - you’re not alone.
In a recent survey, 44% admitted they’ve never washed their makeup brushes before!
Most of them didn’t even know it was a thing, but after peeping their brushes under a microscope.
58% saw high levels of active bacteria and
34% saw dangerous levels of bacteria
There’s nothing more motivating than a live-visual to start cleaning those brushes!
And it’s easy… here’s how:
1. RINSE
The first step in cleaning your makeup brushes is to rinse them under lukewarm water to loosen excess makeup.
Once the excess makeup has lifted, it’s time to cleanse.
Pro tip: Avoid submerging the entire brush head under water. The water can loosen the glue that holds the brush hairs in place.
2. CLEANSE
A lot of people use ‘baby shampoo’ to cleanse brushes, but the truth is, baby shampoo is too mild to breakdown the liquid foundations most of us use. Personally, I use our A WASH to cleanse my makeup brushes because it was formulated to breakdown oil and makeup on the skin yet it’s not harsh- it works beautifully to cleanse makeup from brush hairs.
Fill a shallow bowl with lukewarm water and a few pumps of A Wash. Swirl each brush tip in the bowl. For a good lather, you can also massage each brush tip in the palm of your hand. Rinse the brush tips under running water and repeat- cleanse the brush head again and rinse until the water runs clear from the brush.
3. DRY
Gently squeeze out excess moisture from the brush hairs between your fingers, then give another squeeze with a clean, dry paper towel. Dry the handles then lay your brushes flat on a clean, dry towel.
Pro Tip: Do not dry your brushes upright in a container, this will cause the water to run down the brushes, loosening the glue that connects the brush hairs into the barrel and brush head to the handle.
How often should you be cleaning your brushes? Once a week, every week- seriously!
And more often for makeup sponges. But don’t stress, once you get a routine, you’ll find it takes very little time and the upside is huge! Healthier, calmer skin, plus- with clean, plush, fluffy brush hairs you’ll notice a smoother more flawless makeup application- seriously!