Cleaning Makeup Brushes

For Their Longevity and Your Complexion

Cleaning makeup brushes is a necessary practice for keeping them in top form.

It's also critical to remove bacteria from the instruments to prevent breakouts.

If you're treating acne, cleaning makeup brushes is critical for combatting the bacteria that causes the condition.

This article illustrates my personal methods for maintaining my makeup brushes.

Learn how to make an effective cleaning solution using the essential oil of Tea Tree, which has antibacterial properties.

Common practices

Use of isopropyl alcohol and specialty brush cleaners is sometimes recommended. My private opinion is that they are unnecessary and (in the case of alcohol especially) may do more harm than good. Alcohol has a drying effect on the hairs, which can strip the softness and diminish the life expectancy of your brushes.

Specialty brush cleaners contain basic ingredients used in hair cleansers, so why pay extra for something you already have? Rather than just use your shampoo though, try mixing up a 'signature blend' just for your cosmetic tools.

Simple at-home recipe

• Find a small squeeze bottle or one with a dropper (like the one used here) and fill it most of the way with a shampoo or similar cleanser.
  
  Because I like to keep things simple and avoid excessive fragrances and chemicals in my products, I use the organic NutriBiotic shower gel pictured here.
  
  It is unscented, which is perfect for a mixture like this where you're adding essential oil. Also, it's a 'non-soap' product and this lack of harsh detergents will help keep the hairs of your brushes soft and supple.
  
  

• Drop in around 15 drops of pure Tea Tree oil per 1oz of cleanser. Give the concoction a vigorous shake and.... voila!
  
  You now have your very own pure, natural, antibacterial makeup brush cleanser.

THE CLEANING PROCESS

• Prepare your brushes by wetting them a little. Open up the hairs a bit so some water gets inside.
  
  But be sure to keep the brush pointing downwards so that none of the water collects near the handle.
  
  
• To clean brushes, simply drop a small amount of the cleansing solution into the palm of your hand and swish the brush around in it.
  
  
• Then rinse thoroughly and squeeze excess moisture from hairs with an absorbent towel. Then 'tap' them around a bit to loosen the hairs up and get them in a good position for drying.
  
  



• Finally lay the brushes on a towel to dry. It's important that the brushes aren't left to dry pointing upwards.
  
  If they are, the water can't get out and ends up causing problems inside; rusting metal, mildewing wood, etc.
  
  To get a slight downward angle, place a folded hand towel underneath and lay the brushes so they point slightly downward.

How often?

ALTERNATE USES
This solution can also be used to clean eyeglass frames and facial jewelery. You know how icky stuff can build up in the nooks and crannies of those items.

A soft bristle toothbrush makes a great cleaning tool. Just drop some of your cleanser on the bristles and give the items a gentle scrub and a thorough rinse.

Then lay them out to dry, or in the case of eyeglasses, dry/polish them with a lense cloth.

It depends on how regularly you use the brushes AND what you use them for.

Concealer brushes and those used on cream products should be cleaned the most frequently.

Creamy products coat the bristles and will eventually hamper the performance of the brush.

The moist environment may allow for faster bacteria growth as well. So, every 3 or 4 uses is a good frequency for cleaning these brushes.

Brushes used for powdered makeup products can be cleaned less often. Every week (or 7 uses) should be enough.

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