Makeup Brushes Need Love, Too

Makeup brushes are an essential part of any cosmetic routine, but if you don’t care for them properly they can be ruined very quickly. Some makeup brush sets are expensive (but not if you go to The Salon Outlet), but the longevity of your brushes can be greatly increased with proper care.

After you have invested in a good quality set of makeup brushes you need to protect your investment – keep them clean and washed or they will start to deteriorate very quickly. Another problem is that dirty makeup brushes won’t apply the makeup properly and can spread bacteria and germs.  Clean makeup brushes help to maintain a clear complexion.

• Natural Bristle Makeup Brushes will last for years if you wash them weekly with a moisturizing soap. These are great for bronzer, powder and blush. A gentle shampoo can also be used to clean these brush types.  Gently massage the soap or shampoo onto the wet bristles to get a good lather, but make sure that you rinse everything out when you have finished.
• Synthetic Bristle Makeup Brushes are more often used on liquid and cream products – lip gloss or liner, lipstick, crème foundation and blush. These need regular cleaning; if you use them daily then clean them every other day at least. These will need some sort of alcohol based cleaner to break down the grease from the cosmetics.  Even if you clean them regularly, they will need to be replaced every few months. Remember that germs love wet and moist conditions.
• Powder Puffs are another favorite breeding ground for dreaded bacteria. They need to be cleaned thoroughly each week using warm water and soap.  They don’t last very long so will need to be replaced quite frequently.  The powder puff, which is often supplied with a powder compact, will not last as long as the powder it was supplied with so keep it clean, but then throw it out and buy another when it starts to show too much wear.

Lash combs, tweezers and eyelash curlers should not be neglected, either.  They are really simple to clean: all you need to do is spray them with the alcohol based cleaner you use on your synthetic bristle brushes and give them a wipe over.

Drying Your Brushes
Remember that bacteria breeds in wet places, so after you have washed your brushes you need to make sure that they are properly dried before you use them again.  After you have cleaned them, take a dry towel and squeeze gently around the bristles to soak up excess moisture. Some people are tempted to simply stand their wet brushes handle side down and bristles facing upwards in a cup, brush holder or other pot until they are dry, but this is not a good idea. Drying brushes this way means that the water leaks down into the area where the handle meets the bristles and can ruin the glue, causing the bristles to fall out of the brush.  Simply place wet brushes on a clean, dry towel on a table or other flat surface with the bristles hanging over the edge to help you protect the shape of the bristles.  Place your brushes close to an open window or a heater and they’ll be clean, dry and ready for action in no time at all. Remember, take care of your brushes and they’ll take care of you!

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by The Salon Outlet.  Monetary compensation was received for this post.