Top tips for cleaning your make-up brushes

When was the last time you gave your make-up brushes a good clean?

Let’s be honest, most of us are guilty of letting our make-up brushes become crusty with foundation and because of that, have fallen prey to a streaky face at least once in our lives.

Whether you have a beauty routine or not, washing your brushes should be something you do on the regular to get rid of the trapped makeup, oil and bacteria lurking within the bristles.

If you’ve never washed your brushes before or you’re just looking to try a new way, here are some top tips that we live by.

Lightly-soiled brushes

Generally, soap/shampoo and warm water will clean any brushes that have been use for lighter products such as bronzer. Basically, any sort of powder.

1. Rinse your brush under warm water using your fingers to spread the bristles apart.
2. Fill a bowl with warm water and some baby shampoo and twirl your brush around until you work up a lather. NB: if you have sensitive skin, it should be okay to use baby shampoo however if you are concerned, you can purchase sensitive skin friendly make-up cleaners.
3. Rinse your brush under warm water to remove the lather. Repeat steps two and three until the water running from the brush is clear.
4. Wipe your brushes with a clean, dry cloth going with the natural shape of the bristles.
5. Lay flat on a cloth or with the bristles hanging off the edge of a flat surface.

Heavily-soiled brushes

Before cleaning those brushes you’ve used to the brink of death, you need to think about the type of products you’ve been using. Is it a heavy-cream based foundation? If so, you’ll most likely need to add a little oil into your cleaning.

1. Pour some oil onto a paper towel or cloth (olive, almond, coconut etc.). Gently run the brush back and forth through the oil to loosen the dirt.
2. Rinse your brush under warm water until you can see the makeup run away.
3. Squeeze a small amount of baby shampoo into the palm of your hand or a bowl and run the brush through it in circular motions.
4. Rinse your brush under warm water to remove the lather using your fingers to massage the bristles. Repeat steps three and four one – two more times until the water running from the brush is clear.
5. Wipe your brushes with a clean, dry cloth going with the natural shape of the bristles.
6. Lay flat on a cloth or with the bristles hanging off the edge of a flat surface.

See more:

• 10 hair hacks you need in your life
• 5 foods to nourish your skin
• Taming curly hair
• Easy at home hair tips

Written by Monique Renee

Usually barefoot and deep in wanderlust mode, Mon loves binging Netflix, cuddling babies and stalking through Instagram looking for boho decor inspo and hotties with man buns. You’ll usually find her on holiday, planning a holiday or thinking about holidays.

Favourite Instagram to follow: @hotdudesreading