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One thing is applying makeup and the other is ensuring your makeup brushes are well cleaned after and prior to makeup application. Now the question is, do you clean your makeup brushes properly?
Sadly quite few people prioritize cleaning their makeup brushes on regular basis, why? Should we say due to the act of laziness or poor hygiene? Well whatever it is please stooooooop it!!!. Do you know dirty makeup brushes harbors makeup-product and bacteria build-ups which can clog your pores and trigger possible eruption of inflammatory acne? Yes that’s absolutely true, it’s advised to ensure your makeup brushes are well cleansed after use or prior to usage, therefore we’ve decided to put together this insightful article to educate you on how to clean your makeup brushes properly.
What Are The Repercussions Of Using Dirty Makeup Brushes?
Now to go into details, not only does using dirty makeup brushes leads to makeup products caking on the brush bristles which makes products application spotty without blending properly for a smooth-even finish but also leads to other situated devastations. Let’s know the other consequences attributed to using dirty makeup brushes.
Your Pores Will Be Clogged.
Constant repetition of using dirty makeup brushes leads to clogged pores because these brush-bristles harbors accumulated old makeup products including dead skin cells, bacterias, dirts, oils, dusts and other environmental pollutants.
And when you make the mistake of reapplying your makeup using these dirty brushes you’re introducing hundreds of bacterias into your skin that can use your skin as a breeding ground and also pore-clogging impurities which can lead to eruption of breakouts such as acne and pimples. This is a very good reason why you should clean your makeup brushes properly before and after usage.
You Could Contract Staph Infection.
Using dirty makeup brushes doesn’t only leads to eruption of breakouts but could risk contracting staphylococcus infections too. Shocked? Yea, you should be.
Using the same tools every day means that dead skin cells, dirt, pollution and oil will accumulate and these can include harmful bacteria including staphylococcus, streptococcus and E. Coli. And these can cause drastic havoc to your health.
An Australian woman even contracted a staph infection after sharing makeup brushes with a friend, ultimately leaving her paralysed in the arms and legs. Never share your makeup brushes with anyone as it complicates the issue further as your skin may not tolerate “foreign microbes” well.
Leads To The Occurrence Of Wrinkles & Fine lines.
Dirty makeup brushes can also expose your skin to oxidization which makes it susceptible to wrinkles and fine lines and can lead to breakdown of collagen and elastin resulting in premature ageing. Also the dirt skin cells and congested makeup products accumulated on the makeup brushes makes them rougher than they should be while wearing on the skin which can lead to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Possible Risk Of Pulling Off Your Eyelashes.
If you’re using an eyelash curler that’s sticky with past mascara applications you might be at risk of pulling your eyelashes out. Even if you clean your eyelash curler before applying mascara, there’s still a risk that you could be transferring dead skin cells from eye to eye, Maximizing the risk of infection. To combat this, rub a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a cotton pad and wipe down the curler pads. Similarly, every few month you should make sure to replace the pads to avoid exposing your lashes to the metal of the curler.
Possible Occurrence Of Conjunctivitis.
The conjunctiva can become inflamed as a result of a bacterial or viral infection – this is known as infective conjunctivitis which is caused by an allergic reaction to a substance such as pollen or dust mites – it’s also known as “allergic conjunctivitis” or “pink eye”.
Well, this infection is easily treatable, but there’s an old saying which says “prevention is better than cure”.
You still want to make sure that you avoid it. Instead of risking any of these problems or infections, make sure that you clean your makeup brushes at least once a week with a professional makeup brush cleaner that will clean and dry your favourite tools in seconds. We also recommend that you change your makeup bag every five months or so, as dirt can become ingrained in the fabric and easily transferred onto your brushes. If your makeup bag is washable endeavor to wash it atleast once a week.
So if you’re experiencing breakouts it could be as a result of repeatedly using dirty makeup brushes and that being said, you literally need a deep and thorough cleanse. You can use glycolic facial cleanser, or you can as well use charcoal facial cleanser to deeply cleanse your pores and get rid of pore-clogging impurities.
How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes Properly.
All makeup tools should be cleaned thoroughly before use to prevent product and bacteria build-ups which gives-rise-to pores blockage and eruption of inflammation. Therefore you have wash your makeup brushes and other tools with water and soap or better-off soak them in soapy water for some minutes. According to makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci, soaping your makeup brush regularly not only addresses products and bacteria build-ups but also extends the lifespan of the bristles and make for better product application. “Hair brushes and sponges are porous, so they hold onto oils, debris and bacteria, if your brushes are dirty your application will be spotty and blending will be difficult” she says.
Below are guidelines on steps to clean your makeup brushes.
- Step 1: Wet your makeup brush with lukewarm water.
- Step 2: Pour some drops of any cleanser of your choice into the palm of your clean hand.
- Step 3: Gentle massage the tips of the brush bristles with your hand for atleast 2 minutes.
- Step 4: Rinse the bristles thoroughly under a running clean water.
- Step 5: Squeeze out excess water with a clean towel.
- Step 6: Adjust the brush heads to its default shape.
- Step 7: Allow your brush to dry by either sunning it or place it beside the fan. Never use a wet brush for application of makeup products.
How Often Should I Wash My Makeup Brushes?.
According to makeup professionals You should be cleaning your brushes weekly.
For face brushes like foundation, concealer, or powder, you should be cleaning them once a week. For eye brushes or brushes that you’re using for different shades, clean in between uses.
ALSO READ: Benefits Of Facial Cleansing Brush & Why You Need One.
When Is The Right Time To Toss-Away My Makeup Brushes?.
No doubt that frequent cleaning helps extends the lifespan of your makeup brushes but at some point in time your makeup brushes needs to be replaced just like you replace your toothbrush.
It’s time to toss or throw away your makeup brushes when the bristles starts to shed or lose their shape. Just like your toothbrush, when it starts shedding bristles you know it’s time to go for a new one, you wouldn’t want to keep brushing your teeth using a toothbrush with scanty or lesser bristles right? same also applies to your makeup brushes too. Going for a new one all together makes application much easier, neat with an even-smooth finish.
Best Makeup brush cleaners.
CINEMA SECRETS Pro Cosmetics Professional Brush Cleaner.
Ecotools Makeup Brush Cleaner Cleansing Shampoo.
MS. DEAR Makeup Brush Cleaner.
Felix Professional Makeup Brush Cleaner.
You can as well use mild facial cleanser (which doesn’t contain harsh detergents) to cleanse your makeup brushes too. You can check out these organic facial cleansers.
Tools That’ll Make Cleaning Makeup Brushes A Lot Easier.
These tools gives you the optimum leverage of cleaning your makeup brushes thoroughly with ease. They have rough edges where you’ll simply scrub your dirty makeup brushes to ensure all the accumulated dirts, oils and makeup buildups are gotten rid off.
Ranphykx Silicon Cleaning Makeup Mat Brush.
beautyblender Blender cleanser Solid Lavender Scented Sponge & Brush Cleanser.
J.Cat Beauty Silicone Pad Brush Cleaner.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Makeup Brush Cleaning Glove.
Norate Brush Cleaning Mat.
Easkep Makeup Cleaner Pad Portable Washing Tool Scrubber.
UP NEXT: These Are The Best Makeup Kits Worths Your Money
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