Make up brushes are vital part of your makeup kit. They are available in various shapes and sizes which varies as per their usage. The bristles of these brushes are made of various types of materials. Some of these brushes are made of sponge or plastic. Then there are some expensive, high quality brushes which are made of natural materials like animal hair. These brushes enable you to apply the make up perfectly. You must know how to clean makeup brushes properly, mainly for two different reasons. Cleaning will remove all dirt and bacteria that tend to get deposited on unclean brushes. Thus you can prevent any infection or rashes on your facial skin that may pass on from them. Besides the hygienic aspects, regular cleaning of the brushes is necessary in order to retain their good shape and increase their lifespan.
How to Clean Makeup Brushes at Home?
There are a wide range of options available with you for cleaning makeup brushes at home. You can find many such materials in your home that can be used for this purpose. Two such effective options are discussed below:
Option 1
Baby shampoo is an excellent cleansing agent for makeup brushes. It does not have any harsh chemicals that can cause any damage to the high quality brushes made of animal hair. It works really well on lipstick brush which is difficult to clean as it tends to become sticky due to presence of emollients in lip colors. To begin with, wipe off any excess makeup from the surface of the brush with the help of a soft piece of cloth. Then place it under warm running water for a minute or two. Then apply the baby shampoo of the brush and rub it gently till you get lather. Next, rinse off the brush thoroughly by keeping it under flowing warm water from the tap. Continue to wash the brush until it becomes colorless and no trace of makeup is left behind. Alternatively, you can use a facial cleanser in the same way to wash the brushes.
Option 2
Another effective method of cleaning makeup brushes involves use of white vinegar. Many people prefer to use vinegar because of its disinfectant qualities. In case, your make up brushes were shared by other women, you must clean them up with vinegar once before reusing them. Dilute one part of white vinegar with 2 parts of water and keep it in a glass. Dip your brushes into this solution and leave them untouched for some time. Then take them out from the solution and rinse them well with warm water.
No matter which of the two cleansing agents you select, you have to make the brush absolutely dry before you use it. Do not use any electrical dryers for drying up the wet brushes. Air drying is the best option available with you. When the freshly washed makeup brush is still wet, shape its bristles so that the smoothness is restored. Then either lay it on a flat surface or hang it over an edge and leave it untouched till it dries up completely. Never keep it in standing position as it can cause damage to the bristle of the brush.
Cleaning Makeup Brushes with Cleaning Products
There are a number of cleaning products available in the market which are specially designed for cleaning up make up brushes. You can buy them from a local department store or beauty supply store. Using these products is pretty simple. You just have to spray the solution generously on the brush first. Then take a paper towel and rub it lightly over the bristles so that no damage is caused to the delicate bristles and they start coming out from the brush. Once you wipe off the brush properly, you will find that the brush is absolutely dry. So, after cleaning with a brush cleaner, you do not have to wait for the brush to dry up. You can also use this method whenever you do not have the time at hand to wait.
Makeup brushes that are used for application of liquid makeup like lipstick, eyeshadow or foundation should be cleaned after every use. Other brushes that are used for dry makeup can be washed once in a week. Finally, I would like to warn you that no matter how dirty your make up brushes are, never clean them in boiling water as it can ruin them permanently.
