Makeup Brushes - Should I really clean them!

With this year's flu season in full effect I wanted to touch on the importance of cleaning your makeup brushes on the regular.  As we all know germs lurk everywhere, and they don't stop short of your bristles of your makeup brushes.  So if you can imagine what your brush might look like under a microscope... BACTERIA everywhere.  Especially if you use your brushes on others.  So here is a little break down of the importance of cleaning your makeup brushes and how to properly do it.  BTW you don't have to have $60 brushes to care for them.

If you were to look at your makeup brushes right now I bet you will find visible signs of left over makeup reminisce, maybe some blush still dusted on the tips of your blush brush, or gel liner on your eyeliner brush (the brush that is right up next to your eye everyday).  Maybe your makeup is even slightly CAKED onto the bush.  This my friend is a clear sign that it has been too long since you have taken up the task of cleaning your brush.  Now think of all the tiny bacteria that is hiding in between the bristles.  YUCK.

(hi I am microscopic bacteria living in the bristles of your makeup brushes)

Cleaning your brushes will ensure three things: clean brushes allow for better makeup application, you get a fresh application every time, it will ensure that your brushes last longer, and most importantly it will not spread any bacteria on your face keeping your face clean and minimizing breakout due to dirty brushes.  This happens more often then you think.

What do I clean my brushes with you ask? Pretty simple, any type of gentle facial cleanser will work, baby shampoo or even your daily hair shampoo works perfectly.  You can certainly use one of those specially formulated makeup brush cleansers you buy in the local drug store but be careful because those usually contain some sort of alcohol agent which will eventually strip your brushes of their softness causing them to be brittle and break off all over your face.  Not to mention you having to replace them quicker.

As a makeup artist and skin care technician I clean my brushes after every application.  Which you should do as well if you are sharing your brushes with other people. You don't want to spread bacteria from one person to another.  On my personal brushes I clean them about once a week.  The simplest way to clean your brush is by lathering them up with shampoo, gently massage the brush and then rinse them off with tepid water. This will remove the vast majority of residue.  Then shake off all the excess water and lay them flat to dry on a paper towel or clean hand towel.

Another great way to clean your brushes, and how I clean my brushes, is with with Tea Tree Oil, a natural antibacterial agent.  This ensures my brushes are clean as they will ever be.  Here is how I do this.  Since I clean my brushes more often then most I keep a bottle of this under my sink.  But what you can do at home is mix about 15 drops of Tea Tree Oil to one ounce of shampoo or facial cleanser and stir it up.  Next wet down your brushes so they are damp and apply a very small amount of your Tea Tree cleanser to the brushes.  Massage it around on your brushes and then rinse.  Squeeze or shake out any excess water and lay flat on a clean service to dry.

And there you go.  Clean fresh makeup brushes to ensure beautiful clean makeup application. 

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at meadowstar@me.com.

Have a wonderful day and don't forget about me for your next event that you need clean, flawless, makeup application.

Yours Truly,

Meadow Star

PURe Skin & Lash Studio

The Salon Suites

1655 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 201-17

Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

(805) 750-9700

www.pureskinandlashstudio.com