How to always keep makeup brushes clean and make them last longer

There are many kinds, shapes and colors, but do you really know how to take care of them? Easy tips to always have your brushes at the top.

Behind the success of a good makeup, there is also the help of a brush kept impeccably

In fact, dirty brushes also lose their purpose: to blend pigments or makeup textures well. Makeup brushes are accessories that are not strictly necessary, but recommended. Although you can apply any type of makeup even with your fingers, the use of a brush creates professional and quality results. They also serve to better blend the products, allowing you to obtain uniform results, as well as being more hygienic than the fingers (if properly stored).

The brushes, however, accumulate, between their bristles, from the sebum of the skin to dead cells, but also particles of pollution and impurities of the face and, if not cleaned regularly, these particles ferment between the bristles of the brushes, creating an ideal environment to host germs and bacteria.

That's why you need to clean your brushes as much as possible

The hygiene rules provide for their cleaning after use, and this is how the best makeup artists actually do, but for normal and personal use it would be enough to wash them once a week if you make up every day, or once a month if you makeup sporadically.

Take your time to wash the brushes, although it may seem like a nuisance to you, it is actually quick and easy, but it does not always get the attention it would need. Keeping the bristles clean is very important not only to preserve the health of the bristles, both synthetic and natural, but also for the well-being of your skin.

The ideal would be precisely to wash the brushes once a week using a detergent or soap to keep them always clean and sanitized, while for sensitive or acne-prone skin it would be useful to do it twice a week or even after each use.

From solid soaps to neutral detergents to DIY or simple baking soda blends, there is a wide variety of products to choose from for brush cleaning, while sprays and makeup wipes can only be a quick and temporary alternative as they do not clean completely and deeply.

To do a thorough cleaning, the bristles must be washed gently with warm water, always rubbing towards the direction of the bristles so as not to open and ruin them. Hold the dirty brush in one hand by swirling the bristles in the palm of the other with a small amount of detergent you have picked, and repeat the steps a few times until the water becomes clear, and the bristles have returned to their original color.

Both during the washing and rinsing phase, the water must not in any way filter into the ring (the metal part under the bristles), as over time it could dissolve the glue that keeps the bristles fixed and the latter could detach, affecting the functionality of the brush.

After rinsing and before drying the brush, gently tighten the bristles between your fingertips in order to drain the last residues of water. Do this with the brush strictly upside down, the brushes can finally be dabbed with a clean cloth and left to air dry, to facilitate the drying phase. A brush holder can be useful, otherwise you can place them on a clean towel that will help absorb excess water.

It is important that you place the bristles in their original shapes to prevent them from deforming and have the brushes dry completely before storing them, as this may cause moisture to seep into the brush and mold to form.

During summer drying will be faster, while in winter you can place them near heat sources (for example, near a radiator) to speed up drying.

To your rescue there are also more or less tech tools and accessories on the market: from simple silicone gloves and mats to the electric brush washer, to the brush washing machine that can make you do the odious cleaning job in less time and with the same effectiveness!

How should makeup sponges be washed?

The general rule would be to wash the sponge after each use. Makeup sponges (especially with liquid foundation) can absorb a large amount of the product and cause bacteria to lurk inside them.

The method that goes for the most is without a shadow of a doubt the one with soap, comfortable and fast, since you just need to rub the sponge on the bar of soap and then rinse it, always massaging. Once this is done, it should be squeezed well, then it must be put to dry in the open air and should never be stored in containers or bags that can contribute to the proliferation of bacteria and mold.

Makeup sponges can take up to a few days to dry completely after washing. A useful tip can be to rotate it so that all sides dry completely.

How often should sponges and makeup brushes be replaced?

While regular washing will extend the life of your brushes, the time will come when makeup brushes and sponges will need to be replaced.

High-quality brushes should last for years with regular maintenance. Synthetic bristles are likely to last longer than natural ones, as synthetic bristles can typically withstand greater wear. Regardless of the type of brush you use, when the bristles begin to lose fullness and softness, it is time to buy a new one.

Beauty blenders are usually designed to last about three months; in the presence of signs of deterioration such as cracks, stains or bad smells, it is the signal that mold has formed inside and this can happen if they are kept in a beauty-case in contact with other products, so it is a good idea to be diligent in replacing them regularly and taking care of them.

Watch also this tutorial on how to clean Makeup Brushes and Sponges

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