September 2, 2009

When was the last time you shampooed your makeup brushes?

I was recently at a MAC counter picking up my favorite loose powder when I decided to ask the Sales Person a quick question about my powder brush. The brief conversation went something like this:

Me: “Do you think that it's time for me to get a new powder brush if I'm noticing that bristles are falling out and ending up all over my face when I'm applying my powder?”

Sales Person: “No, not necessarily.  When was the last time you gave your brushes a good shampoo?”

Me: “Hmmm… I guess it would be bad if I said never?”

Sales Person: “Yeah. That could be the problem.”

Me: “Oops.” (as I lower my head in shame.)

I proceeded to tell her that I do occasionally use the MAC Brush Cleanser but that no one ever told me that I needed to shampoo my brushes. I asked her a few more questions and bought a few more items so she wouldn't be so disgusted with me, then I headed home, with my tail between my legs, to shampoo my brushes.

Apparently, most experts suggest cleaning them once a week, but every couple of weeks is better than not at all. Cleaning your brushes more regularly will not only extend the life of the brush but also could prevent some skin problems. Dirty makeup brushes can harbor lots of dirt and bacteria, but frequent washing of your brushes can keep them, and your face, clean and healthy.

It really is simple. Let's do this step by step, shall we?

First, gather your dirty brushes.

And your favorite shampoo.

To get started, wet each brush thoroughly.

Then, apply one to two drops of shampoo directly to each brush and gently massage the brush in between your fingers or in the palm of your hand. Do this for at least a minute or two to get all the makeup and dirt out of the brush. The bigger brushes should be cleaned one at a time.

But, you can wash a few of the smaller brushes at the same time.

Rinse each brush thoroughly. It's very important that you rinse each brush well so you don't leave behind soap residue, dirt, or bacteria. You can gently massage the bristles if needed, but be careful not to pull on the hairs.

Remove excess water and pat dry on clean towel. You can gently squeeze the brush in between the towel, if needed.

Lay the brushes on a towel to dry overnight. It's important to lay the wet brushes flat or even pointed down at an angle. Don't ever stand them up to dry. Some of the water could run into the bottom of the bristles and damage your brush.

Take a closer look at these after they were shampooed.

They look 100% better than the ‘before' photo!

Check each brush before you use it to make sure that it is completely dry. If the brush is still damp, then don't use it, and whatever you do, do not use a hair dryer to dry it.

Now, wasn't that easy? I sure wish that I had known to do this sooner. I can't wait to use my clean brushes in the morning!

~LilSis