Let’s just admit it, cleaning our makeup brushes isn’t fun. It’s a chore. Not only that, we need them every day. Taking the time to clean them all properly is time consuming and we’ll just end up dirtying them the next day. This is all true, but the oil, debris and dirt those brushes collect isn’t just exposing our skin to breakouts and potential outbreaks of dermatitis. It’s making our products go bad more quickly as well because we’re reintroducing those oils and dirt back into our products each time we dip into them. 

Photo credit: Peter Cade

 Yuck, is right. So, what’s the answer? My answer is a paper towel and a brush cleansing spray. A spray like Beauty Blender Instaclean or Parian Spirit is a quick and easy way to keep those brushes fairly clean in between washes. Simply spray the paper towel and drag your brushes back and forth over the cleanser dampened towel. You can do this every day, easily. It will not only keep your face free of excess oil and dirt, it will prolong the life of your products.  Once a week, you should thoroughly wash your brushes. Squeeze out all the excess water. Reshape your brush by hand and lay flat to dry. A lot of people make the mistake of laying them on a towel to dry. This can cause mildew buildup. Make sure the bristles are hanging over the edge of the sink or counter to allow airflow to circulate through the bristles.Keep in mind that not all brushes are created equal when it comes to washing. If you have natural hair bristles you want to use a brush cleanser like Beauty Blender Cleanser or a gentle all-natural shampoo. Synthetic brushes can be cleaned with dishwashing detergent or a soap like Dove.The better you care for your brushes, the longer they will last.