I finally got around to cleaning my make-up brushes today so I decided to share the method I use for brush cleaning!
I am really naughty because I don't clean my brushes very often at all.
So don't be like me and follow my advice instead: You should clean your brushes after each use. Okay okay, I know we all get busy, so AT LEAST once a week give your brushes a good clean. This is important because it helps to keep the quality of the brushes (and they can be expensive so look after them) as well as looking after your skin. When you use your brushes you are not only getting make-up on them, but also dirt, oils and bacteria on the brushes - yick! Then you are putting that back into your make-up, and then back onto your skin!
So let's get into it and have those brushes looking brand new and your skin glowing.
Remember that your brushes are going to take a little while to dry, so I would clean them after putting your make-up on, or on a no-make-up day.
To clean and dry your brushes, you will need:
~A plate or bowl
~Extra virgin olive oil
~Dish soap
~Baby shampoo
~A few tall glasses or mason jars
~Paper towel
You don't need to get fancy with this at all. This is the olive oil, dish soap and baby shampoo I had at home so that's what I used! Simple and cheap!
Method:
1) Pour the olive oil, dish soap and baby shampoo into a bowl or onto a plate so that the mixture is about 2 parts dish soap, 2 parts baby shampoo and 1 to 1 1/2 parts olive oil.
2) Take your brush and stir it into the mixture. The make-up residue will start to come off into the mixture.
3) Wipe the brush in the palm of your hand in a circular motion to get more of the make-up off.
4) Leave the mixture on the brush and set the brush on a paper towel.
5) Repeat steps 2-4 with all of your brushes.
NOTE: If you have a lot of brushes, or your brushes are particularly dirty, then repeat the first step when your mixture gets too dirty. You don't want to be cleaning your brushes in a filthy shampoo.
6) I like to leave the shampoo mixture on the brushes for about 5-10 minutes just so the dish soap can kill that bacteria and the olive oil can recondition the brushes. You don't have to wait though, you can move swiftly onto the next step.
7) Time to rinse off the shampoo mixture! Using LUKE WARM water (and trying to avoid where the handle meets the head) rinse your brush by swirling it in the palm of your hand again until all the makeup and shampoo comes off (or the water runs clear when you squeeze your brush out).
8) Place the rinsed brush on a new sheet of paper towel while you rinse the rest of the brushes.
9) Now that you've cleaned and rinsed all of your brushes, blot them with paper towel to remove excess water and moisture.
Drying your brushes
I've found that the cheapest way to dry my brushes is to use a tall glass (or two) and some paper towel. You can use anything really, a mug, a mason jar, etc.
Take each brush, re-shape the bristles and then wrap it securely in paper towel. Make sure to leave about an inch of paper towel at the end of the bristles so that you don't squash the bristles when drying it. Place the wrapped brush bristle side down in the cup. Once all of your brushes are in the cup they will stay in place.
Depending on the size of the brush, the drying time will vary.
Do not place your brushes bristle end up until they are completely dry!
Do not dry your brushes laying flat or bristle end up!
The water will run into the brush and loosen the glue ruining the brush hairs as well as the handle.
Of course you can use a brush shampoo for cleaning and brush guards for drying. This is simply a cheap and effective alternative that I think works just as well. This is also how I clean my paintbrushes.
Good luck!
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