How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

I wouldn't say that I have OCD but what I will say is that I like things to look neat, tidy and clean. My brushes are my tools without them I couldn't work. I have had a few of the brushes in my kit for 10 years or more and the reason for this is the way I look after them. I don't cradled them and wrap them in wool each night, by looking after them I mean I wash and condition them this will no doubt gaurantee that you will have yours for a lengthy period if time. I get asked on a regular basis 'Should I wash my makeup brushes?', 'How often should I was my brushes?' and 'how do I wash my brushes?' The answer to the first and second question is yes, you MUST wash your brushes. You don't have to wash them every day but once or twice a month would be sufficient enough. 

I'm not sure if you are aware but after weeks and weeks or even months of using the same makeup brushes bacteria will build up all of which you spread across your skin and eyes. Being someone that has quite sensitive skin, when I haven't washed my foundation brushes for a while a slight rash, spots and redness appears. Not only do I wash my own brushes on a regular basis, but as soon as I get home from working on a shoot or private client my tools get the treatment they so rightly deserve and the beautiful thing is I don't spend a fortune on fancy products either, my secret ingredient lives right beside my kitchen sink.

1) I place a small amount of Fairy liquid in to the palm of my hand.

2) I run 2 or 3 brushes under the tap until fully wet.

3) I swirl my brushes into the Fairy Liquid in the palm of my hand. Once I can see the brush is fully lathered and the liquid is no longer green I rinse until all of the lather has gone and the water runs clear. If you can still see makeup in the brush repeat the process again.

Foundation brushes can be a little bit stubborn, in which case I suggest placing a small amount of Fairy Liquid in a cup with warm water, allow the brush/es to sit for 3-5 minutes and then repeat  process 1-3, this should get your brushes nice and clean.

To keep my brushes super soft I use a small amount of my hair conditioner smother it all over the brush hairs and leave it to sit for a minute or two. For my synthetic powder and eyeshadow brushes I leave the conditioner on for 3-4 minutes and then rinse.

4) Once the brushes are washed I use a small towel and gently squeeze out or dab the excess water and smooth the brush hairs in to their original shape. I leave them to air dry over night, they are then dry and ready to use in the morning.

And so there you have it girls and boys, if you want to avoid skin rashes, conjuctivitis and any other bacterias or fungus that can wreak havoc on your beautiful faces clean your brushes!! #loveyourskin