Cleaning Your Dirty Makeup Brushes

I'm just going to get straight to the point.  Dirty makeup brushes are GROSS.  Did you know that they are one of the culprits of acne breakouts and bacterial eye infections,  I am astonished when I see some of the dirty makeup brushes I have come across when going to a friends house or taking a peek at their makeup bags.  I'm always one to ask, "Um...when was the last time you cleaned your brush(es)?"  Some of the answers I get are, "I don't clean them," or "never."My response, "WHAT?  You DON'T clean your brushes?  Do you have any idea what is lurking around in there?"  So please, friends.  If you don't want a horrible acne breakout or a nasty sty in your eye take these measures and do yourself a favor.  Clean your brushes and rid those nasty germs away!  

Here's what you can do to keep your brushes clean.  

What you'll need:

1) Dirty Brushes

2) Brush Cleanser (MAC has a good one that I like to use)

3) Gentle/Mild Shampoo (I use Johnson's baby shampoo)

4) Paper towel

5) Hand towel

What you'll need to do on a daily basis:

1) Right after you've used your brushes: dab a bit of brush cleanser on a clean paper towel and swipe your dirty brush on it until the residue and dirt come off 

2) Lay on a clean paper towel to dry (shouldn't take long to dry and will be ready for your next makeup application or touch up)

Once a week you should do a deep cleansing of brushes:

1) Wet only the hairs/tips of the brush (be sure not to wet the ferrule of the brush.  The water will cause the glue to desintegrate over time resulting in a broken brush)

2) Take your shampoo and rub a decent amount  (depending on the brush size) into the brush 

3) Rinse until the water appears clean (if the water appears dirty, repeat the process)

4) Re-shape your brush using a pinching motion

5) Lay flat to dry on a clean towel

QUICK TIPS:

- Never dry your brushes standing up, as water will seep down into the ferrule causing the brush to break

- For the removal of hard residue or tough makeup stains use olive oil and work it into the bristles prior to deep cleansing

- After buying a new set of brushes, be sure to deep clean them prior to first use