"I also like to spray them with lavender so they smell fabulous," adds Caroline.Ĥ. This ensures the water doesn’t drain into the handle and rot the wood or remove the glue. If not, I squeeze the water out of the brush and lay it flat on a towel next to the sink to dry," says Christabel. Repeat "If there is still residue on the brush, I repeat the process. "It’s a brush cleaner’s dream," says Caroline.ģ. Swirl your brush in the bowl to clean, then watch it spin dry in seconds. It has saved me hours of brush washing time as you swirl brushes over the tiny plastic teeth on the mat and it cleans them in at least half the time." Another clever tool? Stylpro's Brush Cleanser (£34.99). "If I'm in a rush, I use the Express Brush Washing Mat (£29) from Sigma. Hold for a further 2-3 seconds, ensuring they are sparkling clean," says Christabel. Swirl "Hold brushes under running water, checking until there’s no lather left on it.
"Dip each brush individually under the running water, and then into a bowl of gentle shampoo or soap and rub gently with fingers to get a good lather for a few minutes," says makeup pro Christabel Draffin.Ģ. It strips the brushes of all grease, but it can be harsh on the natural hair long term," says Caroline. Washing up liquid is acceptable only as a last resort. Wash "Hand wash brushes with an anti-bacterial soap or silicone-free baby shampoo in lukewarm water. As the grease builds up, the bristles are unable to blend so makeup looks patchy," says Carolineġ. "They become limp and useless if not washed. Natural bristles are porous so can be more high maintenance. Many also offer anti-bacterial protection, like Look Good Feel Better’s Anti-bacterial Brush Set, £35. Good quality ones should last 5-10 years. Synthetic brushes are the low maintenance choice – easy to clean and longer-lasting. Avoid warm, damp bathrooms, where bacteria will have a party. And store brushes in a cool, dry place, preferably in their own bag. "At least two to three times a week, versus once a week for powder brushes," suggests Lynne. Treat brushes you use to apply liquid textures to an extra wash or wipe. "Bacteria and fungi prefer wet to dry conditions, so foundation brushes may accumulate micro-organisms quicker than dry powder brushes," explains Stefanie. Still, best no to risk it, eh? Do some makeup brushes need more cleaning than others?
It sounds scary but, "the majority of these are not harmful if you have balanced skin with its natural protective acid mantle intact," reassures Lynne. They're generally considered harmless, but they may be implicated in acne."Īlso, invisible to the naked eye, is "bacteria such as staphylococcus, streptococcus and e-coli, as well as fungi," says Stefanie. "Most of us have these tiny creatures, about a third of a millimetre long, residing at the base of our eyelashes and nose hairs, living off old skin cells and sebum. "Under the microscope, you may see the remains of mites on your brushes," reveals Lynne.