This is the best way to clean your makeup brushes

Do you know that your makeup brushes can be an actual danger to your skin and to your health? It's so important you're cleaning your makeup brushes properly.

Everybody hates cleaning their makeup brushes, right? It's one of those tasks we avoid for as long as possible because it's tedious and boring and who likes cleaning anything anyway? I'm sure there are a few clean freaks out there who enjoy the process but for the rest of us, it's a total pain. I bet two in three of us are guilty of not washing our brushes as often as we should. As a makeup artist, I'm often guilty of neglecting my personal brushes because I spend so much time cleaning my brushes for work. Ideally, they should be cleaned after every use or once a week depending on how often you use them.

Danger! Danger!

Using dirty makeup brushes can be detrimental to your skin. Makeup gathers in the bristles. It builds up and harbours bacteria. You could be lucky and use your dirty makeup brushes forever and not notice any major issues. On the other hand, you could end up with a skin infection on your face from the bacteria you put on your skin with your brushes. If that thought freaks you out then you'll be hot-footing it to get an anti-bacterial brush cleanser asap.

How best to clean them?

So what is the best way to clean your makeup brushes? Giving them a wash with baby shampoo has always been recommended for keeping them clean and fluffy. The only problem with this method is that there is no anti-bacterial agent to sanitize the bristles in shampoo. The ideal way to keep your brushes sparkly and clean is to do both. Once a week give them a wash with water and baby shampoo. This will remove all the heavy foundation and cream product residue. This method works up a lather and leaves your brushes soft and fluffy. Then, to make sure they are properly sanitized, you should use an antibacterial brush cleaner. There are lots of brush cleaners available that sanitize your brushes killing any bacteria that could be living on the brushes.

Why do I need a brush cleanser?

To keep your brushes sanitized, you should use your antibacterial brush cleaner in between uses. It might sound unrealistic but it only takes a few seconds. All you need is some kitchen paper and your brush cleanser. You spritz some into the bristles and swipe your brush back and forth in the tissue until it wipes clean. This method kills bacteria and sanitizes your brushes so you are comfortable in the knowledge that they are clean all the time. Also, if you do this you won't need to wash them with water and shampoo as often. This super quick clean will prevent product building up in your brushes and keep them soft and fluffy for longer.

Don't forget to clean the inside of your makeup bag with antibacterial wipes before you put your brushes back into it.

How often do you wash your brushes? Be honest...