How often do you clean your makeup brushes? I don't have any fixed routine I follow, but I did wash them out today and as I was putting them on the towel to dry, I thought I would check with everyone else on this.
With a brush I use for applying liquid foundations/cream blushes, I wash it after each application or at the most use twice before washing it out. I go out about once or twice a week, so this is quite okay for me to do. With the eyeshadow brushes, I am a lot lazier since it's all just powders, and just wipe off the brushes on a clean tissue to remove any powder residue. I wash them only after about 4-5 uses or if they look like they need a cleaning :P
Shampoo - I use a shampoo without any silicones in it for washing my brushes. The reason I do this is because I have acne-prone/sensitive skin, and I don't use products with silicones in them anyway, and I definitely don't want the residue to be left on brushes to irritate my skin. I am currently using Lush's I Love Juicy shampoo, and if it's good enough for my hair - it's good enough for the brushes :D
I take about a cup of lukewarm water - not really very warm but definitely not cold - and add about a teaspoon of shampoo to it and mix it up.
Wait for it to dry completely - usually takes about a day - and then store them somewhere clean and ready to use :D
1. Use any inexpensive makeup wipe/towelette that I don't mind wasting. Wipe the brush head on it and clean brush in an instant. I do this quite often with my eyeshadow brushes to take off darker colours.
2. MAC Brush Cleaning Solution - this is just as easy as the makeup wipe method, but of course, this is much more effective. Pour a few drops of the solution on a clean paper towel, rub the brush into the wet paper and keep wiping the brush on this wet patch. Alternate between wiping on a clean dry paper and wiping on the wet paper. Your brush will be squeaky clean in no time.
So what about you? What's your brush cleaning routine?
A Tip I have not tried myself: To take off foundation residue from your brushes, rub a little oil (like olive oil) into them to remove the foundation/discolouration before washing them in shampoo. As I mentioned, I have not tried this personally, but I do think one would need a stronger shampoo to take off the oily residue after that :)
Radhika
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I keep them to dry in the sunniest part of the house :D |
A few things I follow with washing brushes:
Shampoo - I use a shampoo without any silicones in it for washing my brushes. The reason I do this is because I have acne-prone/sensitive skin, and I don't use products with silicones in them anyway, and I definitely don't want the residue to be left on brushes to irritate my skin. I am currently using Lush's I Love Juicy shampoo, and if it's good enough for my hair - it's good enough for the brushes :D
I take about a cup of lukewarm water - not really very warm but definitely not cold - and add about a teaspoon of shampoo to it and mix it up.
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Never insert the full length of the ferrule in the soapy solution/water or allow the brush to fall in or lie completely inside the water. |
Now on to the actual washing:
- Insert only about halway up to the length of the ferrule (the portion holding the brush hair) into the cleaning solution. Make sure never to put the whole brush into the water. Also, make sure that the joint where the ferrule meets the brush handle is never in water since this makes the joint weak and it can come off. Of course, you can always just glue it right back on but err..better to avoid that to start with.
- Rub the brush hair gently with fingers while it's in the liquid to help dislodge any makeup residue. Swirl the brush gently around, take out, squeeze out any remaining soapy solution from it. Wash off in fresh clean water.
- I never follow with a conditioner - one because I never felt any need to, second because, again, I don't want unnecessary residue on the brush.
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I just fold a little edge of the towel and keep the brushes handles on that folded edge - easiest way to ensure the brushes stay at an angle while drying :) |
Shortcut Methods:
All this work, though, is for times when I have a lot of time - when I am too lazy and/or am in a hurry, I would go for one of these two options:1. Use any inexpensive makeup wipe/towelette that I don't mind wasting. Wipe the brush head on it and clean brush in an instant. I do this quite often with my eyeshadow brushes to take off darker colours.
Ignore the Tea Tree blotting paper - am just reusing photos from an older post :D |
So what about you? What's your brush cleaning routine?
A Tip I have not tried myself: To take off foundation residue from your brushes, rub a little oil (like olive oil) into them to remove the foundation/discolouration before washing them in shampoo. As I mentioned, I have not tried this personally, but I do think one would need a stronger shampoo to take off the oily residue after that :)
Radhika
I just have paint brushes :|
ReplyDeleteYou paint? Woww...
ReplyDeleteumm yeah..actually i'm a super lazy person :| I mostly paint when we get work from college :P But you know what, my vacations are going to end and I decided i'll do some chotta oil painting, I think I should better start soon. :D :D
ReplyDeleteMe also interested in photography, so i like to check out your blog :D :D
Love the first pic!!
Oh..thank you :) :) I have only tried pencil sketches ages back - and hardly any sketches either! Oil paintings seem so much more complicated :D
ReplyDeletewow sketching...nice! :) :)
ReplyDeleteI wash brushes whenever i feel the need to. Foundation / concealer etc brushes after every use. eye makeup brushes depending on how much i have used. that mac brush cleanser is my god. :P :P I clean my gel liner brush after every use with this and may be once a week.
ReplyDeleteI dont dip the top part also completely in water-- the part that holds the bristle. :|
radhika more than the brush cleaning post , i think this is your ecotools brush flaunt poost. *super pissed* *cans*
Gargi would love to see your paintings some time. :))
ReplyDelete:D @ Ecotools Brush Fluant :P
ReplyDeletesure rati :))
ReplyDeleteLol Ratidu me also thinks thisnladi wsnts to flaunt more than simple explain :D
ReplyDeleteIts been 8 months i dont wash my brushes :D me dont use then only, some tbs ones i got i havent umwrapped yet as me been moving around for ages now and havent got a chance to have a house of my own and unpack xD
It is always fun reading how someone else wash their makeup brushes. It is a great post! =D
ReplyDeleteHawwwwwwwwwwwwwww....Ecotools also is flaunting!!!! You all wait...I will get MAC brushes and put nekkid photeees with it hmmmmmmmmmmmph.
ReplyDeleteI usually clean it with plain water. Will try your method of cleaning with mild shampoo Rads :)
ReplyDelete