It might not be anyone’s favourite job, but there’s no denying the importance of cleaning your makeup brushes regularly. Dirty makeup tools can spread bacteria, make blending less effective and even lead to breakouts – and with a recent Huffington Post survey finding that 39 percent of women clean their brushes less than once a month, there’s clearly some room for improvement!
How often should I clean my foundation brushes?
Cleaning your makeup tools should be an essential part of your beauty routine. We recommend making time to clean the brushes you use for concealer, foundation and powder on a weekly basis. If you use the same brushes to apply different shades, you should ideally be cleaning them in between each use.
Bacteria and fungi grow more quickly in wet conditions, so the brushes you use for liquid products will require extra thorough cleaning. It’s also a good idea to store your makeup tools in a warm, dry place to minimise the spread of germs.
If weekly cleaning feels like too much, why not invest in an alcohol brush cleanser to spray on each week, and give your brushes a full wash every other week? These products contain ingredients that keep bacteria at bay, and all you have to do is spray them on your brushes and wipe with a paper towel.
How to clean your makeup brushes
The brush-washing process is made up of three key steps. Carry out each one thoroughly and carefully, and your tools will last longer, feel better and keep your look fresher.
Step 1: Wash
There are plenty of amazing specialist brush cleansers out there, but if you’re not keen on investing, a gentle shampoo or face cleanser will do the job just as well. Washing up liquid is good for stripping out grease, but it can be quite harsh on your brushes, so we’d only recommend it as a last resort.
Hold the bristles of each brush under lukewarm running water, then dip them into some of your chosen cleanser and use your fingers to lather them up for two to three minutes.
Step 2: Rinse
Rinse your brushes until the lather is completely gone, then squeeze them out. Still seeing residue? Repeat step one as many times as you need to for the water to run clear as you rinse.
Step 3: Dry
When you’re confident your brushes are squeaky clean, squeeze out as much water as you can and lie them flat on a towel to dry. We’d advise not leaving them standing up, as this could leave you with water-damaged handles or misshapen bristles.
Even if you’re in a hurry, try not to use a hairdryer, which could end up melting your brushes – not ideal! Instead, use a dry paper towel to press the bristles in a downward motion, or leave your brushes near a radiator to speed up the drying process.
Which type of brush is best?
When it comes to selecting a type of brush, those with synthetic bristles are hands-down the best choice. Traditionally, makeup brushes were made using animal hair, but with some many amazing synthetic options available today, there’s no excuse for not choosing the cruelty-free option.
When kept in good condition, a synthetic brush can last you anywhere between five and 10 years, and many have antibacterial properties that prevent unwanted germs building up on the bristles. Unlike natural brushes, synthetic ones don’t absorb lots of product or water, making them easier to clean and keep in good condition too.
Our Professional Complexion Brush Set is a perfect example of great synthetic brushes in action. Containing four expert tools designed specifically to mimic the performance of a natural fibres and work wonders with the DCYPHER formula, this synthetic collection has everything you need to apply and blend your concealer, foundation and powder perfectly. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s also high-performance, vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.
Foundation mixed to measure
While we don’t have the magic formula for self-cleaning brushes, we do have the power to take the guesswork out of choosing a foundation. Our world-first skin tone analysis technology takes a comprehensive reading of your skin tone so our high-tech machines can mix a colour to perfection. Sound good? Check out the full range of DCYPHER personalised products today.
