How often and how do you clean your brushes?
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free skin care · Tue Oct 25, 2005 9:17 am

Hey Everyone,

Just wondering how often and how do you all clean your brushes. I've read different methods of cleaning so I thought I'd go with what the majority does.
Razz

TIA,
Anna

free skin care · Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:41 am

Oh god I'm terrible, I tend to clean my brushes when I can be bothered!!! Embarassed

The main ones I do are my concealer, eye shadow, powder and blusher brushes.
Normally about every 3 months Embarassed

and I just use shampoo.

free skin care · Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:00 am

Hi Hayleigh's Mom,

I keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol, water and essential oil on hand ... and every day, after I've used my brushes, I spritz them and reshape them.

The brushes used for blush or those that won't come clean with the alcohol spray ... I first wash with soap.

At a $ store I found a bar of glycerin soap that has a loofah incased in it. I use this ... and the loofah helps "scrub" some of the stubborn pigments.

After washing, I spray with the alcohol spray and then I reshape the bristles if necessary and put back.

This is just a habit I got into years ago with my brushes ... I always want a clean, disinfected brush when I go to put on makeup.

Mary

free skin care · Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:23 pm

I wash mine once a week and just use shampoo.

Anya

free skin care · Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:00 pm

Unless you share your brushes, I think once a month should suffice. Be careful not to overwash natural hair brushes; that can ruin the bristles.
Although many people recommend using shampoo and even a conditioner for your brushes (MAC used to recommend this), they can leave a residue behind (especially the conditioner) that can cause problems for your face.
I use a foaming facewash, and, for concealer/lip brushes, cold cream.
The preferred method (for expensive,natural burshes-like weasel or badger) is to massage the brush into the palm of your hand with a little water and cleanser. Don't mash or rub the brush- gentle swipe back and forth. Rinse with tepid water- let the water do most of the work. And do NOT store them in a cup-water will seep down into the ferrule and lossen the glue. Eventually the brush head will pull right off, and the bristles will splay and the head will lose it's shape.
Rub back and forth against a towel (microfibre towels are amazing for this) and then lay them flat to dry.
If they are good brushes, this technique should make them last a lifetime.

free skin care · Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:19 pm

Hi product_junkie,

I have good brushes ... but I'm always afraid that whatever touches my face today ... shouldn't touch my face tomorrow. [This paranoia stems from a lifetime of fighting acne! Laughing

]

Now, none of my brushes are badger or weazle ... but most are natural bristle ... and I feel that by spritzing them with the alcohol/water mix, I won't be adding to my skin problems.

This has worked well for my brushes ... which are now a few years old ... and the bristles don't get very wet ... so they dry very quickly.

I don't imagine that mine is a "thorough" cleaning ... so I should probably follow your regime once a month ... but I like thinking that each day my brushes are "disinfected."

Since the alcohol solution is 1:3 [alcohol to water], it doesn't seem to harm the brushes at all ... and it certainly gives me some peace of mind. Smile

Am I over-reacting? Laughing

Mary

free skin care · Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:22 pm

Once a week I shampoo my brushes using my facial cleanser.

Daily I use clinique brush cleaner. I spritz it on, rub it with a tissue and then rinse it off. This gets most of the junk off.

Always lay your brushes flat to dry otherwise water gets into the base of the fibers and will rot, break, fall out, etc.

free skin care · Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:58 am

Shampoo once a week as well.

free skin care · Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:31 am

I use shampoo on my brushes approximately once a month. If I wore eye makeup on a daily basis I would do brushes for the eye area more often.

free skin care · Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:32 pm

hpjrt wrote:

Hi product_junkie,

I have good brushes ... but I'm always afraid that whatever touches my face today ... shouldn't touch my face tomorrow. [This paranoia stems from a lifetime of fighting acne! Laughing

]

Now, none of my brushes are badger or weazle ... but most are natural bristle ... and I feel that by spritzing them with the alcohol/water mix, I won't be adding to my skin problems.

This has worked well for my brushes ... which are now a few years old ... and the bristles don't get very wet ... so they dry very quickly.

I don't imagine that mine is a "thorough" cleaning ... so I should probably follow your regime once a month ... but I like thinking that each day my brushes are "disinfected."

Since the alcohol solution is 1:3 [alcohol to water], it doesn't seem to harm the brushes at all ... and it certainly gives me some peace of mind. Smile

Am I over-reacting? Laughing

Mary

You can never over-react when it comes to acne and brushes. It amazes me, when I would meet women who feel the blush is "suddenly making me break out", and I ask how often they clean their brushes and they stare blankly at me, in amazement.
A lot of bacteria can breed in your brush- natural hair, oil (from your face), waxes (from the product) make a great environment for bacteria. Powder puffs are even worse.
I think your solution is just fine, alothough I would do the wash with water once or twice a month to see if it makes any improvement. I would not worry about the alcohol; it will evaporate before anything bad could happen.

free skin care · Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:41 pm

Thanks girls.

Product_junkie, I'm covering my face in shame b/c I'm one of those girls who complains that certain makeups make me break out but barely washed my brushes. Embarassed

I will definitely do a better job at cleaning my brushes from now on! Thanks!!!!

free skin care · Wed Oct 26, 2005 6:07 pm

Quote:

Powder puffs are even worse

Hi product_junkie Smile

whats the best way to clean powder puffs? I find they lose their shape and texture after washing. TIA

Thu Oct 27, 2005 4:52 am

Also, this previous thread has some good tips http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=5084 Wink

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