Whether
you're looking to perfect a beauty look, prolong the life of your
applicator or maintain healthy skin, the importance of cleaning your
make-up brushes can't be overstated. "I always say my brushes are my
make-up hands," says make-up artist and British Vogue
contributing beauty editor Charlotte Tilbury. "No painter can create a
masterpiece without the right brushes, and in the same way, no make-up
artist can create magical looks without amazing brushes."
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Once
you've invested in decent make-up brushes, a good cleaning routine is
the best insurance against premature demise. "If you look after your
brushes they can last for years," says Jamie Coombes, international pro
make-up artist at Dior. "It's time to change when the bristles start to
thin and fall out."
It's also essential for daily performance. "Product can
cake or dry in the bristles, meaning that they become less flexible and
able to take up product, thus reducing the efficacy of the brush,"
explains Julia Stewart, national training manager at Shiseido. The
ramifications of skipping your cleaning routine will quickly show up on
the surface of your skin, too. "A brush that hasn't been cleaned
properly will harbour bacteria that can cause skin problems and
infections," adds Coombes.
Clean foundation brushes every other week
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Wash powder-based brushes once per month
"Brushes
being used with powder formulas, such as eyeshadow and bronzer, only
need to be washed once a month," stipulates Stewart. By doing so, you're
insuring yourself against damage to the bristles and chaotic colour
convergence. "A build-up of old product on the brushes can affect the
ease of movement, softness and flexibility, plus different colours can
transfer from one palette to another, which may affect your finished
look," Tilbury explains.
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For natural-hair brushes, use a gentle cleanser
"I
treat my natural hair brushes like my own hair," says Coombes. A
regular shampoo - baby shampoo is a popular choice - mixed with warm
water will cleanse the bristles of oil, powder and wax without leaving
them stripped and dry. The aim of brush cleaning is to banish bacteria,
not bristles, so it pays to perfect your method. "Try not to press the
brush head directly down, as this will break smaller, more fragile
fibres," he advises.
With synthetic brushes, take a tougher approach
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Base your cleaning technique on the size of the brush
Brushes are best cleaned in the palm of your hand. "To wash a large brush, massage the bristles with the head of the brush facing downwards, and for smaller brushes place a small amount of cleanser into the cup of your hand and gently swirl, ensuring not to bend the base of the bristles," Coombes explains. Be sure to rinse until the water runs clear.
Dry your brushes pointing downwards
"Once rinsed, gently flick the water out, wrap in kitchen roll and lightly squeeze," says Coombes. To increase the lifespan of your brushes, you also need to keep the ferrule (the piece of metal at the base of the brush) dry at all times. "Wetting the ferrule can mean that the bristles are loosened from the glue, resulting in shedding," warns Stewart. "To avoid water seeping into the brushes while drying, lay them on a towel with one end rolled up, lifting the handles and leaving the bristles pointing downwards," she advises.More From Vogue
Base your cleaning technique on the size of the brush
Brushes
are best cleaned in the palm of your hand. "To wash a large brush,
massage the bristles with the head of the brush facing downwards, and
for smaller brushes place a small amount of cleanser into the cup of
your hand and gently swirl, ensuring not to bend the base of the
bristles," Coombes explains. Be sure to rinse until the water runs
clear.
Dry your brushes pointing downwards
"Once
rinsed, gently flick the water out, wrap in kitchen roll and lightly
squeeze," says Coombes. To increase the lifespan of your brushes, you
also need to keep the ferrule (the piece of metal at the base of the
brush) dry at all times. "Wetting the ferrule can mean that the bristles
are loosened from the glue, resulting in shedding," warns Stewart. "To
avoid water seeping into the brushes while drying, lay them on a towel
with one end rolled up, lifting the handles and leaving the bristles
pointing downwards," she advises.
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