When you think of makeup, you automatically think of flawless. All roads lead to your makeup brushes. We often spend so many hours trying to find the right shade of foundation or lipstick. Let’s not talk about the brands. There are a kazillion of them. All vying for your attention. Beauty comes with time. That often is true for your brushes. Your makeup brushes are key to your beauty application. It’s a make or break in the turn out of your application. From the texture of the bristles to the shape fitting the contours of your face. Your brushes play an important part in your beauty game. They also play a vital part with your health and hygiene. 

I get it, there is only so much time in a day. It is easy to want to not put your good old brushes under some water. We don’t want to go this route. We want to preserve our brushes and health. It is vital to have a deep cleaning schedule for your brushes. It all can be done without costing a bank. All you need is a few essentials and you are good to go. Just like washing your clothes or taking a shower, washing your brushes can be fun!  Sing in the shower? Do it while you wash your brushes. Throw on some tunes and get to cleaning. It doesn’t take much time to wash. 

Just want to show you a few deep cleaning tips that will revitalize your makeup brushes. Let’s get into some tips! 

How To Deep Clean Your Makeup Brushes 

Washing your makeup brushes is a true joy. It doesn’t take too much of your time. Just have a few items organized and on hand, you should be good to go! It’s amazing what you can do with everyday household items. All you need.

• Blue Dawn (or generic blue liquid dish detergent)
• Vinegar 
• Hydrogen Peroxide 
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Makeup brush cleaner scrubber, beauty mixing bowl or plastic cup/bowl
• Mixing spoon or Plastic spoon
• Plastic gloves (protect your hands)
• Drying Towel 
• Makeup brush drying caddy, plastic cup or bowl or mixing bowl
• Hot to Warm water (not too hot, want to preserve bristles)

1. First, we will start with our mixture. It depends on how many makeup brushes you are using. This ratio is for washing 16 makeup brushes. 
2. Grab your scrubber, cup or bowl and add three tablespoons of liquid detergent.
3. Then add one tablespoon of peroxide or vinegar.
4.  Finally, a tablespoon of olive oil.
5. Mix them together with a spoon. 
6. Gently scrub your brush across the mixture in circles. Apply gentle pressure. You want to completely loosen the makeup from the bristles. Please be gentle, we don’t want the bristles to come off the brush! Gently scrub your brushes for about 3-5 minutes. 
7. After thoroughly scrubbing, with your fingers, gently squeeze your makeup brush head in a downward direction in your sink. Do this 20 times. You want to squeeze as much makeup out of your brush. 
8. After squeezing, gently rinse your makeup brushes under hot to warm water. Make sure your brushes are facing down at all times. Rotate the brushes in a circular motion. Gently squeeze the brush head from top to bottom. This is the best way to completely remove your makeup. 
9. Rinse until you see your brush is completely clean. 
10. Then with your fingers, gently squeeze as much excess water from your makeup brush head. Keep your brush facing downward.
11. Then gently pat your brushes with a clean towel. Want to pat as much excess water out. 
12. Then, snap your makeup brushes in a makeup brush drying caddy facing downward. You want the excess water to drip away from your brushes head. You want to preserve the quality of your brushes. Go into more details further below. 
13. If you don’t have a makeup brush drying caddy, you can leave them facing downward in your sink. You can also have them dry on top of a towel.  If you can, have them sit against a wall, angle them so they are facing downwards. We want the water to move away from the brushes! You can also get a cup or bowl to have them facing downward. If you have a makeup sponge, place it below the makeup brushes. This will help soak up the water. You don’t want your brushes drying on top of a flat surface, sitting in a build up of water. This will take them  longer to dry. We want to have our brushes in a position where there is space for the water to drip downwards. 
14. If you still see traces of makeup on your brush, repeat these steps. The second time should be gold. 

What’s So Special About This Mixture

This is a good question? In short, it does it all. The liquid detergent is gentle enough to remove all traces of makeup. In addition, add an additional sanitizing punch. Pretty good if I may say so. The vinegar acts as a semi conditioner and sanitizer. In combination with the detergent, creates an amazing cleansing effect you can’t beat. Vinegar is an amazing household sanitizer and deodorizer. Plus it’s safe. You can’t beat it. If you use the hydrogen peroxide with the detergent, it acts as a double pact sanitizer. Removes the traces of makeup out in no time. 

Last but not least, olive oil! Why on earth is olive oil included? Drumroll please…conditioner! In combination with the other ingredients, olive oil softens your bristles. Leaving them silky smooth. The oil brings life back to your bristles after cleansing. In combination, this nifty cleanser will keep you under $10 dollars. Yes, $10 dollars. I highly recommend stocking up on these items. You can use them for other everyday household tasks. 

I have been using this mixture for almost 12 years and will never change it. It has saved me so much money and you can’t beat the smell! Aroma Heaven! Plus, my skin and brushes have never been at better quality. 

How Often Should You Clean Your Makeup Brushes 

You should clean your makeup brushes at least once a week. This will help curb breakouts and any infections from happening. Also, your application diminishes when you have a massive buildup of makeup. Used blue eyeshadow yesterday and want to use yellow today, you will end up with a nice brown. No bueno! Makeup is art. I want your application to be stunning every time. You invested your hard coins; don’t let it go to waste. Just think, every time you go to reach for a makeup brush, the money you are using. Also, you want to prevent makeup getting everywhere. From your desk, your drawer, and your makeup bag.

Having soiled makeup brushes rolling everywhere can be a disaster. Try to keep them separate and in an upright position. Have protectors on them. Keep them in a trendy makeup carrier or bin.This will help makeup prints getting everywhere, especially on your other makeup. We want to prevent makeup from incidentally getting on your clothes, furniture or at worst, your report! It is easy to have traces of makeup sneak their way onto things unknowingly. I am trying to prevent this from happening to you. Keep your brushes separate. Have wipes on hand. Wash your hands thoroughly after application. You want to do this before as well (let’s prevent bacteria). Can keep a spray bottle of alcohol near you. Spritz some on before application. You should be good to go!

Why You Should Be Gentle With Your Brushes

A key tip, please be gentle with your brushes at all times.Try not to be aggressive when cleaning them. Also, try not to bend or play around with the bristles. You don’t want to lose quality and have fray bristles. Having missing bristles and seeing them all over the place is a no. Especially when you go to apply your foundation or powder. You don’t want bristles sticking on your face. The less bristles are missing, the better your makeup application. We all want flawless makeup so take care of all your beauty essentials, the key to success! 

How To Dry Your Brushes 

When drying your brushes, have your brush head facing downwards. You want the water to drip downwards, away from the base of your makeup brush head. Try not to have your makeup brushes drying in upwards direction. The water will help loosen the base, further deteriorating the head and bristles. We want to save coins and preserve our prize investments. The key to having long lasting brushes, is to keep them clean and dry as much as possible. Your brushes will go a long way by keeping water going in the opposite direction. 

A tip, having a few towels for your makeup brushes will come in handy. You can pick up makeup brush drying caddy (at Dollar Tree or Wal-Mart). This caddy will keep your brushes separate and standing in an upright position. After washing, all you have to do is snap them right into a caddy. Place a towel under the caddy so it will catch the water. Let your brushes air dry. 

Why You Should Have Duplicate Set Of Makeup Brushes 

Try to have an extra set of duplicate makeup brushes. That way, you will always have a fresh set of brushes. That way, you will have a set of brushes when one set is drying. Never try to apply makeup with wet or damp brushes. Bacteria Heaven. Plus a messy makeup application. We don’t want to waste our makeup, make sure your brushes are completely dry. 

Stick To Washing Schedule 

Try to set a schedule for washing your brushes and stick to it. That way, you won’t be left high and dry without any brushes. Have them dry overnight. As soon as you hit the door from work, make your way to clean your brushes. That way, you will have enough time for them to completely dry.  Having a few makeup sponges is good to keep in stock. I have to boomerang right back to the Dollar Tree, a miracle. They have some fashionable sponges and brushes all for a bargain. It’s always great to have a backup. Head over to your local tree today. Let’s enhance our beauty this year!

How To Preserve and Keep Your Brushes Sanitize 

You also want to keep your makeup brushes protected from dust and allergens. Even after using your brushes. You can get makeup brush protectors from Sephora, Walmart, Target or Dollar Tree. You can whip out the good old large Ziploc back to keep your brushes protected. Grab a paper towel. Lightly spritz it with alcohol. Wrap your makeup brushes in it and throw it in the Ziploc bag. This will help keep your brushes sanitized and breakouts minimized. A thing we all want to avoid. Also, think twice about throwing out your packaging. They can be used as chic organizers and makeup protectors. Many makeup brushes come with a plastic protective cap. Save it and use it as a protector. Make sure that you clean and sanitize your protectors just like you clean your makeup brushes. Mixing a little blue dawn (or generic blue liquid detergent) hydrogen peroxide and or vinegar will do the trick. Make sure your protectors are facing down so that the water drips downwards. 

Fine Tooth Comb is King

Having a fine-tooth comb on standby is great to have for your makeup brushes. After drying and patting them dry, we want to fan out our brushes. Great way to get our brushes back to equal distribution. Gently run your comb through your brushes. Get them back to their original shape. Cool little trick! 

Why Quality Matters 

Makeup brushes are a worthwhile investment. Investing in good brushes will go a long way. Real Techniques, NYX, Morphe, Coastal Scents, Ulta and Mac are some of my favorite staples. You can’t go wrong with these brushes. They are all made with great quality and special fibers that you can’t beat! I have not one complaint with any of these brushes. Pick up these brushes. They range in a wide variety of prices. Wait for holidays and special occasions for steep discounts. Investing a good quality brush that lasts is more than you can bargain for. You will have a better application, what more can you ask for. Isn’t this all we ask for? We all want to look and feel our best. Why not invest in the best. Follow the steps above and you will have long lasting brushes without breaking the bank. Leaving extra dollars for some amazing beauty staples. A win for us all!

Conclusion

I have come a long way when it comes to brushes. I remember my first brush, how it broke apart in my first week. I couldn’t fathom why this happened? I didn’t perform construction on this brush, why did this happen? LoL. I pondered about this for over a month. Finally, a light bulb moment came. You left it out in the hot sun for two days. Guess that solves this problem. A mistake. I would never let that happen again. From there, I decided to do some heavy-duty research on brushes. I am glad I did. So much I didn’t know. I really didn’t understand how important they truly are. All I know, you need a brush to apply makeup. That is, it. 

The makeup brush gang has come a long way and continues to make headway. There are so many different types, you can’t keep up. It all remains the same. They all need to be clean, sanitized and cared for. No matter how tired I get, I make sure I stick to cleaning my brushes. I had them all for a very long time. Plus, I am addicted to the smell of the mixture! Sticking to a deep cleaning regime has made a big difference. Both in my skin and my health. Also, the quality of the brushes has remained the same. I continue to be as gentle as possible with my bristles. I have a phobia against missing bristles. I become nervous. I am glad I haven’t had any issues with this regime. 

I hope you enjoyed the tips outlined for you. I want your makeup game to be the very best. Keep to a simple regime and have fun. You will see a big difference in your beauty game. Wish you all the best. Chow!

How do you feel about washing your makeup brushes? Any tips you would like to share? What are some of your favorite brushes? Let me know in the comments below.