How often do you clean your make-up brushes?

Many of us would be appalled to be answering this question in public, simply due to the guilt of not doing it nearly often enough. Either due to having no idea about the side effects of using the same brushes for months without cleaning them, or just laziness—the result is the same. When we use the brush on our skin, it comes in contact with oils and germs between bristles. The next time we use it, we are basically putting the same dirt on our own faces. 

According to beauty experts we should wash our makeup brushes at least twice a month; once a month is also fine depending on how often its used, as long as you are getting it cleaned properly. Here are a few ways to get the job done:

For washing - 
Most of us have different styles of brushes for different uses, ranging from fine ones, to ones with coarser bristles. The fine ones should be cleaned carefully in order to avoid breakage. For the coarse ones, we should wash them using a side-to-side motion without going against the shape.  Soaking them in soap water with a few drops of detergent can do wonders but be gentle while you wash it. One has to be careful as to not let water get into the joints of the handles as that can make them loose.Some alcohol-based sanitisers can also be of great help. 

For drying -
Towels or cotton cloths can be used to dry the wet brushes, or you can just leave them under the fan to let them dry on their own. I do not recommend tissue paper as it can get stuck to the brushes and cause damage.  One can also squeeze the water out of the brushes.

Skincare is crucial and putting dirty make-up brushes on the skin will only make it worse. So make sure you clean your brushes thoroughly, but be careful while washing, as broken bristles can lead to messy application. 

By Mormee Mahtab
Photo: Collected