Clean Yo Brushes

            If you find yourself constantly in the bathroom, pressing loose powder on your face and noticing your clogged pores and breakouts are getting bigger, it probably means you are not cleaning your makeup brushes. Right now, beauty offices are brimming with all kinds of makeup brushes and brush cleaners. It's the stuff beauticians live for, and a painter friend developed the ultimate brush cleaner, which is a cheap and effective alternative to killing the bacteria harbored on the bristles of your brush: extra virgin olive oil and antibacterial dish washing soap.

           These two products will clean and recondition your brushes so well that you will notice a difference on your skin and your brushes will last longer. Most brush cleaners you will see at your local drugstore or at your nearest Sephora vary from $10 to $30, and they only last for about a month or two. Extra virgin olive oil prices vary as well, but you can get a bottle for $5 and a bottle of dish washing soap for $2. These products last longer because you only need to use a small amount. 

             
           Cleaning is important for the quality of both your brushes and your skin. There is so much oil, dirt, and bacteria trapped in an unclean brush, and unless you clean it, you're rubbing all that dirty junk onto your skin. Therefore, washing your brushes should be a permanent part of your beauty routine. Here are the steps below to using the ultimate brush cleaner!

Steps:

1) Pour about 2-3 spoons of oil onto one side of the plate and pour the same amount of the antibacterial dish soap onto the other side. I like to use Dawn because it smells great (Palmolive was the first dish soap I saw in my home). 

 2) Take your first brush and stir it in a circular motion.

 3) Wipe the brush on your hand to release the dirt and makeup from the brush. This removes most of the pigments and kills the bacteria.

 4) Rinse your brushes in warm water until all the pigments are removed.

5) Once your brushes are clean, gently wipe them with a paper towel and blot out the excess water.

6) Dry your brushes upside down using a brush guard or even a DIY brush stand. Drying them with the bristles facing up will ruin them. Water will drip down to the brushes and loosen the glue holding the bristles together.

This technique has been used by oil painters for years, and I've adopted this method from a favorite makeup guru who paints as a hobby. Enjoy your clean brushes. Your skin will thank you!