Make-up brushes have become an integral part of our daily beautification rituals.
Anyone who creates good, modern make-up today definitely has an extensive set of brushes at home, because powder, eye shadow or blush are now applied with a variety of different brushes to conjure up precise and natural make-up.
Just as important as a high-quality brush set is regular care in order to maintain the optimal function of the brushes and avoid impure skin.
Why do cosmetic brushes need to be cleaned regularly?
Foundation brushes need to be cleaned regularly to stay hygienic and functional. As a result of use, residues of creams and color pigments always get stuck in the fine hairs, which clump together with regular use and thus impair the function of the brush. Only with a clean brush whose hairs can swing freely can you achieve an even and precise application of cosmetics.
In addition to the cosmetic residue, dust from the air also collects in the brushes. In this climate, germs and bacteria tend to settle, which are then transferred to the skin through further use of the brush and can therefore cause impure skin and irritation. A good brush also has a significantly longer lifespan if it is well cared for.
How and how often should you clean cosmetic brushes?
Brushes that are used daily should be cleaned at least once a week. This applies to blush or eyeshadow brushes as long as they are only used in one color family and therefore do not risk the color being contaminated by residue from previous applications. Foundation brushes are better cleaned after each use, as a lot of cosmetic residue remains in the brush after each use.
When it comes to cleaning the brushes, a distinction is made between real hair and synthetic hair brushes. Synthetic hair brushes are easy to clean due to their particularly smooth surface and can simply be rinsed with warm water. The closed surface of the plastic hair hardly absorbs cosmetic deposits and existing contamination can be easily removed, as no cosmetic particles can penetrate the hair with plastic hair.
Real hair brushes, on the other hand, can be cleaned with specially designed cleaning products or with baby shampoo. These care products are free of irritating preservatives and surfactants and do not contain any fragrances.
Depending on how coarse or fine the brushes are, you should use different cleaning products. Coarse brushes made of thick animal bristles, such as those found in B. used for modeling the eyebrows, can be treated with a conventional dishwashing liquid and then rinsed out again after a short exposure time.
For very sensitive fine-hair brushes, such as those used e.g. B. used for powder or blush, you need a more gentle procedure. These brushes are made from the underbelly hair of small polecats or weasels and are quite sensitive during cleaning procedures. It's best to carefully tap it out after use and remove any remaining residue with a facial tissue. The particularly fine natural hair brushes can be rubbed with a few drops of coconut oil every few months to keep them supple and smooth. However, you should not use it for two days after the oil procedure so that the oil can penetrate the hair structure.
How do you dry the brushes correctly?
Cleaned brushes should be allowed to air dry. Fine hair does not tolerate hot air from the heater or hairdryer very well and therefore you should definitely prefer gentle air drying.
Place the damp brushes on a dry towel or on a layer of kitchen paper. The moisture can be quickly absorbed here. You should also place the brush head as slightly downwards as possible to dry so that moisture cannot run into the handle, which is often made of wood. Moisture in the handle of the brush can damage the wood and also loosen the glue in the brush head, which can then cause the brush to quickly lose hair.