Help! My Makeup Kit is a Mess!
Wash your makeup brushes and tools once a week to keep them clean and eliminate bacteria.
Spring cleaning extends beyond tossing out trash and dusting down dwelling spaces. While tidying up the home, beauty items could use a proper scrubbing, a bit of washing, and some overall TLC.
“You should be washing all your brushes and tools – like sponges, and curlers – once a week. Tools used close to your eye – such as eyeliner, and concealer – and lips, could be washed even more frequently,” says Sonia Kashuk, makeup artist and founder of Sonia Kashuk Beauty. “If you are prone to acne, wash sponges, concealer brushes and foundation brushes, daily. Otherwise, you are feeding the problem rather than helping to clear your skin.”
Before tossing out applicators and buying a new set of (hair or makeup) brushes, consider these cleaning tips. Our experts chime in on how to take care of tools and keep beauty kits bacteria-free.
Hair Brushes
One size, or solution (for this matter) does not fit all – especially when it comes to cleaning the tools that untangle tresses. For flat/paddle brushes, use a pen or pencil under the hair in the center of the brush and pull up. Use scissors to cut the matted hair down the center. “Use hands to peel away the hair,” advises Rodney Cutler, owner and lead Stylist at Cutler/Redken Salons. For round/bristle brushes, Cutler says, “Use a toothbrush to brush away and remove excess hair.“
Styling Irons
Even though they don’t look dirty, residue from hair product is likely lurking on flat and curling irons. Cutler suggests wiping down tools with a moist cloth or towel, which takes less than 5 minutes. “Unplug your iron and wipe it down when it’s slightly warm, says Cutler. “Just water will suffice – no alcohol, as it will strip away the protective layer of the iron, leaving your hair more susceptible to heat damage.”
Blender Sponges
As the name suggests, sponges (of all types) tend to soak in everything – such as bacteria – even when the intention simply to mix makeup. ”To clean, wet the beauty blender and rub the soap over it to create a lather. Rinse well, and repeat if necessary,” says Gita Bass, Simple Advisory Board member and celebrity makeup artist, who washes her sponges after every use. “They should be laid flat on a clean surface to dry.”
Concealer Pens/Applicators
Covering up uneven skin tone has been made easier, and so has keeping applicators sanitary. Pens like Yves Saint Laurent Beaute’s Touché Eclat ($42) can be cleaned with a cotton pad and rubbing alcohol, says Dell Ashley, Director of Makeup Artistry at Yves Saint Laurent Beaute. Taking just a few minutes, soak the pad and wipe the pen until product residue is removed from the brush. The cap should be left off overnight to allow the brush to dry.
Makeup Brushes
Breakouts from brush-bacteria be gone! Prevent bristles from becoming acne-inducing vessels by cleaning with sulfate free shampoo. Lisa Goldfaden, co-founder of Goldfaden MD Skincare, advises putting a little shampoo in the palm of your hand, swirling the brush in the shampoo and adding a little water. “Rinse until all foundation color washes out, and ring excess water out of the brush,” she says. Finally, lay the brush on its side on a dry towel overnight for a fresh instrument to use in the morning!
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