Make-up | How I Clean My Make-up Brushes
One question I get asked a lot both in and out of work: How do you clean your make-up brushes?
I shall tell you a secret.
A magical fairy comes along at the end of each week and makes them all sparkle once again.
No, that does not happen, not even in my dreams. I only have nightmares when it comes to the dreaded Wash-The-Brushes Day. I have so many it is more of a chore than something I enjoy.
Saying this, aaaaaaaages ago, like a year ago, I read this post by Laura Lou, she opened me up to a whole new way of cleaning my brushes ft Lush Cosmetics.
But first…
Why do I not use the bog standard brush cleaners ?
I do not like the smell or feel or finish they leave – especially the Shu Uemura cleaner, wow this one has the strongest alcohol smell I have ever come across in a brush cleaner. M.A.C brush cleaner is great for spot cleaning (on the job) but not for a regular deep clean. Being a stickler for not having dirty brushes, I clean my personal make-up brushes once a week. I clean my kit brushes each time I do a job – so a lot.
I also do not use Johnsons Baby Oil (or any product from Johnsons for that matter). I find using oil as a way of regularly cleaning brushes will shorten the life span of your brush as it can loosen the glue holding the brush hair in the ferrule.
The important thing to note when choosing a brush cleaner, it needs to be antibacterial. For the life of me I could not remember which Lush Cosmetics Soap Laura chose to use, so instead I just made sure that the one the assistance helped me to pick contained those key anti bacterial ingredients. I went for Parsley Porridge. Mmmmhmm. I even treated it to a little home in one of those Lush silver tins.
This soap contains parsley, thyme, tea tree oil, oatmeal and aloe vera gel. The tea tree oil is the antibacterial ingredient. It has a real herbal fresh scent to it which I adore, so much so, I want to buy a separate one to use as a facial soap. I was worried the oatmeal would come away and into the brushes, but not at all.
I dampen the brush head, swirl around on the top of the soap bar and then massage the soap into the brush hair with my fingers before washing carefully underneath a running tap. I will then squeeze out any excess water and lay down flat on some kitchen roll. I usually do them of an evening so that they can dry over night.
This is the best way I have found so far of cleaning my brushes, how do you clean yours?
26 Comments
Emily Knott
I use a bar of Simple soap to clean my brushes and it works wonders. I like the idea of using a Lush soap though, especially as you can get a little tin. So handy!
http://www.britishbeautyaddict.com
Pam Scalfi
I use the Da Vinci soap which I buy on Amazon alongside with my BrushEgg 🙂
Pam xo/ Pam Scalfi♥
Rachel Oliver
ooh i definitely need to try lush soap, the ingredients sound lovely!
Rachel // Style Soup
Tinkerbell Jayne
sounds like it’s defo worth a try 🙂
I use Bioderma – love that stuff. But as it’s quite expensive and hard to get, I prefer to save it for my face, haha. So I might try this stuff!
x tink x
allabouttink.co.uk
Georgia Jade
I definitely need to get that lush soap and try it out myself!
Georgia | The Weekend Attic – Personal Style, Beauty and Lifestyle
Jodie
I love using soap to clean my brushes, this Lush soap sounds perfect!
Jodie xo // Jodie Loue
Alexandra – Glam O’Clock
I did a video on how I clean my brushes with a gentle shampoo hand-hot water and a lot of swirling involved over my sink. I recently purchased a silicon glove and it has changed my makeup cleaning life for the best! I will post about it soon 🙂 xx
Alexandra | Glam O’Clock
Rachel Shuchat
I love washing my brushes, maybe I’m weird 🙂 I normally use my kids baby shampoo by Dr. Bronner, it’s amazing 🙂
RachelShuchatMakeup
Heather Mcknight
I’ve actually been using a anti-bac facial wash that is too harsh to use on my face recently, I’ve noticed that breakouts have been a lost less frequent and my brushes don’t dry out too much either. I’ll definitely check out the Lush offering next though!
Heather, PorcelainBeauty xx
Charlee Greenhalgh
Fab post hun, I had never thought about using a lush soap before I’ve always just gone for Baby Shampoo but I love how this looks in the tin and sounds a lot less messier then how I do it over the sink hehe. I love the sound of this soap also as I love the smell of tea tree oil, so definitely gonna pop into Lush and have a look.
Charlee XO | CharmedCharlee
Emmerliejay
That soap sounds lovely, I might have to treat my brushes to one!
Emily x
Rhianna Bailey
I am sold! Can’t wait till I am next in Lush to use this idea! Thankyou for sharing 🙂
http://www.thatgirlrhianna.blogspot.co.uk
Schnauzevoll
love that soap and also use it for cleaning my brushes – that scent <3
Lucy Partington
I love washing my brushes, it just seems so cleansing!
The Beauty Informer
This is some smart shit. Imma do it! xx
Lauren ODowd
This looks great, need to give it a try out v soon.
xx
An Impatient Scottish Girl
nueyork
This is such a good idea! I am not always 100% happy with how my brushes feel either, and sometimes fear the products I’m using are a little harsh. x
nueyork.blogspot.com
Lauren
Ooh I’m definitely going to give this a go. I love Lush products! x
http://www.wonkylauren.com
Katya Van Bick
I’m sure cleaning make-up brushes is the bane of every make-up enthusiasts life! I need to try this, it sounds so much easier!
Katya | The Beauty Harbour
Natalie
This is a great idea!
http://Www.Eyelash-wishes.com
samaratalksbeauty
Love this post Zoe and I am sure to buy this, how much was it? I currently use the beauty blender solid cleanser which is fab!
http://www.samaratalksbeauty.com
Megan Lillie
Definitely going to pick up one of these bars to try it out! What an amazing idea!
Megan xo
Thumbelina Lillie | UK Beauty & Fashion Blog
Georgina Fox
I’m intrigued to know why you don’t use anything from Johnsons – would you mind letting me know?
G x
foxonthehunt.com
Jasmine Harding
UMMM this is probably the handiest tool I’ve come across!!!! I’m looking for a new brush cleaner and this looks ideal, super easy and your brushes look good as new!
Jasmine | jasminehardingmakeup.com
The Little Blog of Beauty
I currently use Johnsons baby shampoo but I do also have a BlenderCleanser solid that came with my BeautyBlender that I also like to use for my brushes. The one problem I find with this though is trying to hold on to it once it gets wet, I thought it really needed some kind of container or pot to hold it in, so a Lush shampoo bar in a tin sounds like the perfect solution! x
Becky @ The Little Blog of Beauty
Beauty Bird
I just use a SLS free shampoo but I like the idea of using a Lush soap xx
Ramblings of a Beauty Bird | Beauty Blog