Regardless if your a makeup artist, a makeup lover or just someone that has to put on makeup…. we all use tools to apply our makeup.
No I am not talking about using your fingers, I am referring to makeup brushes and sponges. During this time of Covid 19 it is important to keep your equipment as clean as you can.
I personally clean my brushes after each shoot and if there are more then one model then I do have multiple brushes I can use, if I do need to use the same brush then I will make sure to use a brush cleaner to clean and disinfect the brush. As mentioned it is very rare for me to use the same brush due to the amount of brushes I have. I prefer to use the Graftobian makeup brush cleaner as it cleans the brushes nicely and the brush dries quickly so I can use my brush almost immediately. It is also environmentally friendly without any harsh chemicals like some other brands.
Now when cleaning your brushes make sure to use medium temp water, I feel that if the water is to warm then it can ruin the brushes and if it is to cold then it wont clean as well…. this is my own opinion. Step 1: Wet your brush with water, dispense a bit of soap (something gentle with no fragrance and harsh chemicals) or specialized brush cleaner product. Step 2: In the palm of your hand rotate the brush in circular motion, once you have lathered enough product onto the brush you can squeeze out the excess soap and product under clean water. Make sure that the water runs clear, if not, you need to repeat this step to remove all products. Step 3: once your brush is clean, squeeze out the excess water and make sure to keep the bristles together. This way your brush will dry in that shape, I personally try and retain the shape of the brush the way I bought it. Step 4: Place your clean brushes on a towel and let it dry. Keep your brushes out of direct sunlight as it is damaging to the wooden handle and it would start cracking eventually. Step 5: Before packing your dry brushes away, give it a spray with 70% alcohol sanitize spray lightly just to make sure all germs/bacteria is killed. This is however a personal preference just because I am a bit OCD.
I would recommend that you clean your sponges the same way, I have noticed over the years that a sponge needs a repeat on step 2 as the products used penetrate deeper into the sponge.
Sometimes when I clean my foundation brushes, lipstick brushes or eyeliner brushes I will first use a bit of the Pro Brush Cleaner from Graftobian as it helps to remove the stubborn products from the brush fibers. This will also help prevent repeating step 2 several times.
We invest so much money on good brushes that you do not want them to be ruined. If you look after your brushes properly then they will last you for years. I prefer to spend good money on good brushes so that I do not have to replace them, I mean I still use brushes from when I studied and have grown my collection since then. I am not going to lie I love having a good brush collection.
Love and Light