In the world of makeup and skincare, we devote a lot of time to perfecting our beauty routines. However, one often overlooked but crucial step of our regimes is the cleanliness of our makeup brushes and beauty applicators.
Cleaning your makeup brushes and beauty applicators is never glamorous. Let's face it: it's tedious, dirty, and needs to be strategically timed so that you don't have soaking wet brushes the next time you plan to wear makeup. But, regularly cleaning your makeup brushes and beauty tools is essential to remove bacteria, dust, dirt, and other impurities that can accumulate over time and cause breakouts. Cleaning your brushes also contributes to longer-lasting brushes and ensures your tools perform at their highest capability.
Below, Raquel shares her three-step routine to remove impurities from her makeup brushes and beauty applicators for clear and healthy skin.
The ugly truth about what's hiding in your makeup brushes
Consider your daily beauty routine. Your makeup brushes come into direct contact with your face, depositing makeup, oils, and dead skin cells onto their bristles. These residual particles create the ideal breeding ground for bacteria to thrive. Without regular cleaning, these bacteria can cause skin problems, such as breakouts, inflammation, and even infections. Additionally, brushes can accumulate dust, dirt, and other impurities from the environment, further exacerbating the potential harm they can inflict on your skin. Cleaning your brushes becomes imperative to maintain a healthy and blemish-free complexion.
How often should you clean your makeup brushes?
Washing your brushes every week is a must. Doing so not only ensures optimal application and colour payoff but will also ensure you do not apply months' worth of harmful bacteria directly to your skin.
Regularly cleaning your brushes can prevent skin issues, but it also helps improve the performance and longevity of your brushes. The buildup of makeup, oils, and other residues can compromise the application of your makeup and even lead to bristle damage - something to avoid when investing in quality brushes.
Regular washing keeps your brushes clean and helps maintain their softness, shape, and effectiveness for a flawless makeup application every time. It can feel like a chore, so create a ritual that can help make it more enjoyable.
Raquel's tip: apply your favourite face mask before scrubbing in.
Don't forget your sponges!
Beauty Blenders and other sponge applicators are a favourite of beauty gurus and enthusiasts. So, sponges should also be part of your regular cleaning routine as they harbour even more bacteria than brushes. Since sponges are porous, they are prone to trapping bacteria, creating a breeding ground for germs. To ensure a seamless and blemish-free finish, we recommend cleaning your makeup sponges with a gentle cleanser daily before use.
How to clean your sponges: squeeze and dampen your sponge with warm water. Once wet, use one pump of Illuminating Gel Cleanser and gently massage/squeeze into the sponge to release makeup buildup. Continue to squeeze until you see no soapy residue and the water released from the sponge runs clean.
Raquel's acne-safe three-step makeup brush cleansing routine
As someone with acne-prone skin, Raquel has developed and perfected a three-step brush cleansing routine to ensure harmful bacteria does not come in contact with her skin. Follow her weekly brush cleansing routine below:
Step One: Cleanse to Remove Makeup
Run warm water and dampen brush bristles. Using a small pump of Illuminating Gel Cleanser, gently swirl the brush in the palm of your (clean) hand or on a brush cleansing mat until any pigment stains on the brushes are gone. Rinse any remaining cleanser from the brushes before proceeding to the next step.
Step Two: Cleanse to Kill Bacteria
To ensure she removes any remaining acne-causing bacteria, Raquel double-cleanses her brushes. Using Clearing Cleanser, Starlight's BHA cleansing gel, Raquel removes residual impurities so they are 100% clean and safe for acne-prone skin.
Using the same process, run warm water and use a small pump of Clearing Cleanser. Gently swirl the brush in the cleanser in the palm of your hand or on a brush cleansing mat until any pigment stains on the brushes are gone. Rinse any remaining cleanser from the brushes and shake out excess water. Next, gently shape the bristles and lay the brushes flat on a clean towel before proceeding to the next step.
Step Three: Blue Light is Bacteria's Enemy
Raquel is extremely strict when it comes to her beauty routine. To be sure that there is zero - and she means ZERO - bacteria present, she reaches for Starlight's 5 in 1 Skin Perfector. While the brushes are drying, use the blue light setting and hold the device over the brushes for several minutes to eradicate any remaining bacteria. This step ensures Raquel's brushes are safe for use on acne-prone skin. She also uses this step with her makeup sponges daily.
We can't overstate the need to clean your makeup brushes and beauty applicators weekly. Regular cleansing helps remove bacteria, dust, and dirt from your brushes to protect your skin against potential breakouts, inflammation, and infections. Remember, a little maintenance goes a long way in achieving glowing skin.
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