Easy Way to Clean and Store Makeup Brushes So They Last Longer

Makeup brushes need cleaning because they show a little bit too much kindness to dust particles. This, in turn, means negative things for our human skin. After all, dust particles are full of germs and they are one of the leading causes of breakouts. Apparently, there are several methods released by different makeup artists on how to clean makeup brushes.  You are free to try them out anytime. But the specific method I am going to talk about here today is unique in what it does. 

It is something I came up with on my own when I was a teenager.  Yes, three years ago, I did cover it in an article, but that was for another site and that is also without the evidence and some more details. I am going to basically provide it all here today. But before that understand the method involved

Things Needed

Gel hand soap  (must be antibacterial)

Two kitchen towel s (must be strong)

A big jar (must have the lead)

Water

Makeup brushes and if needed eye shadow applicators made from foam

A Cup/Mug (the one that you do not use for drinking purpose)

Instructions

1. Give a good shake to your brushes so all extra dust particles fall off.  This step does not apply to foam based eye shadow applicators.


2. Now wash them one by one under running water. This way you will be getting rid of more dust and preparing your brushes for the soap.  This time include your eye shadow applicators. The dirt will not come out easily out of them though. So use your fingers to give them a little press. Remember they are highly fragile. So you need to be extra careful with them.


3. Now in the cup, pour two to three drops of your gel hand soap.


4. Pour water in it now.


5. Stir the gel nicely so it loosens up.


6. Next, soak your makeup brushes in this water for couple of minutes.


7. Before taking them out, give each one of them a little swirling in the cup.


8. Then wash them in the running tap water. For the eye shadow applicators, use your fingers again.


9. Press them to take out excess water.


10. Leave them to dry off on the surface of the kitchen towel. Keep them covered with another of your piece.


11. Store them in the jar. Leave it closed.

Okay, I really do not recommend you to apply any kind of gel cleanser directly to your brushes. It is just that they are thick and stubborn. They do not want to get out of the brushes easily and thus, you need to spend extra with them. I must also let you know that the direct gel has a great ability to ruin the overall structure of your brushes. Now if you follow my steps your brushes will last almost forever. Yes, it is possible. Just take a look at the image below.

Notice the Estee Lauder (blue) and Lancome (red) eye shadow brushes. Both of them came in their respective makeup kits in the early 2000.  The Estee Lauder one was my mom’s. She never used the brush and handed it over to me to use.  Meanwhile, when I just started wearing makeup in high school (2003) I bought the Lancome makeup kit (Teen Me=Fool). Now all the cosmetics are gone. The only things remain are the makeup brushes. However, the models are no more available in the market. So you will never see them anywhere.  By using the above method, I am always able to make them maintain their quality and yes, I still use them to apply my eye makeup. Now as for the foam based applicators and face makeup brush, they are 4 to 5 years old, but see how new they look still.