The Importance of Brush Cleaning!!

   I can not stress enough how important it is to clean your makeup brushes. The day I started cleaning mine, I noticed an immediate change in my skin and the way my makeup went on. It was absolutely amazing! Most people I know had no idea that they could and were supposed to wash their brushes. When your brushes are clean, your makeup will be applied so brilliantly and the pigments will be so much more beautiful. And, if you have sensitive, oily skin like I do, dirty makeup brushes will only make the situation so much worse.

   Cleaning your brushes is so simple. No matter the shape, size, or type of the brush, the steps are all the same. Brush cleaning should be done about every 7-10 days (depending on how much you wear and how often you wear it). If your brushes get very brittle and become tough and not smooth (bad adjective use, sorry!) then you can condition them using these same steps but with conditioner.

Here is what you need:

• all of the brushes you use
• a brush shampoo (you can buy these at most beauty stores, including Sephora and Ulta) OR a gentle shampoo/body wash (I use a gentle baby shampoo and it works perfectly :) )
• a sink with hot running water
• a small wash cloth

STEPS :)

1. Place all of your brushes next to the sink. Make sure the water is about as hot as you can stand to touch. Have the washcloth handy next to you.
2. Take which ever brush and completely soak the bristles (hold them in the water so that the bristles are faced down. You don't want water to get inside of the handle. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AT ALL TIMES YOU ARE CLEANING!)
3. Dispense a small amount the brush cleaner into the palm of your hand. Make sure your hand has some water on it.
4. Take the wet brush and, in a circular motion, swirl the brush around in the cleaner.
5. Rinse the brush and your hand. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until, when you rinse the brush and squeeze the excess water out there is no evidence of pigments left in the brush.
6. Smooth out the bristles so they all go the same way.
7. Lay the brush on the wash cloth to dry, leaving the end with the bristles to hang off the counter top to allow even air circulation.
8. Repeat these steps with all of your brushes :)

I hope this helps everyone! Leave comments or suggestions to let me know what you think :)