clean brushes for clear skin

You wash your face everyday…or at least i hope you do…but did you know that you could be undoing all of that hard work to achieve crystal-clear skin by neglecting to give your makeup brushes a thorough wash as well? It's commonly overlooked— but it can be (and usually is) the most common causes of acne and congested pores…and if you're guilty of this little mistake, you're adding to your breakouts unknowingly, everyday! 

Frequently cleaning your makeup brushes should be made a part of your regular beauty routine. Each time you apply your makeup you are transferring tiny amounts of dirt, oil, bacteria and of course, product, into the bristles. Unfortunately for us, a self-cleaning makeup brush has yet to be invented (although that would be nice, wouldn't it??) So that means that it's up to us to make sure that we are taking the proper precautions to not spread bacteria back and forth between brush-to-face.

It may sound basic, but skipping this crucial step can lead to bigger problems down the road and become a lot more costly. You may ask why— well, for starters, when trying to eliminate pesky breakouts we usually turn to new product (in this case your cleanser could be just fine and you'd be buying a new one for nothing). Then there's the issue of dirty brushes becoming a lot less effective. It's like when your car needs a tune-up— it's just not going to be performing at top form when there's a bunch of crud encroaching on it's turf…and in the process we usually end up using waayyyy more product than is actually needed to get our normal amount of coverage. And lastly, your makeup brushes weren't cheap! Any of you ladies know that a quality makeup brush (whether it's for eyeliner, powder, or foundation) can cost a pretty penny. The buildup of gunk and bacteria will over time break down the glues that hold those hair fibers to the handle, causing them to fall out or lose their softness and become brittle. 

(side note: if you're noticing that your powder/blush brush is leaving a trail of annoying hair on your face, then it's time to replace it….and yes…it's because you weren't cleaning it properly! That okay— from here on out we'll do it right) 

Luckily, giving your makeup brushes a proper deep-clean is crazy-simple, you'll just need a few things:

• a gentle soap (Johnson&Johnson's baby shampoo is a great choice) 
• a daily cleansing spray (I'll leave links for this at the bottom of the post) 
• a small plate/ or the palm of your hand
• a sink with running water
• a few clean paper towels 

Here's what you do: 

1. Start by rinsing each brush under some lukewarm tap water in the sink. This is to wet the bristles and to remove any obvious clumps of makeup. 
2. Using your plate (or your palm), dispense a pea to dime sized amount of shampoo depending on the brush size, in the middle and run the head of the brush in a circular motion through it. Keep making small circles around the entire surface of the plate/hand to work up a lather and release hardened makeup particles. 
3. Rinse once more in the sink. 
4. Repeat step 1 through 3 until the water runs clear. (i.e.: no more discolored water is falling from the brush) <—this can take a few times for concealer/foundation brushes. Especially if they're water resistant or contain an spf. 
5. Once the water runs clear, gently squeeze out any remaining water from the brush and gently but firmly, rub the brush head back and forth on a clean paper towel. Reshape before setting it down so that your bristles dry in their natural form. 
6. Using a few clean paper towels, create a dry flat surface to let your brushes air-dry. (This can take several hours or overnight) 

I had mentioned earlier that you'd be needing a cleansing spray… while this is not imperative to have, it does help you to cut down on elbow grease when you do your weekly deep cleans. By using a brush cleaner on a clean paper towel, and wiping down your brush heads after each use, you'll dramatically reduce buildup in the first place. Thus making your weekly's a breeze! 

Some affordable, quality brands are: MAC Cosmetics Brush Cleanser // MAKEUP FOREVER Instant Brush Cleanser // Japonesque Makeup Brush Cleanser

And there you have it!!! Squeaky clean brushes! 

Be sure to Pin this post to remember how to wash & care for your brush sets the proper way! (Link to Pinterest below) For more acne busts & beauty musts, follow me on Twitter @omi_blog or you can find me on Insta and Pinterest @jen_breslin_

Hope you're having a beautiful week! 

{❤︎, b.}