Makeup Brushes- A Cleaning How-to!

    A few days ago, I was reading an article about cleaning your makeup brushes. This got me thinking and I realized I haven't cleaned my make-up brushes in a while. Like a LONG whle. I don't know why, but this is not something that I often think of doing. When I do decide to clean them, it's always in the middle of the day, I end up needing them later in the day, and they ALL get washed at once, so they are all wet. So, to make it easy, I just put it off until the next day. And the next...You get the picture!
    Anyways...not cleaning your makeup brushes means all kinds of gross stuff (bacteria!!) is hiding inside! Not to mention all the makeup that doesn't go on your face! This means every time you change color, there is still some of the last color left behind. This results in the color you want not coming out right! I have been noticing my pinks just aren't the right shade. And when I use my bronzer, the color is much more intense.
    Not any more!!
Here is a photo of my brushes before their bath! These two were the last ones I cleaned, and they are the least used, so they don't appear to be too dirty and gross!

   First, I got a plastic cup that I could throw away, just in case they got messy! Then I grabbed the baby's shampoo. It is a mild soap, so it won't cause any skin irritations! I squirted just a little in the bottom of the cup, and added some warm water. You don't want to add too much water, just enough to cover the brush part. Getting the metal wet could cause rust and the glue to separate and ruin your brush!
   I swirled the brushes around (one at a time) in the soapy water. Once I started doing this, I saw just how dirty my brushes were! Even the ones that I thought were relatively clean! This is the water from the "cleanest" one! Notice earlier how I said they didn't {appear} to be too dirty and gross!

 

 

And a little dirtier one!
   I kept dumping the dirty water out and adding clean warm water (no more soap, enough was still in the brush!) until it started to beocme clear. Then, rinse the brush in warm water. Make sure to press all the excess water out and get the brush back to its natural shape. Lay them flat on a towel to dry! That's it! So easy! I even did them at night, when I knew I wouldn't need them soon, so they could dry in peace. Here they are, all clean and happy! They are so much softer, too!

I am definitely going to stay on top of cleaning these guys every few weeks. Makeup brushes can get expensive, so it is good to take care of them!