This article was written by Kelli Acciardo and provided by our partners at Prevention.
Forget getting a flawless look if your makeup applicators are caked with powders, liquids, creams, and who knows what else. And messy makeup aside, dirty tools could be setting you up for some pretty nasty health issues, too. Heed our advice and use these tips to keep your beauty tools squeaky clean—and your skin perfectly healthy. (Lose up to 25 pounds in two months—and look more radiant than ever—with Prevention's new Younger In 8 Weeks plan!)
(1).Breakouts
"Brushes caked with dirt, oils, and makeup can clog pores with bacteria, leading to breakouts or skin irritations," says Hadley King, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist. Synthetic concealer and foundation brushes should be cleaned once a week at least; because they have pores, which absorb more makeup than natural brushes, which only need to be cleaned twice per month.
The best way to clean natural brushes is with water and brush cleanser or baby shampoo," says King. Mix one part baby shampoo with four parts lukewarm water, dip bristles in, and then massage. Or if you're using brush cleanser, wet bristles, place a drop of cleanser in the palm of your hand, gently dip the bristles in, and then massage. Then rinse, squeeze out the excess moisture, and reshape the brush head, letting it dry with the bristles hanging off the edge of a counter, says King. (Here are the makeup brushes every woman needs.)
Use dishwashing liquid, like Dawn, to clean synthetic brushes, since they need to be stripped of oil and buildup. Apply a bit of Dawn to the brush, then massage the bristles or clean them on a brush mat like the Sigma Spa Express Brush Cleaning Mat, rinsing and reshaping the head to let dry.
(2).Streaky or Uneven Makeup
"It's just as important to clean your makeup sponges as it is your makeup brushes," says Lori Taylor Davis, Smashbox global pro lead makeup artist. That's because dirty ones can "cause a cream or liquid foundation to go on splotchy or uneven." Davis says the best way to clean a makeup sponge is with a dishwashing liquid like Dawn; the petroleum will cut through the cosmetic oils and silicones coating the material. (These seven foundation mistakes are making you look older.)
(3).Viral Infections
Breakouts aren't fun, but an even more extreme risk of not cleaning your brushes regularly is spreading viral infections—either ones you had before, or ones from someone else if you're sharing tools, says Davis. So clean those brushes regularly, especially if you've just been sick.
(4).Pore Congestion
"Using brushes that have significant buildup on them can clog up pores, leading to milia," says Shawn Fisher, national makeup artist for Japonesque. Milia, a grouping of cysts which look like small white bumps, typically appear on the nose and cheeks. And unlike zits, you can't pop 'em—you'll have to see your derm to get rid of them.
(5).Yeast Overgrowth
Never clean that facial cleansing brush? You should start. These tools are usually stored in damp places like the shower, where bacteria and yeast love to hang out and multiply. Yeast is naturally found in our environment and on our skin, but an overgrowth can cause skin irritations and red scaly or raw patches. "If you clean it weekly, a brush head should last three months," says King. "Place a few drops of antibacterial dish soap on your fingers or on a toothbrush, and scrub the bristles and crevices. Rinse with warm water, then allow the brush head to air-dry overnight."
tag:Cleaning, makeup, powder, Cream, Skin, Yeast, Brush, Shampoo, Spa, health, breakout
Forget getting a flawless look if your makeup applicators are caked with powders, liquids, creams, and who knows what else. And messy makeup aside, dirty tools could be setting you up for some pretty nasty health issues, too. Heed our advice and use these tips to keep your beauty tools squeaky clean—and your skin perfectly healthy. (Lose up to 25 pounds in two months—and look more radiant than ever—with Prevention's new Younger In 8 Weeks plan!)
(1).Breakouts
"Brushes caked with dirt, oils, and makeup can clog pores with bacteria, leading to breakouts or skin irritations," says Hadley King, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist. Synthetic concealer and foundation brushes should be cleaned once a week at least; because they have pores, which absorb more makeup than natural brushes, which only need to be cleaned twice per month.
The best way to clean natural brushes is with water and brush cleanser or baby shampoo," says King. Mix one part baby shampoo with four parts lukewarm water, dip bristles in, and then massage. Or if you're using brush cleanser, wet bristles, place a drop of cleanser in the palm of your hand, gently dip the bristles in, and then massage. Then rinse, squeeze out the excess moisture, and reshape the brush head, letting it dry with the bristles hanging off the edge of a counter, says King. (Here are the makeup brushes every woman needs.)
Use dishwashing liquid, like Dawn, to clean synthetic brushes, since they need to be stripped of oil and buildup. Apply a bit of Dawn to the brush, then massage the bristles or clean them on a brush mat like the Sigma Spa Express Brush Cleaning Mat, rinsing and reshaping the head to let dry.
(2).Streaky or Uneven Makeup
"It's just as important to clean your makeup sponges as it is your makeup brushes," says Lori Taylor Davis, Smashbox global pro lead makeup artist. That's because dirty ones can "cause a cream or liquid foundation to go on splotchy or uneven." Davis says the best way to clean a makeup sponge is with a dishwashing liquid like Dawn; the petroleum will cut through the cosmetic oils and silicones coating the material. (These seven foundation mistakes are making you look older.)
(3).Viral Infections
Breakouts aren't fun, but an even more extreme risk of not cleaning your brushes regularly is spreading viral infections—either ones you had before, or ones from someone else if you're sharing tools, says Davis. So clean those brushes regularly, especially if you've just been sick.
(4).Pore Congestion
"Using brushes that have significant buildup on them can clog up pores, leading to milia," says Shawn Fisher, national makeup artist for Japonesque. Milia, a grouping of cysts which look like small white bumps, typically appear on the nose and cheeks. And unlike zits, you can't pop 'em—you'll have to see your derm to get rid of them.
(5).Yeast Overgrowth
Never clean that facial cleansing brush? You should start. These tools are usually stored in damp places like the shower, where bacteria and yeast love to hang out and multiply. Yeast is naturally found in our environment and on our skin, but an overgrowth can cause skin irritations and red scaly or raw patches. "If you clean it weekly, a brush head should last three months," says King. "Place a few drops of antibacterial dish soap on your fingers or on a toothbrush, and scrub the bristles and crevices. Rinse with warm water, then allow the brush head to air-dry overnight."
tag:Cleaning, makeup, powder, Cream, Skin, Yeast, Brush, Shampoo, Spa, health, breakout