make up brushes

[woodhill]

Was told recently that you should bin them as despite washing them, they are full of bacteria. How do you care for yours and how long do you keep them. I must admit some of them are over 10 years' old but going strong.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I still have some from the BodyShop when they did white handles and combed the hair from ponies

Most of mine are 5-20 years old (some predate my DS)

I don't wash them often but if I do it's in Aveda shampure or baby shampoo and lie on a towel.

My DD has some Real Technique, she wears make-up every day, I don't.

I have no idea if they do harbour bacteria.
I'm quite brutal with mascara at 3 months, it goes.

Other make-up I smell or see if it's gone manky.

My brushes stand in a glass on my dressing table. Any random bacteria could be anywhere?

[pdxs]

My first set (from cosmetics to go in the 90s) lasted me 10 years, then upgraded to gap (& odd laura mercier/bobbi brown). They last makeup artists 5-10 years, so expect mine to last me rest of my life...

they do harbour bacteria though...so as a spotty teen i made sure to cleanse mine.

Mac do a makeup brush cleanser for £8 which is overpriced, but you could use once in a while (esp good for foundation/gel eyeliner/cream eyeshadow which can be difficult to remove otherwise), or sterilise with alcohol. I wash mine every few weeks ... with shampoo, handwash or facewash

My mac cleanser has run out after 2 years so now planning to spritz the washed brushes with alcohol (spray bottle of vodka, also good for deo stains on armpits of clothing apparently) and let dry on a towel.

The main way to keep the brushes going is to NEVER soak them: if really dirty mix shampoo in your hand & massage in before rinsing

I would not buy special products to clean, but the most effective from memory are S'by white hand wash, & Neutrogena pink grapefruit

I know far too much about this .. makeup artist in the family!

[southeastastra]

i get mine from body shop and a nice close eyeliner one from space NK

i wash them in bog standard soap

i am not ming infested

[pdxs]

btw.. I don't mean GAP sorry, MAC... the sets they sell at Xmas are better value per brush, but depends how many you use.

You might also look into paint brushes (crown & newton water colour from an art shop) for almost identical brushes you can use for eyeshadows/liners - made of same type of bristle, much cheaper. I have not found a dupe for powder/blush in the art shop, but if I could, I would

[Coastingit]

I have a fear of makeup brushes for this reason. I have big brushes for blusher and bronzer - dry things - but always use fingers for foundation and concealer, and just little disposable cotton buds to apply eyeshadow.

[WhyDoesGastonBark]

I spot clean mine after every use and wash with shampoo once a month. Some are 10+ years old

[whatdoIget]

My blusher brush is 25 years old! I give it a wash every so often in shampoo then blot it on a towel and let it dry without any heat. There are bacteria everywhere anyway

[pdxs]

Powder products don't harbour bacteria... its the wet products that are the problem, so mascara as it touches lashes, and anything that you put your fingers in

[woodhill]

I was told this info by an expert but tbh I have washed them in disinfectant and shampoo not soaking then put them on towel with heads air drying. I am satisfied.

Also cleared out make up and sharpened eye pencils.

[Judydreamsofhorses]

I have two sets and wash them every Sunday in baby shampoo. Mine are the Real Techniques ones. I do bin mascara after three months though.

[Dynomite]

I wash my foundation brush with soap after every use. Foundation applied with fingers just doesn't look as good IMO.