There are a variety of ways to wash your makeup brushes, and even the experts debate on which method is best. My basic method until recently was to use a mixture of anti-acne facial cleanser and moisturizing shampoo, rinse, blot with a wash cloth and then lay them flat until dry. However, this video featuring Michelle Phan's cleaning method using olive oil and dishsoap intrigued me and made me question my cleaning methods. I tried this method for the first time about this time last year. Before I started, I watched the video again and took notes because I am an obessive note-taker. I got out all my brushes and followed her directions. After my brushes dried, I pulled out my Tarte airbrush foundation brush and ran it across my hand. The bristles were wonderfully soft, shiny, and glorious. I then looked at my beloved Tokidoki kabuki brush...and damn near cried. I thought my brush was ruined. Even fully dry, the bristles were stuck together and stiff, not full and soft like it should be. I had to rewash the brush probably three times in my original method to get it back to its original shape, and I know I probably damaged it in the process which ticks me off.Michelle recommends using Brush Guards to help maintain your brush's shape during the drying process, and I have to admit I love these things. You can buy them online, but I've found them in several Walmart stores (in the Huntington area, they're only at the South Point Walmart). You get a few different sizes that fit everything to a kabuki brush to lip brushes. Don't cut them, though, because they're woven and will unravel. I learned that the hard way. They help keep debris off the brushes and I can't imagine traveling without them. I did stop using them in my brush washing method because it takes forever for my brushes to dry with them on. My big Tarte brush takes almost a week to fully dry with a Brush Guard on which I find rather ridiculous.
I have since changed my makeup brush washing ways. I only use Michelle's olive oil method on a select few brushes, and use an anti-bacterial soap/moisturizing shampoo mix on the rest. To dry them, I elevate one side of a cookie cooling rack and cover it with a towel. I then lay the brushes so the handles are on the elevated sides so that water doesn't sit in the metal parts loosening the glue on the bristles. I like my new method and it's getting my brushes good and clean.
How do you wash your brushes?
