Do I Really Need To Clean My Makeup Brushes?

All the time I hear people tell me they don't think its necessary, or they don't have the time or patience to clean their brushes.

"It's just my face."

Well, your face gets dirty too... Your skin produces an oil, called sebum, and that can harbor bacteria. You touch your office keyboard, then touch your face, you talk on the phone, and sleep on the same pillow case every night. Yes, you probably wash your face every day, but your skin only stays clean for as long as you don't touch it..

When you touch your face with your makeup brushes, the bacteria and sebum on your face transfers onto your brush. Now your brush is festering with potential infectious bacteria... I know its nasty to think about, but its something that needs to be thought about.. Nobody want's acne, right? You want to do everything in your power to keep those little red demons off your face, right? Not to mention, eyeshadow brushes can really build up product, and eventually, your eye looks will start looking muddy, as the pigments mix. So, why wouldn't you wash your brushes??

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't WASH my brushes every day, I'm lucky to do it every week.. But I DO CLEAN my brushes after every use.

"How can you clean your brushes without washing them?" Great question!!!

The answer: Alcohol! Specifically 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.

I use this EVERY day, usually at night before going to bed, I'll sit down and clean my brushes while watching TV and getting ready to turn in for the night. It takes less than a commercial break to clean all the brushes I'd use for a daily makeup look.

You simply need to decanter some alcohol into a good quality spray bottle with a fine mist setting. Then, all you need to do is lay your brush on a towel, spray the bristles and then wipe the brush on the towel until no more color transfers.

Yes, this can be drying to your brushes, particularly natural haired brushes. That's why I try to give my brushes a nice conditioning wash about once a week.

Whether you've invested a lot or a little into your makeup brushes, you want them to last a long time, proper cleaning and sanitation can really help to extend the life of your brushes.

I hope you found this post helpful!!

Have a fantastic day!!! <3 nbsp="" p="">

Back to Basics: Eye Brushes

So you want to build a table? Well, there are a few basic tools you are going to need before you can get started. You will need lumber, a saw, a hammer, a drill/driver, screws, nails, a pencil, a measure, and a square. Sure, you can walk into Lowe's, pick up some basic stock lumber, have them cut it for you, take it home and nail it together. That table won't look very nice, or be very sturdy, will it?

Lets look at makeup the same way. Yeah, you can go to Walmart, buy a $3 shadow palette, go home and slap that bad boy on, but you're makeup isn't going to blend very well using those cheap little applicators that came with your pretty shadows. No, you will need to use at least a few basic brushes to get a decent look. The most important part of applying eyeshadow is blending. I can not stress this enough. If you don't blend your shadows, even Snooki will think you look cheap. Hehe

So, here is a list of my top 5 most essential eye brushes:

1 Flat Shader Brush:
Used to lay down, or pack on, a concentration of pigmented shadow, usually used primarily on the mobile lid.

2. Fluffy Blending Brush

Used to diffuse shading and contour in the crease. Necessary for a smokey eye or a soft feminine look.

3. Stiff Domed Crease brush/ Pencil Brush:

Used to apply more concentrated color in the crease, or on the lower lash line. 

4. Angled Liner Brush:

Used to apply either eyeshadow or gel/cream liner to upper and lower lash lines, also used to fill in brows with a powder or pomade. 

5. Eyebrow Brush/Lash Comb Duo:

Used to brush the brows into place and comb through lashes either before or after applying mascara. 

So here you go, My top 5 eye brushes that I just couldn't live without! And you can refer to my previous post about how and where to get brushes that don't cost a fortune!

Makeup Brushes

Today I want to start with the most basic tool you will need to complete any makeup look: Brushes.

Some people will tell you that you don't really need brushes to do your makeup. I've had people tell me that brushes don't really do anything for you, unless you are a makeup artist you don't need them. Well, that may be true for some people. But not for me.

If you are the type of person who rarely ever wears makeup. maybe your idea of a full face is a little BB cream or tinted moisturizer, mascara and lip gloss, and that's all you need to get out the door. Well, then I would say that you absolutely do not need makeup brushes..

But, if you like to have nicely blended eyeshadow, you want a flawless finish with foundation, or you like to get that perfect crisp line when wearing a bold lip, you are going to have a very difficult time doing any of those things without at least a few basic brushes.

I know what you're thinking, "But Ashley, I just cant afford to go out and spend a ton of money on expensive makeup brushes. The eyeshadows I buy come with applicators, why can't I use those?" I have great news for you! You DON'T have to buy expensive brushes! Especially if you are just starting to experiment with makeup, you don't want to invest a lot of money into brushes you don't even know how to use..

I don't think I own a single brush that cost more than $10! I have purchased sets that run a little higher, but you can get a great set of brushes, that comes with 10-20 brushes, for $20-$30.

Starting out, you only need a few basic brushes, and you can add to your collection as you go!
For eyes, I recommend having; a small flat shader brush, a fluffy blending brush, a stiff domed crease brush, a pencil brush, an angled brush, and a small eyeliner brush. For foundation you need either; a flat top kabuki brush, a flat foundation brush, a sponge, or a buffing brush. You also will need a concealer brush and a lip brush.

Here's a list of my favorite brush lines, and the best places to get them!

1. BH Cosmetics
2. Coastal Scents
3. Crown Brush
4. Real Techniques  
5. ELF (Eyes Lips Face) 
6. Sonia Kashuk

These are a few of the brushes I use every time I do my makeup.
Left to right: BH Cosmetics 10 pc Sculpt and Blend Brush Set, Coastal Scents Pro Blending Fluf, Coastal Scents Classic Blender Pointed Natural

Side note: I also have an Ebates account. I use it EVERY TIME I make a purchase with any retailer that is registered! (Ebates has no idea who I am, I just LOVE cash back! [None of these other companies know who I am, either....])

To clean your brushes I recommend spot cleaning them between each use, and deep cleaning, once a week. To spot clean, I simply take 70% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle with a fine mist, spray the brush and wipe it on a clean towel until all product is off. To deep clean you can buy a variety of brush cleansers, or make them yourself, based on your budget and preferences. My current favorite is the Blender Cleanser Solid by Beauty Blender, but it is pricey... After deep cleaning, either lay the brushes out to dry on a towel, (try to prop them up so that the handle is elevated and the water runs out of the ferrule), you can also take hair ties and hang the brushes from a towel bar, or buy brush guards, and prop them upside down in a glass.


Like I said, there are no hard and fast rules to makeup, experiment with different brushes and techniques to find what works for you! Start small, so you don't get overwhelmed, then expand as you go.

Have fun, and remember to blend!!!