The Lazy Girl's Guide to Washing Your Makeup Brushes

Honestly, I wish I could say I got around to taking care of my makeup brushes more often than I do...but, let's be honest, when does anyone have the time to lay those bad boys out and get to scrubbing?! I know I'm not the only one who notices how easy it is to go days/weeks/months/decades without washing them. This past weekend, I had a bottle of my favorite face serum open up in my suitcase and get all over a few of my favorite brushes. This ooey gooey mess basically forced me into giving my brushes a much needed bath. 

1. Bust out the shampoo! Mix a couple drops of shampoo (Johnson's Baby Shampoo won't break the bank and is gentle on your brushes) with some water into a small bowl or cup, and begin swirling the brush head into the mixture to work up a lather. Try not to get the base of the of bristles wet (this will cause the glue to loosen and the hairs to fall out) nor the handle (wood and water don't mix). A gentle bar soap (I like the Dove Beauty Bar) works well too, especially for sponges.

2. Invest in a wash mat or grab some coarse towels. If it's been a while since you've given your brushes a deep clean (or you just go hard on the liquids) - the build up of product might be too much for a little brush bath. Get a texturized silicone mat and lay it down in your sink to really give those brushes a scrub...or use a clean towel you're ready to toss. Believe it or not, this feels pretty therapeutic. My slightly OCD ways come through and I won't stop until the water is clear and my brushes are squeaky clean. The silicone mat is going to keep your brushes protected, so only go the towel route if you're hell bent on getting this done before Amazon Prime can come through.  Here's one I've founrd on Amazon that will do the trick.

3. Rinse + squeeze! Keep going until the water you're running over the brushes is super clear then begin squeezing out all excess water from each brush. Avoid aggressive twisting and rubbing, you don't want to ruin your (now sparkling clean) brushes. 

4. Fluff + lay out to dry! Just like your locks, the way your brushes are left out to dry will determine how they take shape. Don't get impatient and stick wet brushes into a makeup bag, you'll be sad when they're bent out of shape and almost unusable. Make sure your brushes have been smoothed over and in tact, then lay them flat on a towel to dry. 

Voila! Enjoy your clean brushes...and put on a little extra blush (that last part was for my cousin who always criticizes my love for blush).