Next time you’re rifling through your makeup bag, take a second and try to remember the last time you cleaned your brushes. What’s the answer? Last week? Six months ago? Some of you might even be thinking, I’m supposed to clean these?
In 2010, Debenhams, a UK department store, researched the cosmetics habits of women in the UK, finding that a whopping 72% of the 1000 women surveyed never washed their makeup applicators and cosmetic tools, including brushes and sponges.
The bacteria on your brushes likely won’t kill you, but they can be mighty unpleasant. Things like staphylococcus, micrococcus, and sometimes even E. coli can all congregate on makeup applicators and in makeup, Dermatologist Jeanine Downie told “Good Morning America.” And while skin has its own defenses, compromised skin (lesions, infections, et cetera) and eyes are particularly sensitive to infection (Microbial Quality Assurance in Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Non-Sterile Pharmaceuticals, 1996).
What to Use for Cleaning Brushes
So, what should you use to clean? First and foremost, I’d recommend something that cleans and disinfects. I’ll note ahead that I only included products for which I was able to find ingredient lists.
For day-to-day cleaning — which won’t involve waiting hours for you brush to dry — I’d recommend something like MAC Brush Cleanser or Japonesque Professional Brush Cleaner. Both have ingredients that help to disinfect your tools; alcohol is antibacterial and d-limonene is antimicrobial (CDC, 2008; Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2000).
MAC Brush Cleanser ($19.89, amazon.com)
Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hexylene Glycol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Triclosan, Isopropyl Alcohol, Blue 1 (CI 42090), Red 33 (CI 17200)
Japonesque Professional Brush Cleaner ($11, amazon.com)
Ingredients: isoparaffinic, hydrocarbon, d-limonene, ethanol
I should note, however, that alcohol is considered most effective between 60-95%, and that I wasn’t able to find studies recommending the ideal time and concentration of citric acid for the most effective cleaning. So, while these will clean brushes, I cannot back claims that they will kill all bacteria.
That’s one of the reasons that I also recommend a regular deep clean. For regular deep cleaning — every week or so — I’d recommend a good conditioning brush shampoo.
Bare Escentuals Well Cared For ($17.37, amazon.com)
Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, TEA-Lauryl Sulfate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Pentasodium Triphosphate, Octoxynol-9, Polyquaternium-7, Lauramide DEA, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium PCA
One of the reasons I liked the Bare Escentuals conditioning shampoo is that it contains a serious surfactant (sodium laureth sulfate) that will help remove any silicone-based products, as well as a quaternary ammonium compound (polyquaternium-7) that will disinfect.
Bottom Line
It’s important to clean your brushes regularly to get rid of bacteria and any leftover gunk. Be sure to read the instructions on any cleanser you use to make sure that you’re using it properly (improper use can be the end of your brushes). When washing, be cognizant of the ferrule (metal part) of brushes. Don’t dry brushes upside down (the water could cause rust) and don’t soak them all the way up to the ferrule in something that could dissolve the glue holding the bristles in. It’s a little extra time, but regularly cleaning and disinfecting brushes can keep them clean for your skin and in tip-top shape for the long haul.
Have a favorite brush cleaner you think belongs on this list? Let us know in the comments section!