Time to Clean Your Makeup Brushes!!!

Be honest.. when was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes?? If you clean them every 7 to 10 days then you are probably in good shape, unless the product you are using is leaving a residue. If you aren't washing your brushes... well, have you taken microbiology?? I would be afraid to see what's under that microscope.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I didn't start cleaning my brushes until a few years ago. I'm certainly not a slob, I simply never put any thought into it. I also always used the cheapest brushes I could find which I discovered don't all clean very well. So, in line with my increasing maturity ; ) I have since switched to earth-friendly Eco Tools (still very inexpensive but impressive quality). Eco Tools has a large and varied collection of bamboo brushes that use cruelty free Taklon bristles and other natural and recycled materials AND they donate 1% of their annual revenue to environmental causes (now that's a 1% I care to hear about)! They are super soft, so makeup grabs them perfectly. They also clean really well, with absolutely no affect on the integrity of the bristles.

These brushes get a lot of action. As a woman who wears makeup daily, I find that my brushes really need a bath by day 7. I'm also acne prone and found that when I keep my brushes clean, I have less breakouts. To get the best application, you also want to avoid layers of oil and makeup on your brushes because this may "rough up" your finish.

Expensive brush cleansers... why?? I guess I just don't get this one. If you know something I don't than I will happily stand corrected (well maybe not happily since I like my cheap alternative). Every cosmetic company has their own version of the makeup brush cleanser and prices average $13-$20. Some are designed to be convenient daily spray cleansers, quick drying or deep cleaning. The general idea is to kill unwanted bacteria and have them dry when you are ready to use them again. I'm sure these products are fabulous, however, for a mere $4 I bought a bottle of  Neutrogena Shampoo~ Anti-residue Formula intended for my hair, and started using it to clean my brushes. This shampoo is made to remove dulling residue from you hair and it will do the same for your makeup brushes. You only need a dollop and it works great and washes out fast. Squeaky clean! Just remember to clean your brushes at night so they will be dry for your morning application!

Love a sweet deal <3