General cleaning: How to clean brushes and sponges properly
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Before those who love makeup, inevitably raises the question proper care tools. They can really be washed and stored in such a way that they last longer, and the process of applying a make-up was at the same time as hygienic as possible. We turned to those who have to deal with the cleansing of brushes and sponge on an ongoing basis: makeup artists and beauty channel authors Mila Bulatova and Masha Vorslav shared with us the rules for the care of personal tools.
How often should I wash the brush
First of all it depends on the frequency and variety of use. If different products are applied with brushes, then every change will require minimal cleaning - in this case it is convenient to have a spray on hand, with which you can quickly remove the remnants of the product without arranging a large wash. Masha Vorslav suggests that brushes intended for dry products should be prophylactically cleaned with a spray once a week, without resorting to global laundering, and also disinfected from time to time to ensure complete peace of mind. Tools for cream the same makeup artist recommends thoroughly cleaned daily. The same advice also applies to the sponge: in the case of him, this can be done right before the tone is applied - it should be wetted first. Mila Bulatova draws attention to the fact that it is optimal to wash brushes from natural lint no more than once a month.
The long life of a brush depends on how you treat it. Too frequent and intensive washing of the pile slowly but surely deteriorates, and the mount often suffers. Nevertheless, we would advise owners of sensitive and inflammatory skin to clean the tools after each use or shortly before the next one - beautician Yulia Shcherbatova confirms that items in contact with skin should be kept clean. Worn brush sorry no more than the skin: the person responds to pollution. To make your accessories suffer less, it will be useful to have a special tool: it is important that it does not contain alcohol. Sometimes it is enough and non-aggressive means for washing, if you already have one. If, after all, frequent brushing does not inspire you, be sure to use a disinfectant.
How and what to wash brushes and sponges
If the tools you use more often than your fingers, then it makes sense to have a special tool. If you do not use it for work, it will be spent very economically and will really help to prolong the service life of the brushes: tools made of synthetic nap and sponges are quite unpretentious. However, as mentioned above, the usual means for the face can be a good substitute. For natural brushes Mila Bulatova recommends choosing a product from the line for dry and sensitive skin - it will not dry out the pile. In the ability of special products to extend the life of natural hair, a makeup artist, on the contrary, doubts: almost all of them are intended for both synthetic and natural brushes. Generally, if you notice that you have to wash your brushes often, you should choose synthetic ones. Mila Bulatova notes that they will withstand washing as needed, and cleansing from make-up, and even latex, gelatin and silicone, for which in any case you have to choose strong products. Do not use oily tools for cleaning brushes: they are quite difficult to get off the villi. It is also better to forget about the popular advice to adapt dishwashing detergent.
Masha Vorslav told in detail how to clean the brushes so that the impact was as gentle as possible: “During the washing process, you need to make sure that the water does not fill the place where the nap is attached to the handle - otherwise it will come off. For the same reason to do this, you need to come up with an appropriate mount or stock up with protective nets like The Brush Guard. They allow you to put the brushes upside down and at the same time not to knead the pile. " Also, the makeup artist shares a life hack, which will help check how clean the dark brush is, on which, unlike the white one, the remnants of the products are not always visible: when the brush dries, beat the pile on a paper towel - it should remain clean. In the shops and on the merry sites you can find different devices that make brushing a bit easier. Masha Vorslav recalls Sigma silicone mats and Brushegg eggs: the first are suitable for large brushes, the second - for small ones. They help avoid chafing and wrinkles, but do not accelerate the process.
Sponge, like brushes, is all about the same golden rule: in order for the tool to last longer, you need to wash it thoroughly. Unfortunately, any sponges are capricious, so try not to let the remnants of your tonal tools, concealers and highlighters sponge for a long time: it absorbs the product and it is washed away much more difficult. Nothing terrible will happen from a couple of such cases, but you shouldn’t do it regularly. On a porous sponge, even after diligent rinsing, some color of highly pigmented products may remain. This is normal and does not interfere with its further use in makeup. Hydrophilic oil well helps dissolve stubborn cosmetics: leave a little on the surface for five minutes and then wash it in the usual way.
Hygiene and storage tools
Masha Vorslav does not recommend leaving brushes in a glass, otherwise dust will settle on them. Tools should not be in contact with dirty surfaces - keep them in a pencil case or closed tube. With sponges, it is somewhat more difficult: those that are needed daily remain wet for a long time, and you should not keep a wet porous sponge in a closed container: it can simply begin to decompose. For your favorite beauty blenders, you should have a separate spacious jar or keep them in a cosmetic bag that lets in air: for this purpose you can use, for example, a mesh bag for washing clothes. In any case, it is necessary to change sponges once in three months, but the terms of using brushes can be almost endless - perhaps, until their unsuitability becomes obvious. Also, pay attention to the fact that personal brushes should be designed only for your face and change them with friends - a bad idea.
Photo: Inglot, Make Up For Ever, Japonesque, Beautyblender, Make Up Me, Pudra (1, 2, 3)