You should be washing your brushes at least once a week. The brushes you use the most — i.e. usually your foundation and concealer brushes — should be cleaned once a week while everything else is usually fine to only be cleaned once or twice a month.
Brushes that you get wet or use liquid products with are also more important to keep clean because moist environments allow for an overgrowth of bacteria and fungi and this is especially crucial if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Only wash the tips of your bristles.
Rather than dunking your whole brush head into a bowl of water, Aponte suggests only getting the ends of your bristles wet under lukewarm, running water. Submerging the whole brush head will eventually dissolve the glue that holds the brush together.
1. First up, supplies
The first step in attaining sterilised make-up brushes is, of course, gathering the right supplies. I’d say there are four main things you need to give your brushes a good washing: Gentle shampoo, water, a rubber mat, and a lint-free towel.
2. Wash
To start, rinse the bristles of your make-up brush with lukewarm water. Be cautious to always keep the water running down the length of the bristles. This will prevent water from streaming into the base of the brush, which can weaken the glue and shorten its life span.
Then, work a small amount of gentle shampoo in the bristles and swirl the brush gently on the silicone mat in circular motions, rinsing with water as you go. To protect your brushes, use light pressure as you swish the brush around, if you don’t have a mat then use the palm of your hand.
3. And repeat
Continue to lather and rinse (adding more shampoo if needed) until you notice that the water rinses clear.
4. Dry
Squeeze all of the excess water carefully out of the brush, and reshape the bristles as you go. Now lay your brushes on a lint-free cloth (like a facecloth) to dry. Let the bristles hang over the edge of your sink, and flip them over after a few hours to ensure the best shape. Leave your brushes to dry overnight, it generally takes 8-12 hours.
Depending on how often you use your brushes, I’d recommend giving them some TLC at least every 3 weeks. You’ll notice how much smoother your application is after cleaning them. You should replace your brushes at least once every year.
Maybe even more often if you use your brushes more frequently. There are a few signs to look for, including if it’s lost its shape if the base of the brush head is shaking if your bristles are constantly shedding, and if it’s lost its fullness.
