Properly cleaning your makeup brushes is so important. Every time you use your makeup brushes they will get packed full of grime from the air itself, the skin cells and residual product. Because of that, they need to be cleaned properly and with due care. It is important how you clean them, to make sure you are protecting yourself and your makeup brushes!

I am an average girl who works Monday to Friday so I use my make-up brushes every morning before work. It is important that if you are in the beauty industry as a professional this method is not effective, more of a deep cleanse is required.

This is how I wash my brushes while saving £££

ECO FRIENDLY AND FREE

Just add water, salt, and a washing-up tub!

I use a washing-up tub (those rectangular ones you buy to wash the dishes). I take the brushes from my makeup storage and then boil the kettle. I drop my washing-up brushes in the tub and pour boiling water in and salt; as this is a natural disinfectant, it does the work without adding harsh chemicals to the mix.

I allow the brushes to soak for about 15 minutes, and then I pour the water away and wash the brushes under the sink, allowing the salt to rinse out. I then enable the brushes to dry on a drying mat; you can also use one of those utensils for drying cutlery. But ensure the washing up tub, and utensil drying kit have been sanitised before use with boiling water and preferably salt.

I get some eco-friendly paper towels and gently dry them and allow them to dry on a new set of paper towels on the side. It is important to note that with wooden handle brushes if you allow them to dry in a cup and naturally they will rot the handle as the water seeps downwards and also forces the brushes into a different shape when positioned like this.

How I wash my sponges

ECO FRIENDLY AND FREE

Just add water, salt and a bowl from the kitchen!

I begin by taking the sponge under the kitchen tap and squishing the sponge in my hand, allowing the excess foundation to leave the sponge and drain down the sink. I then boil the kettle and use a kitchen bowl, which has been sanitised with boiling water beforehand, I then put the sponges in the bowl and allow the boiling water to soak over them. I then add some salt, a natural disinfectant which will then work its magic for about 15 minutes, I like to leave this to happen. Then return to repeat the full process.

It is just a rough estimate to allow the sponge to have really soaked and disinfected. You can really soak for as long as you like, or repeat the process as many times as you see fit. But then paper dry it with some eco-friendly paper towels, do not allow the moister to sit while it is damp as it breeds bacteria.

How I wash my tanning mitt

ECO FRIENDLY AND FREE

Just add water, salt, a bowl and a pair of marigolds!

I begin by taking the mitt and rinsing it under a tap. I would recommend if you do not want your nails to be stained by the tan to wear marigolds. Rinse until the water runs clear under the tap. Dissolve some salt in a boiling bowl of water and allow the water to become lukewarm and slowly rinse the bowl over each side of the mitt. Continue to rinse under the tap until the water runs clear.

Then dry with some eco-friendly paper towels.

By Emma Hitchman

Image source: Adobe.Stock – Gillianvann