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The specific life-span of your make-up brush depends on how ‘heavy handed’ you are in your make-up application and how you care for your brush.
Don’t dip a dome-shaped brush into a product vertically, as this causes brush hair to open and lose shape quicker.
Do use the side of the brush, holding the brush at an acute angle to the product (and the same angle when you apply to the face.)
Don’t push, press, pull or bend the hair unnecessarily.
Do store brushes standing vertically in a glass or jar to prevent damage to the hair.
Don’t put them loose in your make-up bag when traveling. Rather roll them inside a face cloth to avoid the hair from bending, or use a protective travel case.
If your brushes are only used for your face, the larger ones – like the powder and blusher brushes – can be cleaned monthly or at least once every two to three months.
Eye-shadow brushes should be cleaned every month. The more variety used in make-up colour, the more regularly the brushes should be cleaned.
The foundation brush should be rinsed immediately after each application.
Lipstick and concealer brushes need to be cleaned almost daily, as they become sticky from the product and easily pick up dust particles.
Should any brush be used on faces other than your own, the brush should then be cleaned after each application with a brush cleaner that will also disinfect the brush.
The foundation brush (which is generally a synthetic hair brush) can be rinsed with water and a gentle soap. A high quality foundation will rinse off easily, leaving no sticky residue in the brush.
Large brushes can be cleaned in warm water with hair shampoo. The objective is to wet the brush hair only and ensure that the ferrule (the silver section of the brush) and the handle are not saturated. The ferrule should be kept dry, as it contains a bonding agent holding the hair in place and securing the wooden handle.
Wash brushes gently, retaining the shape and refrain from flaring the hair out into a fan or fountain shape. Gently squeeze out the make-up while the hair of the brush is under water.
Rinse the brushes thoroughly in clean water, holding the brush hair towards the basin and the brush handle pointing to the ceiling, once again ensuring that the hair inside ferrule doesn’t become saturated. Ensure that all traces of soapiness in the brush have been removed.
Squeeze the hair back into its original shape and place brushes flat on a clean towel to dry.
Do not stand brushes vertically to dry, as the remaining water in the hair may drip into the ferrule.
Your brushes will not last if you don’t treat them well or work with them too vigorously. You should always apply with very little pressure on the skin. A soft, gentle sweep will result in a better make-up finish and a longer brush life. As the make-up brush loses its shape, the brush’s performance deteriorates.
Your aim should therefore be to retain the original brush shape during application, storage, travel and cleaning.
General care
Cleaning period
Washing brushes
Ask Joy for information about her favourite make-up brush cleaner... E-mail her on artist@beyondartistry.co.za or visit her website to see other services www.beyondartistry.co.za
