I have been wearing makeup since the age of twelve. Well, at twelve black eyeliner and a green lipstick that turned red (I can’t remember the brand) were all the rave to me. I did not have my mother’s permission to wear makeup, so I would wait until I got to school and put makeup on. Or, I would put on very little hoping she didn’t notice, but she always noticed. At the age of fifteen I discovered my love for eyeshadow. Over the years, my makeup collection has become a bit more widespread, and I now wear everything from foundation to illuminators. My favorite brands include MAC, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. I have tried multiple brands of brushes, but I am partial to the brushes by MAC. I (like so many of you) had not mastered the art of cleaning my brushes (without destroying them). That was until I found this wonderful how-to article. I tried the steps below using the product recommended, and needless to say my brushes are clean and still in tip-top shape. I hope the article helps you as well. Enjoy ~ xxxooo
Written and photographed by Erin Gerlach of The Sparkle
1. Don’t be afraid to get your brushes wet. Start by running the bristles under a tap, ensuring they face downwards at all times during the cleaning process.
2. Once the brush is damp, lather with clarifying shampoo, working the soap deep into the bristles with gentle circular motions. Reapply the shampoo until the water runs clean when squeezed out of the brush. We like Neutrogena’s Anti-Residue Shampoo ($5.59).
3. Rinse the brush and squeeze out any excess water, shaping the brush into its natural form.
4. Lay the brushes flat to dry overnight. Laying them flat ensures water doesn’t leak into the handle of the brush, which can loosen the glue over time causing the brush to deteriorate and eventually break.
