Cleaning my brushes is a chore, something that I know I need to get done but definitely not something that I look forward to do. However, when I do eventually get around to giving them a good wash, nothing feels more satisfying than being able to see the actual color of a brush’s bristles. The softness of clean makeup brushes makes me feel like I have achieved a flawless look, even if I don’t actually. To clean them, I usually like to use a gentle facial cleanser on my cleansing brush pad that has ridges designed to clean leftover makeup pigments. Although this is my preference, there are many other great methods that you can use with products that can be found right in your home.

Besides being disgusting, dirty makeup brushes are unhealthy and can affect how you apply your makeup. They make it easier for germs to transfer, especially if they are left in moist environments or commonly used to apply liquid products. They can irritate your skin by trapped dust and dandruff and cause acne for those who have skin that is prone to breakouts. A dirty brush can also affect your application by making it more difficult to blend or making pigments appear weaker than they really are.

The simplest method to clean a sponge is to use a gentle antibacterial soap. Rinse the brushes under some water, lather the soap into the bristles, and then wash until the water runs through clear. An antibacterial soap can also be substituted with gentle shampoo. To add moisture and make the bristles feel smoother, a gentle conditioner or baby oil can be used right after.

The olive oil method is yet another simple method that can be used. The oil will break down any impurities left behind in the makeup brush. On a clean plate, mix two parts of antibacterial dish soap with one part of good quality extra-virgin olive oil. With your makeup brushes, just gently swirl through the soap and oil and then rinse your brushes thoroughly under water. Again, do this until the water begins to run clear.

The last step is to let your brushes dry. Leaving them damp in a dark place can result in an unwanted odor. Not letting them dry properly can also damage the bristles and allow bacteria to grow easily, the exact opposite of what we want. The simplest way to dry is to lay your brushes on a dry towel or paper towel, and to let the bristles dangle off the edge to help them retain their shape. It is important to remember that laying them flat against a surface can damage the shape of your brushes.

Beauty sponges, although seem like they are in a category of their own, are still equally important to keep clean. To clean your sponge with soap, just wet it under water, add a drop of antibacterial soap (or a gentle facial cleanser), and then lather it in. Any makeup stains on the blender will start to wash off as you keep on rinsing. For extremely dirty and stubborn makeup sponges (no judgement here!), fill a cup up with water and mix in a few drops of soap. Let the sponge soak in the cup for a few minutes to loosen all the makeup particles within the sponge. Rinse the sponge thoroughly and wash with soap if you feel the need to and let the sponge dry.

To get an even deeper clean, you can use oil (preferably coconut oil or olive oil). The basic idea is that oil breaks down impurities in the sponge. Starting with a dry sponge, apply a few drops of oil for the makeup to come off. Once the makeup starts to come off, just use the soap and water method and your sponge is as good as new!

Keeping your tools clean keeps your skin happy! Washing your brushes and sponges every week is a good amount to maintain quality brushes. Although I can admit that I tend to not remember to keep them this clean (sometimes I’m too busy and other times I’m just too lazy), it's important to make a routine out of this. However, it is also important to keep in mind that it may also be time to say goodbye to your brush or sponge. Makeup tools are unfortunately not immortal, and there comes a time when all will need to be replaced when they become impossible to clean or start falling apart.  

It’s self-care! I exclaim to myself, whenever I put on a face mask after having a difficult and stressful day. Skincare and self-care go hand in hand, and I can admit, along with many others, that I love splurging on skincare products. However, one thing that I do not enjoy when it comes to both my daily and nightly skin routines is the goopy mess of my serums, moisturizers, and facial oils that will build up under my nails and on my hands. Other times, I prefer not to use my hands to rub my creams and serums into my face, especially if I'm too tired to even want to do my skincare routine. I would rather use a brush to apply my products, which is where makeup brushes come in. 

Although you may strictly have your makeup brushes reserved to be used for makeup, have you ever considered using them to apply skincare? Synthetic makeup brushes, which are already great for applying liquid and cream products, such as foundations and concealers, can also be used for your daily skin routine. Synthetic fibers themselves are less likely to trap product pigments within them, which is why there are perfect for applying your moisturizers, your serums, and all your other creams in between. Additionally, using them allows for an even spread and ensures that no drop is wasted (a plus if you use products on the pricier side!). 

When it comes to skincare routines, many people (myself included!) have incorporated using face mask treatments after cleansing to help rejuvenate their skin. As fun and refreshing wearing face masks can be, putting on a clay mask is a daunting task that can leave behind a mess on you and your vanity. To put on a clay mask using a neater method than your hands, you can use a flat foundation brush (such as the Beau Gâchis Foundation Brush for $11.95) for an even application of any thick, sticky face masks.

FOUNDATION BRUSH 

Moisturizing daily is key to refreshed and hydrated happy skin. In fact, it's considered as the most significant step in any daily skincare routine. Using a brush to apply moisturizer is a great hack to use since it makes it easier to cover all areas and contours of the face. Even Kylie Jenner uses this technique, although the brush that she uses does cost $72! However, there is no need to break the bank to find yourself a nice makeup brush for your moisturizer. The ideal is to use a gentle big puffy brush (such as the Beau Gâchis Powder Brush for $10.95 or the Beau Gâchis Flat Top Kabuki Brush for $17.95). Just gently massage the moisturizer onto the face with the brush and you are good to go, no need to tug and vigorously pull at the face with your hands to make sure that the product has settled and absorbed. (Don’t forget to also apply moisturizer to your neck too!)

FOUNDATION BRUSH                                              

 FLAT TOP KABUKI BRUSH  

Splurging on smooth and rich eye cream is my guilty pleasure. They say that your eyes are the window to the soul, so why would I want to show the world my tired, restless eyes. However, some problems that I run into when applying eye cream with my fingers is that I feel that I waste more product and that I rarely get an even spread of application under my eyes. The solution to this is to use a small ended brush to pat on eye cream under the eyes. Additionally, patting on your products can improve blood flow and promote collagen. Depending on preference, the Beau Gâchis Eye Shadow Brush ($9.95), Concealer Brush ($11.95), and Smudge Brush ($12.95), are great for giving your under eyes some special attention.

EYE SHADOW BRUSH                             CONCEALER BRUSH                           SMUDGE BRUSH

Besides being a great way to create a flawless, airbrushed look, beauty sponges are another great tool to use for applying skincare. With similar advantages to makeup brushes, a sponge can ensure that the products you use are applied evenly. Thus, it’s great for using with face oils that you may use to finish your routine. The sponge can apply the oil evenly and create a sheer layer on the face, making sure that the skin absorbs the oil instead of letting it sit on the face, making your complexion look even oilier.

Additionally, a sponge that has been dipped into moisturizer, serum, or face oil will still hold onto some of that product. A popular beauty hack (depending on skin type) is to mix foundation with either moisturizer or oil for a smoother application. Using the same blender for both oil and foundation can prevent makeup from looking cakey, prevent makeup from transferring easily, and blend into the skin smoothly. Although this sounds amazing, remember that it may not work for everyone! Oil and water do not mix so double check that your foundation is oil-based. Try these hacks out with the Beau Gâchis Pro Series Teardrop Sponge Blender ($11.95).   

Creating a daily skincare routine can be a great way to self-care and unwind before and after a day filled with appointments, meetings, and deadlines. However, just because your schedule may feel complicated and messy, does not mean that your skincare routine must feel like that too. Remember to take care of your skin, but equally as important, remember to also clean your brushes!

Image via ipsy

Just in time for the holiday craze, for you Glam Bag subscribers, here is your chance to give our premium quality brush a try. In case you’ve missed our emails announcing some exclusive sales, ipsy is just another chance to snag our brush, and other awesome beauty items for just $10.

Their December 2015 bag is now live, and it’s not too late order. This month you have the opportunity to get your hands on our recently launched Concealer Brush ($16). Perfect for hard to reach imperfections, camouflaging under eye circles, or melting concealer into troubled spots, our brush works well from liquid to cream formulas. A small, detailed brush with a big impact.

Image via ipsy

Trying to rack up your ipsy points, or redeem them, while shopping for the perfect beauty tools? You can also view some of our brushes on their site, like our Contour Brush ($21) and Powder Brush ($23). The Contour Brush comfortably carves out the hollows of your face for the perfect bronzed-out look. With ultra-soft bristles, slimming down your face at just the right angles is easy.

The Powder Brush flawlessly applies loose, pressed, and mineral powders with an air brush affect. The soft bristles ensure a no-fall out zone for those pesky brushes that usually shed. Our brushes are each carefully handcrafted using high grade synthetic hair, natural wood, and copper ferrules.

Have you guys subscribed to ipsy? Let us know what some of your favorite products were in this month’s bag!

Let’s start this Wacky Wednesday off with a helpful tip. If you find it such a pain to stick your hands into a jar of moisturizer and having to dig it out of your nails afterwards, then do yourself a favor. Use a dense, flat top brush like our new Flat Top Kabuki brush to give yourself a hand.

Carefully dip it into your favorite moisturizer, making sure you don’t grab too much and buff it into your skin. Using small circular motions you’ll be good and ready in no time.  Rumor has it Kylie Jenner herself uses a similar technique for moisturizing and priming her face before applying makeup.

There’s various solid timelines when it comes to tossing old beauty products, but how can you go about replacing your beauty tools? This seems trickier.

• Has the texture of your brush, sponge, etc. changed? This is a bad sign of wear. If you noticed the hairs of your brush are tangled and falling out after a bit of wear and time, then its time to toss it. The shedding will only get worse and the bristles will loosen.
• If your cosmetic sponge is ripping or mysteriously displaying fabric holes, then you need to stop holding on to it. Typically your sponge should be replaced every 3 months, give or take. But if you experience this before then, you should still toss it.
• A strange odor has interrupted your foundation session—that’s right. When washing your brushes always be sure to clean them thoroughly. If you leave some suds between the bristles and set your brush to dry improperly expect a foul scent. But if the odor is consistent after various careful washes, that’s a problem.
• The point is, when your tools stop performing as great as they once used to, you have no other choice. It’s time to turn them in for some new beauty tools.

Hope this was helpful for you! Which one of your beauty tools are you constantly replacing?

Both the tear drop sponge and the double ended blending sponge are made with polyurethane foam.

Brushes included:

Powder Brush – made with high grade synthetic hair, copper ferrules and matt black natural wood handles.

Contour Brush – made with premium BJF goat hair, copper ferrules and matt black natural wood handles.

Foundation Brush - made with high grade synthetic hair, copper ferrules and matt black natural wood handles.

Eyeshadow Brush – made with squirrel hair, copper ferrules and matt black natural wood handles.

Smudge Brush - made with premium BJF goat hair, copper ferrules and matt black natural wood handles.

Eyebrow Brush - made with high grade synthetic hair, copper ferrules and matt black natural wood handles.

Brow Brush and Comb Tool – made with nylon bristles and plastic for the brush and comb, copper ferrules and matt black natural wood handles.