Did you know that poor hygiene of our sponges, brushes and makeup brushes can trigger an outbreak of acne or even infection in the skin of our face? And that a dirty brush can spoil your favorite cosmetics by causing them to stop pigmenting properly? For this reason, it is very important to clean makeup brushes and maintain a proper routine and frequency of cleaning so that our brushes are always ready for use and last much longer in perfect conditions.
- Wet the sponge. Keep the sponge under warm water for 30 - 60 seconds, or until it absorbs enough water. (Alternatively, you can place the sponge in a bowl of warm water for 5 - 10 minutes. There is no need to use soapy water, nor is there any need to wait for the water to change color before proceeding to the next step.
- Apply a little soap to dirty areas. Now, use a liquid soap and apply it directly to the dirtiest areas of the sponge. Rub it in the palm of your hand, working in small circular movements, and very important: gentle movements to prevent it from altering its shape or tearing the sponge material. (Perform this procedure for approximately 60 seconds depending on how dirty the sponge is).
- Rinse the sponge. Rinse the sponge under warm water while repeating the circular movements of the previous step. Don’t forget to rinse the sponge until all traces of foam are gone. It is important to rinse all soap thoroughly.
- Dry the sponge. Gently drain away excess moisture by squeezing the sponge with your hand. To help you can roll the sponge over clean, dry paper towels to help it dry even more, although it will probably still be damp, so you should leave it in a dry place and it will dry in the air having your sponge ready for the next makeup.
Another quick and easy technique is to make your own cleaner, mixing soap and olive oil. They’ll be as good as new!
- In a bowl, pour a tablespoon of olive oil without water and stir with a little soap or baby shampoo. Olive oil acts as a gentle cleanser and also prevents your brushes and sponges from drying out. You’ve got your cleaner!
- Soak the sponge with the oil and soap mixture and try to soak it well. You can use more oil if necessary. Turn the sponge until the entire mixture remains in the sponge.
- Rinse the sponge with lukewarm water. Use circular motions while cleaning the sponge with water to remove excess oil and soap.
- Place the sponge on a flat surface. On a clean towel to help you and then leave it in a dry place for a few hours to remove all traces of moisture.
Dirty makeup brushes can leave bacteria on your skin every time you use them. You can avoid this by washing them frequently to eliminate the buildup of this make-up. Also, if you wash your brushes and sponges, they will be more effective, because when dry they look like new.