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How to clean your makeup tools

Are you guilty of neglecting your makeup brushes? Letting the powder and cream formulas build up on the bristles for weeks? Using more than one colour without cleaning in between? If so, you're a true makeup junkie who's broken the glass wall into tool-apathy.
Washing your makeup brushes should be a regular part of your beauty routine. When you use your brushes, bits of makeup, oil, dirt, and even bacteria can get trapped in the bristles. While it might seem basic and time-consuming, skipping this step can lead to clogged pores and pesky breakouts. Not to mention the fact that quality makeup brushes can be expensive, and not cleaning them will lower their shelf-life to 50 per cent of its potential. So, how do we take your tool-apathy and turn it into tool-therapy?
The first step to keeping your brushes clean is picking up a daily brush cleaner and spritzing it on your brushes after each use. Once a week, it's time for a deep cleaning, or in my terms, spa-time for your makeup brushes. Luckily, cleaning your makeup brushes is quick and easy with all the new inventions brands are coming up with.
All you will need:
. A shallow bowl
. A brush cleanser like Real Technique Deep Cleansing Gel or a gentle clarifying shampoo or baby shampoo
. A wash basin
. A lint-free cloth
. Sigma cleaning mat, Sigma cleaning glove or Practk Palmat
Step 1: Wet the bristles
Rinse the bristles under water. Avoid getting water above the handle of the brush, which can loosen the glue over a period of time.
Step 2: Gently massage in soap
Swipe your brush across your palm with a gentle brush cleanser (my favourite is the Real Technique Deep Cleansing Gel). If you have more than one brush to wash, set each one aside after soaping it up. If using your hands doesn't feel thorough enough for your deep-cleaning desires, then you can slip on the Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove or set the Practk Palmat in your sink, both of which have an insane amount of rubby nubby patches to really wash away grime in the grooves of your brushes. The only drawback: you have to wash the matt and mitt after each use too, to prevent bacteria accumulation. For the very soiled brushes or foundation brushes, I usually swirl the brush in a little olive oil and then use soap so that it actually cleans the brush intensely.
Step 3: Rinse again
Continue to massage the bristles while running them under water until it runs completely clear. Avoid getting the handle wet.
Step 4: Squeeze the water out
Gently press on the bristles with your fingers to release excess water. Don't tug too hard.
Step 5: Let it dry
Lay the brush or brushes flat overnight. Do not lay them on a towel as this can cause mildew. Instead, set the brush down on a counter, with the bristle part hanging over the edge. When the brushes are completely dry, fluff the bristles a bit. Your brushes are now ready to use.
Remember this, dirty brushes become more abrasive and dry as they become more caked with product and debris from your face. This irritates your skin. Cleaning your brushes regularly keeps them soft enough to not cause damage to your face. Dirty makeup brushes are also a breeding ground for bacteria.

Keswani is founder of Glamazle.com