Cleaning makeup after use involves sanitizing the products themselves and washing the tools you use to apply them. Proper hygiene helps prevent bacteria buildup, ensures product longevity, and protects your skin.
Cleaning Makeup Products
While you don't "wash" makeup products in the traditional sense, certain types, especially powders, can be sanitized to kill surface bacteria.
Powder Products (Eyeshadows, Blushes, Powders)
Powder products that come into contact with brushes can harbor bacteria over time.
- Sanitizing with Peroxide: A common method is to lightly mist the surface with a sanitizing agent. As an alternative to alcohol, you can disinfect eyeshadows with hydrogen peroxide. Use a fine mist spray bottle and hold it a few inches away to avoid soaking the product. Let it air dry completely before closing the lid.
- Scraping: For pressed powders, if you notice hard pan (a film caused by oils), you can gently scrape off the top layer.
Other Products
- Lipsticks and Pencils: Twist-up products like lipsticks can have the very top layer sliced off. Pencils can be sharpened before use to expose a fresh surface.
- Liquids and Creams: For pump dispensers or tubes, ensure the opening stays clean by wiping it if needed. Avoid double-dipping directly into jars with fingers.
Cleaning Makeup Tools
Cleaning your makeup brushes and sponges regularly is crucial for hygiene and performance. Product residue, oils, and dead skin cells build up quickly.
Makeup Brushes
Brushes require regular washing to remove product buildup and bacteria.
- Using Soap: You can use specialized brush cleansers, gentle shampoos, or even common household soaps. As an alternative to alcohol [for disinfecting], you can use an antibacterial hand soap or dish soap to clean your brushes in a pinch.
- Cleaning Steps:
- Wet the brush bristles under lukewarm running water (avoid getting water into the ferrule, the metal part connecting the handle to the bristles).
- Put a small amount of cleanser or soap into your hand or onto a cleaning mat.
- Gently swirl the wet bristles in the soap to create a lather, working the product out.
- Rinse thoroughly under lukewarm water until the water runs clear and no soap remains.
- Gently squeeze excess water from the bristles, reshape them, and lay the brush flat on a towel or use a brush drying rack with the bristles facing downwards to air dry completely.
Makeup Sponges
Sponges are highly porous and need frequent cleaning, ideally after every few uses.
- Using Cleanser: Use a solid or liquid makeup sponge cleanser, gentle soap, or dish soap.
- Cleaning Steps:
- Wet the sponge completely with warm water until it expands.
- Apply cleanser or soap directly to the stained areas.
- Gently squeeze and massage the sponge under running water, working the soap into a lather to remove product.
- Rinse thoroughly, squeezing repeatedly, until the water runs clear and the sponge is free of soap.
- Squeeze out excess water and let the sponge air dry completely in a well-ventilated area.
Maintaining clean makeup products and tools is a simple yet essential part of a healthy beauty routine.
