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How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Okay, I know.  It seems pretty obvious, right?  Is there really a wrong way to clean your makeup brushes?

I’m one of those people that loathes cleaning my brushes, so much so, that I have backup brushes to use just so I can prolong cleaning.  :S

Laziness aside, what I’ve picked up over the years are some hero products and techniques that prolong the life of your brushes AND thoroughly clean them.

Favorite Products

This brush cleaner is hands down the best on the market.  Made for a deep clean, I wet my brush and put 2-8 pumps of product in my hand while I swirl the brush around.  Depending on how dirty the brush is, I may repeat this process 3 times.

Bonus points: it’s currently on sale.

I do own a silicon brush mat to get deep into brush bristles, but 9 times out of 10, I prefer using my hand.

Why?

It’s gentler on the bristles and prolongs the life of your brushes.

For Artis brushes or brushes that are made to be used wet or dry, this brush cleaning pad is a must.

The antimicrobial cloth contains one million fiber strands per square inch making it the most effective cleanser on the market.

The cloth is machine washable.  They also sell replacement cloths.

I have also tried Artis cleansing foam and brush cleansing wipes but don’t recommend either.

For beautyblenders or makeup sponges, I recommend this soap.  They’ve added a charcoal (bacteria killing) soap and lavender scent to the lineup.

Finally, another technique I use to clean my beautyblenders is the microwave method.  I recommend using this for sponges that are only slightly dirty.  For a deep clean, use the bar soap and cleansing mat.

Microwave Method for Cleaning Makeup Sponges
  1. Place beautyblenders in a microwave safe bowl of water with a couple drops of dishsoap.
  2. Microwave for 1 minute.
  3. Let cool.
  4. Rinse with cold water.
  5. Repeat process as many times as necessary.

BeautyBlender vs. Artis Brush

BeautyBlender vs Artis BrushAs a die hard BeautyBlender fan, I didn’t think I’d ever use anything else to apply my foundation.  But I kept seeing Artis brushes EVERYWHERE so I decided to give them a try.

Holy cow.  Had I been missing out.

Let’s compare the two.  Check out my video of the difference in application.

BeautyBlender

Pros

  1. Can be used wet or dry
  2. Provides great coverage

Cons

  1. A pain to clean (check out my beauty hack for the best way to clean them)
  2. Needs to be replaced every 6 months (not environmentally friendly)
  3. You use a lot of product
  4. Can only be used with liquid or cream makeup

I always thought the BeautyBlender gave the most seamless, natural finish.  Then I tried the Artis brush (more on that in a sec).  While the BeautyBlender does provide excellent coverage, you do get a “blotch paint” effect.  Some parts of my face would have great coverage, others not so much.

Also, the way my makeup wore off was always uneven.  You could see my pores through the product – almost like air bubbles in paint.  Not good.

I do think the BeautyBlender still has a place in everyone’s makeup bag.  It’s great for applying concealer or other makeup to small areas.

Artis Brush

Pros

  1. Super soft bristles
  2. Flawless, even coverage
  3. Can be used with powder, liquid or cream makeup
  4. Makeup lasts much longer
  5. You need very little product – a little goes a long way
  6. Clean with brush shampoo and it will last forever

Cons

  1. The cost

I am a total convert.  The Artis Oval 7 is my new favorite beauty tool.  I only need a small amount of foundation to cover my entire face.  The brush blends so well it’s almost like your makeup disappears.  It’s incredible.

The one thing I had to get used to was blending foundation around my nose.  Artis does make smaller brushes that may work better for this area, but I think the Oval 7 gets the job done.

It also works great for concealer or areas where you want heavy coverage.  The flawless blending is the same – I just use a lighter touch and fewer brush strokes.

I bought this set that also includes a handle-less Oval 7.  This is great for traveling because it takes up less room in your makeup bag.

Conclusion

I now only use the Artis Oval 7 to apply my foundation AND concealer.  I’m keeping my BeautyBlender for touch-ups, but I’ll be honest, I haven’t used it once since getting my Artis.  I doubt I will ever purchase another one.

If you’ve been on the fence about Artis brushes, I highly recommend them.  This is one of my best beauty buys of 2020!

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