We’ve been going through a purgatory of skin sins here at the MB office. It’s never too late to make a change, and you know what they say about a good confession: to be clear of mind is to be clear in complexion.

Just recently I confessed to letting my makeup brushes go unwashed for years (!) before realizing that they were the culprits behind the congestion in my T-zone. While I’ve been diligent with a weekly cleanse since that revelation, changed habits mean very little unless they’re changed correctly.

This is where the expert comes in. We got in touch with Chad Hayduk, co-founder of Three Custom Color Specialists, for professional brush cleaning tips to help both you and me. Chad says:

. . .

"Just like great chef's knives, professional makeup brushes are an investment. One of the best ways to ensure a return on that investment is with proper brush care. Yes, they MUST be cleaned regularly which will prolong their life and maintain their softness. The buildup can actually scratch the skin!

Cleaning removes dirt, oils, debris, makeup and dead skin cells, but how often should you do it? Honestly, and ideally, everyday. But not everyone has time for that. Try for once a week and with anything going in or around the eye area at least every 2 days.

How to Clean Your Brushes:

Under the faucet, with warm water and the bristles pointing downward wet the bristles ONLY. This will help prevent any water from getting into the ferrule (the metal that holds the hairs together with glue) or down into the handle which (if wood) can cause expansion and cracking of the handle.

Use a mild shampoo, like my absolute favorite - gentle, yet thorough and smells great. Take a dab of shampoo on your fingertips or palm of your hand and gently swirl the bristles, sud-sing from ferrule to hair tips. Gently squeeze the hairs from ferrule to bristle ends over and over adding a little water at a time. Rinse and repeat until the water runs clear, keeping the bristles pointing down.

Squeeze out the water with a paper towel or hand towel and lay them to dry on their side. Be sure to reshape the brush at this point in time to prevent splaying. Never leave them to dry with the brush hairs up or completely submerge your brushes in water as water can seep into the ferrule and loosen the glue holding the brush together over time.

Let brushes dry completely before using. Dry time can vary, but to be safe, wait overnight.

These simple steps will keep your brushes in good condition and ensure you with years of beautiful makeup application!"

. . .

Thank you Chad!

Three Custom Color Specialists is a color cosmetics company with a full range of products for all skin types and tones. In addition to a Ready to Wear Collection with over 250 products, all hand-designed by their team of Color Specialists, 3C offers a unique service that will match any discontinued shade of makeup or create a custom color (hence the name!). The Custom Blending archives over 9,000 (!) discontinued shades dating back to the 1930’s.