Makeup and cosmetics have been around seemingly forever. Some women love to primp and prep, others not so much. But whether you’re a makeup lover or simply use the bare minimum, makeup often requires a plethora of tools for precise application. The most popular cosmetic tools? Makeup brushes. Makeup brushes fall into one of three categories for most women. One, must have obsessions, two, simply a practical tool, or three, nonexistent within the makeup routine. For those who fall into the first two categories, you’re going to want to keep reading. Trust me. We all know we are supposed to clean our makeup brushes. Probably a lot more often than most of us do if we’re being honest. But what happens if you don’t? And what else are we not aware of when it comes to these lovely cosmetic tools?

11 Daily Washing Not Required

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So let’s just get this one out of the way. How often are you supposed to clean your makeup brushes? Ideally, we should wash them once a week. But ain’t nobody got time for that. A little short cut is to using a spray cleanser once or twice a week and then doing the full wet wash at least once a month. It’s also a good idea to wipe your brush on a clean towel after each use. It’s not fully cleaning the brush, but it’s better than nothing. This method is only for your own personal brushes – not brushes that you share with others. If you share your brushes with others, they should be washed after each use.

10 Natural Brushes

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Brushes with bristles made from natural materials are often more expensive and toted as “the best” and “high quality.” But the truth is, the type of bristles has more to do with WHAT kind of makeup you’re putting on. Natural brushes are better for putting on powder makeup. And are not the best tools for liquid makeup. Simple as that.

9 Synthetic Brushes

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So you may have guessed this one. If natural bristles are better for applying powder, synthetic are best used with liquid makeup. For whatever reason, synthetic brushes sometimes get a bad rep as being cheap or the lesser option, but if you are liquid makeup kind of gal, these are the brushes for you.

8 Clean Materials

Now here comes the information some cosmetic companies may not want you to know. You don’t need a fancy brush cleanser to clean your makeup brushes. Most likely you have what you need already in your home. (Hopefully. If you don’t, you should probably reevaluate your cleaning habits, period. ) You can clean your brushes with hot water and dish soap, antibacterial soap, or, as recommended by many beauty bloggers, baby shampoo. Some companies even make brush mitts which make it even easier to thoroughly clean your brushes quickly.

7 Acne

So what happens if you don’t clean your brushes regularly? Well… there are many things that COULD happen. But one of the most common outcomes for those who use dirty brushes is acne. And if you already have acne, a dirty brush could make it worse and spread the bacterial leading to infection. Make sure to clean your brushes often if you experience a bad breakout or have acne prone skin.

6 More than Dirt

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This one is pretty gross. Have you ever read or heard that you should keep your toothbrush a fair distance away from the toilet? Because… you know…. When you flush the toilet small pieces of fecal matter can travel through the air and onto it. Well the same thing goes for makeup brushes. Keep them far from the toilet or keep them in a case. You wouldn’t want those small pieces of poop to end up on your face.

5 More than Acne

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Acne is actually one of the more mild side effects of sharing cosmetic brushes and not cleaning. If you share your lip gloss with gal pals and don’t clean the brush, you could be setting yourself up for herpes. Herpes thrives in a moist environment. And what is lip gloss? Moist and gooey. Now, it doesn’t mean you’ll have the STD type of herpes…more like the cold sore version. Still gross and still a reason to keep your cosmetics to yourself. Or clean your lip brush after every use.

4 Mucky Color

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Sanitation isn’t the only reason to keep your brushes clean. (Although it is a really good one.) Some brushes need to be cleaned more often in order to keep the makeup’s color true to form. Eye shadow brushes are one of the best examples of this. Every try to put a absolutely gorg eye shadow on, only to remember afterwards that you used that same brush for a darker or very different shade? Bleh. That gorgeous color is now a weird unplanned hybrid of colors you didn’t plan on. Clean your brushes, girl!

3 Less Volume for Your Lashes

This one may not be a brush, but it is definitely need to know information concerning a very popular beauty tool. The eyelash curler. A must have tool for many, but how often do you clean it? You see left over, cakey mascara and liner can actually stick to lashes and pull them out. So, you may end up with curled lashes, but less of them. Not the look most of us are going for.

2 Don’t Blame the Makeup

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Dirty brushes can affect the way a product looks once applied. We’ve discussed how using the correct type of brush bristle is important, and why cleaning your brushes is essential for maintaining the true color of a product. But a dirty brush can also trick you into thinking a certain makeup brand doesn’t work for your skin. This can cause you to pass on a really great brand, or a less expensive dupe. So…when’s the last time you cleaned your brushes?

1 Know when it is time to say goodbye

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We loves our makeup brushes and we spend a lot on them but it is important to know when it's time to say goodbye. When your makeup brush starts losing its bristles, shedding or breaks then it is time to get a new one. Even if you notice it being difficult to wash your brush much of the makeup not coming off, then it is time to go out and get yourself a new one, your skin will thank you.

Sources: smartheryou.comthegloss.comstylecaster.comhealth.com

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