Cleaning my personal make-up brushes is something that i very rarely do - i know it's naughty but i just always forget to do it. I probably wash them once a year if that (i feel so grubby admitting that aha). I used to particularly loathe doing it because i used to use water and it would take them so long to dry. I'd have to leave them a good 24 hours, and even then sometimes the larger ones would still feel damp.
At Uni however, we have to clean our kit brushes every week because we're using them on each other and on clients at placements so it's really important to keep them clean and sterilized.
When i first started in September they introduced us to something called IPA (Isopropanol Alcohol). It's what make-up artists to use to to clean their brushes. It lifts any make-up out of the bristles really easily which means it's much quicker and more effective than using water with any brush cleaner. Also, being 100% alcohol means it will sterilize the brush and it will dry super fast - within 20 minutes.
However, you have to be really carful with IPA, it is a toxic and dangerous product. It has to be kept safely and used responsibly. Brushes that have been washed in it should not be used for at least 4 hours after washing as any residue can irritate the skin and can be potentially blinding if it goes near the eyes.
I got my bottle off Amazon for around £5 i think. I now use it for both my personal and kit brushes since it's so quick and easy. I pour a tiny amount into my sink and just swish the brushes around in it - you can see the colour coming out into the alcohol as you do this. Then i dab them off on a tissue, doing this will show you if any colour still remains if the bristles; if it does i repeat the swishing process - very technical i know. Once i'm satisfied that the brush is completely clean, i'll leave it lying on a flat surface to dry. It's never a good idea to use heat to quicken the drying process as this can melt the glue that holds the bristles in place.
Hope you guys found this interesting :) let me know how you clean your brushes!
i loathe cleaning my brushes too, i just use warm water and baby shampoo, and they take forever to dry! want to give this stuff a go now x
ReplyDeleteYeah it's the forever to dry bit that puts me off washing mine! x
DeleteOnce you have used your baby shampoo... Give the brush a good rub on a towel to dry most of it. Simple is great.
DeleteQuestion about IPA. If i dilute it can i use it straight on the skin cause i need it for location shoots!
Once you have used your baby shampoo... Give the brush a good rub on a towel to dry most of it. Simple is great.
DeleteQuestion about IPA. If i dilute it can i use it straight on the skin cause i need it for location shoots!
Sorry for such a terribly late reply! You can use it diluted on the skin although i wouldn't recommend it. Sensitive skins would be very likely to react badly to it, and even diluted it is not meant for use anywhere near the eyes!
DeleteI'm exactly like the comment above, water and baby shampoo usually do the job but I would love to try something a bit more professional, I'd be a tad scared at the moment to give the alcohol a go though! My teacher always used to be telling us to use this haha!
ReplyDeletehttp://beautybyeimear.blogspot.ie/
It is good, but it's a very strong smell and flammable and toxic and all that jazz! aha x
Delete