Rotate! How One Habit Can Save Your Makeup Tools (And Some Money)

As my brush collection started to grow, it became trickier to keep all of them in regular rotation, but I still do my best—because rotating your brushes has quite a few benefits!

Number 1: It keeps them healthy!

Fresh air and ventilation will air the bristles. As you rotate your brushes, you can keep an eye on their condition. If you notice for example that the natural bristles become dry, putting them back into rotation will make the bristles interact with our skin’s natural oils and this may help restore their condition.

Number 2: It reminds us to clean them

While washing them too much is not good for the brushes, giving them a wash from time to time helps preserve them. Just be sure, when you do, that you clean them properly. Follow my Definitive Guide here!

Number 3: It makes us rotate our makeup products, too

If we rotate our brushes, we may be encouraged to rotate our products. It’s interesting how a product can work differently depending on the brush we pair it with, and this will entice us to reach into the back of the shelf and play with the products that don’t get so much use on a daily basis.

Number 4: We try new techniques

I love to rediscover brushes and really enjoy playing around with products to see how the results change. Brushes offer different levels of precision, placement and intensity. Pulling out a forgotten tool is a great opportunity to try something different. And if nothing else, rotating our brushes will make us love our faves even more!

The overall message here—have fun! Let your brushes inspire your imagination. Still, no matter which tools you use, one thing never changes: proper storage. There is a detailed post about that on my blog, but here are the key points brush manufacturers recommend:

Brush Storage: A Quick Guide

• Keep them away from direct sunlight, and in a dry place (humidity is damaging).
• After cleaning, make sure they are completely dry before you store them.
• Place them in a manner so that air can circulate easily. (Check out the information below.)
• Avoid rapid changes in temperature/humidity—this has an impact on the glue, the ferrule, and the handles.
• Store them away from dusty areas and also clothes—bugs (like moths) that eat knitwear can also eat bristles!
• Keep them in a place that is easily visible or accessible.

Want more info? Here’s an in-depth look at storing brushes.

Instead of storing them crammed together like in a cutlery drawer, find a way to keep them a little more separated. This will allow the air to circulate between the brushes and keep them healthier. For example, I added little levels in some of my drawers—it’s just a matter of finding a creative way to extend the real estate of your storage but still remains realistic and practical.

If you have enough space to lift the brush heads, this will keep them in better shape and air can circulate even better. Same as in our homes, air circulation is good and helps with humidity related issues.

Images courtesy of Sonia G.

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