How Often Do You Clean Your Makeup Brushes and Replace Mascara?

Jul 1, 2011

Saudia I.

Makeup is a breeding ground for bacteria, particularly mascara. Think of all the bacteria you have on your skin and then think how often you touch your brushes to your face. We wouldn't go a week without washing our hands, why do we wait so long with our makeup brushes?

With makeup brushes, it is recommended to wash them at least once a week if they are for powder applications, and every day for liquid makeup such as concealer, foundation, lip products and cream eye shadow.

According to the CDC, you should replace your mascara at least once every 3 months.

Jul 1, 2011

Taylor H.

Yeah I wish I could say that I clean my brushes that often but I have so many that it takes soooo long :(

Jul 1, 2011

Yasmin K.

I use ELF mascara ($1) so I toss it out once every three months. I have other mascaras but hardly use them. I should toss everything but the Clinique (I just got that not too long ago and haven't used it).

Jul 2, 2011

Saudia I.

@Taylor- I totally understand what you mean! recently i started to break out with ugly huge cystic pimples (i know gross) its not a lot just one or two at a time. I noticed that when i went longer than 3 days of not washing my brushes i would get these pimples so thats when i started to either wash my brushes after every use, if i did not wash them after one use i would switch up brushes. Remember i did say its recommended to wash them every day. =] everyone has their own way of doing things and we all know what works for ourselves.

@Yasmin. Awesome, you abide by the rules. i can't even say that i do this =x lol. i'm not a big mascara person anymore, its tends to irritate my eyes.(i wear contacts ). if it was not for that id wear mascara ALL!! the time.

I use an amazing face cleanser to wash/ clean my brushes. when i pump one squirt of Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Emulsifying Cleanser, instantly the foundation on the brushes foam up. i also use this cleanser along with EVERY makeup remover/ face wash. You know when you wash your face and you think all the makeup is gone, then you grab a towel to dry your face and notice make up stains? well, with this cleanser i can honestly say there will be no make up left behind. same goes for your face/eyes brush!
here's the link to the cleanser. =]

http://beauty.hsn.com/serious-skin-care-16oz-first-pressed-olive-oil-emulsifying-cleanser_p-3393418_xp.aspx
i actually buy mine in a bundle at the home shopping network outlet =] much cheaper i think around 20 bucks.

Jul 2, 2011

Yasmin K.

LOL It's not so much as the rules as the fact that the mascaras dry out by then and for $1 it's just easier to replace a dried out mascara then it is to fix it. lol My more expensive mascaras I hold onto for up to a year.

Jul 2, 2011

Shenandoah S.

@Yasmin Oh good! I was worried that every other person threw out EVERY mascara they bought every three months! I throw out the drugstore ones. However, I just can't see myself throwing out an expensive mascara in three months knowing that it isn't completely used up! 

Jul 2, 2011

Izzy D.

I try to wash my brushes ever 2 weeks.
and I replace my mascara when i feel like I've had it for too long (i.e. 2-3 months) and when I'm just about out. But I've never used higher-end mascara so it's not too bad :)

Jul 2, 2011

Juanita O.

I would like to wash my makeup brushes every week, but I have SO many that it's usually every 2 weeks. As for mascara i usually use the tube up before it's time to throw it out but I would after it dries

Jul 2, 2011

Saudia I.

So i guess this would be weird 0_o. so i got married in 08 and i bought a mascara (drug store brand), couple days ago my in laws gave me a box of some things i had left in storage, in it i found the old mascara. i opened it up to see if it was still good, expired, or even had a smell. but it was fine is was not dried had no smell i was like wow! i'm a chicken to use it so i ended up throwing it out just in case... the reason why i mentioned "smell" is because i love Dior mascara, i still do and i still use it, but once i had one spoil on me? i guess... i went to use it , when i raised the wand past my face i smelled a weird odor! i was like gross...

It is a hassle to wash the brushes every day!do you all think it would be a good idea to have like a spray bottle mixed with alcohol and water? and after using them spray the brush and wipe it on a rag or something? or do you all think it would damage the brush? 

Jul 2, 2011

Shenandoah S.

I use Sephora's daily brush cleanser by spraying the cleaner on a rag and cleaning it like that! They are getting far less damaged than they were when I was deep cleaning almost every day!

Jul 2, 2011

Saudia I.

Thanks. i will deff pick one up next time i'm at Sephora! <3

Jul 2, 2011

Saudia I.

thank Dana! sound more do able than washing them down EVERYDAY! UGH =]

Jul 2, 2011

Tamara R.

I spot clean as I go, and deep clean every week or two depending on usage.

Mascara gets replaced when the scent or texture starts to turn.. or I realize I've had it and not used in a few months.

Jul 3, 2011

Saudia I.

Thanks for our input Tamara!

Jul 3, 2011

Whittney T.

cleaning your brushes are a great topic to talk about just cleaned mine cant wait till i can but some of stuff i heard about to clean them very easy !!! i will share what it is called once i remember lol

Jul 3, 2011

Nicky L.

I wash my brushes after every use and change my mascara every 5-10 weeks. Great topic =)

Jul 4, 2011

Maire K.

I don't use brushes for foundation/concealer but I use them for eyeshadow/blush/ect;. I clean my eyeshadow brushes every day. But with blush I clean it about every 3 days. I have more variations in eyeshadows then blushes. I barely have variations of blushes and I practically use the same one all the time. 

Jul 4, 2011

Saudia I.

Marie , if you don't mind me asking, what do you use to apply your foundation?

Jul 4, 2011

Maire K.

I apply with my hands. I find it easier to apply with. Of course I wash my hands before i do it. I also, since I am usually applying my makeup in the morning, to my skin care routine before then start. It just my personal prefrence. I know a lot of people like to use brushes and I do have foundation brushes I just find the hands easier to work with. But when I am doing the rest of my makeup it all brushes work. 

Jul 4, 2011

Saudia I.

thats kool, the only reason i'm asking is because i was told by countless people"makeup artist" that when you uses your fingers it puts too much pressure and may cause fine lines and wrinkles =/ i was just wondering if that was a myth. if im in a rush you better believe my fingers will take the place of my brush. i recently bought a stila #33 one step complexion brush. its shaped like a finger lol, well kind of. its one of my new favs.

Jul 4, 2011

Maire K.

Lol that cool =D I have never heard that but I can see why. The brushes and sets I own are good for everything but foundation/concealer routine, I find. I guess I need to buy a better quality brushes but I haven't gotten around to it. 

Jul 4, 2011

Saudia I.

It's pretty hard to find the right foundation brush =/ my two favs are the Stila i mentioned before and philosophy supernatural brush 

Jul 8, 2011

Alicia B.

I also use the sephora brush spray every day and I love it! When I'm finished using a brush, I give it a few sprays and wipe it with a cloth. It's anti-bacterial and so worth it. They also have a brush shampoo that I use every other week (I'm not that heavy of a makeup wearer as I don't leave the house every day haha). EnkoreMakeup on youtube also has a wonderful brush cleaning tutorial and recipe that I used to use before I found the premade sephora stuff :) His recipe REALLY gets in deep and is wonderful :)

Jul 8, 2011

Holly M.

I only buy 1 mascara at a time so I use it up and toss it, it usually takes about a month in a half to use it up if its a good mascara that didnt dry out after 2 weeks.
My brushes I usually wipe them on a makeup remover towel everytime i use them or use a brush spray ( i have one from sephora) and wipe them on a paper towel. I actually wash them whenever I feel like they need it. Its probally to long of a time but I dont use my brushes on anyone but myself.

Jul 8, 2011

Drea L.

I'll be honest & say that I don't throw out my mascara until I use it all up. I've never had problems doing this, so I'm not going to stop.

& speaking of brush cleaning - I think I'll do that today! I haven't in 2 weeks now (I've been traveling) :)