Beauty basics: how to clean your makeup brushes

Makeup brushes are one of the best tools you can use for a flawless finish to your makeup. Most of us use at least one brush during our daily routines, but it's easy to forget that they need a bit of love and attention to keep them in tip top condition.

I recently had a chat with a friend about a foundation brush of hers that had stopped performing properly, and when I asked her when was the last time she had washed it, I was met with a bit of a blank look. Cleaning your brushes not only helps to stop build up of product within them, which can stop them working properly; but it also stops bacteria growing, which can leave you with spots and a dull looking complexion. 

Washing your brushes needn't be a painful business! Here are my simple steps for a weekly clean that will leave them soft, clean and ready for action. 

You'll need:

- a gentle soap or brush cleaner (I like to use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap as it's very gentle but effective)

- dirty brushes

- a towel

- lukewarm water

1. Grab a dirty brush and run under lukewarm water to get the bristles wet

2. Squirt a small amount of the brush soap into the palm of your hand and massage into the bristles using gentle circular motions (hold the brush handle and rub the bristles in your palm)

3. Rinse well until the water runs clear, then dry flat on a towel

4. Repeat for all your dirty brushes! 

It might take up to 24 hours for your brushes to dry thoroughly, but it's important to let them dry flat and without squishing them in the towel to prevent the shape of the brush being changed, or water flowing back into the brush handle, which can weaken the glue that holds the fibres in.

How do you normally wash you makeup brushes?