In the rush of daily life, it’s all too easy to overlook certain parts of a beauty routine. But there’s one essential step that experts insist should never be skipped, no matter how tight your schedule: cleaning your makeup brushes.
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It may seem like a small detail, but dirty brushes can wreak havoc on your skin and on the performance of your favorite products. Makeup tools used regularly can trap oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, and product buildup, turning your once-flawless application into a breeding ground for breakouts and irritation. Not only does this compromise skin health, but it also impacts how well your makeup performs. Brushes clogged with old product won’t blend as seamlessly, and color payoff can become muddy or inconsistent.
Despite the risks, many people admit to going months, sometimes even a year, without properly washing their brushes. A 2023 study by Spectrum Collections put this habit into perspective. Researchers swabbed brushes from everyday locations like vanities, bathroom counters, and makeup bags, and then compared them to swabs from toilet seats. The results? The unclean brushes contained more bacteria than the toilet seats.
Even more eye-opening: only 40% of consumers reported washing their brushes every two weeks, and 20% cleaned them just once every one to three months. These findings highlight just how common and potentially damaging this oversight can be.
Fortunately, giving your brushes a thorough clean doesn’t require expensive products or a lot of time. A simple mixture of water, a quarter teaspoon of dish soap, and a quarter teaspoon of olive oil can deeply cleanse even the most stubborn product residue, from thick foundation to sticky lip gloss. The dish soap breaks down oils and pigments, while the olive oil helps keep bristles conditioned and soft. With regular care every two weeks, brushes can last for years while staying in near-pristine condition.
Beyond hygiene, staying current with your makeup routine is also key, especially for women over 45. As skin changes over time, so should the products we use. What worked in your 30s may not be ideal in your 50s. Refreshing your makeup bag with shades and formulas that complement your current skin tone and texture can be transformative. It’s also an opportunity to incorporate ingredients that support skin health and target concerns like sun damage or dryness that may have developed over the years.
In short, beauty routines don’t have to be complicated, but they do need to be thoughtful. Prioritizing clean tools and updated products is a small shift that can make a big difference in how you look and feel.
