Feel free to mention any of your brushes, but I was specifically thinking about brushes for foundation. I used to wash mine about every two weeks, sometimes every week, (and I have three brushes that I alternate between), but I read that even once a week isn’t enough. Apparently washing after every use is better for your skin so that’s what I try to do now.
I don’t really wear blush or eyeshadow all that often so I wash those brushes a lot less often.
What do you guys do?
It has honestly never once occurred to me to wash my blush or eyeshadow brushes until I read this thread. Never. I’ve had the same blush brush for fifteen years, and it has gone unwashed in all that time. I only use it 2-3 times a week. I’ve always used liquid foundation, so no brushes there.
How do you apply liquid foundation if not with a brush? When I used it, I used a brush for mine. Or do you use a disposable sponge?
Same here, it never occurred to me to wash my brushes. Since I don’t use makeup often (couple times a month, when I feel like it) it doesn’t come up.
As for putting on foundation, I use my fingers. Have since I was taught to put on makeup. Sometimes I’ll use a sponge but why dig for another tool when my fingers do just fine?
Foundation brush gets washed every time I use it. The other brushes only get washed after I read an article or someone reminds me that I’m supposed to be washing them. So I’ll probably go wash them today.
I use a disposable sponge for foundation, and a new one about once a week. I wash my powder and blush brushes about once a week, and my eye shadow applicators not nearly often enough. I guess I’ll do it tonight!
Certainly not often enough. I only use brushes for dry items (except my eyeliner brush which I at least rinse when I am done) so I imagine that my makeup is just as dirty as my brushes.
I feel icky now.
Every two weeks, but it makes me feel guilty because I know it should be once a week at least. I’m the most concerned with my foundation brush, I don’t think it’s that big a deal with the brushes I use for shadow, and I don’t use blush.
If I’m in a hurry or doing something mundane or putting my make-up on in the car, I will get lazy and put on liquid foundation with my fingers, but for anything where I really need to look good, the brush is the way to go. It makes a huge difference in the quality and evenness of coverage.
As long as we’re chatting about it, a few months ago I read one of those “beauty tips from the pros” columns in a cheesy magazine at the nail salon, and one of the tips was that the Walgreen’s house brand of cosmetics brushes were just as good as the boutique ones. I tried them out, and heck if they aren’t as good as my MAC and Bobbi Brown brushes, at about 1/3 the price.
I use my fingers for liquid foundation, and apply powder with a puff. I don’t use brushes at all.
I use a disposable sponge for foundation/concealer that I replace once a week. My brushes get washed every blahdeeboodeeboop.
How do you wash your brushes though? I just use really hot water and a tiny bit of whatever I use on my face to wash them but they always take FOREVER to dry which is why I rarely do it.
It’s never occurred to me to wash brushes, but I only use one for blush. It doesn’t seem very necessary.
How do you put on liquid foundation with a brush? I use my fingers. It doesn’t seem like a brush would be very efficient.
I probably soak my brushes in cleaner (from Mac) every month or two- I often do heavier, darker eye makeup, so if the brushes are all saturated, I’ll do it sooner. While washing every week may be better for your skin (I dispute this… I mean, maybe if your skin is really oily. . .), it’s terrible for the brushes. Since I have nice brushes and my skin isn’t giving me any problems, I’m fine with what I’m doing.
If I use my brushes on someone else to do their makeup (which happens pretty frequently), I immediately wash them. I don’t want your eye infection, thanks.
It’s a more dense, more stiff brush. Like this. You aren’t supposed to use your hands when doing somebody else’s makeup, since that’s kind of gross. Some folks prefer the brushes for themselves, but you can do whatever works for you.
I only use brushes for eyeshadow, and I wash them approximately never. I do clear out excess powder by swiping them back and forth across a hand or wrist a bunch before putting them away.
I use sponges, personally, which I wash out immediately after using and swap for fresh ones every so often. (I don’t bother to wear makeup most days, so it’s not after a set time period.) That lets me apply the foundation by patting, which I find gives very even coverage, versus spreading it around with fingers.
It also wastes a horrible amount of foundation, because it gets sucked up in the sponge, never to return.
Sponge works better for me than brush for liquid foundation - but I think that’s just because I haven’t practiced enough. They’re a single use product.
I don’t wear makeup every day or even every month. When I’m on a makeup wearing kick, about once/week or so.
I don’t wear foundation, but I wash my other brushes about once a month, maybe a bit more.
I don’t wear foundation, either. All my eyeshadow brushes and the eyeliner brush (so what, five, six, maybe?) get washed every month or so.
I’m not sharing with anyone, and I usually only wear in the same array of colours, so I don’t have to worry too much about getting that muddy “every colour” thing that happened when I used to wear a lot of darker eye makeup. But I tell you, sometimes when I have been wearing a lot of dark makeup or washing out my eyeliner brush, it’s really gross to see how much dust has been hiding up in there.
I haven’t washed my brushes in mumblemumblemumble. I wear makeup every day as well.
I apply foundation with my fingers, have a brush for setting powder and blush, another for e/s and another for blending. I really should use a separate brush for blush but am too lazy.
When I was going through my makeup craze phase I used to covet the Shu Uemura brushes. They felt lovely against the skin. Apparently they’re made by hand from rare goats. They cost well over a hundred bucks each.
Lots of brushes are made from goat hair by hand. Literally, there is no difference between a $200 Shu Uemura brush and its $15 painting counter part at the craft store. Well, the craft store brushes have longer handles and aren’t all shiny and black handled.
I’ve never washed my brushes – but I only use one for foundation, anyways. I use cream eyeshadow/blush, so I don’t need a brush for that.
(Speaking of, I really need to go and get some blush. I’m just about completely out!)