While the makeup artists we spoke to clean their brushes almost daily (between clients, sets, and the like), if you’re only using your brushes on yourself, cleaning them once or twice a week is plenty, unless, says Rosado, you’ve used blue eyeshadow or pink blush (both of which are stubborn pigments). Well-cared-for brushes perform better - allowing product to sit on bristles can ruin the integrity of the brush, thus shortening its lifespan, and, needless to say, dirty brushes are also breeding grounds for germs and bacteria that can cause breakouts and infection. It’s an easy step to skip, but properly maintaining your makeup brushes can mean the difference between buying new brushes every year or two or keeping them for much, much longer - Isabel Rosado, an editorial makeup artist, says she has had some of hers for a decade. Whether you’re wearing makeup daily or just occasionally applying an eye shadow look, you should be cleaning your brushes regularly.
