• Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Well Read Southerner

Purveyor of Southern Sass

  • Blog Posts
  • Beautycounter Skincare & Cosmetics
    • What Is Beautycounter?
    • Shop with ME
    • Beautycounter Press & Awards
    • Healthy Skincare & Cosmetics Info
  • Favorite Quotes
  • About Me
  • Contact Me

Cosmetic Brushes & How to Clean Them

July 27, 2018 by Karen Filed Under: Beautycounter, Product Reviews Leave a Comment

Cosmetic Brushes & How to Clean Them

Let’s talk about makeup brushes and how to clean them!

My favorite are the makeup brushes from Beautycounter and that isn’t just because I sell them but they are seriously the highest quality brushes I’ve ever owned. I’ve gone through a lot of makeup brushes in my cosmetics lifetime.

They are inspired by artist paintbrushes and weighted at the bristles to help you apply color in an ergonomic fashion. They also feature an elongated metal ring where the brush head meets the handle to help keep moisture away when washing—and therefore extend the life of your tools. Most cosmetic brushes on the market are commonly made from squirrel, mink, sable pony or camel hair. Yuck!

Here is what I like best about them:

  • 100% cruelty free, animal hair free, and allergy free.
  • Bristles made from Taklon, a soft and flexible synthetic polyester-derived fiber.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Works with both cream and powder makeup products.
  • Long lasting.
  • The fibers don’t fall out.
  • Handles and ferrule (the metal part that holds the brushes in the handle with glue) don’t get bent or chipped or otherwise fall apart.

WHAT THEY DO

Fan Powder Brush ($39): Oversized fan brush, designed to be used with bronzer, powder highlighter, and finishing powder. For an all-over application, dip the brush into powder, tap off any excess, and buff into the skin. For a more precise application, sweep the edge of the brush over the high points or contours of the face.

Powder Brush ($39): All-purpose face brush, designed to be used with bronzer and finishing powder. Press the brush into powder, tap off any excess, then press and blend into the skin.

Angled Blush Brush ($35): Soft angled brush, designed to be used with blush and bronzer. Press the brush into powder, and tap off the excess. To apply blush, smile while pressing and blending blush onto the apples of the cheeks, extending along the cheekbones. To contour, press and blend along the contours of the face.

Flat Complexion Brush ($33): Flathead brush, designed to be used with liquid foundation or liquid concealer. Dip the brush in the product and apply to the center of face with a light dabbing motion. Blend outward in light, even strokes. Build and blend until you achieve desired coverage. I have used this brush to spread my Dew Skin SPF 20 Tinted Moisturizer, Tint Skin Foundation, and Concealer. But I personally prefer the next brush for that.

Retractable Foundation Brush ($35): Soft dome-shaped brush, designed to be used with liquid foundation and tinted moisturizer. Dispense product into the palm of the hand and swirl the bristles in it. Dab the product onto skin before blending outward with even strokes. You can also use it for Loose Powder.

Crease Eye Brush ($25): Dome-shaped brush, designed for applying eyeshadow into the crease of the eye. Press the brush into eyeshadow, tap off any excess, and sweep and blend into the contours of the eyelids.

All-Over Eye Brush ($25): Rounded brush, designed for applying eyeshadow across the lids. Press the brush into eyeshadow, tap off any excess, and sweep and blend onto the eyelids.

Precision Brush ($23): Small flathead brush, designed for lining eyes with dampened eyeshadow, covering imperfections with concealer, or as a lip brush.

Essential Brush Collection ($98): This collection features the 4 makeup brushes that are essential to every makeup kit: Fan Powder Brush, Angled Blush Brush, All-Over Eye Brush, and the Crease Eye Brush.

*All prices are in U.S. Dollars

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES
(and not just the ones from Beautycounter)

I use hot water and dampen all the bristles. I then keep the hot water running and in the bottom of my sink, I lay this silicone brush cleaning mat ($7).

It is great because it has suction cups on the bottom that stick to the sink so it doesn’t move.

I then squirt this Ecotools Makeup Brush Cleansing Shampoo ($6) (but you could use any shampoo or water-soluble (not oil based) makeup remover) on the cleaning mat and then swirl my brushes around the mat. The hot water combined with cleanser and mat really get that makeup off the brushes.

Rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. Your water is going to get very dirty. Depending on how many brushes you have and how much makeup is on them you may need to add more shampoo.

Pat excess moisture into a clean towel, then lay flat to dry. Do not stand them up with the brush at the top to dry as water can then run down into the ferrule and start to break down the glue.

Clean brushes monthly to help avoid bacteria growth. Your skin will like that a whole lot better too. 😉

If you are looking for something to clean your smaller brushes daily between shampoo cleaning I love this color removal sponge ($6.50). I carry it in my makeup case and it’s great for when you switch out colors. If you wore brown eyeshadow one day and the next you are wearing purple you swish your brush around on that black part and it removes all the brown color from the brush! It works amazingly to get the color off the brush! The little white sponge in the middle is if you wanted to moisten your brush to apply your eyeshadow wet.

Don’t forget that if you are on my mailing list you have access to my Beautycounter special offers and free products with purchases! Sign up here or at the bottom of the page.

NEED HELP?
If you’re not sure which skincare items or cosmetics may be right for you or your skin type (and you don’t already have a Beautycounter consultant!), just complete this form or email me with some details about your skin and products you’re interested in and I’ll get back to you within about 72-hours with my best recommendations.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. What does this mean? If you buy any of the hyperlinked items above that are listed on Amazon I get a teensy tiny percentage of the sale. Am I commenting on it because of this teensy amount? No. Shop around if you want. You may find a better price somewhere else. But that teensy amount helps my blog costs.

1

Karen
Share the sass to:
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Email to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Why Beautycounter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCur_ywX8Lo

Clean Skincare Swap

https://youtu.be/o-Sq-8ULLz4

Instagram

Instagram post 2189606215494876153_1721136150 In case you are in the market for new sheets on your bed these are the best sheets I've ever purchased. I got them at @costco for $20 a few months ago but they are on sale through Christmas for $10. Can you believe that? I'm probably going to buy another set at that price. I've got them in the gray floral but they come in solid as well. They wash up great with no wrinkles. Crisp and soft at the same time. Thick. It comes with an extra set of pillowcases too! https://wellreadsoutherner.com/bedsheets #costco #bedsheets
Instagram post 2189580090584413043_1721136150 4 out of 5 stars for @tarastiles Yoga Cures. https://wellreadsoutherner.com/yogacures #Yoga #TaraStiles #BookReview
Instagram post 2163579519280880213_1721136150 Hi! I'm Karen and I'm an addict.⠀
⠀
It was time to clean out the makeup bag today and it became glaringly apparent I have a problem with lipstick. I haven't even bought this years holiday lip items from @beautycounter yet. Everything here is Beautycounter except for five. Four of them aren't clean makeup but Beautycounter has nothing like these colors at all so I can't quit using them.⠀
⠀
-@MaryKayUS Lip Gloss/Stain in Mulberry Forest (It has the longest wearing stain+gloss I've ever seen. It's a deep magenta color that I constantly get complimented on when I wear it.)⠀
-@rmsbeauty Lipstick in Brain Teaser (a peachy mauve - RMS is a clean brand and I LOVE their concealer)⠀
-@Aveda Morello Lipstick (a deep brick red)⠀
-@katvondbeauty Lipstick in Gothica (a shimmery bronze copper)⠀
-@lorealmakeup Lipstick in Cinnamon Toast (my favorite autumn lip color that I get a ton of compliments on it as well when I wear it). ⠀
⠀
#LipstickAddict #LipGlossAddict #Lipstick #LipGloss #Beautycounter #SaferSkincare #CleanerCosmetics #betterbeauty
Instagram post 2163445943893958862_1721136150 My favorite nail polish color especially for Autumn. It’s @covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant and they stopped making it. I bought 2 bottles but I’m halfway through the 2nd one. Label is gone so I don’t know the color. I’m going to be sad when it’s empty. It’s a great coppery bronze with extremely fine glitter in it so it’s super shiny without being obnoxious like some glitter polishes. #NailPolish #CoverGirl #CoverGirlNails #Outlast #CoverGirlOutlast
Instagram post 2163315358156351234_1721136150 Made an important purchase today at my favorite book store, @visitthestoryshop! #VisitTheStoryShop #FeministPapers #MaryWollstonecraft #requiredreading #bookstagram
Instagram post 2153859113628334549_1721136150 I can’t be at the #atlpride parade today but I’m still wearing my pride! #AllYall #atlpride2019🌈 Tee from the @bittersoutherner.
Instagram post 2146070201031125439_1721136150 This is ridiculous. 100 degrees in ATL in October 2? When the eff is Fall coming? #Melting #AtlantaHeat
Instagram post 2141735943677094418_1721136150 I'm attending an event tonight at @emoryuniversity to listen to Tara Westover talk about her book, Educated. They gave out these cute pencil cases to all the guests! #CommonRead #emoryuniversity #tarawestovereducated  #educated #tarawestover
Instagram post 2140381067294321011_1721136150 2 years ago today this fluffy love nugget came into our lives and we haven’t been the same since. Joy. Silliness. Laughter. A few pain in the ass moments but they pale in comparison to the sheer heart busting love he gives to us. @stringerbellthecat
Follow on Instagram

PINTEREST

Categories

  • Beautycounter
  • Book / Book Reviews
  • Healthy Living
  • History
  • Lettering
  • Personal
  • Product Reviews
  • Recipes
  • Restaurant / Food Reviews
  • Stationery Reviews
  • Travel

SEARCH MY BLOG

Hey y'all! I'm Karen, an Atlanta based purveyor of Southern sass. I'm an Indiana Jones & Anthony Bourdain wannabe. I'm introverted and usually found with my nose in a book and pen/pencil in hand. I'm addicted to yoga, lip gloss, and have an intense love for Scotland and Paris. I work in a library but my side hustle is teaching about safer skincare and cleaner cosmetics. It's been said I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n roll. Read More…

  • Blog Posts
  • Beautycounter
  • Favorite Quotes
  • About Me
  • Contact Me

Get some SASS in your Inbox!

Please wait...

Check your Inbox for a confirmation email!

Copyright © 2019 · Swank WordPress Theme By, PDCD