A study has just proven that poorly maintained makeup brushes can contain more bacteria than toilets. Results: acne and skin problems that can become serious. Follow this tutorial to properly clean your makeup brushes.
Are you one of the majority who don’t wash their makeup brushes regularly? Error ! They contain many bacteria, harmful to the beauty of the skinas proved this study conducted by makeup brand Spectrum Collections, posted April 4, 2023.
Makeup brushes cause acne
To conduct this study, the researchers compared the bacteria present in a set of washed brushes and another set of dirty brushes, each placed in different traditional storage places (a vanity, a make-up bag, a specific bag for brushes, a drawer and a bathroom rack). These locations were then cleaned to again compare the bacteria present in the same place, dirty then clean. Results: after two weeks, dirty brushes contained many more bacteria compared to previously washed ones.
The researchers then analyzed a toilet seat, and found that the brushes were as dirty as the bowl, or even more. Carly Musleh, a cosmetics scientist interviewed for this study, explained that these tools can transfer germs, oil and dead skin cells, encouraging the growth of bacteria which will then be reapplied to the skin. “Using dirty brushes increases the risk of creating an imbalance in the healthy microbial community, which can cause an increase in the number of pathogenic microbes. risk of rashes or more serious problemssuch as impetigo or staphylococcus, are then higher“, she pointed out.
How to properly clean your makeup brushes?
If 40% of beauty addicts surveyed by Spectrum Collections claim to wash their brushes twice a week and 20% admit to doing it only every one to three months, it is recommended to clean them every 7-10 daysas specified inAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association. Thus, to eliminate as many bacteria as possible from your brushes, use a mild soap, insisting on the heart of the brush, where the dirt is stubborn. Rinse off with lukewarm water then pat dry with a clean towel.
Be sure to let your brushes dry well, because the remaining water will encourage the appearance of microbes. Finally, it is essential to clean the space where you store your brushes, to ensure that you have tools as clean as possible and healthy skin.