Confession: Despite my sunny disposition on social media, in real life, my apartment can become… a bit of a mess. The current state of my beauty product collection is proof. Every morning, when I get ready to do my makeup, I pull my products out of—wait for it—a gallon-size Ziploc bag. Isn’t that just embarrassing? To make the situation even worse: I’m pretty sure my foundation bottle accidentally spilled a bit inside the bag and… I have yet to clean up the mess. (According to TikTok, there could be deep-rooted reasons for the clutter in my life, but I’ll let my therapist dig deeper into that one during my next session.)
Listen, I really, really want to be neat, clean, and organized 24/7, but there’s not enough time—or more accurately, I don’t dedicate enough time—to cleaning out my “makeup bag.” And that means the tools I use every day (Saie buffing brush, Beautyblender sponge, and Makeup by Mario powder brush) are not exactly thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. But I really should be washing them weekly, because while I can’t see them…
There are teeny-tiny mites and a whole lot of bacteria making a home in my brushes’ bristles.
First of all, that’s just plain gross. Second of all, it can negatively affect my skin via irritation and future breakouts. The creepy crawlies could also be the reason my base makeup application is… not its best some days. “Brush hairs and sponges are porous, so they hold onto oils, debris, and bacteria,” makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci previously told Allure. “If your brushes are dirty, your application will be spotty and blending will be difficult.”
All this to say, I need to Do Better™, which means decluttering and deep-cleaning—and I’m starting with my makeup tools. Here’s how:
Step #1: Take inventory
Before I can start cleaning anything, I should probably take a good look at what I have, ditch the Ziploc, and find a new home for my products. Maybe I’ll try this water-resistant toiletry tote from Dagne Dover.
Step #2: Suds up
Once I’ve figured out what I want to keep and what is past the point of no return (makeup sponge, your days are numbered), it’s time to grab my cleaning supplies—and, according to makeup artists, these should just be dish soap and water. You’d think rubbing alcohol would be helpful here, but it can actually dry out the bristles and cause them to become brittle. So instead, I’ll use the Cinema Secrets makeup brush cleanser, squeeze away excess moisture with a towel, and lay them flat to dry, so they keep their shape.
Step #3: Rinse and repeat
I’d like to make this cleansing session a weekly occurrence. Check back in with me next week to see how I’m doing. (Actually, please don’t.)
Step #4: Apply this to other items in my beauty routine
My nightly silk eye mask also needs to be washed weekly, and luckily, I already follow this rule to a T.