Fashion

The One Thing Not To Do When Doing Your Makeup

by Kali Borovic

When it comes to makeup, there really are no rules. Whether you're looking to splash bright colors all over your face or keep things light and subtle, it's completely up to you. Create whatever look you'd like, but there is one thing you should never do when applying makeup that experts agree on — use dirty beauty tools.

I'm sure you've heard it a million times, but you might not realize how harmful it is to use dirty brushes on your face. You wouldn't reuse a makeup remover wipe, so why would you keep reusing your makeup brushes over and over without washing them? Not only can the mindless little task cause acne on your face, but dirty makeup tools can cause serious issues like pink eye, staph infection, and even herpes.

According to Buzzfeed, dermatologist Mark Goodman says you should wash your makeup brushes every day to avoid bugs and makeup accumulation. While that might seem a little much, it's the most surefire way to keep skin clean. For all you procrastinators out there, you'll be happy to know that the longest you should go without cleaning your brushes is one month, according to The Gloss. If you still can't get it together to wash them that much, then you might want to skip the tools altogether and use your fingers to apply your makeup instead.

With so many different tools and brushes out there, it can get confusing to know how to clean each one. The last thing you should do is skip a cleaning just because you don't know how, so here's exactly how you should be washing all the different tools in your makeup bag.

1. Brushes

Purity One Step Facial Cleanser, $24, Ulta.com

There's not just one specific way to clean brushes. Experts like Selena Gomez's makeup artist Hung Vanngo suggests using everything from cleaning with baby shampoo to organic soap. My personal favorite is to use my holy grail cleanser, the Purity One Step Facial Cleanser from philosophy. It's gentle on my face and my brushes!

2. Beauty Blender

Beutyblender Beautycleanser Solid, $16, Sephora.com

If you're looking for the best way to clean your beautyblender, well, the brand has got you covered. Just wet the beautyblender, dab it on the solid cleanser, and ring out the excess. It doesn't get much easier than this!

3. Eyelash Curler

Bioderma Micellar Makeup Remover, $20, beautylish.com

Yes, that little tool that keeps your lashes looking fresh needs some cleaning too. Just a few drops of liquid makeup remover is all you need to clean a lash curler.

4. Artís Brushes

Artís Brush Cleaning Pad, $55, SaksFifthAvenue.com

According to the Artís site, the best way to clean these trendy brushes is with the brand's cleaning pad. It uses tiny little bristles to pick makeup off of the bristles without harming them. The site suggests using the item daily.

5. Liner Pencils

Beauty So Clean Sanitizer Mist, $25, beautylish.com

Even your liner pencils should be cleaned every now and then. It turns out all you need is a little spritz or sanitzer every now and then to get rid of bacteria on pencil or gel liners, according to Got Beauty.

6. Liner Pencil Sharpener

Rubbing Alcohol, $2.19, walgreens.com

While you're at it, don't forget about those sharpeners either. All you need is a cotton swab and a quick dab of rubbing alcohol to do the trick, according to Beautylish.

7. Tweezers

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Soap, $10, jet.com

Odds are you reach for your tweezers to pluck some stray hairs at least once a week, so make sure you're cleaning them with antibacterial soap while you bathe your brushes.

What are you waiting for? Get to cleaning!

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Images: Courtesy Brands (7)