Sarah’s Health Notes: Now clean your make-up brushes
This was a recent telephone conversation between Sarah and Jo:
Sarah: ‘Personal question: how often do you clean your make-up brushes?’
Jo: ‘Infrequently…. In fact, honestly, only when they get a bit stinky. What about you?’
Sarah: ‘Same … except I don't think I’ve noticed them getting whiffy.’
Yep, it’s a guilt-inducing topic. Our excuse is that we don’t have blemishes of any kind and we don’t do our make-up on public transport. And actually, in my case, I only use an eye shadow blender brush to dot on and buff in concealer, and a bronzer brush when I’m going out. Still… looking at the state of those two in my dressing table drawer did make me feel I Should Do Something!
The standard brush cleaning method we’ve always been told is to swoosh them in baby shampoo or a gentle detergent, rinse and dry with the heads over the edge of the basin.
Oops! Those come under the heading of ‘What NOT to use’ products, alongside soap, shampoo, olive oil and washing up liquid (a particular offender as it dries out the bristles apparently). That’s according to Benjamin Moffatt, MD of ISOCLEAN. You might say: ‘He would say that, wouldn't he?’, as the company makes a range of professional cleaning products for brushes and cosmetic sponges/beauty blenders.
But there’s clear logic here: none of those cleaning products is antibacterial or antimicrobial and the big issue with dirty brushes is breakouts and clogged pores causes by – yes, you guessed it, bacteria – plus of course dirt, dust and oils various.
Not only do clean brushes equal clean skin, as the brand says, but they promise that clean brushes will keep make-up colours true and help avoid streaking/caking. Stands to reason when you think about it… which I hadn’t before this.
ISOCLEAN products are both antimicrobial and promise to kill 99.9% of harmful bacteria. What’s more for lazy beauty bones like us, the deed is done in 60 seconds, they say. So I put it to the test, pouring a Professional Brush Cleaner into the lid, which acts as a well, and swirling my brushes one at a time. The little eye shadow blender brush had a make-over within about 30 seconds max, job certainly done. The bronzer brush needed at least three dunks and swirls before it released - well, at least six months accumulation of bronzer powder.
While the small brush was whiff-free, the big fluffy one had a definite chemical tang – that did disappear however after half an hour standing upright airing in a jam jar.
Will I use the range again? Yes. Will I clean my brushes, as directed, after every use with the ISOCLEAN Professional Brush Cleaner and every one to two weeks with the Carbon Brush Soap? As likely as pigs flying. But if I go and have my make-up done by a pro, I would really, really like to know they are doing just that.
And if I knew anyone with blemishes of any kind, I would absolutely point them in that direction because it makes complete sense.
One final point: please could all brush manufacturers give their products a slip cover? Some do already – so top marks. Others: please sit up and do the same.
