Okay, we've hammered home the importance of clean brushes -- but you can't just stick your makeup tools in the dishwasher. To wash bristled brushes, makeup artists recommend using a mild cleanser, or even baby shampoo.
Put a squirt of cleanser onto your hand and swirl the brush around in it, letting water lightly run over your hand. Keep the handle of your brush dry to prevent the glue that holds it together from breaking down.
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No. 5: Let Your Brushes Air Dry Flat
Cleanse your brushes in the evening (best done while binge-watching the new season of "Orange Is the New Black."), because it will take them approximately all night to dry.
Lay them out flat on a paper towel, which won't retain as much water as a regular towel and will cut down your dry time. This way, water won't seep into the bristles and damage the glue holding them to the handle. As an added bonus, it will help your brushes keep their shape -- because what good is an angled contour brush if it loses its curve?
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No. 6: Never Ever Use Your Blow-Dryer to Speed Things Up
We get it: Waiting for your brushes to air-dry feels like it takes forever. But don't be tempted to zip through the process by blasting them with your hair dryer -- this can cause the glue that holds your brushes together to come undone, resulting in damaged brushes that, at the least, shed all over your face, or at the worst, become unusable.
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No. 7: Sometimes Clean Your Brushes Between Use
In addition to your bacteria-fighting deep-cleans, it's sometimes also necessary to cleanse your brushes between uses. A prime example: When you're using multiple shades of eye shadow. Instead of busting out the soap and water, choose a spray cleanser. Mist your brush with it, then wipe it off on a clean towel to get rid of color buildup. This will prevent your eye shadow from looking "muddy," and will help you get the best color payoff.
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No. 8: Store Them Properly
If you're keeping your brushes out in the open in your bathroom, where most of us get ready in the morning, you could be unintentionally spraying them with germs from your toilet. Studies have shown that flushing the toilet with the lid open causes all kinds of germs to take up residence on items like toothbrushes. So keep them far away from your toilet, and always close the lid.
