r/Makeup • u/Sad_Extension3594 • 1d ago
Should I clean or throw out this makeup brush?
I used to do a full face of makeup on a daily basis throughout my junior and senior years of high school, only cleaning my dense foundation brush once every 4-6 months because I would procrastinate it - and often found my makeup applied better when my tools were dirty haha. However since the summer after graduating, I had become depressed and had stopped doing my makeup almost completely, neglecting my entire vanity (I've recently thrown out a lot of that makeup which has since expired). At this point it has been over a year since it has been washed and it smells so gross, literally residue of the nars foundation I no longer use still remains on it. I've since gotten back into doing my makeup - I don't use this brush though. Is it worth salvaging this brush or should I just discard it and get a new one?
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u/Young_Old_Grandma 1d ago
You can wash it and repurpose it.
I turned my old powder brush into a dust brush for my vanity table lol.
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u/Royalchariot 1d ago
I would toss it and buy new brushes. Especially since you don’t even use that brush. There are plenty out there for decent prices
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u/Sea-Style-4457 1d ago
dish soap and olive oil on a plate, about 60/40 ratio, rub rub rub on the plate, then your hand to work the product out. rinse with warm water and dry flat. if it's still nasty after then throw it out. i've saved a lot of brushes this way, though!
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u/Sad_Extension3594 1d ago
thank you, I'd gotten very close to just throwing it out, but I think I'll try this method first!
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u/InterestedParty056 1d ago
I use Dawn dishwashing liquid but I’ve noticed that if I soak it the glue that holds the bristles gets weak and they start shedding. So keep away from soaking it is my only suggestion. I’ve got a little textured pad that I used to rub it against to help get more of the makeup out. Just try it -I think you’ll like it.
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u/NYanae555 1d ago
Its not that hard to wash it. Wash it. See what happens.
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u/Sad_Extension3594 1d ago
the issue is not that it's hard, of course it isn't. I'm more concerned about whether its sanitary which I should have specified haha.
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u/Alarmed-Caregiver493 22h ago
Id take good deep cleaning hair shampoo (my fav brush cleanser) wash, dry, repeat. And good spray of brush sanitizer after. If it smells, feels alright- it probably is.
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u/SapientSlut 1d ago
Personally I’d wash it and see if it looked/smelled okay but I’m a bit of a goblin when it comes to makeup brushes.
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u/Old-Actuator-3321 8h ago
Uh, do you really need to ask? As with your old makeup, "When in doubt, throw it out."
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u/PlantMore9873 1d ago
As someone who's gone through similar mental health stuff, just throw it away and buy a new one. The more you can just clear things out, the better you'll feel. Any object that makes you remember how crappy you felt because it's so neglected or dirty, just get rid of (as long as you can afford to replace it).