Do you have a few makeup brushes in your collection that have seen better days? Don't throw them out! Instead, move them from your makeup drawer to your household cleaning drawer.
Makeup brushes are great for removing dirt and lint from hard-to-reach corners, and are also great little dusting tools for more delicate items like sculptural pieces, vases, and chandeliers.
Source: Flickr User annia316
The roll-up pouch containing my makeup brushes has been getting a little overcrowded as of late, so I started storing my seldom-used brushes in an old pencil container. (The cup kind, not the kiddie pencil sort.) This got me to thinking about other storage options for my collection of these trusty cosmetic tools. Whether it's a well-stocked train case for hard-core makeup users, or a cute compartmentalized pouch, where do you keep your makeup brushes?
You might know that the ring finger is the perfect digit to use when patting on concealer, as it creates the gentlest amount of pressure for the delicate under-eye area. But that's not the only finger that can prove to be handy when it comes to applying makeup. Last year, I spoke to YSL makeup artist Dell Ashley, and he offered up a simple suggestion that uses another finger. "If you anchor your hand with your pinky on your cheek, it steadies the hand, and lifts range of motion that you have," he told me. Try it the next time you pick up a makeup brush. It works!
It wasn't until I purchased my first professional-quality makeup brush set that I first heard the word ferrule. "Make sure you take care of your ferrules," said the saleslady. Say what? That's when I got my lesson in the anatomy of a makeup brush. There are three parts to the brush: the hair; the handle; and the ferrule — aka the metal part that holds it all together.
To keep your brushes from falling apart, take great care to prevent water from settling into the ferrule, as water can cause the glue to loosen in the brush's internal structure, which can lead to a broken brush. To keep your brushes happy, hold the hairs of the brush downward toward the flow of water while washing, so that the H2O trickles away from the ferrule. Once you've finished cleansing your brushes, lightly squeeze off the water with your fingers and lay the brushes flat on a clean towel. Tip: Allow the ends of the brushes to overhang to allow for faster, more complete drying.
Zoot alors! My favorite foundation brush recently bit the dust. After searching through the Product Reviews pages, I think I might just have to give Estée Lauder Foundation Brush 1F ($30) a try. Reader brandysbug had nothing but positive things to say about this makeup brush, and here's why:
When I purchased this brush, it was a huge splurge for me. I just don't usually drop $30 on something like a brush, but I was pregnant, having major acne problems, was totally into the Estée Lauder Resilience Lift makeup line, and the saleslady talked me right into it. For liquid foundation, this is absolutely a wonderful brush. It helps to get the most from your bottle as it provides better coverage with less makeup than possible with other methods (sponge/fingers). This brush definitely helped me out covering up some very bad acne. It provided the full coverage I needed without piling too much makeup on. The results of using this brush with liquid foundation were astounding. My face almost looked airbrushed. I would recommend this to anyone who is considering buying a new foundation brush. It's worth the $30.
What makeup brushes can you not live without? What brushes went straight to returns? Tell us all about it on our Product Reviews pages. We love to hear your opinions — good, bad, and everywhere in between.
Bella reader Vsugar recently wrote in asking whether or not new makeup brushes need to be washed prior to their inaugural usage. "They seem clean, but I'm sure they aren't sterile," she wondered. If you're buying brushes that aren't shielded by packaging in some way, I highly recommend giving them a washing for obvious reasons. But, even if they are safely enclosed in packaging, I still give the old cleaning routine a nod. Here's why.
Washing brushes after purchasing them is a good idea for cleanliness reasons alone. But doing so also helps to remove any loose bristles and anything else that may have come into contact with them during the manufacturing process. An initial washing will help condition and soften your brushes, making them last longer and perform better. Here are some tips for cleaning these essential beauty tools thoroughly, along with some professional products, too.
Alicia Silverstone has long been an environmental activist, working to support PETA, and a vegan lifestyle. (Her new book, The Kind Diet, which focuses on veganism, hits stores in a couple of months.) Now, the actress is slated to launch an eco-friendly line of makeup brushes and bags for EcoTools this December. The collection features designs of lavender, thyme, rose, and chrysanthemum — all favorites of Alicia's. The bags are made with natural hemp and recycled linings. "I only wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before. This is a conscious product line that is good for the planet," she told WWD. "Unless you need it, it’s just stuff," she added. Along with a five-piece brush set and bag ($16), Alicia's beauty tools, which will be sold in drugstores, will also feature a cosmetic bag ($9); a cosmetics brush bag ($13); a train case ($15); and an overnight bag ($20). 
For the first few years that I was wearing makeup, I never used brushes. I thought they were for professionals only, and since I was generally using just one shade of eye shadow, buying a brush set seemed unnecessary.
How times have changed! Now I find that without brushes, applying makeup is much more difficult, with dodgier results. I know it seems like makeup artists are always going on and on about how it makes a difference — and if you're not convinced, I have some proof for you. Over the weekend, I did an experiment, applying eye shadow with and without brushes. Photo evidence is available when you read more
Longtime readers will remember my guide to makeup brushes. But how well, exactly, do you remember what each type of brush is for? Take my quiz to see if you can separate your Kabuki brush from your powder brushes.
I've taught you how to create your own makeup brush cleaning solvent in the past and I've even suggested a few of my favorite gentle professional brush cleansers. But after speaking with someone from pro brush-making company Hakuhodo, I learned a little something I'd like to share with you. Did you know that the best way to remove oily liquid foundation or waxy lipstick from your makeup brushes is by using dry corn starch? Here's what you'll need and what to do:
