This Is How Often You Should Actually Wash Your Make-Up Brushes

Apparently, it's about 100 times more than you do right now.

Like flossing, exfoliating and trimming our ends, washing our make-up brushes easily becomes one of the things we know we should do more, but don't stress about forgetting every now and then.

Via giphy.com

Because no biggie, right?

Well, maybe, actually, this is a biggie. A big, gross, thing to do.

Apparently, we should be cleaning our make-up brushes daily. That's right, DAILY.

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"From a dermatologist's perspective, I would like to see daily brush washing, so bugs and old make-up doesn't accumulate," Greg Goodman, associate professor and dermatologist at the Dermatology Institute of Victoria tells BuzzFeed Life.

"Make-up is designed for coverage, so it sticks together to some extent. Brushes are also very good at allowing layer after daily layer to stick to bristles, letting dirt and bacteria to get trapped within."

Gross. But, also, washing brushes every day is a lot. Right? RIGHT?!

FOX

Kind of.

"I clean my personal brushes with a spray brush cleanser every morning after putting my face on. Just a quick spritz and wipe to get rid of nasties and the day's make-up. I also properly wash them every week or two with baby shampoo," explains make-up artist Allie Clark.

So, while washing your brushes every day might be ideal, once a week ain't too bad either.

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If you're looking for a daily solution, look for a spray cleaner like Clinique Makeup Brush Cleaner, $34, which leaves your brushes dry and ready to use in minutes.

If a weekly clean is more your style, just make sure you're doing the job properly, OK?

"Gently work the shampoo through the brush with your fingers then rinse thoroughly and press out the water with a towel. Reshape and lay flat with the bristles over the edge of a shelf or table so that it dries totally," says Clark.

"Whatever you do, don't soak your brushes, as this will warp wooden handles and dissolve the glue keeping the ferrule and bristles in place and the bristles in place."

And, if you don't want to wash your brushes at all? Basically, your skin's going to have to face the consequences.

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"You'll notice the brush becoming harder physically, which affects the delicate barrier function of your skin. Dirty brushes also load the skin with things it doesn’t like, including bacteria, which stimulates the skin’s immune system and results in inflammation," says Goodman.

Factor in excess dirt, plus yesterday's oil and make-up, and you're left with one not-so-nice collection of grossness that you're rubbing all over your face if you don't cleanse your brushes.

So, stay clean. And, do the right thing by yo' face.

Teen Vogue

Alright?