Makeup Travel Essentials
Makeup Travel Essentials

We all love our beauty tools – these magical wands, which transform our faces from mundane to mesmerizing with a few deft strokes. However, just as our faces need to breathe after a full day of warrior paint, these little troopers need tender loving care too!

The good news is, most of the cleaning can be done using rubbing alcohol! Its antibacterial properties help to effectively sanitise tools and eliminate any bacteria build up. Kaun kehta hai daru achi cheez nahi hai? Check out this list of what you need to clean and how. Yes, even hair irons need cleaning from time-to-time.

Hair Straighteners/Curlers

hair iron
hair iron

That brown gunk on your metal plates is the result of burnt hair products such as hairspray or wax. If the residue is not removed, the scorched product may end up singeing your hair!

Solution:

Once the device is cool, unplug it and clean the plates with cotton wipes dipped in alcohol.

Eyelash Curlers

Source: Shiseido
Source: Shiseido

Mascara residue left on your eyelash curler becomes a breeding ground for germs, which could in turn lead to eye infections.

Solution:

Again, alcohol comes in handy to remove any dried make-up. If your curler comes with a rubber pad, change the pad once a year to ensure your lashes are evenly curled. Once you have gone through two rubber pad replacements, purchase a new curler as the gripping mechanism tends to loosen over time.

Makeup Brushes

Get Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Makeup Look
Get Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Makeup Look

Not cleaning your brushes regularly will lead to the growth of bacteria causing skin problems such as rashes or acne. Applying your makeup will also be harder as the brushes will not glide on your skin smoothly.

Solution:

Clean your brushes at least once a month by washing the brushes with baby shampoo and gently squeezing the bristles with a paper towel to remove excess water. Place your wet brushes on a dry towel with the bristles hanging off the side of a table to retain the shape of the brush head.

Hair Brushes

Source: Conair (hairbrush)
Source: Conair (hairbrush)

Spending precious minutes every morning removing those pesky tangles on your hair brush? Untangling the brush head will give the bristles better grip and allow for an easier combing.

Solution:

Slide a pen under hair stuck in the bristles and push upward until the mess loosens. Use a pair of scissors to cut the hair along the length of the brush and simply pull out the tangled clumps.

Mascara Wand

YSL Waterproof Mascara
YSL Waterproof Mascara

Thick and clumpy mascara which causes uneven and lumpy eyelashes. Not cute!

Solution:

Once a week, blot the bristles with a paper towel to remove excess product and soak the wand in warm water for 5 minutes to loosen any remaining mascara clumps. Then, dry the wand with another sheet of paper before using alcohol wipes to disinfect.

Keep your tools in check, keep your beauty in check with these quick clean up tips.