• Bio

Brynn McKenry

Brynn McKenry is the host of a syndicated radio show called The Brynn Project designed to help inspire people to feel good from the inside out. Brynn believes that while fashion and beauty are typically what we see on the outside, style also comes from the way we carry ourselves. While trends can vary from person to person, Brynn is constantly looking for new ways to enhance a look.

Today’s topic might seem
like something that’s tedious, but it’s actually something extremely
important. When we think of beauty we tend to think of the fun stuff
like picking out our favorite makeup style and getting dolled up, but
if you don’t wash your makeup brushes on a regular basis then
you are setting yourself up for clogged pores and those pesky
pimples.

Now do I have your
attention? This is why you want to just add washing those makeup
brushes to your normal beauty
routine. When you use bits of makeup then oil, dirt,
and even bacteria get trapped into the bristles of the brush
which can cause the breakouts and clogged pores. Not only is this
regular habit good for your skin, but it can protect the
brush’s longevity which can save you moneyon those high-quality, expensive brushes.

So rather than go on and on
about why you should wash your makeup brushes, another important
feature is how often and how. If you look at various sources, you
will see different answers. Dermatologist Ellen Marmur says “at
least once a month” while fashion designer and lifestyle
blogger Lauren Conrad says to make it a regular part of the beauty
routine. So a light wash daily with a deep clean once a weekis what Lauren recommends.

In my opinion, once a month
doesn’t seem thorough enough because considering that most of us
apply our makeup on a daily basis, that means that for 30 days until
that cleaning we are opening ourselves up to that bacteria to react
with our skin. Now I agree more with Lauren Conrad. I typically try
to wash my brushes once a week. Unless you are using a liquid
foundation, I don’t think that a daily wash is entirely necessary
because I feel like the ingredients you use to wash will also
interfere with the glue keeping the brush in tact.

When it comes to how to
wash the brushes, there are a variety of different methods. Right
now there is a debate about soaking them white vinegar. Some
say it thoroughly cleans the brush while others say it’s too harsh.
There are also special brush shampoos and deep cleaners that
you can buy. Honestly, I haven’t had a problem using soap and
water. I’ll just squeeze a little soap onto the brush, make sure
it gets in the crevices where the makeup gets, and then run it under
hot water. After that I usually sit it on the edge of the counter
and let the bristles hang off so it can air dry. I’ll usually do
this before I go to work or before I go to sleep so it has plenty
of time to dry before my next use.

Since we talked about
protecting the brushes longevity and since they can be relatively
expensive, I figured I would offer some advice into which brands to
invest in. I have heard that Sephora makes amazing
brushes…professional quality. Now if you can’t afford to
spend the money on those brushes, I have some lower budget
options. Most of the brushes in my collection are e.l.f.
It’s a brand that is found in Target, but you can also purchase them
online at eyeslipface.com. They are great for the average womanto use. I’ve had mine for a couple years now and they are
still in tact. They spread the makeup well and work great. If you
sign up for the e.l.f email list, they occasionally send coupons
including one to get the entire brush set for $.33 (I think you have
to spend $30). I also have a couple of the Ulta brushes that
I got for free with a purchase. I really don’t use the blush brush
(too small), but they eye shadow and blend brushes are another
great investment.

Now recently I was sent theessential brush set from makeup artist Elaina Badro(she will be on my show mid-April). This set includes a foundation
brush, contour bronzer/blush brush, shader eye brush, blending brush,
synthetic angled liner brush, and the smudger brush. The foundation
brush is smaller than I’m used to but what I do like about it is that
when it comes to covering up blemishes, it gives more attention that
my e.l.f one. For bronzer I was using a Sophia Kashuk, but
this one has a little more focus on the cheek bones and jaw line.
Then I love the fineness of the material used for the eye brushes.

The final thing I want to
leave you with is that the quality of the brushes you pick is really
based on your opinion, but please make sure to help take care of your
skin by washing those brushes and getting rid of any of that old oil,
dirt, and bacteria.