Here’s why you really need to start washing your makeup brushes on the reg

If you’re like us, the last thing you take the time to do on busy mornings is worry about the cleanliness of your makeup brushes. We get it; we use them every single day, and yet, taking the time to properly clean and sanitize them falls somewhere on the priority list near cleaning your dish sponge and wiping down the remote. It’s embarrassing to admit how infrequently it happens, and yet, here’s a stark reminder why it absolutely needs to.

Australian model Anthea Page shared an open letter on her Instagram about the scary reality of using dirty makeup brushes on your skin, and it should serve as a wake-up call to all of us that some seriously gross bacteria lurk in your blush brush and mascara wand.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLM1zbih8eq

Anthea was diagnosed with a staph infection (an infection caused by bacteria commonly found on the skin that can turn deadly if they invade your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart) after having her makeup done at a recent fashion show. Anthea says she observed “unhygienic practices” by makeup artists at the show, and tried to express her concerns at the time. She says:

"I do feel my safety concerns were dismissed as if it was part of my job to put up with these unhealthy conditions. My message is not intended to critique the women who I trusted with my eye and skin health but to raise awareness of importance of hygiene practices amongst artists."

Anthea also points out that she loves her job as a model, but simply wants to raise awareness to all people who share makeup brushes, or those of us who forget to clean our brushes regularly. Thankfully, Anthea was given medication by her doctor and is on the mend, but staph infections are no joke and often times easily prevented.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLq9KMzDtF1

To prevent yourself from contracting an infection like Anthea did, check out this great video by beauty blogger Lauren Curtis, to learn some easy techniques to keep those brushes in tip top shape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY6071-Zjr4?feature=oembed

In an ideal world, we’d wash our makeup brushes after every use (we know, we know…) but experts recommend cleaning them at least once a week. There are plenty of quick, painless ways to keep makeup brushes clean, and trust us, your skin will thank you for it.