By Faith Richardson
Any beauty enthusiast knows that the right tools can make a world of difference to your makeup, which is why it’s crucial to keep them in tip-top condition. Not only does cleaning your brushes improve their performance, but it also keeps them hygienic and safe to use – a grubby brush can harbour bacteria, trigger breakouts and leave your skin looking greasy or uneven. Plus, layers of different foundations, blushers and bronzers can alter the colour of your products when you apply them.
I must admit, I usually find cleaning my makeup brushes a tedious chore that I can hardly ever be bothered to do, but discovering Isoclean’s Paradise Scented Make Up Brush Cleaner has been a game changer. It’s simple to use, takes virtually no time at all, and smells divine, and – dare I say it – I’ve actually started to enjoy cleaning them?
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Unlike other cleaners that require endless bowls of water, cloths, and leaving them to drip dry for hours, the Isoclean spray top means all I need is the bottle and some kitchen roll. You can currently grab a large 275ml bottle for £19.50, or a full size bottle and 275ml refill bundle worth £35 for just £31.15.
From my experience, the 275ml bottle lasts around four months with a weekly clean, although that obviously depends on how often you clean your brushes and how many brushes you have to clean.
To use it, you simply need to spritz the brushes with the cleaner, then rub them onto some kitchen roll or tissues and the makeup comes off straight away. Some more stubborn products (I’m looking at you, full coverage foundation) might require a couple of attempts, but generally I can have a brush fully cleaned in around 30 seconds.
If you’re more inclined towards a traditional solid soap style cleaner, Zoeva (who produces some of my all-time favourite makeup brushes, FYI) offers the Brush Shampoo Bar for £12, which deeply cleans and nourishes the bristles, helping extend their lifespan. You could also give the CLOMANA BEAUTY Chocolate Orange Brush and Sponge Cleanser a go, currently reduced from £16 to £10.40 at Sephora, and it smells like chocolate orange.
However, personally, I’m a fan of the spray formula that Isoclean provides. It means they dry almost instantly, so you can clean as you go or give them a quick clean before swapping between two different coloured products without muddying the shades. The Isoclean Paradise Scented Make Up Brush Cleaner also eliminates all bacteria, keeping them safe to use.
The only real drawback to the Isoclean Paradise Scented Make Up Brush Cleaner is that it can be a bit tricky to ensure the bristles at the centre of your brush are fully saturated, especially on denser brushes like foundation ones. However, a few repeat goes ensures you get everything out and clean.
I’ve also noticed that most brush cleaners usually have a strong, harsh alcohol scent which can be quite off-putting. However, the Paradise Scented version of Isoclean’s cleaner genuinely smells like a summer holiday, reports the Mirror.
It has notes of salted caramel, vanilla, almond and pistachio, and the fragrance lingers on your brushes so you can still smell it the next time you use them. Anything that helps me keep my makeup brushes clean with minimal effort is a winner in my eyes!