Gross reason your makeup brushes could be making you ill

If you’ve never cleaned your makeup brushes, you might want to look away – a gross set of images has revealed what’s really under the surface.

If you’ve never cleaned your makeup brushes, you might want to look away.

A horrifying set of images has revealed just how dirty our makeup brushes really get if not regularly maintained.

The photos are the result of a new study conducted by Aventus Clinic, The Sun reports, with the team swabbing make-up brushes to see what lurks under the microscopic surface, showing mould, fungus and bacteria.

Out of the 12 brushes tested, 11 were found to be dirtier than your average toilet seat, with eyeshadow and blusher tools the worst offenders.

Third on the list of most bacterial makeup was lipgloss – if you’ve been using the same one for a few months (or, shock horror, years), then it’s time to invest in a new bottle.

Overall, 4364 colonies of yeast and bacteria were found across all items tested.

The test results for a lip gloss, showing mould and yeast on the left and bacteria on the right. Picture: Jam Press

The test results for an eyeshadow brush, showing mould and yeast on the left and bacteria on the right. Picture: Jam Press

Each set of images shows the product tested, and a vial with the level of mould and yeast, plus a separate vial with the bacteria.

The eyeshadow brush test vial is almost entirely covered in fuzzy blue and green mould, while the foundation brush vial has large droplets of blood-red bacteria across it.

Having dirty makeup brushes isn’t just disgusting – it could also be harmful, causing infections and skin breakouts.

“It’s awful to see the amount of bacteria that could potentially sit on a makeup brush,” medical director at Aventus Clinic, Dr Suhail Alam, told Jam Press.

“However, it’s not entirely shocking.

“Even after a person uses a makeup brush for the first time, it will already be forming colonies of bacteria.

“With daily use, the brushes will automatically start collecting dirt, pollutants, oil and dead skin cells, which is why makeup brushes act as a breeding ground for bacteria which can lead to breakouts and skin irritations.

The test results for a blusher brush, showing mould and yeast on the left and bacteria on the right. Picture: Jam Press

The test results for a concealer blender, showing mould and yeast on the left and bacteria on the right. Picture: Jam Press

“If a contaminated brush comes into contact with the eye, this could cause infections or allergic reactions – but these can be avoided with a weekly cleaning routine.

“We recommend cleaning your makeup brushes at least once a week to avoid such an enormous build-up of bacteria.

“To clean the brushes properly, we suggest lathering the brush in an appropriate skin cleanser, massaging any bristles in the palm of your hand thoroughly, rinsing with lukewarm water and then squeezing the brush to remove any excess moisture.

“The more you clean your brushes, the less dirt seeps out of the bristles, but this is a good thing, so don’t stop cleaning your brushes regularly if you find this to be the case.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Gross reason your makeup brushes could be making you ill