Do I really need to wash my brushes?

WE’rE all guilty of not taking time to clean our makeup brushes, but you may not need to do it as often as you think.

Makeup artist Bobbi Brown advises washing foundation and blusher brushes most often — ‘because these are used on your face, the cleaner, the better’.

She adds: ‘Brushes that are used around the eyes should be cleaned at least twice a month. All others can be washed once a month.’ Anyone who needs a reminder to clean their brushes more often will love the new StylPro Brush Cleaner (£39.99, Boots). This spinning gadget cleans and dries brushes in a few seconds.

remove dirt, old makeup and bacteria by attaching brushes to its spindle and swirling them in soap and water for 30 seconds. Definitely worth putting on your Christmas list.