Hi Elvira! 🌟 You’re both a certified skincare therapist and a makeup artist trained at GlossGods Academy. Tell us more about yourself and your day-to-day life! 💄

Hi! That’s correct! By day, I work as a dedicated skincare therapist at a salon, and I also run the accounts @elvirahudterapeut on Instagram and Hudterapeuten Elvira on YouTube, where I show that skincare doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. My focus has always been on recommending affordable products that everyone can afford - because taking care of your skin shouldn’t cost a fortune, no matter your skin type, concerns, or age. Everyone deserves access to good skincare.

How do old makeup and oil residue on brushes affect skin health? ✨

Using dirty makeup brushes definitely has its downsides for your skin. The most obvious issue is that bacteria and dirt start to build up on the brushes, and of course, we don’t want to transfer that back onto the skin we work so hard to keep healthy.

What are the most common skin problems caused by dirty makeup brushes? And how can clean brushes help maintain a healthy skincare routine? 🧴💖

The most common issue is acne spreading. It can happen if you’ve used a brush on an active breakout, and the acne bacteria then transfer to the brush and spread across your face. Dirt and bacteria can also cause irritation, leading to sensitivity, a damaged skin barrier, breakouts, dryness, or clogged pores—basically all the things we want to avoid to keep our skin happy and healthy. Clean brushes help your skin stay receptive to your skincare routine without fighting bacteria, irritation, or infection. 

Can clean(ing) makeup brushes enhance the effectiveness of skincare products and makeup? 💅✨

Absolutely! Clean brushes make sure your skin can focus on doing its thing—absorbing skincare instead of battling bacteria and irritation. And we’ve all noticed that when our skin is happy, our makeup looks better. It’s the base before the base!

Do you have any tips for creating an easy-to-follow brush cleaning routine? ⏰🧼

Honestly, the one thing that keeps me washing my brushes regularly, without fail for years now, is setting a reminder on my phone. It’s an easy way to keep track, make sure too much time doesn’t pass, and take the mental load off wondering when you last cleaned them. My reminder is set for every other week, but if I were dealing with acne or frequent breakouts, I’d clean them more often - at least my foundation sponge after every use.