9 Makeup Brush Hacks You've Got To Learn ASAP

Let's face it: your beauty tools can be a serious investment. Quality makeup brushes and tools can put a dent in your wallet, so knowing how to get the most out of your investment is crucial. Keeping a few genius makeup brush hacks in mind can make all of the difference when it comes to properly caring for your tools and using them to their full potential.

There are no set rules you have to follow when dabbing away with your makeup brushes. It's true that different brushes are designed to handle specific formulas of product on certain areas of the face. But that doesn't mean you can't find innovative ways to use your beauty tools beyond their intended purposes. Getting creative with your products and tools is at the heart of makeup artistry anyway, right?

Whether nailing a lazy girl friendly makeup routine is your goal or finding cost effective alternatives for brush care is your game, there are plenty of tricks to get you through your beauty routine. Put these 9 brush caring and handling hacks to good use and you'll be a bonafide makeup pro without breaking the bank.

1. Apply Masks With Foundation Brushes

Flat, paddle makeup brushes are not only good for applying liquid foundation, but also effective for painting on skincare masks. The curving formation of the bristles makes it easy to deposit product around the eyes and mouth, all while smoothing on a cream or liquid based formula evenly.

2. Create Nail Art

Use precision eyeliner and lip brushes beyond your face. These detailers can double as nail art brushes, tiny enough to draw sharp lines and small designs.

3. Transform Fluffy Brushes With Bobby Pins

If you don't have one in your collection, you can easily DIY a contour brush with a spare bobby pin. Secure the bobby near the base of a fluffy powder brush and it'll instantly become an angled tool for contouring. Just be sure not to leave the bobby pin on too long to avoid altering the bristles permanently.

4. DIY A Cleaning Board

Use POPSUGAR Beauty's DIY brush cleaning mat as an alternative to costly washing mitts and boards. Strategically placed hot glue and a clipboard is all you'll need to nail this cheap and easy DIY.

5. Dry Brushes With Rubber bands

Believe it or not, some pretty gross things happen when you don't clean makeup brushes. As silly as it sounds, knowing how to dry your brushes is the key to properly cleaning your tools. To avoid ruining your bristles and loosening the glue that holds them together, it's crucial that you hang your brushes upside down to dry them. Securing your brushes to hangers with rubber bands is an affordable way to dry your tools after a good wash.

6. Dampen Brushes To Intensify Pigment

To make your shimmer, metallic, and foiled shadows truly shine, spray your bristles with a makeup finishing spray before loading your brush with pigment. Alternatively, a tap of water can be just as effective if you're fresh out of your go-to setting or prepping spray.

7. DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner

No need to spend a small fortune on a name brand brush soap. A mixture of anti-bacterial dish soap to disinfect and extra virgin olive oil to deep condition bristles, makes the ultimate DIY makeup brush cleaner.

8. Use Brush Handles To Find Your Perfect Contour

Finding that sweet spot to contour your face can be a pain sometimes, especially if you're a makeup newbie. To get it right every time, line a makeup brush handle at an angle along the hollows of your cheek.

9. Tame Fly-Aways with Spoolies

Slick those pesky fly-away strands down with an eyebrow/eyelash spoolie. The brush's stiff and tiny bristles can comb through free strands and tiny hairs around your edges like a pro. Feel free to Mist the wand with a little hairspray if your fly-aways are super unruly.

Break out those makeup brushes and get to work. The beauty hacks are just waiting to be incorporated into your routine.

Images: stolNmny, jill111, hrohman, lisy_, shabbysgd, kinkate/pixabay; Summer Arlexis; POPSUGAR Beauty/YouTube; Isabel Winter, Tamara Bellis/Unsplash