How to Clean Your Eyelash Curler
There’s one handy makeup tool that we use almost every day, but don’t think about much. We’re talking about the eyelash curler! It’s an important tool that deserves all of the love. It gives the lashes the curl and lift that are so important for a fresh, open-eyed look.
But when’s the last time you’ve cleaned your eyelash curler?
We focus so much on cleaning our brushes and sponges, but the poor little eyelash curler is often left forgotten. However, it deserves the same regular scrubbing as the rest of your equipment. Today, we’ll explain why, and also give you a few tips on how to clean your eyelash curler.
Why should you clean your eyelash curler?
It’s important to be extra careful with any makeup item or tool that comes close to your eye. The lash line is prone to styes, and the eyes themselves are vulnerable to all kinds of dangerous infections.
For that reason, it’s imperative to remove makeup at the end of the day, to never use expired eye makeup, and to clean any tools that come close to the lash line—your eyelash curler is chief amongst them.
Most lash curlers are made of metal, an easy-to-clean material that is less likely to harbor bacteria. But the rubber pad at the base of the curler is tougher to clean, and grime and germs can get caught below it.
How to deep clean your eyelash curler
Just like your makeup brushes, the best way to clean your eyelash curler is with soap and water. This will remove most pathogens and grime, not to mention the heavy buildup of mascara.
Since the eyelash curler is a metal tool, dish soap usually works best. It breaks down oils in makeup, and it doesn’t leave behind a residue the way shampoo or hand soap might. It can also be helpful to have a few cotton swabs on hand.
- First, remove the rubber pad from your eyelash curler.
- Place your lash curler under a running tap.
- Next, soap it up with dish soap. Use your fingers to rub the soap into every crevice of your lash curler.
- Then, with your curler still a little soapy, use a cotton swab to thoroughly dislodge any grime from the indent where the rubber pad normally sits.
- Finally, rinse your lash curler of the soap.
- Use a dry tissue or paper towel to dry it.
- Next, give the rubber pad itself a quick scrub and check for any hairs that may be stuck beneath it. Once cleaned, dry it, and replace it in the indent.
How to disinfect your eyelash curler
Cleaning your eyelash curler is one thing, but you should also disinfect it on a regular basis. To disinfect your eyelash curler, you’ll want to use at least 70% alcohol, and you may also want to have a cotton pad or cotton swab on hand.
- When you’re in a rush, just soak a cotton pad with alcohol and use it to wipe down the eyelash curler.
- Then, use the cotton swab to clean out the indent where the rubber pad normally sits.
- To take it even further, fill a small glass with alcohol. Plop the eyelash curler top down into the glass, as well as the rubber pad.
- Leave both in there for 10 minutes.
- Then, pull them out, and wipe them down with a dry cotton pad to help them dry.
- Take this chance to disinfect other metal beauty tools, like your tweezers, nail clippers, or brow scissors.
How often should you clean your lash curler?
You should clean your eyelash curler every time you clean your brushes, which hopefully means about once a week. Cleaning with soap and water is a little more labor-intensive, so you can do that just once every few months, but wiping your lash curler down with a wipe or with alcohol should happen on a weekly basis.
How to clean a heated eyelash curler
If you use a heated eyelash curler, it’s important to clean it carefully and thoroughly, without damaging its electric components. Since heated lash curlers are used after mascara, they tend to collect a lot of residue in the comb and need more frequent cleaning.
- To remove the mascara remnants, carefully place the comb part of the curler under running water, to rinse away mascara and trapped lashes.
- Be careful not to let any other parts of the tool come in contact with the water.
- If the mascara is very persistent, use a cotton pad soaked in makeup remover to loosen it up first.
- To actually sanitize your eyelash curler, spray it with alcohol and then let it air dry.
Other healthy lash tips
Aside from cleaning your eyelash curler regularly, we have a few more tips to help you keep your lashes healthy and thriving.
- When curling your eyelashes, make sure to fully concentrate on what you’re doing, to avoid pinching yourself or losing lashes.
- Avoid sharing your eyelash curler with others. If you do let someone else use it, make sure to sanitize it with alcohol both before and after handing it over.
- When using a traditional curler, avoid eyelash curling after you’ve applied mascara, since this will dirty your curler and also increases the chances of damage to the lashes.
- Pay close attention to the rubber pad. If it looks indented or starts to lose its shape, make sure to replace it.
- With daily use, you will likely need to replace the pad after 3-6 months.
- Another important part of keeping the eyes and lashes healthy is to remove your eye makeup thoroughly every night.
- To improve the condition of your lashes, use a fortifying eyelash serum every evening as part of your beauty routine.
- Never use mascara past its expiry date, and make sure to replace your tube every 3-6 months.
Cleaning your eyelash curler only takes a few moments, but it’s easy to forget. Don’t put off this important little chore. Do your eyes a favor, and go give your lash curler a scrub right now!