To keep your brushes and skin clean and in good condition, wash them regularly to remove oil and grime that may be hidden deep within the bristles.
As a general rule, wash makeup brushes frequently. You should set aside at least 30 minutes every other week to clean your brushes, especially if you start noticing makeup pigments staining your brushes.
You will need the following cleaning materials:
- Neutral liquid soap
- Kitchen cleaner
- Textured rubber surface
- Towel
Separate the brushes depending on how you want to clean. Start preparing your cleaning station.
Soak the bristles individually in cold water.
Use a pH neutral liquid soap and lather it into a powder brush.
Then take your brush and swirl it gently on a clean, grooved or textured surface. If you don’t have rubber gloves or a rubber grooved surface, you can also spin the brush by hand. Thoroughly clean in and around the bristles to ensure dirt or oil is rinsed away.
Rinse your brush until the color of the bristles returns to their original color and all the powder is washed away. If the powdery color doesn’t rinse off completely, repeat the process, soaping and rinsing the brush thoroughly.
If powdered paint is still in the water or brush, repeat the process of cleaning and rinsing with soap until the water runs clear.
For synthetic brushes used in cream products, wash with a degreasing dish soap like Dawn to break down oil and remove emollients from the brush.
Use the same cleaning technique as before. Gently swirl the brush onto a rubber grooved surface or glove.
Reshape all brushes when wetting and cleaning and drying handles to prevent water from warping and damaging wood.
As you’ve probably realized, having clean skin comes down to several factors, including a solid skincare routine, your diet, and genetics. But what you might not know is that if you want to make all the effort you put into your skincare routine worthwhile, then you’ll want to wash your makeup brushes and blender regularly.
In addition to causing color transfer and cloudiness when applying makeup, unwashed brushes and sponges contain bacteria that can cause acne. Plus, dipping dirty tools into your makeup can also transfer bacteria to your product—not just your face.
So read on to learn how to clean makeup brushes and sponges the right way—and how often you really need to.
How often do you need to clean your makeup tools?
There’s no perfect science, but if you use makeup brushes and sponges every day, it’s a good idea to thoroughly cleanse them once a week. But if you can’t do that, give them a good clean at least every other week, treating them with a brush cleaner in between.
Brush cleaners are usually liquid formulas that come in spray bottles that make it easy to spot your brushes. They’re high in alcohol, which helps kill bacteria and are great for removing pigment from makeup. But the truth is, they are not as effective at eliminating bacteria as traditional soaps.
How to Clean Makeup Brushes?
Follow these steps to keep your makeup tools clean and looking their best.
1. Choose your cleanser
First, you need to get the right makeup brush cleaner. In fact, you can buy brush cleaners made specifically for makeup brushes and makeup blenders, in bar soap or liquid form. However, if you don’t have anything on hand, you can keep it simple by using products you already have at home.
A mild shampoo, hand sanitizer, or daily facial cleanser is perfect to help break down makeup or dirt that has stuck to the bristles over time—without damaging your brushes.
2. Bubbles and swirls
Set up shop at the sink and start using warm water. Wet the dirty makeup brushes first. Make sure to point the brush so the bristles are facing down – this will help prevent water from seeping into the handle and loosening the bristles over time. Then, squeeze a small amount of cleanser into the palm of your hand. Take a brush and spin the bristles in your hand to help loosen debris.
Once your brush is thoroughly lathered and the cleanser in your hand starts to change color, your brush can be rinsed off. Repeat these steps until the water starts to run clear and your tool returns to its original color. Keep in mind that some brushes are densely packed and have very long bristles – like stippling brushes – so make sure they’re washed properly before proceeding.
3. Rinse and dry
When you’re done rinsing, brush the tools lightly with a microfiber cloth or towel (even a textured paper towel will do) to test them for cleanliness and remove any last bits of dirt or makeup that may have remained. Then place the brush on a towel to dry, which will help absorb excess moisture.
