Clean Makeup Brushes

Cleaning your makeup brushes regularly is important. Not only will get rid of acne-causing bacteria, but it will also prevent your makeup colors from getting mixed. This article will not only show you how to properly clean and dry your brushes.

10 Second Summary

1. Run the bristles under lukewarm water.
2. Dip the brush into a cup filled with water and baby shampoo.
3. Give the mixture a swirl with the brush.
4. Rinse the bristles under lukewarm water.
5. Pat the bristles dry, then reshape them.
6. Let the brush air dry, then fluff it with your fingers.

Steps

Cleaning Lightly-Soiled Makeup Brushes

  1. Examine the brushes. Did you use the brush for powder-based makeup, or for cream-based makeup? If the brushes have been used for cream-based makeup, they will need a deeper cleaning than the ones used for powder-based makeup. Refer to the section in this article on cleaning heavily-soiled makeup brushes.
  2. Run the bristles of the brushes under lukewarm water. Avoid getting water underneath the metal clasp of the handle as this will ruin the glue that holds the bristles together. Keep running the water through the brushes until you've rinsed away most of the old makeup. Make sure the brushes are angled downward into the stream of water. If water gets under the metal clasp of the handle, it may damage the brushes.
    • Don't use hot water, as the heat may damage the bristles.
  3. Fill a small bowl or cup with some water. You will need ¼ cup (56.25 milliliters) of lukewarm water. Avoid using hot water, as it may damage the bristles.
  4. Pour some baby shampoo to the water. Add 1 teaspoon of baby shampoo into the cup and still gently to combine.[1]
    • If you do not have baby shampoo, use liquid Castile soap instead.[2]
  5. Dip the brush into the mixture and swirl. Only the bottom half of your brushes' bristles should be swirled in the mixture to avoid water traveling up the handle.
  6. Remove the brush from the mixture. Loosen up the makeup and dirt by gently massaging the soapy water into the bristles with your fingers.
  7. Rinse the bristles under lukewarm water. Continue to massage the bristles while running them under the water until it runs completely clear. Avoid getting the handle wet.
  8. Pat the bristles dry. Use a towel to gently remove some of the moisture. Fold it around the wet bristles and gently squeeze it with your fingers.[3]
  9. Reshape the bristles. If the bristles became crooked, you will need to reshape them. Use your fingers to straighten, spread, pull the bristles back into their original shape.
  10. Let the brushes dry. Do not lay them on a towel—this can cause mildew. Instead, set the brush down on a counter, with the bristle part hanging over the edge.[4]
  11. Fluff the bristles. When the brushes are completely dry, fluff the bristles a bit. Your brushes are now ready to use.

Cleaning Heavily-Soiled Makeup Brushes

  1. Examine the brush. If you have used your brush for cream-based makeup, soap and water alone won't be enough to dislodge the makeup. You will need some oil to help loosen the makeup—especially if it has been on the brush for a while.
  2. Pour some oil onto a paper towel. Fold up a paper towel, and pour a small drop of oil onto it. You can use light olive oil or almond oil.[5] Dip the bristles of the brush into the oil and give it a swirl. Do not soak the brush in the oil.[6] Gently run the brush back and forth across the towel, loosening the dirt.
  3. Run the bristles of the brushes under lukewarm water. Make sure the brushes are angled downward into the stream of water. Avoid wetting the part where the bristles meet the handle. It could cause the metal clip to rust, or the glue inside to loosen. Keep running the water through the bristles until you've rinsed away most of the old makeup.
    • Don't use hot water, as the heat may damage the bristles.
  4. Squirt some baby-shampoo into your palm. If you do not have baby shampoo, you can use liquid Castile soap instead.
  5. Swirl the brush in your palm. Dip the bristles into the puddle of shampoo in your palm. Gently swirl the brush using circular motions. The bristles should be continuously touching your skin. You will see the shampoo in your palm become dirty. This is due to the dirt leaving the bristles.
  6. Rinse the brush under lukewarm water. Use your fingers to gently massage the bristles as you rinse the shampoo. Once again, try to avoid getting the part where the bristles join the brush handle wet. Keep doing this until the water runs clear.
  7. Pat the bristles dry and reshape them, if necessary. Once the water runs clear, take the brush out from under the water and gently fold a towel around the bristles. Squeeze the excess water out using your fingers. Remove the brush from the towel and reshape the bristles if necessary. You can do this by gently pressing on them, fanning them out, or pulling them together into a point. Try to recreate the original shape as much as possible.
  8. Lay the brush flat to dry. Do not set the brush down on a towel, as this can cause mildew to form. Instead, lay the handle part of the brush on a counter or table, and let the bristles stick out over the edge.
  9. Fluff the bristles. If you had a poofy brush, some of the bristles may be stuck together, even after it has dried. If this happens, pick up the brush and give it a brisk flick.

Taking Care of Your Brushes and Keeping them Clean

  1. Know how often to clean your makeup brushes. Not only do dirty makeup brushes breed bacteria, but they can also affect the color of your makeup. Some makeup can also degrade the bristles if left on for too long. Here are some tips for cleaning your brushes based on the type of bristles they have:[7]
    • Clean natural-hair brushes weekly. This includes brushes that you use for powered products, such as eye shadow and bronzers.
    • Clean synthetic brushes every other day. This include brushes that you use for cream and water-based makeup, such as lipstick, cream blush, and liquid or gel eyeliner.
  2. Do not store brushes upright while drying them. The water will soak down into the shaft, causing rust or rot. It could also cause the glue holding the bristles to loosen.[8]
    • It is safe to store brushes upright once they are completely dry.
  3. Do not use a hairdryer or flatiron on your brush. The intense heat from the hairdryer or flatiron will ruin the fibers—even if the fibers are natural, such as sable or camelhair. The brushes are a makeup brush are mush more fragile than the hair on your head.[9]
  4. Dry your brushes in a well-ventilated area. If you dry your brushes in an enclosed area, such as the bathroom, the bristles may not get enough air-flow, which might cause mildew. This will result in musty-smelling bristles. Ew![7]
  5. Store your brushes properly. When your brushes are dry, store them either upright in a cup, or lay them down on their side. Do not store them pointing down, or the bristles will get crooked.[10]
  6. Consider disinfecting your brush. Before you set your makeup brush out to dry, or even between washes, disinfect your brush with a vinegar-water solution. Don't worry, the strong, vinegar smell will disappear once the bristles dry. Fill a small bowl or cup with two parts water and one part vinegar. Swirl your brush in the solution, but avoid wetting the part where the bristles meet the handle. Rinse the brush with clean water and set it out to dry.[11]



Tips

  • Baby wipes or cotton wipes work great for just wiping off your brushes and make up cases.
  • Makeup remover wipes are perfect for this job.
  • Avoid using cleansers that leave strong fragrance or residue, or damage the brush (like dish detergent, dish soap, almond oil, olive oil, vinegar oil, or exfoliating cleansers).
  • If it's possible, hang the brushes to dry. You can do this by clipping them to a hanger with a binder clip or a clothespin.

Warnings

  • Do not soak your brushes in water. This will ruin the glue in the handle.
  • Let the brushes dry completely before using them, especially on powdered makeup. If your brushes are even slightly-damp, you may ruin your powder makeup.
  • Do not use heat on your brushes. Let them dry at their own pace.

Things You'll Need

  • Water
  • Baby shampoo or liquid Castile soap
  • Light olive oil or almond oil (for heavily-soiled brushes)
  • Towel

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ Lauren Conrad, [1]
  2. ↑ Crunchy Betty, Clean Your Makeup Brushes Naturally
  3. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/fashion/blog/clean-makeup-brushes-tutorial
  4. ↑ Allure, Bobbi Brown Explains How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes
  5. ↑ Elle, How to Clean Makeup Brushes
  6. ↑ Makeup Geek, How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes Like a Pro
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Teen Vogue, How to Care for Your Makeup Brushes
  8. ↑ Michelle Phan, My Ultimate DIY Brush Cleaner
  9. ↑ Beauty Heaven, Dos and Don't of Washing Makeup Brushes
  10. ↑ Temptalia, How to take Cake of Your Brushes
  11. ↑ Makeup.com, How to Clean Makeup Tools
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