Quick – when was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? If you can’t remember, it’s probably been too long. Don’t feel too bad; you’re not alone. One survey found that 39% of women clean their brushes less than once a month, and 22% admitted to never cleaning them!
When I first started getting into makeup, I didn’t even know I needed to clean my brushes. After a few months of regularly wearing foundation, I started to break out. At first, I blamed the makeup, until a friend asked me if I’d been washing my brushes and the light went off.
It’s obvious that many women don’t clean their brushes often, whether it’s due to time or because we don’t know how to clean makeup brushes. But are dirty makeup brushes really a big deal?
When an antimicrobial company tested a random selection of foundation and powder brushes in their lab, they found heavy contamination by the bacteria staphylococcus. Other bacteria found in dirty makeup brushes includes streptococcus, micrococcus, and E. Coli. These can all lead to skin infections, pinkeye, rashes, or strep throat.
That’s right, the brushes you use to make yourself prettier could lead to some ugly looks if they haven’t been cleaned. Properly cleaning your makeup brushes also makes them last longer, which is a good thing if you’ve invested in an expensive, high-quality makeup brush set.
How Often Should You Clean your Brushes?
Step-by-Step How to Wash Makeup Brushes
How to Clean Makeup Brushes with Brush Cleaners
Start with your Brushes
Figuring out how to clean makeup brushes starts with knowing if your brushes have synthetic or natural bristles. The bristles dictate the type of makeup you apply with the brush and, thus, the type of makeup you must clean off it.
The bristles on synthetic brushes are made with nylon, taklon, or another manmade fiber. They’re cheaper than natural brushes, easier to keep clean, and less prone to shedding small hairs on your face. Because these fibers have no cuticle to absorb makeup, they’re great for foundation and concealer.
Natural brushes use animal hair, commonly from goats, squirrels, sables, and minks. Natural bristles are more durable than synthetic. They move freely and blend well, making them your go-to for powders like eyeshadows and bronzers.
The porous cuticle on a natural bristle soaks up product, which is why you don’t want to use them for foundation. It’s also why they can become a total germfest if not cleaned regularly. They soak up dirt and bacteria, too, far more than synthetic bristles. If you’re crunched for time and can only clean one makeup brush set, clean your natural brushes.
How Often Should You Clean your Brushes?
How often should you clean your brushes? Shoot for cleaning them weekly if it’s a foundation brush or other brush used on your face. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, stick to this schedule or plan on buying extra zit cream.
Beauty experts and dermatologists disagree on a cleaning schedule for your eyeshadow brushes. Some people say clean them either weekly or monthly, and others advise cleaning them between uses. If you dip your eyeshadow brush in pink but see yesterday’s green when you apply eyeshadow, it’s probably time to clean your brush.
How to Wash Makeup Brushes
You can use a brush cleaner for daily cleaning, but you’ll want to wash your brushes in soap and water at least monthly. Follow this step-by-step list to learn how to wash makeup brushes.
Step-by-Step How to Wash Makeup Brushes
- Add baby shampoo or dishwashing soap to a container and mix it with warm water.
- Wet brush bristles in clean water first.
- Swirl brushes in the water, then gently squeeze them to remove buildup.
- Replace dirty soap and water as needed while washing all your brushes.
- Rinse brushes in clean water.
Instead of using a bowl or mug to wash your brushes, you can squeeze some soap and mix with water on your palm. Then move your brushes in circular patterns against your hand and massage out residue.
When you’re washing your makeup brushes, don’t submerge them in water and try to keep the handle from getting wet. I made this mistake once and ruined a $40 foundation brush. Soap and water will cause the glue holding them together to disintegrate. When this happens, bristles start pulling out, and your brush won’t last much longer.
Given the cost of a good makeup brush set, it’s worth learning how to clean makeup brushes properly.
How to Clean Makeup Brushes with Brush Cleaners
A makeup brush cleaner removes the powders and creams you used applying your face that morning. Some cleansers, like the one I use, Sephora’s Daily Brush Cleanser, you just spritz onto a clean washcloth. Then gently rub your brushes on it until they’re clean.
You can also spritz the makeup brush cleaner directly onto the brush’ bristles and then wipe them clean on a cloth or tissue. They’re a great maintenance cleaner to cut down on dirt and bacteria build up in between washing your brushes. Using one a few times a week will cut down on the time it takes to wash them, too.
Incorporate a brush cleaning mat into your daily routine if you want the convenience of a brush cleaner with a deeper clean. A textured silicone mat breaks up makeup residue better than rubbing brushes between your fingers. The different textures in each section work for brushes of different sizes and bristle lengths.
There are tons of brush cleaners on the market, making it easy to find one that fits your needs and budget. The big plus to using a makeup brush cleaner in between washing your brushes is that it keeps them clean, but you don’t have to wait a day or longer for them to dry. They’re great spot cleaners in between deep cleanings.
Drying your Brushes
After you’ve washed your brushes, don’t just toss them in a cup to dry. Water will leak down into the ferrule, or the metal band holding the bristles and handle together, and ruin the glue. Yup, I lost a concealer brush this way.
First, lay a clean towel on a flat surface like your bathroom countertop. Then, after washing each brush, put them on the towel and fold it over the brush’s bristles. Press down gently to soak up extra water, but don’t mangle the brushes when squeezing.
It’s important to reshape your brushes, gently guiding them back into their original fan or rounded shape. Smooth the hairs with your fingertips and fix any bristles sticking out. If they dry that way, they’ll stay that way. Then position them so the bristles hang off the counter; if you leave them in contact with the towel, they could mildew.
True DIYer’s could attach their brushes to a hanger with rubber bands, hair ties, or binder clips and hang them somewhere safe to dry. Some stores sell drying racks with holes in them, kind of like the stands used to serve ice cream cones, to prop brushes upright while drying, but water will trickle down into the glue.
Air drying is best. Letting your brushes dry flat ensures that they dry evenly and thoroughly. However, don’t leave them out in the bathroom where gross bacteria can land on them if someone flushes the toilet (ewww…but true).
How to Clean a Beauty Blender
The bright pink or purple sponges are everywhere now. The sharp point applies foundation in the crease between your nose and cheek, while the broader curve sweeps makeup across your forehead. Beauty blenders and sponges are in every makeup lover’s tool kit, but how do you clean a Beauty Blender?
Luckily, it’s not hard. Follow a method similar to when you clean brushes.
- Fill a dish with warm, soapy water.
- Swirl your Beauty Blender in the water and work up a lather.
- Let your brush soak to loosen and break up makeup.
- Delicately squeeze out moisture.
- Spot clean and rinse the sponge.
You should let your sponges air dry, too. It’s smart to have several sponges in rotation since it can take several days for them to dry thoroughly. I own four Beauty Blenders of various sizes.
There’s no mystery to cleaning makeup brushes and sponges, so don’t be intimidated! It is, however, easy to forget to do it. Put weekly and monthly reminders on your calendar to stay on top of your brush cleaning schedule.
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