How to Clean Makeup Brushes the Right Way

Since the Corona pandemic has most us in lockdown, we have a good bit of time on our hands. What better thing to do than put that time to good use. When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? Be honest! For me, it has been so long I am embarrassed to say how long it has been. But I’m taking advantage of this free time and cleaning my brushes. Here is a guide on how to clean your makeup brushes the right way!

How Often Should You Clean Your Makeup Brushes?

Clean makeup brushes are a big deal especially if you are a makeup artist. Ideally a makeup brush should be cleansed after each use with a gentle cleanser. But if you are not a makeup artist and you do not share your brushes with anyone, how long can we get away without cleaning them?

Experts say you should clean your brushes at a minimum of once per week and give them a good scrub every other week to help get rid of built-up makeup and bacteria. This includes beauty sponges or beauty blenders. Sponges are a breeding ground for many different types of bacteria so don’t take any chances. When in doubt toss your beauty sponge into the microwave. Make sure it is not wet and microwave it for 2 minutes on normal heat. This should be enough to kill most types of germs.

What to Product Should I Use?

There is no need to buy a special brush cleaner to clean your makeup brushes. Chances are the shampoo in your shower will do the trick. Just make sure it’s sulfate-free. Rinse the brushes out well to avoid leaving any residue on the brushes.

You can also use a spray bottle with 70% rubbing alcohol and 30% water. The alcohol is great for removing things like waterproof eyeliners or mascaras and it disinfects.

There are also many different types of brush sprays you can purchase. These are really easy to use and make it more convenient to clean your makeup brushes weekly like you’re supposed to do. Just spray them on to the brush and then wipe with a paper towel and voila! Clean brushes.

How to Clean Makeup Brushes

Now that we’ve established how often you should be cleaning your brushes here is how you go about doing it.

1. Fill a cup or a bowl with warm water and a few drops of sulfate-free shampoo.
2.  Swish your brush around in the water, and gently work it against the bottom or the side to loosen the makeup. When we say gently we mean gently! You don’t want to bend the brush out of shape.
3.  Rinse gently with lukewarm water, until you’re sure no makeup comes off the brush. You can test this by running the brush over the back of your hand to see if the brush still contains pigment.
4. Push the bristles back into their usual shape if they got banged up, and lay the brush flat to dry.

When Should Brushes be Replaced?

If you take good care of your makeup brushes they should last you a long time. If you are cleaning them regularly there is no need to replace them from a hygienic perspective. Makeup sponges, however, are a different story. They should be tossed out every 3 months. You should replace your makeup brushes when the hairs start falling out or if they lose their shape.

Cleaning Brushes Doesn’t Have to be Difficult

If you clean your brushes regularly it makes it a lot easier in the long run and can prolong the life of your brushes. Take some of your extra time and make cleaning your brushes weekly a regular habit. If you enjoyed this post share it with your friends and read more of our beauty posts.