If you’re new to the makeup world you might not know that makeup brushes need a lot of love. In the same way you wash your face to get rid of any product or dirt build-up, you have to wash your brushes to do the same.
Although it can feel a little bit like a chore, cleaning your makeup brushes is essential for your skin and your makeup application.
That’s why, in this guide, we’re going to break down the process into a few easy steps so that you know exactly how to keep your tools clean.
Before we get to the nitty-gritty details of how to clean your makeup brushes, it’s important to talk about why you need to do so.
First things first, you need to clean your brushes to protect your skin. When you use a makeup brush, you transfer some of the bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells onto the bristles as you apply the makeup. Over time, this build-up can cause several different types of skin issues.
There’s no point in having a luxurious, seven-step skincare routine if you’re using dirty brushes. Dirty brushes can cause acne breakouts, allergic reactions, rashes, and in some extreme cases, infections like E. coli or a staph infection.
Another reason you need to clean your makeup brushes is to make sure that your makeup applies as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. If there’s old makeup trapped in your brush, it might interfere with the application and cause your makeup to look streaky and patchy.
Last but not least, washing your makeup brushes can help extend their lifespan — and save you money.
That said, the best way to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to brushes is to choose high-quality makeup tools, like our Pro Core Brush Kit, and regularly wash them. At SHEGLAM, we’re committed to offering high-quality products at reasonable prices so you can get your glam on.
Now that you know why washing your makeup brushes is important, it’s time to break the process down into six easy steps.
It’s important to rinse the tips of your makeup brushes out under lukewarm water before you start to deep clean them so that you can get any leftover makeup off.
Make sure to only rinse the tip under running water because the glue that holds the head and handle together will dissolve over time.
Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and a little gentle shampoo or clarifying shampoo, and swirl each brush tip in the bowl. If you want to give your brushes a bit more TLC, you can massage each brush time in your hand and allow the tips to soak for a couple of minutes.
Once you’re done washing your brushes, rinse the bristles again under running water. Continue to repeat the previous step until the water running off of the brush is completely clear.
As soon as your brushes are totally clean, grab a dry paper towel and squeeze out the excess moisture from the brush. Make sure you’re only gently pressing on the bristles to dry them so that you don’t accidentally damage the brush.
After all the excess water has been squeezed out, you can lay your makeup brushes on a clean, dry towel to dry overnight. Your brushes may dry even faster if you allow the tips to hang over the edge of the counter.
Although it might be tempting, don’t let your brushes dry bristles up because the water will run down the brush and loosen the glue we mentioned earlier.
If you’re a big fan of creamy and liquid makeup, chances are that you use a makeup sponge for at least one step of your makeup routine. To clean your makeup sponge, soak it in a bowl with lukewarm water and soap.
You’ll see your sponge start to expand which is a good thing. This happens as every pore of the sponge is sanitized with the soap.
From there, gently rub the sponge in the palm of your hand. You’ll see the excess makeup start to seep out, and you’ll want to continue to do this until the sponge is perfectly clean and the water runs clear.
There are several brush and sponge cleaners, cleansers, and shampoos out there that you can buy specifically for your beauty tools. However, if you’re looking to clean your tools with common household products, you have a few options.
A gentle shampoo, like baby shampoo, may do a great job cleaning out your brushes without damaging the bristles. You’ll also only need to use a drop of baby shampoo in water to make an effective cleaning solution.
Another good option is liquid dish soap. This is great for brushes that have a lot of product and oils worked into the brushes.
You can also use a combination of vinegar and lemon when you want to give your brushes a really deep clean. This combination will work like a disinfectant and kill all the germs stored in your brush. To use this duo, put two tablespoons of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar in a cup of hot water and swirl the bristles around. Then, run the brush over the face of a sliced lemon to cut the vinegar smell.
For an even easier method, opt for our Brush & Sponge Shampoo or Brush Spray Cleaner. Both products are safe and gentle on your favorite makeup tools while still effectively cleaning them.
Given that your makeup brushes make direct contact with your skin, you want to avoid using any harsh products that have dyes and fragrances. These ingredients can cause reactions and dry your brushes out.
The answer to the question of how often you should clean your makeup brushes has a few different answers depending on the type of products you’re using.
If you’re using liquid makeup like liquid bronzer or foundation, you’ll want to clean your brushes or sponges every few days, if not every day. That’s because this type of makeup makes your brushes a breeding ground for bacteria.
You should aim to clean powder makeup brushes once a week or once every two weeks. Since powder makeup doesn’t facilitate bacteria growth as much as liquid makeup, you can get away with cleaning them less frequently.
For many people, cleaning makeup brushes is the last thing they want to do when they have free time. That’s why we recommend making it a habitual part of your beauty and skincare routine. The more you get into the habit of doing it, the less tedious it will feel!
Although good brush hygiene is a must, there always comes a day when your makeup brushes have just got to go. You’ll know it’s time to say goodbye to a brush when the bristles start to fray, lose their shape, or even fall out.
Once this starts to happen, it will be harder to get that flawless makeup application you’re looking for. You may even risk getting a few bristles baked into your look, which is why it’s important to toss your brushes before that happens.
Once your brushes are clean and bone dry (we mean 100%, like-new dry), you’re ready to store them for the next day. This brings us to an important question: what’s the best way to store a makeup brush?
Contrary to what you might think, makeup brushes shouldn’t be stored in makeup bags unless you’re in transit. When you trap your brushes in a bag, they’re more likely to build up bacteria and get dirtier faster. Instead, you should store your brushes bristles-up in a jar or drawer.
Ideally, you have the space to store your brushes in a brush bouquet so that they stay as clean and dry as possible.
For the sake of your skin, makeup looks, and wallet, it’s important to make cleaning your makeup brushes a regular part of your beauty routine.
With just a gentle soap and 10 minutes or so of your time, you’ll be able to get your brushes clean and remove any leftover product, oil, or bacteria that was trapped in the bristles.
Once your brushes are dried and ready to go, make sure to share some photos of your latest makeup creations on social media and tag us so that we can see how you’re putting your newly cleaned tools to use.