How Do You Clean Makeup Brushes?

If you love your makeup and all the accessories needed to look your best such as brushes then you know that they will need to be cleaned of oil, dirt and bacteria. This can build up on the bristles and then transfer to your skin causing blocked pores and other problems.

But just how do you clean makeup brushes without losing their shape or softness?  There are a couple of ways that this can be done.  Both are effective but the first one is the quickest and easiest.

Makeup Brush Cleaner

You can purchase this online.  It is a quick and easy way to refresh your brushes and not only does it smell nice but it really does a good job.

With this product you simply spray the bristles and then with a clean towel (I prefer towels to paper towels because I find paper tends to leave fibers behind, but that is just me!) you blot the moisture out and lay them flat to complete air dry.

This product works quickly to get rid of and loosen oil and dirt and leftover makeup.  You may need to do this twice if you have not cleaned them in a long time.

Baby Shampoo

If you don’t want to buy a commercial product, then you can also do this yourself with a mild shampoo such as baby shampoo.

Dampen your bristles and then work in a small amount of shampoo (you do not need much) then fill the sink with clear cool rinse water and swish the brushes around.  Do, not soak the entire brush just swoosh the bristles around until the shampoo is out.  You may need to rub your fingers through them to make sure the shampoo is completely out.

Dry them quickly in a towel, and then reshape them.  If you can hang them upside down (bristles downward) that will help to make sure the water does not run back down to the base of the bristles and affect the shape or remove the glue.  Otherwise make sure you have patted out as much water out as you can, reshape and lay flat to dry on a towel for overnight.

How Often?

You should do this about once every two weeks.  Make a schedule to maybe do this quickly on a Sunday night for example.  The commercial cleaner does not tend to leave the bristles as damp as the shampoo procedure therefore they dry much quicker.

Keep a small hand towel that you can wash and keep nearby just for when you clean your makeup brushes.

By doing this on a regular basis, you will not only prolong the life of your brushes but you will not be getting the oil and buildup on the bristles that can transfer back to your skin and leave your skin irritated. 

You will not get the polished look you are going for if things are dirty.  Just like an artist you need your tools in optimum shape.  You wouldn’t use dirty brushes to paint right?  So, why let your makeup brushes build up?