Learn How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes At Home

If your brushes look dull, dusty, or don’t blend like they used to, it’s time to clean them up! In this tutorial, you will find the best hacks to make your makeup brushes look like new.

Everyone knows that makeup brushes are essential tools for blending certain cosmetics such as eye shadows, blush, applying highlighter and achieving a softer and lighter makeup base,… there are so many advantages that these brushes They deserve to be treated and pampered with great care.

However, cleaning it is also essential for good skin health, since the use of dirty brushes leads to infections and acne breakouts on the face. The reason is very simple, just like makeup sponges, brushes also accumulate dirt, bacteria, and bad odors. You don’t want to brush a dirty brush across clean, moisturized skin, do you?

One last point that you should take into account is the material of manufacture of your brushes: synthetic or natural hair? Later we show you the best methods for each of them. Each one of them is cleaned in a different way and today we show you how to do it quickly, practically and without spending a single penny.

How to clean makeup brushes

Before reading how to clean your brushes, it is important that you take into account the following aspects:

• Always clean them with lukewarm water. Hot water can damage the hair or its adhesive to the handle.
• Use mild soaps and avoid using abrasive cleaning products like bleach or ammonia.
• Clean your brushes and sponges once every 15 days. Those that are used in the eyes, once a month will suffice.
• Before cleaning, shake off excess dust with light touches on the palms of your hands.
• Never soak your whole brushes, you could damage the adhesive that binds the hair to the handle.

Now yes, these are the best methods to clean makeup brushes, choose the one that best suits you!

Neutral pH soap and water

L’Oreal Paris experts indicate that the best way to clean makeup brushes is with lukewarm water and neutral pH soap. To do this, in a container we pour warm water and neutral pH liquid soap or Johnson baby shampoo. 

We introduce the brushes only through the hair part and then rub them against a silicone mat or against the palm of the hands. When the brushes stop throwing color (makeup) rinse them in another container with clean warm water.

For drying, drain the excess water and leave them horizontal on a clean towel and voilà. This cleaning method is ideal for both synthetic brushes and natural hair brushes. You may have to wait a day for it to finish drying.

Olive oil or biphasic

Olive oil has various uses in the world of cleaning and cosmetics. Did you know that it is a great ally to moisturize dry lips? You can also use olive oil or biphasic makeup remover to clean makeup brushes, especially those used for foundations and concealers. What we have to do is pour a little oil on kitchen paper or tissue and rub the brush gently against the paper.

Little by little, the oil will soften the dirt and the brush will be without lumps and with its original appearance. This method is more laborious, but it is effective and safe for natural hair makeup brushes, for example.

Micellar water and soap

Another effective method for cleaning makeup brushes is to soak the brush heads in micellar water for five minutes. Then, we rub each brush against a bar of Dove soap or the one you have at home.

When the brush does not shed color, rinse it with lukewarm water, wring out the excess water, and leave it on a clean towel.

Although you can rinse your brushes directly in the tap, to save water at home and be more environmentally friendly, it is advisable to rinse them in a bowl or container.

Isopropyl alcohol (dry cleaning)

First of all, we do not recommend the use of alcohol to clean natural hair brushes, as it could wear them out in the long run. However, it is advisable to clean synthetic makeup brushes, since the strands are more resistant. Also, this hack is ideal for express dry cleaning and in the event that you need clean brushes as soon as possible.

In a small bowl, pour a generous amount of isopropyl alcohol and tap the head of the brush in. Then, rub the brush against a tissue napkin or handkerchief. When it has stopped throwing color, dry it with kitchen paper and voila. You’ll be able to use your brushes right away!

More tips for cleaning makeup brushes

• When you wash the brushes in the tap, place the bristles downwards to prevent the part that joins the bristles with the handle from getting wet.
• Do not put too much pressure on the bristles of the brush, otherwise you can make them lose their shape.
• Let the brushes dry horizontally or hanging upside down so that the hair does not become deformed. You can use, if you have, special covers for brushes.
• Clean brushes regularly. The most recommended thing is that you do it every week, the dirt that these tools accumulate can cause damage to your skin.

As you can see, it is very easy to wash and disinfect makeup brushes. Remember that it is a fundamental task to avoid skin infections.

Other makeup tools that you should clean.

Other makeup items that you should clean often include sponges, lip brushes, and brow brushes. Similarly, it is essential to clean hair brushes, jade rollers and facial brushes.

Read Also: The Best Makeup Brush Brands For Professionals

FAQs