Quick Answer: Make a cleaning solution of water, a pump of gentle cleanser (like baby shampoo), and a drop of jojoba oil. Soak small brushes bristles-only to loosen residue, and scrub larger brushes on a silicone mat. Rinse under running water while keeping water out of the handle so the glue doesn’t dissolve. Dry brushes bristles-down on a three-towel setup so water drains away from the handle, and spritz with a mix of 70% isopropyl alcohol and distilled water to speed drying. Clean your brushes every one to two weeks with regular use.
Cleaning your makeup brushes is an essential routine for maintaining the integrity of your brushes and ensuring flawless makeup application. Here’s a complete guide to getting your brushes sparkling clean using effective methods and easy-to-find supplies.
Gathering Your Supplies
Preparing the Cleaning Solution
Start by mixing up your cleaning solution. Fill a small glass container with a little water, add a pump of your chosen cleanser, and a single drop of jojoba oil. This simple combination is what breaks down the makeup residue built up in the bristles.
The oil is especially helpful for the products that cling hardest, like eyeshadows and concealers, which tend to leave the heaviest buildup. A drop is all it takes to help loosen those stubborn pigments.
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Soaking Small Brushes
Soaking is a vital step for smaller brushes such as eyeshadow and concealer brushes. Submerge just the bristles in your cleaning solution, being careful not to let the water reach the handle where the bristles are glued in place.
Giving the bristles time to soak helps loosen and break down the heavy makeup residue before you even start scrubbing. That head start makes the rest of the cleaning much easier and more effective.
Cleaning Larger Brushes
For larger brushes, set your silicone scrub pad in a stable spot, like the bottom of the sink. Add a few pumps of soap and a couple of drops of oil onto the pad along with a bit of water, then gently scrub the brushes against the textured surface.
Be careful not to get too aggressive here, since scrubbing too hard can damage the bristles. If a brush is particularly dirty, you can apply soap directly onto the bristles and work it in gently with your fingers to target the buildup before finishing on the pad.
Rinsing the Brushes
Rinse your brushes under running water, again making sure water doesn’t seep up into the handle. This is the key to protecting your brushes, because water in the handle dissolves the glue and causes the bristles to fall out over time.
A helpful trick for rinsing small brushes is to let the water hit your hand first and then flow over the brush. This softens the stream and minimizes how much water reaches the handle, keeping those bristles secure.
How Often to Clean Your Brushes
How frequently you clean comes down to how often you use your brushes. For daily users, cleaning every one to two weeks is a good rule of thumb.
Clean brushes don’t just improve how your makeup goes on, they also prevent the spread of bacteria, which means healthier skin. It’s a small habit with a real payoff for both your makeup and your complexion.
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Cleaning Beauty Blenders and Sponges
Beauty blenders and sponges follow a similar method to brushes. One important warning: never put them in the microwave, despite popular hacks, because it can cause permanent damage.
Instead, wet the sponge, apply soap and a bit of oil directly onto it, and work the mixture in with your fingers. Squeeze and repeat until the water runs clear, and you’ll have a fresh, clean sponge ready for your next application.
Drying Your Brushes
Proper drying is crucial for maintaining the shape and quality of your brushes, and a three-towel system with microfiber towels works beautifully. Roll up two towels and place them side by side, drape a third towel over the top, and lay your brushes across them with the bristles pointing down. This bristles-down position lets water drain out and away from the handle, which both protects the glue and speeds up drying.
To dry them even faster, mix 70% isopropyl alcohol with distilled water in a spray bottle and lightly spritz the brushes. This does double duty, helping to sanitize the bristles while accelerating the drying time.
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Keep Them Looking Great
With these steps, your makeup brushes will be clean and ready to use, giving you better makeup application and healthier skin. Regular cleaning is a small effort with significant benefits, keeping your brushes in top condition for years to come.
