The Best Way to Clean Makeup Brushes
I’ve accumulated dozens of makeup brushes over the years, which means I’ve spent way too much time cleaning them. Dirty brushes can ruin your glam, but they can also cause breakouts and spread bacteria and whatever else is lurking in your makeup bag. In the worst case, you can even become infected. Cleaning them regularly—every seven to ten days—is important, but it’s also important to do it correctly. Some cleaning methods are ineffective, while others are downright harmful to your brush.
How to Clean Makeup Brushes
There are plenty of tutorials on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram showing how influencers and makeup gurus clean their brushes, but many of them are full of misinformation. For example, the use of oil is prohibited; It is extremely difficult to remove from bristles, which can make brushes less effective and cause breakouts on certain skin types. Using rubbing alcohol is also a bad idea as it can weaken the adhesive that holds the bristles to the handle. I have also seen many videos of users completely submerging brush heads in soapy water. Again, no: this can also damage the adhesive in the long run.
Instead, start with a regular rinse to remove the most visible outer makeup. Fill a small bowl with micellar water and swirl the tips of the brushes in it. I love using micellar water to clean my makeup brushes because just as it easily removes makeup from your skin, it does the same thing here. If you don’t have any, just run the tips of your brush under the tap.
Then refill the bowl with plain, clean water and add a few drops of mild dish soap or baby shampoo . Avoid using anything else, such as hand soap. Some bloggers have also recommended Dove Body Wash in the past, but it contains some conditioning agents that can leave a film on your stubble over time. The softer and simpler the soap, the better. Roll the tips of the brush again, this time massaging them with your hands to “clean” them. Every time the water gets too dirty, pour it out and refill the bowl. Over time, each brush will stop releasing powders and liquids, and when you run it back under the tap, the water coming out of them will be clean.
Many influencers recommend using a silicone mat as a cleaning agent during the cleaning process, but these are specialty products that are not particularly necessary. Yes, they’re comfortable, but they vary in price ( $5 for a simple at Ulta , $35 for a large at Amazon ) and don’t do much more than a good finger massage can. Their biggest advantage is that you get a lot of water by running a brush over them, but you can do this yourself by gently squeezing the bristles over a cleaning bowl or sink.
When it’s time to completely dry your bruises, place them on a paper towel or microfiber cloth. Don’t unravel the stubble in an unnatural manner to dry it out; this way they will dry out and be difficult to use later. Instead, gently shape the stubble and let it air dry. I usually leave mine at least overnight and come back a few times to turn them. Do not dry them upright in a container; this will affect the adhesive on the bristles as water will drain. You can even dry them while they hang upside down; If you can figure out a way to attach some handles to keep the brushes in the air, let me know. Drying them flat is fine, but it’s wise to rotate them periodically to prevent the bristles from flattening on one side.
How to clean a makeup sponge
Makeup sponges, which became popular around 2016 but are still a staple in most makeup kits, are much easier to clean than brushes since they can be completely submerged in water without any problem. You can do this in micellar water first and then move on to a soap-water mixture, or go straight to soap and water. (Many makeup sponge brands sell their own cleansers, but baby shampoo is just as good.)
Dip the sponge into the water and massage it with your hands, squeezing until you see the makeup begin to come out into the water. If it’s really, really dirty, leave it in the soapy water for about 10 minutes. Take it out and apply a little soap directly to the damp sponge, lathering it up. Rinse the sponge under the tap and do not stop until the water runs clear.
To dry the sponge, prop it up if you can and let it air dry. It can air dry, but you will have to turn it over a few times. Let it dry overnight to make sure there are no wet spots inside that could cause mold. When you feel it dry, give it a good squeeze to make sure you don’t feel any moisture. Do not put it back in the box or container until it is completely dry.