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Cleaning makeup brushes is one of the non-negotiable parts of makeup application; without proper cleaning, your brushes can quickly become a breeding ground for all sorts of unsightly germs and bacteria that will end up on your face.
A lot of people don’t realize that if they don’t clean their makeup brushes on a regular basis, they could be encouraging acne breakouts, irritated skin, and some more serious skin conditions from the bacteria that build up your brushes.
Not only are clean makeup brushes ideal for those who don’t like the sound of spreading bacteria over their face every time they do their makeup, but clean brushes are an essential part of good makeup. When you’re brushes are squeaky clean and have no signs of residual makeup on them, they will apply your products perfectly, and give you a makeup look that appears airbrushed and flawless — and, who doesn’t want that?
This post is all about how to clean makeup brushes and why you should make it an important part of your routine, keep reading to find out more.
Why Should You Clean Your Makeup Brushes and Sponges?
If you’re not already cleaning your makeup brushes, it’s something that you need to change right away. All the accumulated makeup, oil, and bacteria that build up on your brushes and sponges quickly can lead to breakouts, irritations, and uneven coverage.
When you wash your makeup brushes regularly, not only are you doing your skin a favor but you also ensure true color representation, smoother blending of liquid and powder products, and enhance the overall finish of your makeup.
You don’t need a crazy washing routine, you can use household products you already own to clean each of the bristles of all your brushes with gentle cleansers or mild soaps (not any old dish soap). Whatever you choose to clean your brushes, prioritizing their cleanliness guarantees a hygienic canvas to start your makeup look.
When Should You Be Washing Your Makeup Brushes?
If you’re wondering whether or not you should wash your makeup brush or sponge, chances are that it’s time to wash them. When you’ve got dirty brushes on your hands, you’ll notice product buildup on the brush hairs, and you may find that the color payoff of your makeup products isn’t looking too good.
For synthetic brushes used with cream or liquid products, you want to clean them more often, maybe even some spot cleaning after every use. Brushes used with powder products can be cleaned every 1-2 weeks, depending on how often you use them. No one wants dirty makeup brushes, so make sure to clean those brush hairs as often as possible!
Sponges can be one of the worst culprits when it comes to growing bacteria, so cleaning them after every couple of uses is your safest bet. A consistent cleaning schedule is important to protect your skin and to maintain the quality of your makeup tools.
How Often Should You Clean Makeup Brushes and Sponges?
You should be cleaning your makeup brushes on a weekly basis and your sponges after every couple of uses if you want to keep these tools clean.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should wash your brushes every 7 days if you want to get rid of any harmful bacteria and protect from skin irritation. When you’re using your brushes and sponges every day, they often harbor bacteria that can cause a lot of skin issues, so this regular cleaning is important.
Like the dermatology association says, we make sure to keep our brushes and sponges as clean as possible by washing them with warm water every weekend, ready for the week ahead of creating stunning makeup looks.
What’s the step-by-step process on how to clean your makeup brushes?
As we’ve established, cleaning your brushes is essential. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to clean them yourself:
- Gather your supplies: Whether you’re using a gentle soap, baby shampoo, or dish soap, get it ready to use. You’ll also need a towel and access to some lukewarm water to rinse your brushes and sponges.
- Wet tools with warm water: Rinse your tools under the water and ensure all the bristles are wet, but avoid the metal part as water damage could make your brush fall apart.
- Apply soap: Place a small amount of shampoo or cleanser onto your palm or a silicone mat, if that’s what you choose to use when washing your tools.
- Start cleaning your tools: Swirl the brush bristles in the cleanser and gently massage them to dislodge any makeup or dirt — not too hard though, we don’t want to cause bristle loss.
- Rinse: Rinse the brushes under running water until the water runs clear and the cleanser is fully removed. Afterward, you may need to gently squeeze the brushes to get rid of excess water and put them back into shape.
How to Clean Your Makeup Sponges Like a Makeup Artist
If you want to create makeup looks that are worthy of some of the most popular makeup artists in the world, you need to clean your brushes — it’s something you shouldn’t avoid.
Ask any celebrity makeup artist and they’ll probably tell you the same thing, to reduce acne breakouts, prevent bacteria growth, and remove makeup residue, you need clean brushes.
Whether they’re working with powder makeup or liquid makeup, makeup artists always do some spot cleaning of their brushes in between products to cleanse the brush tips of any residual makeup and ensure the best color payoff possible. Then, after finishing with a client, they will give their brushes a deep clean to clean off every bit of product from the brush tips.
Normally makeup artists will use specific brush cleaners, not just something like olive oil to clean everything. It doesn’t take a board-certified dermatologist to tell you that the ingredients you use to clean your brushes shouldn’t contain any harsh ingredients that could irritate your skin.
When Should You Replace Your Makeup Tools?
Unfortunately, even if you are consistent about cleaning brushes with a gentle shampoo that protects the natural bristles of the whole brush head, there comes a time in every brush’s life when they can no longer be used and it’s time to throw them away.
Most high-quality brushes should last you a long time in your beauty routine, especially if you’re caring for them properly. But, once it gets to a couple of years of use it may be time to part ways. If you notice that a significant amount of bristles are falling out every time you use them, if the brush is falling apart, or if it’s becoming impossible to remove all the excess products, it’s time to replace your makeup tools.
With makeup sponges, it’s a little different, as you should be replacing them every 1-3 months as they collect a lot more bacteria a lot more than makeup brushes do.
Ready to Start Cleaning Your Brushes and Sponges? Here’s What You’ll Need
Now you know all the tips and tricks for cleaning your brushes, these are some of the products we think you should use to make your brushes extra clean.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Dish Soap
It’s probably not a good idea to use any old soap to clean your makeup brushes and sponges, but with something like Mrs. Meyers Dish Soap, you don’t need to worry about harsh ingredients and fragrances damaging your brushes.
After using this soap, your brushes will be left squeaky clean with any signs of residual makeup completely gone. Just wipe dry on a clean towel and your brushes will be brand new, with the simple list of ingredients, you don’t have to worry about skin irritation — even if you have super sensitive skin.
Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleanser
The Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleanser is a very popular choice for swift and efficient brush care and is used by plenty of high-profile professionals in the beauty industry.
This makeup brush cleaner quickly dissolves makeup, oils, and impurities, so your brushes are instantly ready to be used again. With antibacterial properties for hygiene and gentle ingredients that extend the useful life of your brushes, this product is perfect for any makeup artist or enthusiast.
ULTA Beauty Collection Brush & Sponge Cleanser
Perfect for both makeup brushes and sponges, the ULTA Beauty Collection Brush & Sponge Cleanser is designed to remove any product buildup, oils, and bacteria. Free from parabens and sulfates, it’s a skin-friendly option that can be used to quickly clean your tools between products, or for a deeper clean.
The easy-to-use pump dispenser provides just the right amount of product, so you have one less thing to think about when you’re trying to do your makeup. Just apply to the brush, wipe away any excess water on a dry towel, and store your brushes upright while it dries.
EcoTools Makeup Brush + Sponge Shampoo
If you want to keep your makeup brushes and sponges looking pristine, something like the EcoTools Makeup Brush + Sponge Shampoo should be an essential part of your routine. It uses all plant-based ingredients that are effective at removing products and bacteria from bristles and sponges.
The product is free from parabens, phthalates, and petroleum-based ingredients, so it’s extremely kind to your tools and your face. Not only is it good for cleaner makeup application, but a product like this also ensures optimal brush and sponge performance.
Sephora Collection Solid Brush and Sponge Cleaner
Something a little different that could change the game when cleaning your makeup brushes is Sephora’s Solid Brush and Sponge Cleaner; a versatile tool for maintaining impeccable brushes and sponges.
This product is a solid formula that uses a range of gentle ingredients to effectively remove makeup residue and oils from bristles and sponges. You simply swirl the brush around in the mixture with a bit of water and then wipe clean on a paper towel to keep your brushes dry without any excess moisture.
Compact and travel-friendly, it’s perfect for on-the-go touch-ups and removes a lot of the unnecessary mess you may create using other brush cleaners.
Sigma Spa 2X Brush Cleaning Glove
If you have the Sigma Spa 2X Brush Cleaning Glove, you have no reason to not clean your brushes regularly as it’s incredibly easy to use. Simply slip the glove on and gently swirl brushes over all the groves to get a deep clean with a bit of lukewarm water to loosen everything up.
It’s the perfect size for both eye brushes and face brushes and with the strap, it never moves about when you’re trying to use it. After you’ve cleaned all of your brushes, just wash the glove with some soap and enjoy the game-changing impact it will have on your beauty routine.
Silicone Makeup Brush Cleaning Mat
A brief search on Amazon will present you with many different Silicone makeup brush cleaning mats that all offer very similar things. Here are some of our favorites that are available to buy online now:
- Silicone Makeup Cleaning Brush Scrubber Mat
- Makeup Brush Cleaner Mat
- Silicone Makeup Cleaning Brush Scrubber Bowl
- Makeup Brush Cleaner Pad with Back Strap
RICRIS Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Machine
The final product we have in this round-up is the RICRIS Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Machine, a bowl-shaped device that swiftly cleans and dries brushes. All you have to do is attach your brush to the spinner, dip it in the provided cleaning solution, and let the machine work its magic.
In a matter of seconds, any build-up will be removed and your brushes will be left pristine and ready for use. Although the spinner works fast, it’s gentle enough to not damage your brushes, just ensures impeccably clean beauty tools.
After reading this post, it’s time to start cleaning all of your brushes and sponges…quick!
