Makeup Brush Cleaning Tips

[HollyElizabeth]

I know we all do it ladies, don't we? My question is how you clean your brushes, how often you clean them, and what to use to clean your brushes. I've been cleaning my brushes and sponges once a week on a day when I don't have to put on makeup the next day and I usually use Dawn to really clean everything real nice. I'm interested in what you ladies use and just how often you girls do your brush maintenance. Am I using the wrong soap and cleaning to often or not often enough. Come on girls, time to share your brush cleaning tips. lol

 

Hugs Holly!

[Elizabeth Star]

I use one of those sponge ball things. I try wash it once a week and also use Dawn but it doesn't seem to get it as clean as I would like. I only have one brush, for eye-shadow. I've never thought about cleaning it.

[HollyElizabeth]

Elizabeth, I have the ball sponge I use for foundation and concealer, and I have 3 brushes for everything else. I have a medium brush for my bronzer and blush. I have a smaller brush for my shadows and highlighters. And I have a big poofy brush that I use to blend and apply lose powder. I bought those from the Dollar Tree. I might buy a second set of the same brushes so that I can switch them out when I clean them. I do have other brushes but I don't feel I need more than the three that I use and the one sponge. I do feel that after a week they're full of all kinds of stuff and they need a good cleaning. And besides, I don't want last weeks of gross bacteria being spread across this weeks new face.. lol. No one wants those awful pimples. lol

 

Hug Holly!

[tracy_j]

My brushes, I tend to clean weekly. I just usually wash with running water and normal liquid soap, smoothing it through with my fingers and then rinsing it all out. Rather than genuine makeup brushes, several of mine are artists paintbrushes so I just use a similar method. I use sponge pads as well but probably don't clean them often enough.

 

Tracy

[Carolyn Marie]

I guess I'm the outlier here.  I worry about bacteria on the brushes, so I soak them in isopropyl  alcohol for about 30 minutes once every two weeks, and then rinse them well with running water and let them dry completely.  I've never had a problem with that technique.

 

Carolyn Marie

[HollyElizabeth]

Tracy, I never thought about using artist brushes. Really smart makeup hack. lol

 

Carolyn, I'm a bit of a germaphobe, I should probably use the alcohol to sterilize my brushes. I have cats and we all know how cats are, they like to rub all over everything. I keep my brushes out in a glass on my makeup table so I know they've rubbed all over everything on my table. Now that I'm thinking about it my skin wants to crawl away and into a tub of disinfectant.  lol

 

Hugs Holly.

[Dinaki]

Any brushes that touches my eyes, I clean daily with Clinique makeup brush cleaner.

All other fat brushes (powders, cheekcolors etc), a though bath each week with kitchen detergent soap.

I let them dry overnight (not standing but lay flat on a towel) and that's it!

[MiraM]

Dawn is a good cleanser for makeup brushes.  A deep clean of the brushes weekly is a good idea.  If you are doing makeup on other people, they should be deep cleaned daily.  I deep clean mine weekly (and I have several sets that I rotate through so I am not left without brushes), and I also use Cinema Secrets brush cleaner for a daily clean after I use a brush.  This is especially helpful for eye brushes to get rid of bacteria, but it also keeps shadow from building up in the brush.  If you don't get the old shadow out of the brush, you will wind up with a muddy mess when there are several shades on the same brush.

[HollyElizabeth]

Exactly MiraM. I want clean brushes for sanitary reasons but I want clean brushes for a clean application of my makeup. Nothing like going to put on a light eye shadow only to realize that you still have a bit of the dark shadow left in the brush from the last time. It ruins your look. I never gave thought about daily brush cleaning, but it seems like a good idea. I've been thinking of buying extra brushes to use while I'm cleaning a set. Now I know that's what I need to do. I can get whet I need from the dollar store so I might buy 3 more sets. Thanks MieaM and Dinaki. Hugs and Kisses Girls.

[Sally Stone]

Mira mentioned Dawn.  That is my go to cleaning solution.  It is great for getting all of the makeup out of the fibers and I find that it helps to keep the brushes conditioned as well.  I never considered myself a germaphobe, but I clean my brushes after every use, so, perhaps I am after all.  

[Abi]

There is nothing like a great set of brushes and they are often very inexpensive. I always clean them with an antibacterial soap of some sort. I would never use my personal brushes on someone else. I would like the idea of like a ladies night doing makeup and trading secrets but, I would make sure everybody has a healthy supply of options. The first thing I do when I'm going to do my makeup is try to have a general look in mind. Youtube has so many great artists that share their technique.