How to Clean Make-up Brushes

If you recall my Beauty Commandments, you’ll know that keeping clean make-up brushes will help lead you to healthy, clear skin. I personally like using a special brush cleanser, such as this one from Bare Minerals.

Not only does it clean them thoroughly, but the conditioning factor keeps them soft on my skin. Others swear by baby shampoo, mild dish detergent, and oily-skin face wash, but these might be too harsh on your brushes, leading to shedding and a decrease in quality.

So what’s the best way to wash them? Well, here’s what I do:

Step 1:

Get your dirty brushes wet.

Step 2:

Add a little dollop of soap to the bristles.

Step 3:

Gently massage the soap into the brush. Little by little, you’ll start to see the left-over make-up beginning to lift. Aren’t you glad you’re not gonna get all that oil and dirt on your face???

Step 4:

This is a little trick that helps me remove some of the more stubborn layers of grime. I add a little more soap and I use the brush as if I were applying make-up to the palm of my hand. You’ll see more and more stuff come out.

Step 5:

Rinse your brushes.

Step 6:

If you press them against a surface and the water doesn’t run clear, repeat the above steps until it does.

Step 7:

Leave your brushes to dry, facing down. This will keep water from collecting in the metal part and causing rusting and weakening of the glue that holds the bristles. If this is not possible for whatever reason, at least lay them horizontally, never with the brush part facing upward. Allow them to air-dry and try to put something under them to absorb the moisture, like the paper towel I’m using. Keep in mind that you should replace it with a fresh, dry one every so often, especially if you’re drying much thicker tools, like body powder or kabuki brushes.  

Notes:

- This tutorial works just fine on sponge-tip applicators, sponges, and powder puffs.

- While I want to say that you should do this every time you use your brushes, let’s be realistic. Try to do it no less than three times a week, if you’re a make-up-everyday kinda gal. If not, adjust accordingly. If you find yourself unable to do it more than once a week, invest in a spray cleanser or baby wipes, along with your brush shampoo. These won’t get them as thoroughly clean as an actual soap would, but you can quickly use them after every make-up application to stave off some of the dirt. Just don’t forget to give them a thorough wash when you can!

Stay beautiful.