How to Clean Makeup Brushes

Cleaning your make-up brushes probably isn’t something you do often enough, and if we’re honest, neither do we! It can take a long time for brushes to dry, sometimes, we do it wrong, and bristles end up falling out…the job can be a hassle!

But the benefits of regularly washing your brushes are great as it can prevent bacteria from building up on your brush and causing your skin to breakout, or worse, getting an infection.

We’re here to help you get your brushes looking like new again with our top brush cleaning routine.

How often Should I Clean my Brushes?

Every 7-10 days is a good starting point if you don’t want to go through the effort of cleaning them twice a week. However, how often you wash them may also depend on what kind of makeup you’re using.

Bacteria thrives better in damp environments, so the brushes you use to apply products like liquid foundations and concealers should be cleaned more often. Your powder brushes are generally fine to leave for a little bit longer.

The Method

Rinse the tip of the brush under lukewarm running water. This helps to remove residual makeup from the brush. Be careful not to soak the end of the bristles, as this can cause the glue to disintegrate, resulting in loose hairs.
Add some gentle shampoo (regular soap can dry out the bristles, but baby shampoo, for example, would be a good choice) or brush cleanser to a cup with more lukewarm water and dip your brush tip in, giving it a swirl.
Massage the bristles with your fingers or use a silicone brush cleaning mat.
Rinse with clean water and gently remove excess water with a towel.
Carefully reshape your brushes by moving them against your hand to fluff back up.
Leave the brushes to dry flat with the bristles hanging over the edge of a counter to help them dry evenly. Don’t stand your brushes upright, as moisture can drip into the handle and cause rot or disrupt the glue.

Cleaning your Makeup Sponge

This can be a trickier task as makeup sponges suck in product, making it harder to reach the centre where deeper dirt and makeup may lie.

We suggest getting a bowl of warm water mixed with your soap/cleanser of choice and leaving your sponge to soak for several minutes so the cleaner can reach the centre of the sponge. After that, squish your sponge and massage it before rinsing until the water runs clear.

Remember to let your sponge dry out completely before using it again or placing it into your makeup bag to prevent it from growing mould.

For more beauty tips, browse the articles below or explore our full Health and Beauty collection.