Cleaning and sanitizing your makeup brushes is a very important step that many of us don’t do on a regular basis! Here I will share with you how I clean my brushes with products you probably already have in your house!
As a makeup artist, I had to regularly clean my brushes (not my fav activity!), but it was a critical part of running a safe and clean business for my clients. Makeup brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria and as product continues to build up on the bristles, the longevity and life of your brushes are at risk too. If you notice your skin breaking out more regularly, you may want to take a look at your makeup brushes. They may be the culprit!
how often should you clean your brushes
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For sanitary purposes, you should be deep cleaning your brushes at least once a week. Not only will it keep your brushes clean and not spread bacteria all over your face, but it will also help with the longevitiy of your brushes.
Makeup brushes are a huge investment, especially if you buy the more expensive ones. If you take care of them, they will be your best friends for life and your skin will thank you too!
let’s get cleaning
Supplies Needed:
- Towel
- Bowl
- Anti-Bacterial Dish Soap (baby shampoo works well too)
- Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil (or extra virgin olive oil if you don’t have coconut)
- Makeup Brush Cleaning Mat (I highly recommend buying! And it’s only $8.99!)
- Warm Water
Step 1: make cleaning solution
Mix Anti Bacterial Dish Soap & Coconut Oil together in bowl (equal parts) & microwave a few seconds to melt coconut oil. The soap will clean, sanitize and remove all the makeup from your brushes. The coconut oil will naturally condition and protect the bristles and also naturally sanitize through it’s anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.
step 2: wet The Makeup Brush
Run luke-warm water over brush bristles, facing your brush down. Holding the brush down will prevent water from running into the brush which could damage it.
step 3: scrub
Dip brush into cleaning mixture and gently scrub brush into the grooves of the makeup brush cleaning mat to remove makeup/dirt. I used to just use my hands which was not very efficient but once I started using this cleaning mat, it was a total game changer! It made cleaning my brushes so much easier and got every piece of makeup out. I highly recommend it! You can purchase it for $8.99 on amazon here.
Rinse with warm water and repeat step until the bristles are clean and water runs clear.
step 4: dry
Squeeze excess water out from the bristles, reshape and lay it flat on a clean towel to dry. Do not stand your brushes up. If you dry them standing up, water may leak into the ferrule of the brush and cause damage. Sometimes during the drying process the bristles clump up and are less fluffy. I usually take the brush and gently swirl the bristles on a clean towel to help “fluff” it up and lay it back down again to dry if it’s still a little damp. It usually takes my brushes over night to dry.
YOu have learned how to deep clean your makeup brushes!
Voila! And that’s how I deep clean my makeup brushes. Nothing too magical here, but it’s super simple and easy! I know it’s not the most fun thing to do (just pour yourself a glass of wine and play your favorite music) and I promise the time will pass quickly.
If you want to learn a quicker technique by cleaning with professional makeup brush cleaners, you can check out that post too! I hope this post has helped you and given you some tips on how to keep your brushes clean, conditioned, sanitized and pretty!
