Clean Makeup Brushes With These 4 Easy Methods

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Raise your hand if you’ve been procrastinating to clean your makeup brushes. Well, we should probably give each other a high five because mine are raised too. Even though I wouldn't categorize this task as exciting, it's definitely important. Not cleaning your makeup brushes allows bacteria to build up which in return we cause you to break out. 

Here are some methods to clean your makeup brushes that are guaranteed to get the gunk out of your makeup brushes. 

Before you begin to wash your brushes there are two key things you should know so you don't ruin your makeup brushes:

• Do not leave your makeup brushes to soak for an extended period of time. Most makeup brush handles are made out of wood. If they are submerged, the wood will eventually soak up the water, expand, and cause your brush handle to crack. 
• Do not let the water go past the brush hairs. Having the neck of your makeup brush soak in the water can loosen up and deteriorate the glue which will cause the brush hairs to fall out. Another way to avoid this is by simply washing your brushes in a downward position.
• Do not let your brushes dry on a towel. This can cause mildew to build up between the bristles. 
• If your makeup brushes start to shed, crack or lose shape, it’s time to throw them out and purchase new ones. 

4 Ways to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

METHOD 1 

Rubbing Alcohol

1. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol into a jar 
2. As you finish each step of your makeup dip the brush  bristles  into the alcohol
3. Rub the access makeup onto a clean rag 

This method works great for small eyeshadow and detailed brushes but definitely will not get the extra gunk out of a foundation brush. Not to mention the alcohol dries the bristles super fast for repeated usage. 

This hack was posted by @kali.ledger on Instagram. I love using this method when I’m doing a detailed makeup look where I need to use the same brush multiple times.  

METHOD 2

Dawn Dish Liquid & Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1. Pour the dish soap and olive oil into a small bowl
2. Swirl the brushes into the mixture 
3. Message the  bristles  into the palms of your hand
4. Rinse the brushes in a downward position. 
5. Pat the excess water out of the brushes with a small towel/rag 
6. Let the brushes sit on a sheet of paper towel overnight

I personally recommend Dawn because it’s antibacterial. The olive oil helps to break down any additional build and helps to keep the brush hair moisturizer after they're done drying. Another tip for drying is to let the brushes sit on the end of a table to help the brushes keep their natural shape. 

METHOD 3

Dawn Dish Liquid & White Vinegar

1. Pour the dish soap and vinegar into a small bowl
2. Let the bristles sit in the solution for about 10-15 minutes
3. Message the  bristles into a silicone mat
4. Rinse the brushes in a downward position. 
5. Pat the excess water out of the brushes with a small towel/rag 
6. Let the brushes sit on a sheet of paper towel overnight

With this method, we’re taking it a step further by adding vinegar. Vinegar is known to be a natural cleaning adjust and seems to naturally remove the gunk before we begin scrubbing.  

The silicon mat is optional but has become one of my must-have tools when it's time to wash my brushes. If you have a lot of brushes, like me, the makeup starts to stain my hands. Using the mat helps keep my hands clean so I can work through the process efficiently. 

Tips: To conserve water, plug your drain and lay the silicone mat underneath the water. This way you don't have to keep running the water as you scrub each brush. You can give all your brushes their final rinse altogether. 

This is also the best method for beauty blenders! Sometimes I find that even after washing a beauty blender there are still spots on stained makeup. All you need to do is pinch the stained spot with soap until the product is out. 

METHOD 4

Electronic Automation Makeup Brush Cleaner

1. Pick a “collar” from the box that fits the makeup brush you want to clean
2. Push your brush into the collar; make sure the fitting is tight and straight 
3. Attach the machine to your brush with the spindle 
4. Fill your bowl with your desired brush cleaner 
5. With the machine on drip the brush-up and down into the cleaning solution for 5 secs
6. To dry the brush spin the brush above the liquid for 10 seconds

Voila! Your brush is clean and dry in 20 secs. 

Overall I think this device makes a pretty cool gift for makeup lovers to have in their collection. An ideal situation would be for those days when you only need a few key brushes but don’t want to wash your entire makeup brush collection. 

Cons: Cleaning solution gets dirty fast & doesn't fit all brushes

Pros: Dries brushes fast, quick to use, and gives a thorough clean. 

One lesson I’ve learned from my mistakes is that clean brushes DO make a difference in the application of your makeup. The road to flawless foundation may be one clean brush away. Now that you have 4 brag-worthy methods to clean your makeup brushes make sure to share these with a friend.