Makeup Brush Cleaning Tips

Dec 7, 2010

Celeste A.

What are your favorite/ best makeup brush cleaning tips?

Dec 7, 2010

Celeste A.

Right now I'm just using shampoo to clean my brushes, pat the water out, and let them air dry. Any better ideas?

Dec 7, 2010

Christina T.

Hi Celeste! Here are some homemade makeup brush cleaners that you can make at home :) 

http://blog.beautylish.com/2010/08/23/brush-cleaner/

Dec 8, 2010

Naomi P.

if you want to spend the money on a brush cleaner i recommend mac one, i have tried many out there and and by far mac one is best, or smashbox one too although i cant find it anymore
if you do not want to spend the money on cleaner, i usually wash them with liquid soap one that has a antibacterial to clean and disinfect then do usual steps like you said before pat and dry 

Dec 8, 2010

Brianna G.

also, olive oil helps clean & soften the bristles on the brush. normally i scrub some good ol' EVOO into my brushes which removes the makeup, then use baby shampoo and warm water to further clean them and remove the oiliness :o)

Dec 8, 2010

Veronica T.

I wouldnt suggest conditioning your eye shadow brushes, they tend to 'dull' up and they wont be fluffy anymore and the eye shadow wont stay on.

i clean my brushes with hand soap

Dec 8, 2010

Marian M.

I use Baby shampoo and if it's eyeliner residue I use olive oil to break the paint down then I was with the shampoo as well

Dec 8, 2010

Ashley C.

i use a mix of shampoo and body wash mixed and wash all my brushes, then i use the sephora antibactirial brush spray ($6) and spray especially on my face brushes. Then i wrap them in a paper towel so it will absorb the water and dry alot faster than just air drying. works really well for me.

Right now im using loreal ever pure & bath and bodys body wash in white citris and water. i also have used baby soap and hand soap bars. if its a good soap it will clean up any makeup residue.

Dec 9, 2010

Amalee W.

I've used a variety of ways, actually.

I used to just use MAC brush cleaner, but that got kind of pricey, so I started to use baby shampoo. Then I used olive oil... but then I realized none of those methods have antibacterial properties. So now I use Softsoap hand soap. If the makeup doesn't come off, I'll soak it in soap for a little bit.

And if all fails, olive oil or alcohol.

Dec 9, 2010

Savannah M.

I wash my brushes with anti bacterial dish soap mixed with extra virgin olive oil. The extra virgin olive oil helps to condition them better and if you are washing liner brushes it helps to get that out :)

Dec 10, 2010

Jamie Lynn P.

I think that to wash your brushes, a must have item is the brush guard. It allows you to dry your brushes with the bristles down. That allows gravity to pull the moisture away from where the glue holds your brush together. I did a posting about it on my website, if you're interested, www.norulesjustbeauty.com

Jan 4, 2011

Erika V.

I have a video on how I wash my brushes :-) feel free to watch!

Jan 4, 2011

Yasmin K.

I'm currently using Mona Lisa Brush Soap and I love it. Got a tiny bottle of it for under $1.50 at Hobby Lobby (using a 40% off coupon) and I just love how soft and clean my brushes were after I washed it.

Edit to add this tip.

At most dollar stores and in the dollar section of most stores (like Target) are wire baskets. You can use wire cutters to cut out larger holes for thicker brushes. What I do is flip it upside down and place on a towel and all my brushes to dry that way. I think I posted a picture of it somewhere around here.

Jan 5, 2011

Shelly T.

For quick cleaning, Smashbox's brush cleaner spray.

For more thorough cleaning, normal shampoo.

Recently I saw a tutorial on Youtube about brush drying. If you don't have your brush guards anymore, you can pat them until they're damp, then wrap them in toilet paper and put them upside-down in a glass. (For a kabuki brush, you can save your toilet paper roll and stick it in there -- again, upside-down -- to dry.) :)

Jan 7, 2011

Breanna B.

For the brushes you use for liner and lipstick, first use eye makeup remover to remove most of the product. Then use baby shampoo for all the brushes and let them air dry with the bristles tilted down. For example, set the handles on the outer edge of your sink and the bristles on the counter on a paper towel. If you let them dry bristles up then the water can run down and mold inside the handle. Then if you want to sanitize, use and antibacterial brush cleaner :)

Dec 7, 2012

Amy N.

Hi Celeste!

Here is a suggest way to clean your brushes after a busy day of clients or at the end of a week (from CHIC STUDIOS curriculum):

Lay a paper towel down.

Apply a small amount of soft soap (or shampoo) to each brush. NOTE: One pump of soap will be enough for 6-10 brushes

Under warm water, circle brush hairs in a figure 8 motion to remove all product. NOTE: Be careful not to get the handle wet, as this will damage the handles over time

Once brushes are clean, take an area of the paper towel and do similar figure 8 motions to remove excess water. Then, place on the side of a counter or table to allow brushes to dry naturally. If possible, leave brushes overnight to completely dry

After the brushes are dry, spray with 70% or higher alcohol and brushes are ready for use.

Hope that helps!!

Dec 7, 2012

Yasmin K.

"NOTE: Be careful not to get the handle wet, as this will damage the handles over time" -- Actually the handles won't be damaged unless it's a wooden handle what WILL become damage is the glue that holds the bristles in the ferrule. Also it's best to dry with the toe of the brush facing down towards the floor when possible so water sit in the heel or ferrule of the brush.

Jan 22, 2013

Kelsea M.

I uploaded a video on how I clean my brushes. Check it out! :) http://youtu.be/LCpghMmNzvI

Jan 22, 2013

Brittne B.

it depends on the type of brush it is. If its synthetic I use antibacterial dish soap and olive oil, if they're real hair I use baby shampoo.

When drying your brushes prop the handles up to allow the water in the brush to travel out and not effect the adhesive. This will help to keep your brush bristles from shedding. I'm planning on filming a video on brush cleaning soon. I hope this helped.

Brittne :)

Jan 22, 2013

Brittne B.

it depends on the type of brush it is. If its synthetic I use antibacterial dish soap and olive oil, if they're real hair I use baby shampoo.

When drying your brushes prop the handles up to allow the water in the brush to travel out and not effect the adhesive. This will help to keep your brush bristles from shedding. I'm planning on filming a video on brush cleaning soon. I hope this helped.

Brittne :)

May 9, 2013

Vaishali M.

I use a clean wiping one ordered from amazon and it works wonders on mixed collection of brushes

Jun 8, 2013

Nicolette D.

I use the sephora brush cleaner and I love it. Makes my brushes so fluffy

Jul 18, 2013

Maria B.

You will need: paper towels, a glass or plastic plate, olive oil, and antibacterial soap.

Put equal amounts oil and soap on the plate and mix each brush in the mixture. Then run warm water and run it over the brushes while creating circular motions with your hand. Then reshape each brush and lay it on the paper towels and let dry.

Oct 30, 2013

Katelyn W.

Do any of you guys know any concealers that are good??

Apr 23, 2014

Lola R.

I do the same thing I use a light baby shampoo rinse it out with water and let it air dry I think it's the best way some of the brush cleaners out there don't work as well and also cost more money.