How to Clean Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes harbour so many germs and dirt that you’d be amazed if you could look into them with a microscope. One of the essential elements of clear and glowing skin is using clean makeup brushes. Here’s a step-by-step process of how you achieve that: 

Step-by-step guide:

If you're a first-timer or have suspicions that you haven't been doing it right, here's a step-by-step guide on how to clean makeup brushes:

1. Choose a cleaner

Choose a cleaner of your liking. Many experts love using Dawn dish soap, especially for deep cleaning and washing the oil stains off makeup sponges, while others are big fans of Ivory soap. You may even use any baby shampoo. If you’ve a gentle all-purpose cleaner like CleanPacs lying around, that’s the best option. A laundry detergent can do the trick too, as long as it isn’t too harsh. Mix it in water and let your brushes sit in the solution.

2. Wash the bristles

Before you apply the cleaner to your makeup brush, lightly rinse the brush's bristles underwater and let them get wet. Ensure you don't get the handle wet during the process, as this can ruin the brush beyond repair. The glue gets loose due to the water, and as a result, the bristles start to shed.

3. Clean the bristles with the cleaner

Now that the bristles are wet, they're ready to be cleaned using the cleaner you've chosen. Pour a small amount of the cleanser on the palm of your hand, and rinse and mix the bristles well with the cleaner by moving the brush in a circular as well as rotatory motion. Keep mixing and swirling the brush until you feel like it's clean enough. Some people follow an even more extensive process, and instead of directly using the cleanser on the bristles, they first apply the cleanser to a towel or a brush cleansing mat. Then, they swirl the brush on the towel until they feel like it's saturated enough. Next, they swirl the brush on the palm of their hands. If you think that your hand can't tolerate the swirling and rinsing, you can use a spa cleaning glove. The bristles can sometimes hurt a lot, especially if they're not that soft. 

4. Rinse the brush

Once you're positive that the bristles are saturated with the cleaner, and the brush is swirled enough, thoroughly wash the bristles and rinse them under lukewarm water. The temperature is ideal for the bristles. Otherwise, there's a high chance of the brush being spoiled. Keep repeating these steps if the water isn't clear and the bristles are still dirty. Again, make sure that you don't get the handle wet or point the bristles in the direction opposite to the flow of water. If you wish to keep your brush in workable condition, ensure that the water isn't splashing on the bristles by pointing them downwards. Otherwise, the glue will get loose, leading to the shedding of the bristles.

5. Squeeze out the excess water

After you've rinsed the bristles clean, squeeze the bristles with your fingers to let out the excess water. Doing this helps them dry at a quicker pace so that you can use them again. But, keep in mind that you don't press or squeeze too hard, as the bristles can break.

6. Let them dry

After which your makeup brush is ready and clean enough to be used again, the last step is to wait for the bristles to dry. Although this might take a while, you can speed up the process by either using a towel or keeping them outside in the sun for a while so that they are air-dried. Or, if you're not in a hurry, let them lay on a tissue or a towel overnight, and they'll be as good as new the next morning.

Final Take

You should clean your makeup brushes on a monthly, if not weekly, basis for the sake of your skin. Plus, your makeup will be far more flawless when you’re using clean brushes instead of those that have been sitting in your bathroom cabinet for ages. If you’re not a fan of the whole process, you could always toss them in the dishwasher. But, never skip washing them regularly!