How to Clean a Makeup Brush

Posted on October 7th, 2009 by Carmelia

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Makeup brushes are a necessity if you want to apply makeup on your face perfectly. However, if you don’t regularly clean your brushes, you may end up introducing bacteria and other irritants to your face that may cause pimples and other inconveniences. Here’s how you can clean a makeup brush.

Tools

Basin
Facial cleanser 0r makeup brush cleanser
Paper towels
Clean, lint-free cloth

Procedure

Line up your makeup brushes in a water basin that’s large enough to accommodate them. Pour warm water just enough to cover them.

brush cleaner

Add a soap-free facial wash to the water, and agitate the water just enough to generate soap suds. Beauty stores actually sell makeup brush cleaners for this specific purpose, and if you have those, you can use that instead of facial wash.
Swish the makeup brushes in the water one at a time, 30 seconds each brush. You’ll see the makeup dispersing in the water. Take out the brush out of the water after swishing it around. When you’re down to the last makeup brush to swish, you’ll notice that the water is now very dirty. Think of all that leftover makeup you’ve been unknowingly putting on your face! Drain the water and rinse the basin clean.
Now, take one brush and put a bit of cleanser (facial or makeup brush cleanser) in your finger. Apply the cleanser on the brush and work gently into a lather, the same way you would shampoo your hair.
Put some water in a smaller container, like a plastic cup. Swirl the makeup brush in the water to rinse out the cleanser and any remaining water. Drain the cup and put some more water. Swirl again to remove any more leftover makeup. Keep repeating this until the water runs clear. This may seem tedious, but this is a more water-efficient way of cleaning your brushes than putting it under running water.
Squeeze out any excess water in the brush using your fingers and fluff them up as best as you can. Lay down on a piece of paper towels for 30 minutes to remove any more excess water.
Stand them up to dry fully. The handle should be standing on the base, with the brush itself in the air. This is done to ensure that they go back to their original state.

You can clean your brushes at least once a month. If your makeup brushes begin to look old, scraggly or balding, it’s time to buy new ones. However, with these instructions, you’re bound to keep your makeup brushes around for a long time.