The Essential Guide to Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes
Anybody else’s New Year’s resolution to regularly clean their makeup brushes? Don’t get me wrong, I love a good makeup brush. They are truly indispensable tools for achieving the perfect look. However, it can be easy to forget (even for me) that keeping them clean is crucial. Dirty makeup brushes are a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria and can lead to a multitude of skin issues. Regular brush maintenance is essential. In this blog, we'll explore the 'whys' and 'hows' of cleaning your makeup brushes.
Why You Should Clean Your Makeup Brushes:
Combat Bacteria Build-Up: I know I already touched on this, but I cannot emphasize enough that makeup brushes can become a haven for bacteria. This leads to potential skin infections and breakouts. Regular cleaning eliminates these harmful pathogens.
Prevent Clogged Pores and Breakouts: I think you’d be surprised how often dirty brushes are the culprits behind sudden acne flare-ups (just watch my recent tik tok for proof). By neglecting your brushes you're basically just transferring old makeup, oil, and dirt back onto your skin! If you’re struggling with acne, make sure to also check out my top acne tips here.
Brush Longevity: We can probably all agree that brushes are an investment. There are so many types for different goals and areas and it can easily add up in price. Cleaning them regularly helps maintain the bristles' integrity, ensuring that they are in their best form even longer.
Sensitive Skin Considerations: While I want to emphasize that all skin types should be cleaning their makeup brushes regularly, for those with sensitive skin, clean brushes are non-negotiable. Dirty brushes can exacerbate skin sensitivity, leading to redness and irritation.
How Often You Should Clean Your Makeup Brushes:
For Daily Users: If you’re reaching for your brushes every day, I highly suggest adding a weekly cleaning routine to your schedule.
For Occasional Users: This one is a little trickier because I think there can be the misconception that if you’re not using them often, you rarely need to clean them. This is definitely not the case! Even if your brushes aren't in daily use, they can still gather dust and environmental pollutants. A good rule of thumb is to clean them thoroughly before each use. Full disclosure, I still think it might be easier to just plan on a weekly clean, so you aren’t having to map out when to clean before use, but it’s totally up to you!
How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes:
Initial Rinse: Start by rinsing the bristles under lukewarm water. Focus on the bristles and avoid soaking the handle to prevent damage.
Cleanse: Apply a gentle brush cleanser or your recommended alternative, working up a lather to dislodge makeup and dirt.
Rinsing Off: Rinse the brush until the water runs clear, ensuring all soap and residue are gone.
Drying Technique: After gently squeezing out the excess water, reshape the brush head and lay it flat on a towel, allowing it to air dry completely. It can be tempting to use a blow dryer to quicken this process, but don’t do it! The heat from a blow dryer can damage the bristles of the brush, especially if they are made of natural hair. Even synthetic bristles can be affected, as the heat can cause them to melt, warp, or lose their shape.
Deep Cleaning vs. Quick Cleaning:
Quick side note, if you are really trying to prevent brush breakouts or bacteria build up, I like to do both a deep clean and a quick clean throughout the week!
Deep Cleaning: This involves a thorough wash as described above, ideal for a weekly routine.
Quick Cleaning: In between deep cleans, a quick spritz with a daily brush cleaner can help maintain brush hygiene.
What to Use to Clean Your Brushes:
Specialized Cleansers vs. Gentle Alternatives: While there are cleansers specifically designed for makeup brushes, gentle, skin-friendly shampoos can work just as well. The key is to avoid harsh surfactants or cleaning agents that can damage the bristles.
When to Change Out Your Brushes:
Now that we have discussed the “hows” and “whys” of cleaning makeup brushes, I do think it’s necessary to mention that brushes don’t last forever. If you are cleaning them regularly, you will absolutely keep them in better shape, longer, but their expiration date will still come.
Lifespan of Brushes: High-quality brushes can last years with proper care, but keep an eye out for signs of wear and tear. Fraying bristles, shedding, or a change in texture are indicators that it’s time for a new brush. I think a general rule of thumb is every 2-3 years, you should consider changing them out (if they are a lower quality brush, potentially closer to every 1.5 years).
Also, I think it’s important to say that sometimes, brushes can become irreversibly contaminated (ie. eye infections, mold growth, contact with blood or bodily fluids, etc.). In such cases, it’s better to replace them to avoid any risk to your skin.
Best Practices for Brush Care:
Storage Solutions: How you store your brushes can impact their longevity. Keep them in a dry, clean place, preferably in a holder or case to protect them from dust and damage. Here are some of my favorite makeup brush organizers!
Avoid Sharing: Sharing makeup brushes is a quick way to spread microbes. Stick to using your own set.
Travel Tips: When traveling, keep your brushes in a separate pouch to protect them from bacteria and damage. Here are some of my favorite travel organizers for makeup brushes!
Ok after that, I think we can all agree that 2024 is the year of clean brushes! I hope this helped any and all brush questions you have. DM me if you have any other topics you want me to cover!
**Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and may contain products gifted in PR. This means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase via these links at no additional cost to you (thank you! It helps me keep things up and running)… As always I ONLY recommend products, goods and services that I stand behind and personally love and use
This post is not medical advice.
