How I Clean My Makeup Brushes

Hello! Happy Friday! Many beauty bloggers find washing their brushes a chore but I think as long as you’ve got the right equipment and a method down pat you’re set. If I had more brushes than I currently do I can see how it would be a chore but washing my brushes takes me 10 minutes tops. Whether you’re a recent brush owner yourself or you just haven’t found a quick, simple way to clean your brushes, this post has you covered!

First things first, let me point out this is how I clean my brushes and the equipment I use. What works for me may not work for you but I hope you find this post helpful.

What you’ll need:

1. Dirty brushes of course!
2. Baby shampoo – I use the Johnson’s brand. Baby shampoo is commonly used as it is very gentle on the bristles and gentle on skin. Baby shampoo provides your brushes with a deep clean and never leaves any residue.
3. Small bowl of warm water. I don’t like to fill the bowl too much as I only dip the tips of the bristles in. If you submerge the whole brush in warm water it can cause the glue to melt which can lead to bristles falling out.
4. Brush egg. This one is optional. I received this handy little tool with two blushes and it makes cleaning brushes such a breeze! You place this over your fingers and swirl your brushes around to remove makeup. This allows you to get into all the bristles and gives your brushes a proper deep clean. Alternatively, you could use paper towels. Keep swirling until you get a clean patch of paper towel.

So, you’ve got all your equipment and now you’re ready to clean your brushes. I’ve broken it down into five, simple steps.

Step 1

Fill a bowl with warm water. Don’t use boiling hot water as you could burn yourself or, if your brush submerges deeper than it should, damage is less likely.

Step 2

Pour a small amount of baby shampoo onto the palm of your hand. The amount will vary for each brush; you won’t need as much for an eye brush as a foundation brush. Rather than drowning the bristles in shampoo it’s better to use less and repeat the swirling motions a couple of times.

Step 3

Dip the tips of the brush into the water then into the shampoo. Begin swirling and moving the bristles against the brush egg to remove dirt and makeup. Use downward strokes as you would if you were applying product to your face to minimalise bristle damage and to help your brushes keep their shape.

Step 4

Place brush on a tissue or paper towel until you have cleaned all other brushes.

Step 5

Leave brushes to air dry overnight. I let the end hand over my dresser as this helps the bristles keep their shape and allows air to circulate around the brushes. I turn them over every couple of hours.

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Always remember: Never tip your brush with the bristles pointing up straight after you’ve washed them. Any excess water could get into the ferulle and melt the glue which holds the bristles together.

How do you clean your brushes?