The Ultimate Guide On How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Think of roughly how much money you spend on makeup. Got it?

Now add to that figure how much you spend on skincare.

Why would you ever let anything touch your face that isn't properly clean?
None of us are perfect. And a grimy old makeup brush is like the dirty little secret that we refuse to fess up to.

But you know what? The solution to cleaning your makeup brushes is a whole lot easier than you think.

With the right process and products, cleaning your brushes yourself can be simple and quick. Because beyond what a freshly clean brush does for your face – it'll go a long way to ensuring your (expensive!) makeup performs flawlessly. (And save you from replacing that favourite makeup brush so soon.)

Here, we tackle all the ins and outs of cleaning your makeup brushes – ensuring you’ve got everything you need to kickstart your ultimate routine.

Are you ready?

HOW TO CLEAN MY MAKEUP BRUSHES?

STEP 1: RUN YOUR BRUSH UNDER WARM WATER

Wet your brush with lukewarm water. Now facing it downwards, lightly work your brush into your bar of soap. Alternatively, you can also use shampoo.

STEP 2: SWIRL YOUR BRUSH INTO YOUR HAND

Gently work your brush into the palm of your hand in a circular motion, while you rinse off any excess soap.

STEP 3: SQUEEZE OUT ANY EXCESS WATER

Tightly run your finger and thumb along to bristles to the top of the brush, as you press out any foamy residue or trapped particles.

STEP 4: LEAVE BRUSHES TO DRY OVERNIGHT

Neatly lay your brushes down on a towel to dry overnight. It's important to let the brush tips hang off your benchtop slightly (like in our video), as it'll ensure your bristles don't dry crooked.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO CLEAN MY MAKEUP BRUSHES?

Truth: it's not only for the brushes.

Cleaning your makeup brushes is essential for the most important thing – your face.

Brushes accumulate dead skin cells and oil. So applying a dirty makeup brush to your face can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. Cleaning your brushes regularly is an easy way to avoid this.

Brushes collect bacteria. The more often you cleanse them, the less acne-causing bacteria you’re spreading on your skin every time you apply makeup.

Clean brushes apply makeup better. Even the best-quality makeup can become streaky and patchy when applied with a grimy brush. Ensure your makeup is working for you in the best way possible.

Brushes can be irritating on your skin, so regular cleaning keeps the bristles softer and ensures you get the smoothest application every time – particularly important if you have sensitive skin.

Brushes don't last forever, but if they're cleaned frequently and properly, they'll last so much longer – saving you a tonne of money in replacing them.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN MY MAKEUP BRUSHES?

The common recommendation is once a week, however, there's no blanket rule. Sometimes more often than that, sometimes less. It all comes down to how often you use your brushes, and what you're using them for.

Each brush may be on a slightly different cleaning roster:

If you use the same makeup brush for different products, you might need to clean your brushes quickly between uses.

If you’re using a liquid product that stays on your brush, you might want to clean it more regularly than once a week to avoid any cakey buildup.

If you've got a brush that’s going into the same powder or product over and over, you can probably get away with only cleaning it every so often.

Remember, there's a difference between cleaning your brushes (with a brush sanitiser) and properly cleansing your brushes. And that's what we've outlined above.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO THROW AWAY MY MAKEUP BRUSH?

Careful and frequent cleaning can help extend the life of your brushes, but sometimes enough is enough. If the bristles start to fray, shed, or lose their shape it might be time to consider replacing them.

At the same time, you'll be well aware when your brushes aren't up to scratch in applying your makeup effectively, it's not always as simple as looking for the obvious signs. Take stock every so often in whether they appear to be thinning too much or squashed, ensuring you've got plenty of life left in your brushes.

NEED A NEW MAKEUP BRUSH?

We've come this far, it would be silly not to recommend our luxurious face wand makeup brush as the one magic brush that does it all. With its double-ended function and soft bristles, it's your go-to brush for 7 products – a game-changer in making your makeup case a whole lot lighter.