What the world needs now is obviously yet another makeup brush cleaning article, so I am here to help. But seriously, if you wash your hair…and your clothes…and your towels…and your bed linens…but not your makeup brushes, you need to read this.
Some of you are buying and using organic, non-toxic makeup and skincare. You are removing your makeup every night and moisturizing daily. You are eating healthy fats and drinking lots of water. But you are not washing and sanitizing your makeup brushes. This makes me sad.
Here is the thing. Bacteria, viruses, and dust mites will happily nestle themselves onto leftover makeup residue and into the fibers of your makeup brush hairs. If you don’t clean your brushes, you will deposit these unwanted visitors right on to your face or into your makeup. This can aggravate skin conditions and cause irritation, breakout, and even fine lines. It can also contaminate your cosmetic and skincare products. (Save yourself, and do not perform a recreational Google image search of this phenomenon.) Even synthetic or “antibacterial” brushes carry this risk, so it’s absolutely imperative that you start a regular brush washing schedule.
Additionally, washing your makeup brushes regularly will ensure that your makeup application looks smooth and natural, and your brushes will last longer. I have some that are nearing 25 years old, and they are as bonny as they day they were born. If you take care of your brushes, they will last a lifetime.
Here is how you can get started with a makeup brush washing routine:
The first thing that you will want to do is add a spray bottle filled with 70% isopropyl alcohol to your vanity area. You should use this to freshen and sanitize your brushes every day. You can even lightly mist your makeup to help reduce germ growth. I like to use this alcohol spray to dry clean my brushes before washing them and also daily after a makeup application. There are retail options for brush cleaning sprays available, but I don’t personally recommend them. I find that they tend to coat the fine brush hairs, deposit oils on powder makeups, occlude the pores, and irritate sensitive skin. Isopropyl Alcohol is a simple, clean, readily available product that I believe works best.
Before washing your brushes, use the alcohol spray to remove the bulk of the pigment on each brush. Aim the spray bottle so that the alcohol flows from the heel to the toe of the brush hairs over a paper towel, squeezing the alcohol outward. This will push out any pigment trapped in the brush hairs.
Next, holding the handle of each brush under running water, gently sweep the hairs back and forth into a bar soap or into a dime size amount of liquid soap. It’s important to preserve the shape of the brush, so avoid pressing and twisting the brush into your hand, as it will cause the hairs to fan out, mat, or tangle and will most certainly ruin the shape of the brush. You want to limit the amount of time that brushes spend under water, so never place the brushes into the well of the sink, and be careful getting the handle or ferrule too wet.
Then, gently rinse the hairs under water while repeatedly rubbing the brush into its shape. Squeeze out as much of the water as you can. If its a bigger brush for bronzer or powder, you can squeeze the excess water into a clean towel or paper towel.
After rinsing, give the brush a generous spray of alcohol, and squeeze out the excess. This will sanitize the brushes in accordance to most State Board Cosmetology requirements.
Dry the brushes horizontally, on a clean towel or paper towel, with the brush hairs hanging over the side so the air can dry all sides at once. Avoid placing the brushes in a cup until they are completely dry, as doing this will cause shedding when water settles into the ferrule and loosens the glue.
I recommend using Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castille or Bar Soap for brush washing. It’s an organic formula that has excellent cleansing properties, and I especially like the peppermint, lavender and citrus scents. You do not need to purchase a special brush cleaning soap. In fact, when I travel, I use this soap for everything–as a body wash, for any hand washed clothing, and even for a few dishes in the hotel. I sometimes see the recommendation to use shampoo and conditioner for makeup brushes, but I actually find that method to coat the brushes and degrade their longevity and their ability to pick up and distribute pigment. Dr. Bronner’s Soap cleans without stripping or coating the brush hairs.
I would love to see everyone dry clean their makeup brushes with alcohol spray daily and wash their makeup brushes weekly. It might be a difficult routine to embrace right away, but make it a goal, and do what you can. You will notice a difference immediately!