The Ultimate Guide To Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes Like A Pro

Table of Contents

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brush? Has it been weeks or months? For many of us, even wiping off the makeup at the end of the day sounds like a herculean task. So cleaning the makeup brushes is out of the question. We tend to assume that skipping a few brush washes will not matter, but it is going to show on your face with time. Unwashed makeup brushes can lead to rashes and acne breakouts, and no one wants that, right?

washing

The soaking and washing process can get applied to dry paint. This usually does not have a lot of cosmetic residues. Please try this method on a blush brush or loose powder brush. Here are the steps.
Step 1: Take a container and mix clean water and professional scrubbing water in a 1:1 ratio with your hand. If the product recommends a certain mixing ratio, then you can follow that.
Step 2: Soak the head of the brush in water and swirl it. You will see the residual cosmetic mixing with the water as it will become turbid.
Step 3: Get rid of the water once it becomes too murky. Pour in clean water, immerse the head of the brush and continue to swirl it.
Step 4: Repeat this process several times until the water is not turbid. Then rinse your brush under the tap and dry it with a paper towel. Make sure not to rinse against the hair.
Also, if your brush rod is made of wood, dry it soon after soaking in water because leaving it in water can form cracks. Avoid soaking the ferrule. This is the joint between the bristles and the handle because it can result in hair loss.

makeup brush cleaning

Friction Washing

Friction washing is ideal for washing brushes. These brushes are employed in the application of cosmetics with a creamy consistency. This includes foundation brushes, concealer brushes, and eyeliner brushes. It also includes lip brushes, as they tend to absorb more makeup and have more cosmetic residue. Powder brushes like eye shadow brushes have higher cosmetic residue. This is why they should also get washed through this method.
Step 1: Immerse the head of your brush in clean water. Then add scrubbing water to your palm or washing pad. You can go for a silicone scrubbing pad to clean your brushes.
Step 2: Use the handle of the brush to swirl the brush against the palm or washing pad until it lathers.
Step 3: Rinse the brush with water. Repeat this process of swirl, lather, and rinse until your brush is clean.
Step 4: Then rinse it under a tap and dry it with a paper towel.

Clean the silicone pad

Go for professional scrubbing water or baby shampoo, which is a tad bit acidic. We do not recommend facial cleansers or silicon-containing shampoo. This is because it can impair the grasping power of the bristles and affect their bulkiness. Make sure your brush has no remaining scrubbing water or shampoo. You can do this by making circular motions against the palm of your hand. If it does not feel slippery against your palm, it means it has not got washed clean

How to rinse your brush?

You should hold your brushes downwards while rinsing. You can get rid of all the excess oil and residual makeup, which will go straight into the sink. Squeeze the excess makeup out of the brush while running it underwater. Do not put them in the makeup brush holder while they are still wet. If this gets done, the water will go into the base of the brush and damage the glue. This is why it is important to dry them well.

Dry Cleaning 

This method is perfect for people who have less or no motivation to wash their brushes. Use this for dry powder brushes, which usually have low cosmetic residue. This gets used on animal hair brushes too that are resistant to water. There are two ways to dry clean your brushes.

Sponge Dry Cleaning Method:

Sponge Dry Cleaning Method: Get your used makeup brush and move it clockwise against the sponge a few times. If this makes the sponge dirty, wash it. You can also use the absorbent sponge while applying to do your eye makeup. When you are trying to create a multi-color look with your eye shadows, you can wipe the brush against the sponge. This will help make for an easy application.


Duck your powder makeup brush in loose powder or talcum powder. The powder will absorb the cosmetic residue. Hence, leaving the brush clean.

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Cleaning of natural makeup brushes

Natural makeup brushes have always been the choice of people serious about quality. Natural makeup brushes were very common before 2010. But now, we have a set of exquisite natural makeup brushes, which will become more expensive. The following is information about cleaning natural makeup brushes.
Dry cleaning is not suitable for the cleaning of natural makeup. This is because natural hair is fragile. Natural hair may get damaged during dry cleaning.
Hydrogen peroxide cleaning: We can buy 3% hydrogen peroxide in the store and then soak the brush head with 3% hydrogen peroxide for 3-5 minutes. Then rinse with water, add makeup brush cleaner or baby shampoo, and then clean one side.
Advantages:

  • Natural akeup brushes are easier to breed bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide can kill bacteria after soaking.m
  • Natural makeup brushes usually have the unique smell of animals. Natural makeup brushes soaked in hydrogen peroxide can remove odors.

How to dry your brushes?

  • A lot of people forget this but drying your brush with a towel or a paper towel after washing is very important. Press a dry towel against the bristles to absorb the excess water. Also, remember to dry the brush rod.
  • Brush the head of your brush to set its shape when it is damp. Do not brush it when it is wet.
  • Turn your brush upside down and place it in a drying rack or in a well-ventilated place and let it dry in the shade. If you do not have a brush rack, use a drying rack.
  • Do not expose your brushes to the sun or a hairdryer because this will burn the bristles.

Learn more about cosmetic brush cleaning

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Some Pro Tips

  • Make sure to clean your new brush before using it for the first time,
  • Water temperature is significant to maintaining your brushes. It should not be too high because hot water can melt the glue at the junction of the bristles and the nozzle. This can result in the loss of bristles. Washing your makeup brushes with cold water will do.
  • Do not soak your brushes in alcohol. Exposure to high concentrations of alcohol can cause permanent damage to the bristles.
  • If you do your makeup every day and use your makeup brushes, remember to wash your brushes as often. Cream brushes and individual dry powder brushes should get washed with water once a week. Dry powder brushes should be dry cleaned daily and washed once a month.
  • Cosmetic brushes that get made from animal hair are not resistant to washing. You can wash them once a month. Do not use Daiso puff cleaner for washing these brushes.
  • Once a month. Do not use a soy powder puff cleanser to clean these brushes. Cosmetic brushes made from animal hair do not wash well. You Can Wash it once a month. Do not use a soy powder puff cleanser to clean these brushes.
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Once your cosmetic brushes are squeaky clean and dried up, place them on your makeup table. It is important to have a holder for your makeup brushes to keep them secure and organized. You can use a basic glass jar, or an old jar of coffee beans and rice will also do. You can also get pretty brush holders online, which will help you stay on top of your makeup game. It will also come in handy while you’re traveling. Put the brushes upright, so they keep their shape for a long time. We hope you learned some new tricks! This guide will familiarise you with taking better care of your cosmetic brushes. Now you can enjoy fabu-lash makeup with your clean makeup brushes.

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