How to clean makeup brushes the right way might seem obvious, but it’s a little more complicated than just wash, rinse, and repeat. Yes, it can be a bit of a pain, but washing your brushes regularly makes a world of difference. Considering they’re an essential part of your makeup routine—what good is the perfect foundation or concealer if you have nothing to apply it with?—it’s worth taking the time to learn to treat them right.
In addition to looking better on your vanity, clean brushes actually perform better. Dirt, oil, and makeup buildup can weigh down brush hairs, making them harder to work with—which can mean streaky makeup application down the line. Dirty makeup brushes can also harm your skin.
“We know that makeup brushes grow bacteria and fungus,” says Loretta Ciraldo, MD, dermatologist and founder of Dr. Loretta skin care. That bacteria paired with the aforementioned dirt and oil can lead to breakouts and even dermatitis in some cases.
- How often to clean makeup brushes
- How often to clean makeup sponges
- What to use to clean makeup brushes
- How to clean makeup brushes, step by step
- How often to replace your makeup brushes
- How often to replace makeup sponges
- The best makeup brush cleaners
To help you avoid any problems, we asked Dr. Ciraldo and makeup artists to share their best tips for keeping brushes squeaky clean. Read on to have all your questions answered, including a step-by-step guide on how to wash your brushes, how often, and the best cleansers for the job.
How often to clean makeup brushes
No offense, but you’re probably not washing your brushes often enough. “Clean brushes are essential,” says makeup artist Kasey Spickard, who says that ideally you should wash your makeup brushes after every use with a liquid cleanser (this is nonnegotiable if you’re a makeup artist). That said, Spickard gets that’s not exactly realistic for must of us and says a deep clean once a week is fine. Dr. Ciraldo recommends giving them a good scrub at least once every two weeks; more if there’s visible makeup buildup.
How often to clean makeup sponges
You’ll want to be extra diligent about cleaning makeup sponges like Beautyblenders since they’re more prone to bacteria growth. As for how often to sanitize them? In a perfect world, after each time they’re used.
“They are one of the most difficult tools to clean, but it’s important to do it after every single use,” says celebrity makeup artist and esthetician Amanda Gabbard. “My trick is to rub two blenders together while constantly rotating so they clean each other.”
What to use to clean makeup brushes and sponges
You have a few options when it comes to cleaning brushes and sponges. Here’s what the pros recommend.
Since sponges are so tough to clean, it’s best to stick with the pros: “Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser work wonders since it’s designed for makeup tools and has professional-grade antibacterial properties,” says Gabbard.
You have a few options when it comes to brushes. Spickard prefers to use a liquid brush cleanser like Cinema Secrets between uses since it’s “able to penetrate the bristles and really get in and break up the makeup.” However, he warns that the liquid cleanser can leave a bit of a residue, so he likes to use the Beautyblender Solid Blendercleanser for his weekly deep clean.
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Meanwhile, our editors love a brush cleaner spray (which is basically like dry shampoo for your makeup brushes) for a quick, less intense clean to remove product residue. All you do is spray it on your brush, then wipe on a paper towel. It’s especially helpful if you’re traveling and aren’t bringing a whole pack of brushes with you, because you can clean between foundation and blush easily.
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You don’t have to buy a separate soap for your brushes if you prefer not to—the shampoo hanging out in your shower will likely do the trick. Just make sure it’s sulfate-free, says Ciraldo, adding, “While you want to rinse the brushes out thoroughly, it’s good to avoid sulfates that may possibly leave a residue on the brush and lead to some irritation or pore clogging.”
Some pros also recommend gentle dishwashing liquid for a thorough clean. If you’re really in a crunch, you can even use baby shampoo. “Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo is strong enough to do the job yet gentle enough to protect the bristles,” says Gabbard. “But my tried-and-true dish soap is Dawn. Nothing cuts through heavy buildup better than this. The tiniest drop is all you need.”
While you can use your hands to clean, Gabbard highly recommends using a silicone brush cleaning mat or pad to help with the process. “Paired with a disinfectant soap, the brushes get the deepest clean ever,” she says. “I love the Real Techniques Blush Cleansing Palette and EcoTools Makeup Brush Cleansing Pad, though an inexpensive generic silicone cleaning mat also works.”
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The best way to clean makeup brushes, step by step
Now that you’re setting aside time at least every two weeks to give your brushes a bath, follow the steps below to get them looking brand new. From eyeshadow brushes to concealer brushes, you'll want to follow the same routine.
1. Start with lukewarm water.
“Use lukewarm—not cold, not hot water,” says Gabbard. “Lukewarm water helps loosen the makeup, yet it’s not too hot so it doesn’t loosen the glue holding the ferrule, which is the base of the makeup brush and is usually plastic or metal that connects the bristles to the handle.”
2. Get the tool wet.
“Hold the brush bristles under lukewarm running water, keeping the handle and ferrule [the metal part] dry to avoid loosening the glue,” Gabbard says. “It’s inevitable that our fave brushes will loosen.”
3. Add soap.
“Add a small amount of cleanser or soap to the palm of your hand or a silicone pad,” Gabbard says. You can also do this with a cup, if that’s easier (or makes less of a mess.)
4. Swipe in circular motions.
“Swirl the brush bristles in the cleanser using gentle circular motions and then reverse. For stubborn makeup residue, press the bristles lightly into the textured pad,” says Gabbard. Just be sure to swish it around gently to create a light lather, so you don’t bend the brush out of shape. If you’re using a bar soap, gently rub your brush on it under running water and work out the makeup with your fingers.
4. Repeat until the water runs clear.
“Rinse the bristles under lukewarm water, squeezing gently from the base of the bristles to the tip to remove soap and residue,” says Gabbard. You’ll want to do this until you stop seeing any makeup running into the sink.
5. Reassemble brushes and leave out to dry.
Push bristles back into their usual shape if they got banged up, and lay the brush to air dry. Dr. Ciraldo recommends letting brushes dry on a clean towel that’s rolled on one end so that the brush is placed on a downward slant; this prevents excess water from running into the brush head where the bristles are fastened to the handle.
How often to replace makeup brushes
As long as you’re taking care of your brushes, they should last you a long time. There’s actually no need to replace them from a hygienic point of view as long as you regularly clean them. According to Spickard, you really only need to replace your brushes when the actual hairs start to break or fall out. And if that’s the case, we’ve got plenty of recommendations for the best makeup brushes.
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How often to replace makeup sponges
Sponges are a little bit of a different story. “Throw out makeup sponges every three months; you can buy them in bulk,” Gabbard says. “As for professional makeup artists, never use the same beauty blender on multiple people. Why? One word: gross.”
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The best makeup brush cleaners
See below for more of our favorite makeup brush cleaners.
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