Makeup Brush Cleaning Tutorial
Clogged pores. No thank you!
Cleaning your makeup brushes might seem like yet another chore on your never ending to-do list, but believe me, it’s worth it.
I was the ABSOLUTE worst at cleaning my brushes. I’m talking years without doing it. (Pretty disgusting I know)! However, now that I’ve read up more on clean beauty and the health benefits, this 20 minute (more like 3 minute) tutorial is a no brainer!
The Dirty Truth
Now my skin isn’t very sensitive. I don’t get a ton of acne because I’m overly dry vs. oily. BUT…I’m also not invincible. Buildup of dirt and oils on your makeup brushes increases the chances of acne breakouts and possibly rashes called dermatitis. They also build up with dead skin cells over time. This will not only cause your skin to dull or break out , but it will also causes the application of your makeup to appear streaky. Last but not least, your makeup brushes collect bacteria from the environment they are in. It then gets into your makeup and applied to your skin. Nobody wants that!
SO…I’ve done some research and tested out a few tutorials for the quickest, pain free brush cleaning technique I could find, and here it is. Literally it only took me approximately 3 minutes, although the brushes themselves have to clean for 20 minutes. (You’ll understand once you read more below ;). It’s excuse proof and seeing how many of us are barely even wearing makeup these days, you might as well capitalize on the time these pretty brushes are out of commission. Am I right?
SHOP THE POST
1
Warm Water
First, add one cup of warm water into a wide glass jar. The temperature should feel warmer than lukewarm, but does not need to be scolding hot.
2
Shampoo
Squeeze one tablespoon of natural shampoo into the jar. If you don’t use natural/organic shampoo, many makeup artists suggest the use of baby shampoo because it is gentle on the skin and does a good job of removing liquid makeup.
3
White Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
Then add a tablespoon of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar (whichever you have lying around) and stir the contents together. Vinegar is a natural cleanser and disinfectant, so it is a great resource to use. And don’t worry, we are diluting the contents to help ensure your brushes don’t smell of vinegar when you are all finished.
4
Dip Baby Dip
Once your mixture is ready to go, you can submerge your brushes into the liquid. You will quickly see the water changing colors within a few seconds. I would personally recommend adding no more than 3-4 brushes per jar to ensure all of your brushes come out nice and clean.
5
Rinse
After allowing the brushes to sit in the mixture for 20 minutes, go ahead and remove them to rinse in the sink. Remember to keep the brush heads pointing down to ensure no water flows towards the handle. This can cause the substance to eat away at any glue holding the brush and handle together.
6
Air Dry
Once you are finished rinsing the brushes off in the sink and ensuring the brushes are rid of your mixture, you can lay them down to dry overnight. I typically use a washcloth or bath towel to lay them on to reduce any excess waste of using a paper towel.
I use this same technique for any facial rollers, beauty blenders, reusable towelettes, and things alike. It is a safe and easy solution to use at home cleaning supplies that can be done regularly within minutes.
As soon as you notice your brushes aren’t getting as squeaky clean as they once were, it may be time to replace them. Some recommend replacing brushes as quickly as every 3-6 months. I on the other hand tend to splurge a little more on my purchases so that they last a few years. My general rule of thumb is - if they look clean and don’t have bristles falling out, then they are “A OKAY” in my book!
Be Well!
Jen
Real estate investor, landlord and DIYer, Realtor, Business consultant, Globe trotter & Converting vegan.
