Makeup brushes are necessary tools for putting on makeup and creating a flawless look. However, many people tend to forget that makeup brushes can also get dirty.

These dirty brushes contain bacteria that can cause many skin problems. Some of the most common skin problems caused by dirty brushes are rashes, acne breakouts, and more serious issues such as fungal infection, E. coli, or staph infection.

In addition to skin problems, dirty makeup brushes can also affect the application of makeup.

This is why cleaning and maintaining your makeup brushes is so important. In this article, we’re going to discuss all the proper ways to clean and maintain your makeup brushes.

Why is cleaning makeup brushes important?

As mentioned, dirty makeup brushes collect makeup residue, dead skin cells, and oils which create a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This means that when you use dirty makeup brushes, you’re transferring bacteria from the brush to your skin.

Once on your skin, the bacteria can cause acne breakouts, rashes, and irritation. It can also cause serious and potentially life-threatening infections such as E. coli, fungal infection, and staph infection.

On top of that, makeup buildup on your makeup tools can also affect makeup application. Excessive buildup can damage your brushes. And as you know, you can’t properly apply makeup with damaged brushes. Your makeup will be spotty, muddy, and uneven, resulting in a sloppy finish.

Cleaning and maintaining your brushes regularly will prevent bacteria buildup, it will prolong the life of your brushes and maintain their performance.

How to properly clean makeup brushes

There are many different ways to clean your makeup tools. However, these three ways are the most common and efficient ways to clean your brushes thoroughly. 

Manual makeup brush cleaning

The first and the most common way is the manual way. You’ll need a brush cleaner, shampoo, and warm water. 

Wet the brush under warm water carefully but try not to wet the handle. Then dip the brush in a mix of shampoo and water, or a brush cleaner, and start gently swirling the brush on your palm or silicone cleaning mat. 

After that, you can rinse the brush under water until the water runs clear. Gently reshape the bristles of the brush with a towel and let the brush air dry.

Automatic makeup brush cleaning gadget

Another way includes an automatic brush-cleaning gadget. The automatic brush-cleaning gadget comes with a detachable plastic bowl, rubber collars that come in several sizes, and a brush spinner. 

Thanks to these rubber collars you can clean different size brushes. Put the brush in the right size collar and attach a spinner to the end of the brush. Then put the brush in a bowl filled with soapy water and activate the battery-operated spinner. 

This gadget is easy to use, and it’s pretty efficient. The best part is that some brush-cleaning gadgets also have a drying option.

Ultrasonic makeup brush cleaning

But that’s not all, you also have the superior ultrasonic cleaner option. If you don’t want to waste your time manually cleaning your brushes, you can invest in an ultrasonic cleaner. 

You can clean all your brushes at once in the ultrasonic cleaner. Just fill the cleaner with lukewarm water, and put in the brushes. You can add a detergent or soap if you think the brushes are super dirty. Then plug in the cleaner, set the timer, and let it do its work. After it’s done, rinse the brushes and let them air dry. 

You will notice that your brushes are as clean as when they were new. The best part is that you can clean more than your brushes in the ultrasonic cleaner.

How often should you clean your brushes?

This will mainly depend on how often you use your makeup brushes and what kind of products you apply with them.

For example, brushes that you use to apply concealer and foundation should be cleaned after every use. This may sound excessive, but these kinds of liquid products leave more residue and need to be cleaned more frequently.

The brushes you use for eye makeup should be cleaned once a week. And brushes for powder and blush can be cleaned every other week. 

Of course, once again, this will largely depend on how often you use your makeup.

How to store your makeup brushes

The way you store your brushes is also important for the proper maintenance of brushes. It’s important to store the brushes in a clean and dry environment. This way you’ll avoid moisture and dust buildups. 

To store your brushes properly, you should use brush holders. These holders keep your brushes upright which prevents the bristles from deforming. It also keeps the brushes dust-free. You can also keep them in a travel case so that they are safe from damage.

Bottom line

Cleaning and maintaining your makeup brushes is crucial for your health. It’s also essential to keep them clean so that you can achieve the makeup look you want.

To keep your brushes in great condition, all you have to do is clean them regularly and store them properly. Nothing more.