How do I Clean Make-up Brushes Properly?
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free skin care · Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:06 pm

Hey everyone,

I received a nice set of brushes for Christmas but have been nervous to wash them for fear that they will not return to their nice fluffy shape.
What is the proper way to clean your make up brushes? Do you need a particular cleaning agent? Where should I set them when they're drying? Do different brushes require different techniques?
Also, how long do your brushes take to dry? I don't want to wash my brushes and then have them still wet the next day when I go to use them!

Thanks so much-I appreciate everyone's advice!
Kel

free skin care · Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:43 pm

Hi Kel...

Don't be scared to wash your brushes. It's very simple to do, but you have to use a brush cleaner formulated just for this purpose (I use MAC brush cleaner).

I rinse mine first with warm water then squeeze a little brush cleaner on them, suds it up and rinse them very well. Form them a little then place on a washcloth (I usually cover them with a second washcloth).

They really don't take long to dry. I usually do this right after my morning make-up application, so they are good and ready by the next morning, but they are dry well before that. Just fluff them before using.

See...simple as that!

free skin care · Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:54 pm

I addition to what CMAYC said, most of the brushes ( particularly the ones made of real animal hair) don't require frequent wash. You only need to wash your brushes used on liquid products every time after you use them, for other brushes that use powder products, I only wash them once per month. I just brush them gently against a clean tissue, and the colors will be taken off easily.

Oh, you can also wash your brushes by using gentle shampoo and followed by a gentle conditioner too if you don't want to invest in a brush wash product.

free skin care · Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:32 pm

Baby shampoo works well. Personally, I use CoverFX's brush cleaner as it has tea tree oil in it.

Oh yeah, lay them down to dry, not standing up.

free skin care · Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:00 am

The rule of thumb is to wash brushes with what you would wash your hair with. Thus, I use my hair shampoo. I gently pat off excess water, shape them, and then lay them down on a towel.

free skin care · Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:30 pm

I use a shampoo as well. It works fine on several brands of brushes that I have. If the brush sheds, I think it would have to do with the quality of the brush itself.

free skin care · Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:36 am

I use my facial wash to clean my brushes. I don't wash them too often (maybe once a month), and the last time I did it I actually had to wash them again the day after. I guess I just didn't do a good job (washing or rinsing ?) and the brush felt harsh. I washed it again and the following day it was nice and soft.

free skin care · Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:49 am

Okay-so I guess my next question is how do you wash the brush? Do you just apply the shampoo/cleanser to the outside of the bristles and gently wash the outside of the 'pouf' or do you really ensure that the cleanser is all through the 'pouf'. I hope that made a shred of sense.
I'm worried that if I wash them and get the shampoo in through the bristles that I won't get all the shampoo out, or worse yet-my 'pouf' shape will get messed up and will never return to normal.

Thanks for all the advice guys-I really appreciate it! Smile

Kel

free skin care · Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:26 pm

I haved just used a cream soap on my brushes for several years. I used to use shampoo, but I found that plain hand soap works just as well and is less expensive. I just put some soap in the palm of my hand and run the brush through it. Then I massage the brush head gently and run it under warm water until it appears to be clean. Foundation brushes may take longer to clean.

free skin care · Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:02 pm

I wash mine with make up brush wash (Trish McEvoy), putting some in my hand and swirling the brush around in it making sure not to get any inside the inside of the handle (there is a word for that but can't remember what it is), then I rinse, rinse and rinse again, the I roll them in a towel to get rid of the excess water. Then leave them to dry on their side, e.g. over a sink or cupboard edge (NEVER standing up as the water would run down inside). I tend to leave them for a couple of days to make sure they are completely dry before putting them in my make up case.

free skin care · Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:01 pm

I've been using a small bowl with lukewarm water with baby shampoo, and swirling the brush around, then rinsing with clean water. That's been working fine.

free skin care · Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:12 pm

I use liquid hand soap, and it works very well. I wet the brush and apply the soap and swirl it in the basin, then rinse well. Their dry by morning.

free skin care · Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:51 pm

i wash mine with shampoo or face wash-never had a problem with the fluffies))

free skin care · Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:29 am

I wash mine with brush cleaner (or baby shampoo if I have run out of cleaner) and then squeeze out the excess water. Re-form the brush to ensure its proper shape and let dry. I always leave them for a couple days, as another poster said as well, before putting them away.

free skin care · Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:30 am

Wonderful advice guys, thanks so much!
I'm going to try giving them a cleaning tonight, or perhaps this afternoon after I apply my makeup. Hopefully I won't end up with a droopy unfluffy 'pouf'! Smile

I'm sure it'll gross me out to see how dirty they are too...

Thanks again!!
Kel

free skin care · Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:09 am

I use antibacterial gentle hand soap, and it works great. Gets the makeup out, feels clean, and the brush returns to it natural shape. It is important to lay them flat, usually over the edge....so that all the water gets out. If there is a lot of makeup like foundation or eye shadow brushes you have to rinse a lot. If you have good brushes you shouldn't worry, they will be fine.

free skin care · Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:26 pm

Dr. Bronner's. Absolutely. I washed my brushes every couple of weeks for years, like a good girl -- and assumed the rose color on my fiber optic was permanent. One day, I used Dr. Bronner's, and they all came out BETTER than new -- and the skunk white was WHITE! I exclaimed so loudly, I frightened the animals.

I keep Dr. Bronner's on hand just for this purpose now -- although the peppermint makes many household tasks "uplifting"! Laughing

free skin care · Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:10 am

Sidda- Where do you purchase Dr. Bronners? I love that you "frightened the animals" that sounded like me yesterday while I was cleaning my brushes.....they were SO dirty. I must have rinsed and washed 3-4 times per brush. Embarassed

I can't believe I let them get that way. Gross.

Needless to say, thanks to everyones great tips, my brushes survived and are now softer and nicer than they were before! I've also learned to keep up with the cleaning so that my brushes don't have powder caked on the inside bristles.

free skin care · Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:40 am

Bobbi Brown has brush cleanser, which is good.

free skin care · Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:42 am

If your brushes are natural bristles, it doesn't hurt to condition them every once in awhile. I treat my makeup brushes the same way I do my sable watercolor brushes - as a matter of fact, a couple of very small w/c brushes I've moved to my brush roll; the little sable points are perfect for use as an eyeliner!

Back OT, after cleansing brushes with gentle shampoo or castille soap, massage a little olive oil into the bristles from the ferrule to the tip while bristles are still damp. Lay them on the side over the sink or counter [so air circulates around the brush head] for about 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water, reshape and then dry either upside down or on the side as noted before. I condition my brushes every other month and after years of use, they're still in terrific condition.

free skin care · Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:41 am

I always use diluted shampoo to wash my brushes and pat dry with a towel and leave them air dry.

free skin care · Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:40 am

I use my own shampoo and heated water (to get rid of germs and what not) to clean the brushes...

Kel wrote:

Hey everyone,

I received a nice set of brushes for Christmas but have been nervous to wash them for fear that they will not return to their nice fluffy shape.
What is the proper way to clean your make up brushes? Do you need a particular cleaning agent? Where should I set them when they're drying? Do different brushes require different techniques?
Also, how long do your brushes take to dry? I don't want to wash my brushes and then have them still wet the next day when I go to use them!

Thanks so much-I appreciate everyone's advice!
Kel

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