The Quickest and Safest Ways to Clean your Makeup Brush (2024)

An important part of using makeup is cleaning them thoroughly. Any makeup residue on the brushes would become an open playground for germs and bacteria. Hence, to prevent your brushes and skin from getting damaged, we have compiled a guide to easy ways of cleaning your beloved makeup brushes.

Ways to Clean Your Brushes:

While there might be other remedies for cleaning brushes, perfect and thorough methods of cleaning are done with cleaners that are actually made for your makeup brushes. Thus, we have listed ways you can properly clean your brushes.

Liquid Brush Cleaner:
A quicker yet fool-proof method of cleaning brushes is with liquid brush cleansers. Used by professionals who need their brushes cleaned almost instantly, liquid cleansers such as PAC Instant Brush Cleaner do the job in a matter of a few spritzes. Preferred for its hassle-free use, liquid brush cleaners are the go-to option when you want to clean your makeup brushes in a gentle yet swift way.

The Quickest and Safest Ways to Clean your Makeup Brush (1)

Cleansing Soaps:
Using dishwashing soaps can be harsh on the brushes, loosening the hold of the bristles from the brush and thus, reducing the shelf-life of your brushes. Instead, you can opt for better alternatives, other than mild shampoos and micellar water. Specialized cleansing soap bars for makeup brushes such as the PAC Solid Brush Cleaner are one of the best options for cleaning your brushes which clean and condition your makeup brushes. Just wet the brush and run it over the soap bar to create a lather. Rinse the brush thoroughly afterward, and it will be ready to use after drying.

The Quickest and Safest Ways to Clean your Makeup Brush (2)

Instant Cleaner Sprays:
It is not always possible to clean your makeup brushes elaborately, especially when you require your brushes multiple times for multiple occasions or multiple people. In this scenario, you can opt for a brush cleaner that instantly cleans your brushes, without any hassle. The PAC Express Brush Cleaner is a dry brush cleaner that cleans your makeup brushes instantly while keeping them dry so that you don’t have to worry about waiting for them to dry. A perfect on-the-go solution to brush cleaning, the Express Brush cleaner also disinfects the brushes while cleaning them.

The Quickest and Safest Ways to Clean your Makeup Brush (3)

Total Clean Brush Scrubber:
For a more thorough cleaning of your brushes, the PAC Total Clean Brush Scrubber is the best option. You just have to add a little bit of water to it and fix it on a flat surface so that the cleaner doesn’t move while cleaning. It has built-in soap which would clean your brushes when you scrub it thus, cleaning the brush deeply. These Brush Scrubbers are perfect for monthly brush cleaning sessions for maintenance.

The Quickest and Safest Ways to Clean your Makeup Brush (4)

  • Why is it Important to Clean Your Brushes?

- Makeup Brushes, if not cleaned, can build up a lot of germs, oils, and bacteria which can cause damage to the skin such as skin acne, irritation, and allergies. Dirty brushes can also obstruct makeup application, leaving streaks and blending issues. Regular, gentle cleaning of brushes can increase their lifespan, keeping them soft and effective for seamless makeup applications.

  • How often to Clean Your Makeup Brushes?

-It is necessary to understand that cleaning must be done with balance. Overcleaning your makeup brushes might result in them being weak from their brush handles. On the other hand, cleaning them less would make them cakey and dirty. Thus, cleaning them moderately should be enough. For face brushes, cleaning once a week, and for eye brushes, cleaning once every two weeks should suffice. Apart from these routine cleanses, one should always adopt spot cleaning (cleaning brushes on the spot) before and after use.

  • Which is the Fastest Way to Clean Makeup Brushes?

-The quickest way to clean your makeup brushes is to use a spray brush cleaner. Simply spray the cleaner onto the bristles and wipe them off gently with a clean towel. This will sanitize and clean the brushes in a matter of seconds, making it perfect for convenient brush cleaning.

  • How Long Does it Take to Clean Your Makeup Brushes?

-A thorough cleaning session of makeup brushes usually takes up to 10 minutes, though it may vary depending on how many brushes are cleaned and how dirty they are. However, a single brush, when cleaned properly, can take only a few minutes.

  • What should you not clean makeup brushes with?

-Makeup Brushes are very delicate tools, which could lead to breakage or other damage to the brush bristles. Thus, cleaning them with products with certain elements, such as a few listed below, would prove to be damaging for the makeup brushes:

1. High Alcohol Content:
Cleansers that have high levels of alcohol content can loosen the adhesive holding the ferrule(the silver grip in the middle) and the bristles together. Thus, using sprays or cleansers such as harsh shampoos, with high alcohol levels will end up drying the bristles damaging the brushes and making them more prone to breakage.

2. Dish Wash Woes:
Dish Soaps are usually very harsh and hence, washing your soft makeup brushes with them would dry out the bristles. Avoiding the usage of dishwashing soap would be ideal.

3. Household Cleaners:
Household cleaners such as bleach, multi-surface sprays, or disinfectants are too strong and harsh, especially bleach, and can damage the brush. Another con of using house cleaners is that they can irritate your skin if any residue remains.

4. Hot Water:
It is always advisable to use warm or lukewarm water to clean your makeup brushes as using extremely hot water can cause bristles to become brittle and lose shape. It can also dissolve the fixatives keeping the bristles together, leading to shedding.


What not to do when cleaning makeup brushes?

1. No to Submerging:
Do not submerge the brushes as it would loosen the adhesive in those brushes and thus, end in the brush losing its bristles.

2.Drying Upright:
Makeup brushes should always be let dry in a horizontal position as keeping them in an upright position while drying could trap the water in their base and damage the brushes extensively. Thus, always dry your brushes in a horizontal position.

3.Squeezing the brushes:
Please do not squeeze the life out of your makeup brushes after washing them. Let them breathe normally as squeezing them would damage their shape, which can affect the finish of your makeup.

4.Hot Water:
Always wash your brushes with lukewarm water and NOT with hot water. Using hot or boiling water would end up melting the glue that holds the brush hairs to its base and the brushes would end up losing hair.

5.Sharing Brushes:
Sharing is caring, but not in the case of makeup brushes. Sharing brushes can spread bacteria, viruses, and contaminants. If you do want to share, wash and cleanse the brushes thoroughly so that they are safe and hygienic to use.

Makeup brushes are the arsenal of beauty for every individual that has them. Hence, keeping them clean and healthy is necessary to ensure your beloved brushes of powerful makeup stay intact for longer use.

The Quickest and Safest Ways to Clean your Makeup Brush (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5827

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.