Let’s be honest: professional makeup brushes are expensive. If you do not take proper care of them, you end up throwing your money out the window. But how are you supposed to take care of those precious tools?! In this post, I’ll teach you exactly how and how often you should wash brushes.

How to wash brushes

Always wash your brushes under lukewarm water, with the bristles pointing downwards. That way, you avoid getting water on the part of the brush where the bristles and handle meet. Gently swirl the brush on your hand and lather with soap. You can also use a tool such as the brush cleaning egg from Shop Miss A.

Rinse until the water runs clear from the brush. Wipe your brush on a clean towel and give it back its original shape (VERY important). Let them dry horizontally on a clean surface, preferably with the bristle not touching the surface.

What products to use

You can use gentle dishwasher soap to clean brushes used for cream products. That way, the “grease” from the product will be easily cleaned. This also goes for Beauty Blenders and any kind of sponge used to apply foundation or concealer.

For all other brushes, you can use gentle hand soap or shampoo. I personally prefer hand soap as it is more effective in killing bacteria.

How often should you wash your makeup brushes

Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your brushes!

• Everyday makeup brushes: brushes that are used on a regular basis should be washed once a week or every two weeks. This is even more important for brushes that are used to apply liquid or cream products, such as a foundation brush or a lip brush, because these tend to be an even better breeding ground for bacteria… Ew! Wash your brushes more often if you have acne in order to avoid spreading bacteria.
• Less used brushes: I recommend washing all other brushes about once a month or as needed. For example, if you only wear eyeshadow on special occasions, you may not need to wash those brushes as often.

By regularly cleaning your brushes, these will be softer, and safer to use. Less bacteria= less risks of breaking out! With your freshly-cleaned brushes, you are ready to apply your makeup. Just make sure the makeup you are using is not expired!

-xox- Marika