“I love cleaning my makeup brushes,” said no one, ever. Okay fine, some people do get great satisfaction from washing their beauty tools, but we're not those people. In fact, we get so lazy that instead of cleaning our go-tos, the temptation to simply grab a new brush from the beauty closet is all too real for our beauty team.
However, the gross reality is well-known: Dirty brushes can be bad news for your complexion — the more caked your brushes get, the more bacteria they're harboring and the worse your makeup will look. And yet, we still don't wash them as much as we should — until now.
Makeup artists can use tons of makeup brushes every single day, and on multiple people, so if anyone knows the hacks that make upkeep easier, it's them. Thankfully, the pros offered up their tips and product recs to R29 — so we stop putting dirty brushes on our faces.
"Makeup expires, formulas change...but your brushes can last forever," says celebrity makeup artist Andre Sarmiento — and we think he’s got a great point. Hopefully, we become brush-cleaning fanatics, but our expectations might be a little more realistic: namely, not having to toss our brushes aside every time they get too much foundation on them.
Click ahead to see some of the tips these makeup artists gave us and see how the pros really clean their brushes — and how we should, too.
For your pricey brushes...
“A favorite gentle brush cleanser of mine is Japonesque Solid Brush Cleanser. I simply wet my makeup brushes, swirl against the soap in the container, rinse, blot, then air dry. The brushes come out looking new and fluffy, not to mention smelling really good!” — Elisa Flowers, makeup artist
Japonesque Solid Brush Cleanser, $20, available at Ulta Beauty.
“[Artisanal Japanese brushes] are usually handcrafted and don’t have industrial adhesives or machine-cut hairs. Putting these kinds of brushes under running water, or letting them sit in water, pretty much destroys them.
"To wash [delicate brushes], I make a pool of water in my hand with a tiny dab of sulfate-free shampoo and swirl them around. My fave is Hair Gia hair Rejuvenating Shampoo, which is also my actual shampoo. These are usually the most expensive types of brushes, so protect your investment!” — Andre Sarmiento, celebrity makeup artist
Hair Gia Hair Loss Rejuvenator Shampoo, $24, available at Hair Gia.
For a deep clean...
“You should clean your brushes often, especially if there’s any contamination, like if you have a blemish. I like to use something strong, like dish soap, because it will break down the oils in the makeup, or Dr. Bronner’s Castille Lavender Soap." — Gisel Calvillo, MAC senior artist
Dr. Bronner's Castille Lavender Soap, $10.79, available at Target.
"I love Sigma's Express Cleansing Glove to really help me ensure a deep clean. It’s a process, but so worth it when people think all your brushes look brand-new." — Andre Sarmiento, celebrity makeup artist
Sigma Beauty Sigma Spa Express Brush Cleaning Glove, $25, available at Sigma Beauty.
"The brush cleaner I love is from The London Brush Company. It's the Goat Milk Brush Shampoo and I especially love the English Lavender, because it smells so beautiful. Lavender is a great anti-bacterial, but also an uplifting scent. That brush cleaner seems to clear away all the gunk and, at the same time, doesn't strip [the brushes] at all." — Pati Dubroff, celebrity makeup artist
London Brush Company Pure Goat Milk Solid Brush Shampoo in Naturally Clean, $60, available at London Brush Company.
“Dish soaps that are petroleum-based will help break down oils from makeup that can be hard to remove on brushes.” — Elisa Flowers, makeup artist
Dawn Ultra Original Scent Dishwashing Liquid, $4.09, available at Target.
"Makeup brushes perform much better when they are clean and 'like-new.' Getting into a habit of keeping them sanitary is easy. Remember, if they feel rough to the touch or look stained, it's definitely time to clean them.
“If I have a very stubborn stain on my brushes that won't come out easily, like a red pigment, I use The Masters Brush Cleanser soap bar. This brush cleanser is designed to remove oil, acrylic, and watercolor paint, but is fantastic for makeup brushes, as well.” — Elisa Flowers, makeup artist
The Masters Brush Cleaner & Preserver, $11.99, available at Michaels.
For a quick refresh...
“You should clean your personal makeup brushes one a week, but a baby wipe with alcohol is a quick way to disinfect and get the product out of your brushes. Baby wipes are great and [makeup artists always] have them to clean our hands. I feel like if you’re not cleaning once a week, [brushes] can break you out.” — John Stapleton, MAC senior artist
Pampers Natural Clean Baby Wipes, $19.99, available at Target.
“It's definitely possible to run out of clean brushes — so you need a quick fix. I love the MAC one, because it seems to be the most gentle. I pour out some on a paper towel and buff the brush on the towel. Then, I take a little moistened paper towel and buff the brush to get rid of any cleanser residue. They’re dry in just a few short minutes.” — Andre Sarmiento, celebrity makeup artist
MAC Brush Cleanser, $16, available at MAC.
“I cannot live without Brush Off Makeup Brush Cleanser — I have been using it for more than 20 years! This cleanser not only dries very quickly, but sanitizes, as well, which is perfect if you're working with a lot of people at an event or on a shoot. This product removes makeup and any potential bacteria from my brushes quickly. Spray, then swipe your brush a few times against a paper towel.” — Elisa Flowers, makeup artist
Brush Off Makeup Brush Cleanser, $13.50, available at Brush Off.
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