Cleaning Make up Brushes

Like the other moms have said, gentle cleanser of whatever kind will work. I've always used baby shampoo on my natural-bristle brushes, but for synthetic brushes (for your foundation, concealer etc.) you can use hand soap, dish soap, or whatever you need to get the oilier makeup off. Remember to point the bristles down - do not let the water spray up into the handle of the brush, since that will weaken the glue that holds the bristles in place. Then shake them firmly with the bristles down to get as much water off as possible, and lay them flat to dry. (I like to have them hang over the edge of the sink.)

I hope that helps!

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Hi C., you can clean them with a mild shampoo like baby shampoo. Put some shampoo in the palm of your hand, wet the brush hairs and work the shampoo into the brush hairs. I repeat until the water runs clear. Lay them flat to dry. I was told not to stand them up in a container to dry because the water will drip into the handle. I try to clean mine once a week but that doesn't always work out.

1 mom found this helpful

I like all the recommendations for using shampoo to clean brushes. It is a product each of us has in our houses already. I do want to alert you to a possible hazard though. Many shampoos (even baby shampoos) have formaldehyde in them. It is usually listed as quaternium, or poly-quaternium. Sometimes, they just list it as q-10, or q-15. Formaldehyde is a cheap preservative that is used to embalm dead people. We don't want it anywhere near our faces! (Or baby's head). Look for products without this toxic ingredient. One place to check into natural products is my website: www.SwitchingStores.info. If you request info, I will call you and give you more information.
J.

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Any of the makeup companies will try and sell you their brand of brush cleaner but I have been told at MAC and Bare Essentials that you can use your face wash to to the same job. It is mild enough to clean them but at the same time removes any oils.

You can just use soap & water in a small dish - swish them around for a bit, squeeze dry onto a dry towel & then hang upside down to fully dry.

But I personally like the brush cleaner from MAC. I just squeeze a little onto a round cotton wipe, dab the brush a few times & voila - clean. :>

My make up artist friends recommed alcohol.

Bare Escentuals sells a brush cleaner. But I also know that Baby Shampoo works well.

MAC has a great brush cleaner...it removes TONS of buildup!

liquid detergent, water, and air dry. Works well for me.

Hi there, I am T. and a beauty consultant for Mary Kay and believe me I clean brushes all the time. There are several products on the market (unfortunately this is one thing MK does not sell) and they range from brush shampoo to instant/quick anti bacterial cleaner.

I lay my brushes in a long container that will fit them, add a tiny bit of shampoo and warm water and let them soak for about 15 minutes. When I come back I rinse them with warm water and do it again until the water is clear.

Roll them in a dish towel to get the excess water out, brush them out on the towel to make sure no color remains in the brush, reshape them with your hands, and stand them up in a coffee cup to air dry. If you need them quickly, blow dry them on cool with gentle air.

T. Alvarez
Independent Beauty Consultant
Mary Kay Skin Care and Cosmetics
408-03-3511

Makeup brushes should be cleaned weekly to minimize the transfer of bacteria from your skin to your product, and vice-versa. Several companies make brush cleaners, but I use my facial cleansing gel (you can also use shampoo ... gentle cleansers that won't dry out the natural hair of your brush). If you need any personal care products, please take a look at my site: www.mccluckfarms.com where I sell an assortment of natural products for people and pets.

I use make-up brush cleaner. It is a solution your brushes soak in. It is the Sephora brand and I purchased it at the local Sephora store.

Use some shampoo to clean them and rinse them with water after.

Hi C.,
I have expensive make-up brushes and have always used baby shampoo. My friend's sister is a make-up artist in Hollywood and that is what she uses. I washed them weekly when I wore make-up all the time, now I just wash them after I use them. Who has time for full war paint with a 3 yr old? :0
Sincerely,
L.

C.,
Go to the Brush off website, it is a great product made in the USA, packaged in Bend Oregon and not only cleans your brushes it also gets rid of damaging bacteria....
http://www.brushoff.com/

A.

clean them with rubbing alcohol and a towel and allow to air dry completely

I use a mild shampoo, rinse well and air dry if you can hang them upside down it can help them retain their shape.

Hi,
being a makeup artist myself, I was always trained to wash your personal brushes once a week. Since most of us are busy moms that most likely won't happen, so try to wash them once a month to cut down on any bacteria... we don't want that on our faces!
You can use a mild shampoo and wash in warm water, DO NOT use hot water, this may breakdown the glue that holds the plastic/wooden handle together.
Rinse until water is clear.
You may find you have to wash a couple times to get the brushes clean. Let air dry. Do not use conditioner.
An alternative is, to use a brush cleaner. You can find at a beauty supply store.
I hope this helps.
Have a great day!

Gentle shampoo is all you need.

I was told by a make up artist to use baby shampoo and air dry, then just fluff them back up.

Wet the brushes, rub on a bar of soap, rince thoroughly, put in a cup handle down to dry. Works like a charm.

Hi,
I use baby shampoo (Johnson & Johnson). Just a little water & shampoo, get a lather up, & rinse. Make sure you have them in a well ventilated place so that they can dry well.

Hello C., I don't know what anyone else does...I put a tiny bit of shampoo on them and run them under warm water. I kind of move the bristles around under the water to get the makeup out. Then I lay them on a towel to dry. It is amazing what a difference it makes. Happy cleaning!

my dermatologist & eye care provider both recommend using baby shampoo for cleaning makeup brushes & removing eye makeup. be sure to get the tearless version!

Hi, my daughter is a make-up artist and she swears by Mac brush cleanser. You can purchase it at the Mac store in Valley Fair, and I believe Macys has it as well. She was once told that soap and alcohol drys the brushes out, so she has never used anything else but Mac. Since she has such a large investment in her brushes, she wants them to last a very long time. Good Luck

I am a professional make up artist. Shampoo then gently then rinse and lay out to dry. fluff them up when they're dry.

Hi,
I am a consultant with the Body Shop at Home (www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/cflesher), and we have a brush cleaner that you spray to cleanse, and also a tea tree facial wash that works well too.
Cynthia

Baby shampoo always works great, then just let them air dry.

Just wash them with your shampoo and let them dry on a towel.
BE