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By Kiana Murden and Calin Van Paris
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Leaning how to clean makeup brushes may not be the most glamorous step of your beauty routine, but it is an essential one. According to makeup artist Troy Surratt—whose line of highly covetable brushes are based on principles learned in the calligraphy brush mecca of Kumano, Japan—the only way to keep them bacteria-, dust-, and dirt-free is with a weekly washing. Aside from being a cleanly practice, a well-honed rinse actually lends to superior application.
“Cleaning brushes and sponges is mandatory not only for hygiene purposes and keeping bacteria and germs at bay, but also for performance reasons,” explains makeup artist Robert Sesnek. Makeup artist Wendi Miyake agrees. “Cleanliness and maintenance is number one to ensure your brushes are long-lasting and will perform at their highest capability,” she says. “When investing in quality makeup brushes, it is equally important to understand how to properly clean and maintain the quality of your brushes.”
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“If a brush begins to shed its bristles excessively, it may be time to replace it,” says Surratt. Rest assured, though: “If you care for your brushes with a bit of TLC, they should last for years. In my opinion, many brushes seem to get better and softer over time.”
Below, six makeup artists talk tips and tricks for cleaning makeup brushes like a pro, and share the products to make the process seamless and successful.
A weekly washing is a must—and a minimum. “For optimal application and the truest color payoff, it’s important to use clean brushes,” says Surratt. “If you apply a similar makeup look daily, I recommend washing your brushes thoroughly once a week.” That said, “you may need to wash them more often if you regularly change your colors.” Keeping your brushes clean helps them perform at peak levels while preventing acne breakouts caused by bacterial build-up.
“Washing your brushes can [seem like] a chore, so create an experience that’s enjoyable,” Surratt suggests. To carry out this objective, he reaches for Oribe’s Signature Shampoo, which has an addictive lemon and bergamot scent and is gentle enough for even delicate natural hairs.
Should sponges be part of your regular rotation, a twice-weekly (or even daily) wash may be advisable, depending on the amount of product used. If a brush is entirely caked in foundation or a sponge is soaked in silicones and oils, Surratt says that Dawn dish soap works wonders for degreasing. Be careful of “cleansers that have a high alcohol content or contain harsh solvents, as they can loosen the glue that holds the brush together, eventually affecting the life of the brush.”
Sesnek is a fan of the Cinema Secrets Professional Makeup Brush Cleanser. “This is a great one for quick hygienic brush cleaning, [as] it contains an antimicrobial solution for bacteria-free brushes. The drying time is fast, a few sprays and brushes are clean and dry in minutes.” It’s pro-approved by makeup artist Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, too.
Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap
Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner
Additionally, Sesnek “fell in love with how deeply this Sephora Collection shampoo cleaned his brushes. ”I prefer using a little at a time until any stains out of the brush or sponges are gone—it’s super concentrated so a little goes a long way.” Otherwise, Sesnek likes the Beautyblender Liquid Blendercleanser for sponges “as it removes tougher oil-based makeup stains.” Makeup artist Andre Sarmiento agrees: “I like to put a couple of drops directly on the sponges. It gets everything out!”
Sephora Collection Deep-Cleaning Brush and Sponge Shampoo
Clinique’s cleanser offers another thoughtful option for caring for your tools and skin, as it’s formulated for a gentle, yet thorough, cleanse. (Reviewers rave about how seamlessly it removes buildup). Otherwise, the Real Techniques Makeup Brush + Sponge Cleansing Gel is tried-and-true for just a couple of bucks—and worthy of a spot in your Amazon cart.
Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Gel
While some experts rely on more traditional liquid formulas, others, like celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles, reach for bar soap options—her favorite being Takeda Brush Purely Soap. Stiles notes that this IYKYK option “gets the brushes squeaky clean while also conditioning the brush hairs.” Jenny Patinkin’s Luxury Vegan Makeup Brush Soap is another favorite for a slew of relevant reasons: “It’s sulfate-free, fragrance-free, anti-bacterial, and anti-microbial, so you know your brushes are clean and ready for use.”
Both bars are also a great choice for cleaning beauty sponges, and Stiles considers the method quicker and more seamless when compared to a sponge with dish soap. “If you try to wash a beauty sponge with something like dish soap, you’ll spend 10 full minutes trying to get all of the soap out of them," she says. "You'll never have that problem with either of these soaps, and the sponges are spotless when you’re done. I’ve even cut one of my sponges open because I wanted to make sure it was clean and it was as clean as when I bought it.”
Jenny Patinkin Luxury Vegan Makeup Brush Soap
“Put some cleanser on a small dish," instructs Surratt. “Wet your brush with warm water, making sure to wash only the top part of the brush that comes into contact with makeup and skin, then tap it into the soap to dilute the concentration a bit.” Next, work the brush back and forth in the palm of your hand to create a lather, then rinse it with tepid water until all of the soap is gone.
If Surratt's hands-on method isn't for you, several cleansing tools exist to help help remove product buildup from your brushes. Sarmiento, for one, can’t live without Sigma’s cleaning mat or glove. “They really help get the brush clean while also protecting your hands from drying out," he says. "Swirl the brush onto your cleaning mat or glove to push out old product and rinse off your brush. Then fan put the bristles to see if there is any product left in the center of the brush. If there is, just give it another wash with cleanser.”
Sigma Spa Express Brush Cleaning Mat
Sigma 2X Sigma Spa® Brush Cleaning Glove
“For my bigger powder brushes, I always spin the water out in the StylPro Original brush cleaner and dryer, so that all the water gets out, dries quicker, and also ensures there is no odor that harvest,” says Miyake. This is a foolproof option for someone low on time, or with lots of brushes to handle.
Stylpro Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer
“Shake out the excess water and pat the bristles with a clean towel to get out as much moisture as possible,” Surratt advises. Next, roll up one end of the towel, placing the handle of the brush on the rolled part so that the head of the brush is angled slightly down. “You don’t want any water seeping into the handle because that can affect the bundling of the bristles as well as the handle itself,” he says. If you need your brushes dry by morning, place them on a cookie sheet padded with a Silpat baking mat as an extra layer of protection, and stick the tray in a gas oven. No need to switch the oven on, as “the pilot light adds a bit of warmth and helps them dry quickly overnight.”
Your beloved brushes are clean and bone dry! Now, proper storage will help to ensure that even the best makeup brushes remain in optimal condition for as long as possible. Giving brushes space helps to prevent bacterial buildup, so ditch the makeup bag (unless you're in transit, of course) in favor of a jar or drawer organizer. Store upright in a brush bouquet, or tuck into a designated drawer compartment to avoid unwanted dust.
When on the go, opt for a brush roll for seamless storage designed to keep brushes (and your skin and makeup!) looking their best.
Surratt Beauty Artistic Concealer Brush Small
Surratt Beauty Artistic Face Brush
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By Alexis Bennett Parker and Kiana Murden
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