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Learning how to clean makeup brushes may not be the most glamorous step of your beauty routine, but it is an essential one to maintain hygiene and prevent unnecessary breakouts. 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 brushes free from bacteria, dust, and dirt is with a weekly washing.
“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.”
Vogue’s Favorite Makeup Brush Cleaners
In This Story
“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 their favorite products to make the process seamless and successful.
The Best Makeup Brush Cleaners
Before you reach for just any old old soap to clean out your brushes, think again: “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,” Surratt tells Vogue. Think of it this way—you wouldn’t wash your hair with hand soap. Similarly, your brushes’ hair bristles (synthetic or natural) also require special care. If you prefer a tactile lathering experience, Surratt suggests repurposing your shampoo to cleanse your brushes.
“Washing your brushes can [seem like] a chore, so create an experience that’s enjoyable,” Surratt suggests. To do so, he reaches for Oribe’s Signature Shampoo, which has an addictive lemon and bergamot scent and is gentle enough to cleanse delicate natural brushes hairs. Otherwise, the Real Techniques cleansing gel is a tried-and-true choice at an affordable price. For a quick solution, Cinema Secrets and Clinique offer liquid cleansers that require no lathering to get the job done.
The Best Makeup Sponge Cleaners
When in doubt, you can always opt for a household staple, dish soap, to cleanse your beauty sponge—though it may require extra elbow grease to rinse out. For this reason, celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles prefers a bar option for their effectiveness and efficiency. “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, explaining she prefers a quicker cleanse. “You’ll never have that problem with bar 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.” Otherwise, brands like EcoTools and BeautyBlender offer liquid formulas specifically designed to cleanse beauty blending tools without the hassle of endless rinsing to remove soap.
The Best Tools for Makeup Brush Cleaning
For those who use their brushes a lot, silicone gloves, bowls, and palettes really let you get in there to remove product buildup. “They really help get the brush clean while also protecting your hands from drying out,” Sarmiento says. They featured raised ridges that can reach in between each bristle for a thorough cleanse—like a scalp scrub for your brush. Alternatively, electric makeup brush cleaners can also act as mini, portable washer-dryers for larger format brushes.
The Best Makeup Brush Storage
Once your brushes are clean and dry, proper storage will help ensure they remain in optimal condition for as long as possibles. The pros suggest ditching your makeup bag (unless you’re traveling) for a dedicated makeup organizer, such as drawer trays or brush bouquets. That way, each brush has time to air out, reducing bacteria buildup over time. Plus, your makeup brushes will look their best, maintaining their shape and condition, rather than compressing them tightly in a pouch.
Everything You Need to Know
How Often Should You Wash Your Makeup Brushes and Sponges
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, though 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.
Should beauty sponges be part of your regular rotation, the experts recommend a twice-weekly (or even daily) wash, depending on the amount of product used. Left unchecked, reusable sponges can harbor acne-causing bacteria, thanks to their moisture-rich environments and frequent contact with skin.
How to Wash Makeup Brushes
“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 you’re opting for use a silicone makeup brush cleaner pad to to help speed along the process, Sarmiento explains just how easy it is. “Swirl the brush onto your cleaning mat or glove to push out old product and rinse off your brush. Then fan out 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,” he says.
What’s the Best Way to Dry Makeup Brushes?
“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.”
- Troy Surratt is a celebrity makeup artist and founder of Surratt Beauty.
- Robert Sesnek is a New York based celebrity makeup artist. His clientele includes Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Julianne Moore, Adriana Lima, Vanessa Hudgens.
- Wendi Miyake is an LA-based makeup artist and mens groomer. Miyake’s celebrity clientele include Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, and Kelly Rowland.
- Brigitte Reiss-Andersen is a professional makeup artist whose clients include Hilary Swank, Tilda Swinton, Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sigourney Weaver and more.
- Fiona Stiles is a celebrity makeup artist whose clientele includes Gabrielle Union, Ashley Park, Lily Collins, and Haim.
- Andre Sarmiento is a professional makeup artist and photographer whose clients include Malala Yousafzai, Janicza Bravo, Sarah Catherine Hook, and more.
