Here’s how to get your makeup brushes squeaky clean in four easy steps. 

1. Rinse

The first step in cleaning your makeup brushes is to rinse them under lukewarm water to loosen excess makeup. Avoid using hot water -- it can damage the fibers of your brush and it isn’t necessary to get the brush clean. Once the excess makeup has lifted, it’s time to cleanse.  

Pro tip: Avoid submerging the entire brush head under water. The water can loosen the glue that holds the fibers in place. 

2. Cleanse

As previously mentioned, you don’t need to use a specialized soap for cleaning your brushes. A mild dish detergent or natural cleanser like Dr. Bronner’s is a great solution for brush cleaning. 

You can also use Dawn dish soap, as long as you rinse your brush thoroughly afterward. Dish soaps have ingredients designed to strip wax and oils from your pots and pans, so they work very well for cleaning makeup brushes.

Although it can be tempting to use your facial cleanser to clean your brushes, don’t do it! Not only would using your facial cleanser be a terrible waste of the product, it is simply not strong enough to clean and get into the bristles and fibers of your brushes. Face cleanser is specifically designed to clean your face (sometimes not even to remove makeup). As such, it’s just not strong enough to clean your makeup brushes. 

When cleaning the brush head, swirl and massage the fibers of the brush; never scrub, as that can be damaging to the fibers and can cause them to fall out. 

3. Rinse and Repeat

When you’ve finished cleansing the brush with mild soap, rinse it under room temperature water. You can repeat this process until your brush is entirely cleaned. 

If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your brushes, you may need to wash and rinse them several times. 

Pro tip: If using a mild dish soap, make certain you rinse well. Many mild solvents can leave behind a residue which you don’t want lingering on your brushes and eventually transferring to your face. 

4. Dry

To properly dry your brushes, gently squeeze out the moisture with a paper towel or microfiber cloth. 

Don’t use anything that could cause the brush to collect lint, like a hand towel. It can be impossible to “de-lint” a makeup brush, and inevitably that lint will end up clumped in product and attached to your skin.

Lay your brushes flat to dry. You can flip them halfway through the drying process if you remember to, but it isn’t absolutely necessary. 

Pro tip: Never sit your brushes upright to dry. This can cause any excess water remaining in the fibers to drain into the brush handle. Over time, this can loosen the glue that holds the brush fibers intact and cause the brush to slowly fall apart. 

Quick Brush Cleaning Hacks

Once you get a routine for your makeup brush usage, you’ll find it takes very little time to clean them and keep them in good condition. However, if you’re short on time or dealing with a stain, there are some tricks you can try. 

Fast Cleanse

Sometimes you just don’t have the time to clean the brush but you know it’s not the cleanest it’s ever been. If the thought of putting that dirty brush against your skin makes it crawl, try using a makeup remover wipe to gently lift off the excess product and lightly cleanse the brush. 

Makeup remove wiper contain only raw coconut oil, which is excellent for removing product and providing a gentle cleanse. 

Stains

You love beautiful, vibrant pops of color, but your brushes seem to love them, too. In fact, after numerous cleanings, your brush may still be clinging to that gorgeous red. 

Some synthetics (mostly red purples) are difficult to completely remove. A great way to eliminate these colors is by using raw coconut cream. Coconut oil is excellent at pulling synthetic color away from the bristles. Some colors may be impossible to remove completely, 

Once you’ve rubbed the fibers of the brush with coconut cream, rinse the brush with one of the previously mentioned mild detergents, or even a mild hair shampoo.