Today I want to teach you how to clean makeup brushes gently and effectively so they stay fresh and last longer!
Do you love makeup?
Me too! Then, like me, you’re probably wondering how to clean makeup brushes with something natural.
Even if you’re using natural makeup, brushes can get… icky after a while.
Why?
Because it’s not just makeup on those brushes. We’re talking dead skin, oils, bacteria, dirt… you get the picture.
Here’s how I clean my brushes:
How to Clean Makeup Brushes: What to Use
Sure, I can scrub my brushes with some kind of industrial cleaner and it’ll probably work.
But then, my pretty brushes would lose a lot of lifespan (did I tell you they were a wee bit expensive?) and I really don’t want to use chemicals if I don’t have to (or like, ever).
So for a while I was putting off cleaning them at all. Which was a mistake. I mean, look at this:
We have sparkly eye shadow, rosy blush, gobs of foundation and who-knows-what-else all over the place. Ew.
But vinegar, baking soda and the like?
Wasn’t really cutting it. Plus those alkaline and acid solutions can be a little rough on your brushes.
So it was time to find a simple, non-toxic and effective way to clean my makeup brushes.
Here’s what I like to use:
I’ll be honest, the search wasn’t a long one. I actually knew exactly what to reach for.
This concentrated non-toxic cleaner has been a lifesaver for my family in the last year, which I could call the year of cleaning everything (did I mention we moved?).
What do I clean with it?
Bathtubs, walls, refrigerators, damp dusting, windows, cabinets… pretty much anything you can imagine has been cleaned with this stuff.
So why not clean my makeup brushes, too? It was too easy:
- Add 2 tablespoons of Thieves cleaner to 1/4 cup hot water.
- Soak for 5 minutes (or if your brushes are super dirty like mine, try 10-15 minutes).
It’ll look something like this:
That’s all you need to do to start!
The enzymes and all natural soaps in Thieves cleaner breaks down dirt and oils so that your brushes practically clean themselves. Practically.
You have to try my next trick to get finish the job:
How to Clean Makeup Brushes: The Swirling Technique
If you love makeup like I do, then you probably know that two things are required: quality product and technique.
We’ve already got my product of choice covered, so now onto technique:
I call it swirling.
Fun name, right? Here’s how the Swirling Technique works:
- After adding your brush(es) to the cleaning solution and soaking for 5 minutes, now you want to swirl them.
- Gently “swirl” your makeup brush along the bottom of the glass — not too rough, since you want to preserve the integrity of the bristles. Do this for about 30-60 seconds and watch that water turn even murkier!
Tip: I find it works best to swirl one brush at a time.
You have to do a little swirling because makeup brushes can be dense, and makeup works its way down in to the bristles.
Soak then swirl.
Soaking gets the cleaner in there to break up the yucky stuff, then swirling acts like a gentle scrubbing to wash it all away.
How to Clean Makeup Brushes: The Last Step
Don’t forget to dry your brushes!
If they’re wet too long (or if you stuff them in your makeup case while they’re still wet), you risk fostering icky bacteria.
Here are some tips for drying:
- Squeeze them gently with a towel to absorb excess moisture.
- Then lay your brushes flat on a dry towel so they can air dry.
- Or if you’re in a pinch, put your hair dryer on its lowest setting and gently dry them that way.
After that, your brushes will look good as new!
Want some Thieves cleaner?
Like I said, I use my Thieves cleaner for absolutely everything
— it’s genuinely non-toxic, which means it can be used in ways you’d never think to use an all-purpose cleaner.
Here are a few things I’ve tried:
- I used it for damp dusting, cleaning mirrors, and wiping down windows in a 1:30 dilution.
- I cleaned my shower, bathroom and kitchen with a 1:5 dilution.
- I used a 1:3 dilution to soak dishes with burnt-on food — totally melted the scorched food right off my cookware. (Which, unfortunately, I have to do more often than I’d like — definitely no Betty Crocker here!)
- I used a 1:5 dilution as a laundry stain remover.
- I used a 1:5 dilution for foaming hand soap (it smells wonderful!)
- I used a 1:5 dilution for washing my furry friends: my two dogs Lady and Pongo. They still don’t like baths, but at least this way they don’t end up with irritated skin from harsh ingredients.
How often do YOU clean your Makeup Brushes?
With this 5 minute tip, I hope you start cleaning them more and the better way! Tell me about your makeup brushes in the comments below.
MORE DIY MAKEUP AND BEAUTY RECIPES:
Elizabeth is the founder of The Nourished Life and has been writing about natural living for 12 years. Her work has been featured at Shape, Bustle, and Mother Earth Living. Her mission is to help you lower your stress levels and find fun ways to become happier and healthier. Read more about Elizabeth here.
