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:
- Eyelash Growth Serum
- Homemade Face Powder
- 200+ DIY Beauty Product Recipes
- Best non toxic waffle makers
Hi! As a soap maker of cold process, melt and pour from scratch, liquid soap from scratch and cream soap from scratch, I must say I am puzzled about how Branch Basics is made. To my knowledge, and I certainly don’t know everything about soap, I do not or have never heard of making real soap with just plants, enzymes and alcohol. I am not saying it cannot be done but formulating soap recipes all the time and making tons of soap, this really puzzles me. The fact that there is alcohol before the “manufacturing” process is complete makes me believe it is some type of liquified melt and pour soap with additives?? Just want to know your take on it.
Thanks so much,
Jo-Ann
Southern Beauty
Well it looks like you were on to something here! I have been dying to try Branch Basics, because everyone raves about it…and I have yet to find a safe cleaning supplies that do as well as the (for lack of a better word) crap. When I went on the Branch Basics website I found that their products have been voluntarily recalled because of problems with the “proprietary formula” that the 3rd party supplier was using.
I look forward to see what they come up with as an alternative that is equally effective. In the meantime – what are you former BB users using now that the product is recalled?
Allyson, I was really disappointed too. I’ve been using this cleaner: http://amzn.to/1SeeIAh It has a low rating on the EWG site, so at least I know it’s safer than most cleaners out there.
Oh, I forgot to mention that anything that is alkali means it is a base and not acid. Both are caustic at the extremes. All bases have to be neutralized at least to a 9 to be safe. My soap when cured is about an 8 with 7 being completely neutral. I say all this to note that if Branch Basics is really making soap and you have an alkali it is strong enough to have to be neutralized, somehow. Maybe their formula is a secret but honestly something sounds fishy.
I would appreciate any further info. Thanks so much!
Jo-Ann
Hi Jo-Ann! Please excuse my delayed response. You bring up a great point. Branch Basics is a pure soap that uses plant based oils for the fat and baking soda is used as the caustic (typically lye is used). There are no additives and absolutely no synthetics used in the soap. There is no heat added – alcohol is used in the mixing process (some heat is generated in the mixing process (as with when a blender is used) and the alcohol is evaporated out completely during the mixing process.
Also, it’s interesting to note that natron (sodium bicarbonate – baking soda) was harvested directly as a salt mixture from dry lake beds in Ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a cleaning product for both the home and body. Blended with oil, it was an early form of soap. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natron)
Let me know if you have any more questions! I can assure you, as one who knows a good deal about soap and has obviously spent a lot of time making it, you’d be quite impressed with Branch Basics… I hope you will give it a try!
Allison
Great minds think alike! 😉
I use the exact same method and get the job done with just a small amount of the shampoo I use. I also add a bit of conditioner to them after washing as well. But I agree that straight up vinegar and baking soda to clean make up brushes is a terrible idea. Whoever thought that method was a good idea needs to reconsider.
Thanks so much, Allison for introducing me to Branch Basics! I used your code for a large starter kit, and started mixing solutions today! It did a FANTASTIC job on my makeup brushes, got the bathroom spotless (including blasting soap residue in the tub),and totally wiped out a chili explosion in the microwave! I can’t thank you enough!
…And I addressed my last post to the wrong person! Thanks so much, Elizabeth! I absolutely love Branch Basics!
Awesome! I totally went on a cleaning spree when I first tried BB. Glad you love it too! 😀
Very cool post! I can’t wait to clean my brushes this way! Seems great! Thanks for sharing! Greets, Millbank Carpet Cleaners Ltd.
PLEASE stop telling people to soak their brush! this is going to destroy them. You do not soak any brush.. this goes for painting brushes to. The bristles should never rest upside down like that… you will deform them. Soaking that metal band? is going to loosen up your bristles and cause it to separate from the brush and fall our. Your brush is not going to last nearly as long if your this hard on them.
How would you recommend it be done?
One great practice is swirling brushes on a dry cloth first to loosen any easy debris then swirl on a cleanser dampened cloth. Repeat as needed and I like to do a final pass in rubbing alcohol – same swirling technique then air dry. I also wouldn’t suggest the hair dryer. Maybe a sunny windowsill if that’s an option 🙂
Ok was the code taken down for the Branch Basics? Or am I just missing it? Would love to try it but was hoping for a code. Thanks!
The code has expired so I’ve removed it to avoid confusion. Keep an eye out for my next coupon from BB! 🙂
Thanks Elizabeth!
I was looking for the code as well!
This code was expired so I’ve removed it, but keep an eye out — I might get another one soon.
Have you had any issues with the essential oils in Thieves Cleaner degrading synthetic brushes?
I haven’t experienced this with my brushes. The oils are diluted within the cleaner and it rinses away clean, so I’m assuming that’s why.