My brushes don’t smell like chemicals, and they feel soft and ready to use again afterwards.” “It disinfects and gets the makeup out quickly, and it dries down pretty fast. Nam adds that one of the few liquid brush cleaning solutions she actually likes is MAC Cosmetics’. One of Schumacher’s favorites is the Parian Spirit cleaner, which she loves for quick, daily cleanups. All of the makeup artists that we spoke with used liquid brush cleaners. Or you can opt for a liquid brush cleaner (more on how to use those below), which can be a saving grace when you’re working on a time crunch and need to transition from lid color to crease color fast.

There are lots of makeup-brush cleaners out there, from brands like Make Up Forever, which come in a spray form that can help you freshen up your makeup brushes when you’re in a bind.

“This is a good policy for tools used in the delicate eye area, and particularly if the tools are used for liquid and cream-based products, which are more likely to become contaminated.” For tools used with dry powders only (which she says are “a more challenging environment for microbes to grow in”), and those concentrated on other areas of the face like the cheeks and brows, King recommends washing your brushes at least every other week.Īnd if you’re noticing that the bristles on your brushes are getting mangled from being stuffed in the same cramped container, Nam recommends going the extra mile and slipping brush guards ($13, Beautylish) on your brushes to keep them in good condition. How often should you be cleaning your makeup brushes?īecause makeup brushes can be such a breeding ground for bacteria, King says makeup brushes and sponges should be washed at least once per week. Here, we asked three makeup artists for their suggestions on exactly how to clean makeup brushes, when it’s worth purging your makeup brushes, and which cleaners and cleaning accessories they like to use. There are a variety of methods popularized on YouTube and Reddit for washing brushes and makeup sponges-from swirling with dish soap and olive oil to putting your Beautyblender in the microwave-but it's often best to seek out expert advice.

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