If you've ever cleaned a foundation brush and watched brown water run out for what feels like forever, you'll know how much product can hide between the bristles. Brushes also collect oils, dirt and microbes from your face and the surrounding environment. Cleaning them regularly matters for both their performance and skin hygiene.
The useful trick is to wash the bristle tips without soaking the section where they attach to the handle. Water reaching the glue and ferrule repeatedly can shorten the brush's life. Fortunately, the correct method requires little more than gentle shampoo, clean water and a towel.
How often should brushes be cleaned?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing makeup brushes every seven to ten days. Brushes used for wet foundation and concealer can collect product quickly, so they deserve regular attention.
Frequency also depends on how often you use them and what products they carry. A rarely used dry powder brush may not look as dirty as a daily foundation brush, but appearance is not the only measure of cleanliness.
If you have an active eye infection or another contagious skin problem, seek appropriate medical advice about makeup and applicator use. Routine washing isn't a substitute for managing infection.
Gather what you need
Put out a clean bowl, lukewarm running water, gentle shampoo, a clean paper towel or lint-free cloth and space for the brushes to dry flat.
The AAD suggests gentle or clarifying shampoo rather than harsh ordinary soap, which may dry certain bristles. You don't need expensive electric brush-cleaning machinery for an ordinary set.
Check any manufacturer's guidance first, particularly for unusually delicate natural-hair brushes or tools with special coatings and electronic parts.
Sort brushes before washing
Separate brushes used with liquid products from those used for dry powder. This helps you gauge how much cleaning each is likely to need.
Inspect bristles for loose tufts, broken handles and dried foundation. A brush that is shedding heavily or has a damaged ferrule may already be near the end of its useful life.
Don't confuse a makeup brush with a beauty sponge. Sponges require their own cleaning and replacement routine because their porous texture behaves differently.
Keep the metal ferrule out of the water
Hold the brush at a downward angle and rinse only the tips under lukewarm running water. Do not stand the entire brush upright in a bowl of water.
The AAD specifically warns that submerging the whole brush head can eventually loosen the glue holding it to the handle. A small amount of water is enough to wet the bristles.
If the handle is made from wood or has decorative paint, keeping it dry is particularly sensible. A fully submerged brush may swell or discolour over time.
Mix a gentle cleaning solution
Fill a small bowl with lukewarm water and a little gentle shampoo. The AAD suggests a tablespoon of gentle or clarifying shampoo in a bowl of water.
Swirl the bristle tips carefully in the solution. You can massage the tips in your palm to help lift makeup, but keep pressure light.
Avoid twisting the entire bristle bundle tightly or scrubbing it against a rough surface. Fine brush hairs can snap or lose their designed shape.
Rinse until the water clears
Run lukewarm water over the bristle tips again, keeping the ferrule raised. Repeat the shampooing and rinsing as necessary until the water looks clear.
Foundation brushes may take several rounds. Do not stop while obvious soap remains, as residue can affect how the brush applies makeup and may irritate sensitive skin.
A little colour can persist from permanently stained synthetic fibres. That is different from fresh product still washing out, so judge both rinse water and the texture of the bristles.
Squeeze and reshape gently
Press clean paper towel around the damp bristles to absorb excess water. Don't pull or wring the hairs.
While they are damp, gently reshape the head so it resembles the original brush. A tapered blending brush should dry into its intended point rather than a flattened fan.
Avoid brushing the hairs aggressively with a comb. If bristles have become tangled, handle them gently according to the tool's instructions.
Dry brushes lying flat
The AAD recommends laying brushes flat on a towel with their tips extending beyond the edge of a counter. This allows air to circulate around the bristles.
Don't stand wet brushes upright in a pot; water can run towards the handle and weaken the glue. Also avoid laying the tips directly against a dirty bathroom surface.
Give them enough time to dry completely before returning them to a closed cosmetic bag. Damp storage encourages unwanted odours and microbial growth.
Don't try to speed up drying with heat
A hairdryer on high heat, a radiator or intense direct sunlight can damage some synthetic fibres, glue and handle finishes. Let the brushes air dry in a clean ventilated room.
If you need brushes ready for an event, clean them in advance rather than rushing through a hot drying method.
It is worth having a modest spare brush for essential products if you use makeup daily. That gives washed tools time to dry properly.
What about brush-cleaning sprays?
Some cosmetic brush sprays are intended for quick removal of surface product between applications. They may be convenient, but they do not always replace periodic thorough washing.
Read the specific spray's instructions and compatibility guidance. Solvent-heavy cleaners can affect certain bristles or adhesives if used excessively.
Do not assume that a spray instantly sterilises a brush. The manufacturer may make specific hygiene claims, but routine product removal is not the same as validated disinfection.
Can you wash brushes in the dishwasher?
No. A dishwasher exposes brushes to heat, detergent and water in places they are not designed to tolerate. The ferrule, bristles and handle may all be damaged.
A washing machine is similarly unsuitable. Mechanical agitation can distort brush heads and loosen their components.
Hand washing takes a little longer but allows you to keep the cleaning where it belongs: on the bristles, not inside the handle.
How to clean a beauty blender or sponge
Use the sponge maker's instructions and an appropriate mild cleanser. Work the product out by squeezing gently rather than tearing or twisting the sponge.
Rinse thoroughly and allow it to dry in clean, ventilated conditions. A damp sponge shut in a makeup bag is not a good storage method.
Replace sponges that are damaged, smell unpleasant despite cleaning or show suspicious spots. Not every porous cosmetic tool has an unlimited lifespan.
Never share brushes casually
Makeup tools can transfer skin oils, bacteria and certain infections between people. The AAD advises against sharing brushes and discusses concerns such as eye infections.
Professional makeup artists need proper client-to-client hygiene protocols. A quick wipe on a tissue is not equivalent to appropriate cleaning and disinfection procedures.
At home, keep brushes stored where they won't pick up dust from the sink, toilet or open makeup containers.
Troubleshoot stubborn residue
If a brush still feels slick, there may be foundation or oily product deep in the bundle. Repeat gentle shampooing rather than switching immediately to harsh solvents.
If the ferrule becomes loose, stop soaking and consider replacing the brush. Glue failure usually isn't fixed by washing even more vigorously.
If bristles have lost their shape after repeated cleaning, review water temperature, scrubbing and drying method before blaming the cleanser.
The routine worth keeping
Every week or so, rinse only the bristle tips, wash gently, rinse clear and leave the brushes to dry flat. Check that they're completely dry before you use them again.
Clean brushes generally apply makeup more predictably and reduce unnecessary exposure to accumulated grime. The routine takes minutes, but it protects tools you may use for years.