Hey guys--sorry for posting this a day late but yesterday was a bit out of control and I never did catch up. That said, here's today's question!
How do you clean your makeup brushes?
I've been using the same method for years: I fill a small glass full of warm water and either a squirt of Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo or Johnson's Baby Shampoo and I take each brush and swirl it in the mixture for a few minutes. Then I run the brush under warm water until the water runs clean. After that, I set the wet brushes on the lip of the sink (with the bristles hanging over the sink, not touching the counter) until the morning. One thing I've learned over the years is that you never want your brushes to dry while standing up because the water from the bristles can seep down into the handle and cause rusting.
So tell me, what's your system for cleaning your brushes? Do you use an actual brush cleaner product or do you use a DIY method like me? I'd love to hear your techniques!
I use dr bronner's castile soap :)
ReplyDeleteI do the exact same thing you do except I tend to use Dawn or whatever dish soap I've got in the kitchen. And I let them dry flat on a paper towel. Probably not the best for brushes, but I haven't lost one yet! :-D
ReplyDeletesame- even use the same Suave shampoo! (or baby shampoo)
ReplyDeleteexcept that i usually roll them up loosely in a hand towel to dry overnight. otherwise my dear husband would knock them all over the place.
i do almost exactly the same thing except i use Face Secrets brush cleaner from Sally's. the i put the brushes on a towel, then i come back an hour or so later and flip the brushes over.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I use Johnson's Baby Shampoo and sometimes I use Dove Body soap (white and blue bottle and it's a lotion-y texture.) I run the brush under warm water then add the soap/shampoo and then run them under the water again until the water runs clear. I switch up my drying methods depending on how much time I have. If I have lots of time, I put "Brush Guards" on all the brushes (to keep their shape) and store the brushes "bristle down" and handle up in glass cups. I love doing this because the brushes keep their shape like I just bought them. Another drying method is just simply placing a towel on the counter and placing the brushes on top.
ReplyDeleteThe exact same thing, down to the Suave Clarifying.. I haven't cleaned in so long though, I really need to.
ReplyDeleteI actually use a homemade brush cleanser solution - haha, have been doing this since my early YT days, I learned it from Koren, his channel on YT is called EnKore? It's awesome. You put it in a spray bottle. It lasts me forever, too. It involves a little bit of work, but it really doesn't take long and it's totally worth it.
ReplyDeleteI, too, just got hooked on Koren's brush cleaner today - I needed to sanitize a brush. I modified it a little by using 4 tbsp. of water, 1 tbsp. of alcohol, and a squirt each of dish soap, baby shampoo, and liquid leave-in conditioner. Then I used your method of swishing the brushes in the solution.
ReplyDeleteOne question - what do you do when the water gets super gross and murky? Just start over?
Hey Ladies! Thanks for all the great info regarding your techniques and products that you use. :)
ReplyDeletePhyrra: What's your method when you use Dr. Bronner's (looove Dr. B's btw, but never thought to use it for my brushes!).
For everyone who uses a similar method/product as me, YAY! So glad to hear I'm not alone, and I'm also glad to hear there's not some other crazy way that *everyone* else is using except for me. lol. :)
Nicole and Selecu: I am intrigued by Koren's method. I actually love watching his videos on YT but I haven't seen this one. Do you two find that his DIY solution removes build-up on your brushes easier than regular shampoo or soap?
And Selecu, it's so funny that you asked about the water turning all yucky. As soon as I read that I instantly knew what you meant. For me it almost looks like a melted chocolate shake. Gross! lol. When it gets really opaque, I pour it down the sink and make a new batch. lol. What do you do?
Giz89--how do you like the Sally product? Do you find that it gets your brushes clean easier than regular soap or shampoo?
I've been using Enkore's recipe for brush cleanser that that works so great! I do try to dry them up side down but laying on the side is fine too.
ReplyDeleteOMG, ndoodles, you use his method too? OK, I think I must try this asap! Do you use the exact recipe or do you modify it? Thanks honey! :)
ReplyDeleteFor spot cleaning, I use MAC's brush cleaner, I'm pretty lazy so I don't deep clean my brushes very often, but when I do, I use a generic baby shampoo that I got from the dollar store, and then I mix some of the shampoo on top my brush, and then swirl the brush in my palm and then rinse it out using the same method (swirling on my palm). To dry I lay the brushes flat on a towel overnight.
ReplyDeleteFor quick cleans I like Parian Spirit. The method is simple: spray on brush, wipe brush on something. Done. It's great for a quick clean of a foundation brush right after using, cleaning off e/s brushes quickly, etc. because the stuff dries in minutes. Literally. Like in the time I took to type this out (and I type fast) I could have cleaned a brush and it would be ready to use again already. SO COOL.
ReplyDeleteFor deep cleaning I like to use either MAC Brush Cleanser or if I have any Purpose face cleanser I use that. I don't like baby shampoo because I feel like it dries out my brushes and I hate the smell. I know there's other scents like lavender and stuff but I'd rather use Purpose or MAC since I already know about the scent or lack thereof and I know they don't make me break out.
As far as actual shampooing goes, if I'm just doing a couple brushes I just use my hands and cold water in the sink, swirling the bristles in my palm. If I'm doing a lot and I want to be more time efficient I use a brush cleaning jar I got from michaels. It has a scrubby pad at the bottom of the jar to swirl brushes around in. Love it to death. I got it as a birthday present and I squealed like a little girl.
Hey Arezu! So when you spot clean, do you just spray the MAC on your brush and then wipe it quickly with a paper towel? Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Alyson! OK, I am so glad you mentioned Parian Spirit! I have heard about this for so long but it always scares me! lol. I just keep thinking that the chemicals needed to dry something *so* quickly cannot be good for your skin. Am I crazy here? Have you experienced any drying to your skin since using this product on your brushes? Thanks!
PS: And what a great idea about the brush cleaning jar at Michaels! I am so looking into that. Thanks! :)
Oh gosh I nearly forgot...that's the best part about parian spirit. It's made with citrus spirits, NOT chemicals!! It actually conditions brushes in addition to disinfecting them. It is pretty damn amazing. It even removes adhesive stuff like for theatre makeup. It's most definitely more expensive than baby shampoo, but it's pretty economical because you barely have to use any to reallllly get the job done, and saves water since you don't need to rinse-- just wipe the brushes off. I like to use an unscented baby wipe (also cheap and biodegradable) to wipe them off on.
ReplyDeleteI use MAC's brush cleaner. I pour a little in my hand, swirl each brush on it, then rinse with water. I dry them on a flat surface, on top of paper towels =)
ReplyDeleteHey Alyson! Wow, thank you! I had no idea it was made from citrus! That is amazing and now you've given me a brand new lemming. Darn you! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Joey! Thanks for the tip. I have heard about MAC brush cleaner for so long now but I've never tried it. It sounds like it's pretty darn good and worth the purchase. :)
I use the Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser, it lathers well and cleans nicely. I don't like it that much as a facial cleanser b/c it feels a little harsh, but I wouldn't mind using it if I had nothing else to use
ReplyDelete