How to Get Lipstick Out of Lip Brushes

Lip brushes are useful tools but should be cleaned of excess lipstick.

Lip brushes enable you to apply lipstick with precision, giving you more control over where your lipstick goes and how thickly your lipstick is applied. However, waxy lipstick left on a lip brush can not only make it difficult to use the brush again but can harbor bacteria and other germs. Fortunately, removing even caked on lipstick from a lip brush is a simple task. Regularly cleaning lipstick out of your lip brush will keep it in excellent condition for several years.

Things You'll Need

• Lip brush
• Warm water
• Gentle soap or detergent

Instructions

1. Rinse the lip brush in warm water. Rub the brush between two fingers to remove as much lipstick as possible.

2. Add a small drop of a gentle soap to the bristles of the lip brush. Custom brush cleaners are available, but any gentle dish detergent, shampoo or hand soap will work.

3. Massage the soap in to the bristles, creating a lather and working the soap between each bristle and into the center of the brush.

4. Run warm water over the brush, continuing to massage the bristles until there is no soap or lipstick left in the bristles.

5. Reshape the lip brush bristles and allow to air-dry overnight.

Tips & Warnings

• Use an antibacterial hand soap to fight bacteria on your brush.

• Clean your lip brush twice a week, especially if you use it daily.

References

• Lea County Cooperative Extension Service: Lea County Extension Homemaker News: The Brush-Off
• Yalle University: Total Skin: The Definitive Guide to Whole Skin Care for Life; David J. Leffell, MD

Resources

• Fashionista: Barneys Beauty Guru Jason Ascher Gives Us His 10 Key Tips and Tricks for Fall (Hint: Don’t Copy Kate Middleton)