How to Easily Clean And Store Make-Up/Cosmetic Brushes

This article will show you how to extend the life of your makeup/cosmetic brushes through proper storage and cleaning.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mild Dishsoap
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Towel
• Small Round Plastic Or Metal Container

1. Gather up all your makeup brushes that are in need of cleaning and disinfecting. If you use your brushes regularly you should be cleaning them about every 2-3 months to help them keep their shape and to extend their life. Fill bathroom sink half full with warm water and a few drops of dish soap and submerge all the brushes.

2. Swish brushes around in soapy water until makeup is washed off. Gently squeeze brush bristles to remove makeup. Drain water and repeat with another half a sink full of warm soapy water until brushes are thoroughly clean.

3. Rinse brushes well with COLD water, gently squeeze out water and set on towel.

4. To disinfect brushes and to thoroughly remove all traces of makeup and skin oil, soak brushes in half a sink full of COLD water with 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol added. Swish brushes around. Pick up brushes out of the water one at a time and squeeze them as dry as you can with the towel making sure to keep the bristles together.

5. Pick up each brush by the handle and tap the brush, near where the bristles connect to the handle, on the side of the sink to release any water trapped in the inner bristles. Take your hand and fingers and form the bristles back to its original shape. Set each brush in the small round container bristles UP. Make sure to give each brush enough room to dry. Dry thoroughly before using again (this should take overnight for most brushes but may be longer for large powder brushes).

Tips & Warnings

• Storage Tip: Always store your brushes in a small round container with the bristles UP. This keeps bristles from getting smashed and damaged.
• If you travel with brushes make sure the bristles are protected. Use one single makeup bag just for brushes, another just for makeup.
• If you can, keep the plastic sleeve that sometimes is around the brush when it comes new, and put that back on the bristles when you travel.
• Note: When cleaning a lipstick brush, use some tissue to wipe off any excess lipstick before cleaning and be sure to clean it SEPERATELY from your other brushes or lipstick may get onto those brushes.