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How Often You Should Clean Your Makeup brushes
Reviewed by Zac Kieffer
Updated: September 10, 2025
Learn how often to clean your makeup brushes for flawless skin and long-lasting tools. Keep your routine fresh and hygienic!
How Often You Should Clean Your Makeup brushes
How Often You Should Clean Your Makeup Brushes
Weekly is ideal: For any brushes that come into contact with your facial skin—especially those used for foundation, concealer, or any products applied near your eyes—clean them at least once a week. This frequency helps remove built-up oils, dead skin cells, and bacteria that can lead to breakouts or irritation.
Every use if conditions warrant it: If you have acne-prone or sensitive skin, even using a brush once might warrant a quick cleaning. Think of it as how you wash your hands after touching something unclean. Fresh brushes mean fewer chances for irritants to transfer onto your face.
Adjust according to usage: Brushes used solely for applying powder products sometimes can stretch the cleaning interval to every 10-14 days. However, if you’re a daily makeup user, sticking to a weekly schedule is best. The more product a brush holds, the quicker residue and bacteria can accumulate.
Preventive care matters: Regular cleaning isn’t only about avoiding blemishes. It also helps maintain the brush’s shape and longevity, ensuring you get the most out of your tools. Think of it as a spa day for your brushes—they need their downtime, too!
Make adjustments based on your environment: If you’re a professional or frequently on the go in varying conditions (like humidity, dust, or heavy makeup days), consider upping the cleaning frequency. In these cases, even a mid-week spot clean can make a significant difference.
Consequences of Skipping Makeup brushes Cleaning
Consequences of Skipping Makeup Brushes Cleaning
Breakouts and Skin Irritation: Dirty brushes are like a welcome mat for oil, old makeup, and debris. When you keep using them, you’re basically pressing yesterday’s grime right back onto your face. This can clog pores and lead to breakouts, redness, and irritation—especially if you have sensitive skin.
Unpredictable Makeup Application: Ever wonder why your foundation looks streaky or your eyeshadow turns muddy? Old product buildup on bristles can mess with how your makeup goes on. Clean brushes mean smoother, more even coverage and truer color payoff. Dirty ones? Not so much.
Shorter Brush Lifespan: Makeup, oil, and skin cells can break down the glue that holds your brush together. Over time, this leads to shedding bristles and wobbly handles. Regular cleaning keeps your investment in good shape, so you’re not replacing brushes every few months.
Unwanted Odors: Brushes that don’t get cleaned can start to smell funky. That’s a mix of old makeup, skin oils, and whatever else your brush has picked up. Not exactly the fresh start you want for your face each morning.
Potential for Eye Infections: Brushes used around the eyes are especially risky. Bacteria and debris can collect on the bristles, and if you skip cleaning, you’re increasing the chance of irritation or even an eye infection. Not a risk worth taking for the sake of saving a few minutes.
Wasted Product: Dirty brushes soak up more makeup, which means you’ll go through your favorite products faster. Clean bristles pick up and deposit makeup more efficiently, so you get more bang for your buck.
Mix a few drops of baby shampoo with lukewarm water in a small bowl. Swirl your makeup brushes in the solution, gently massaging the bristles to remove makeup and buildup. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and lay flat to dry. This gentle method keeps brushes clean and soft.
Insufficient Deep Cleaning
This method may not remove all makeup residue, oils, and bacteria from brushes, leading to buildup and potential skin issues. Baby shampoo and lukewarm water often lack the strength needed for thorough deep cleaning.
Olive Oil and Antibacterial Soap
Mix a few drops of antibacterial soap with a small amount of olive oil in a bowl. Swirl your makeup brushes in the mixture, gently massaging the bristles to break down makeup and bacteria. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and lay flat to dry. This method cleans and conditions brushes, leaving them soft and sanitized.
Residual Product Buildup
Using olive oil and antibacterial soap can leave a residue on makeup brushes, causing product buildup. This buildup may trap bacteria and reduce brush effectiveness, leading to poor makeup application and potential skin irritation.
Micellar Water and Cotton Pads
Pour micellar water onto a cotton pad and gently swipe it over the makeup brush bristles. Repeat with fresh pads until no makeup residue remains. This method quickly dissolves makeup and leaves brushes clean without harsh chemicals.
Bristle Damage Risk
Using micellar water and cotton pads can cause bristle damage, as rubbing brushes on pads may break, fray, or loosen bristles over time, reducing brush lifespan and performance.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a bowl. Swirl your makeup brushes in the solution, gently massaging the bristles to remove makeup and buildup. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and lay flat to dry. This natural method cleans and disinfects brushes effectively.
Bacterial Growth Potential
Using white vinegar and warm water may not effectively kill all bacteria on makeup brushes, allowing bacterial growth potential to remain high and increasing the risk of skin irritation or infection.
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