Answer truthfully? When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? Brushes get dirty with product buildup, dirt clings onto them. Oils from our skin or products gets onto them. So for the brushes to function properly, they have to be clean. If not cleaned regularly, using dirty brushes might clog your pores. So todays post is about how to wash unclean makeup brushes.

Another important question is how often should you clean your brushes. That actually depends on how often you use them. If you apply makeup and use brushes everyday, you should ideally wash your brushes weekly. In fact if you have sensitive skin or acne prone skin skincare experts suggest, you wash your brushes twice a week. On that note if you are using your brushes to apply makeup on another person, they should be washed before and after every use.

What I use to wash my dirty make up brushes

I use Dr. Bronner's 18-In-1 Hemp Pure-Castile Soap – Lavender to clean my brushes. I find it gentle enough for my brushes. It is tough enough to dissolve powder, liquid, cream based products on your brushes and gentle enough that the bristles don't fall out. I feel relieved that I am not putting any bacteria to my face.

Steps for washing my makeup brushes

1. Wet the bristles with lukewarm water.
2. Take some cleanser in the palms of your hand, add a few drops of water.
3. Work the bristle tips into your plam, the cleanser will lather up and help with dissolving the makeup on your brush.
4. Rise thoroughly.
5. Squeeze out the extra water with the help of a clean towel.
6. Lay the brushes hanging over the edge of your counter/table just exposing the bristles, so that they dry properly. Give your brushes a few hours to dry completely.

Tip

For extra tough brushes, I soak the bristle ends in a mixture of 50% cleanser and 50% water for about a minute. Then I follow the above mentioned steps.

You can also use some brush cleansing tools available in the market. See one here. If your brushes lose their shape, start to shed, it's time to replace it.

How do you wash unclean makeup brushes? Do you use a special cleanser, or a cleansing tool for your brushes? Tell me in the comments section.