The Absolute Best Ways To Clean Makeup Brushes
Have you ever read up on all the gross things that happen when you don’t take time to clean your makeup brushes properly?
Let’s just say it will give you nightmares...
Luckily, we have a found the BEST possible ways to clean your makeup brushes.
You may be thinking, "I barely use that much product every day. Surely I don't have to be washing my brushes all of the time" Errrrnntttt...wrong answer!
We hate to break it to you, but your latest, recurring breakout may have a culprit.
Dirty makeup brushes pick up all of the debris on your skin, including oil, dirt, dead skin and even bacteria.
They leave it behind on the makeup you use every day and they can even become a place for viruses and bacteria to thrive.
Once they collected all the nasties, they transfer it all back to your skin and cause everything from breakouts to skin infections, or worse.
Ew.
Want to know something even more disturbing…
61 percent of women who use makeup brushes clean them less than once a month or not at all.
Say WHAT?!?!
According to Anisa International, the most common reasons cited by women for not cleaning makeup brushes:
- 22 percent say it takes too long to clean them or for the brushes to dry
- One in five (21 percent) weren’t aware they needed to
- 19 percent just buy new brushes
- 17 percent don’t know how to clean them properly. Ask millennials and that number jumps to 31 percent
If you already know the importance of maintaining clean brushes, your face thanks you.
If not, you are probably thinking...
“Okay, okay...but I haven’t ever experienced anything bad from not always cleaning my brushes”...
Aren’t you lucky?
In 2016, model Anthea Page caught a highly contagious strain of Staphylococcus aureus from dirty makeup brushes.
Page posted a PSA on her Instagram urging everyone on set to make sure makeup tools are clean. “If you are getting your makeup done or using any testers, check everything has been cleaned to your standard even if someone scoffs at your concerns,” she explains.
“This is not my first time receiving an ailment from a dirty makeup brush and unfortunately in my line of work I doubt it will be the last but please be aware of this if you ever come close to a makeup kit so you can keep yourself safe and healthy.”
Convinced yet?
Okay, enough with all the scary stuff. There are definitely ways you can be proactive and take the steps necessary to prevent all of the problems associated with dirty brushes.
Today, there are hundreds of products and services making the daunting task of cleaning your brushes easier than ever!
We have researched and tried several techniques and products and have narrowed down the top five absolute best ways to clean makeup brushes along with pros and cons.
#5 - Traditional good ol’ olive oil and antibacterial soap
This method can be done at home and is fairly easy to do. Unfortunately, it takes quite a long time to complete and doesn’t guarantee getting rid of all bacteria.
Pros - Cost effective & Easy
Cons - Takes a long time & not 100% germ-free
Rating: 5/10
#4 - MorphMe Brush Subscription
Liveglam offers a makeup brush subscription starting at $20 per month. This includes brand new brushes every month! Unfortunately, you never know what type of brush you are getting and they aren’t recyclable meaning lots of waste.
Pros - New Brushes Monthly & Convenient
Cons - Never know what brushes you get, lower quality, non-recyclable
Rating: 6/10
#3 - StylPro Make-Up Brush Cleaner And Dryer
This product is pretty awesome! It cleans and dries your brushes fairly quick. At $40, it isn’t too bad for the speed factor. Although it is quick and efficient, it doesn’t guarantee 100% germ-free brushes, can be rough on the bristles, and is not the easiest to travel with.
Pros - Quick clean and drying & decent price point
Cons - Rough on brush bristles, doesn’t guarantee 100% germ-free brushes
Rating: 8/10
#2 - Sigma Beauty Sigmagic Brushampoo
This brush cleaner by Sigma comes in a sleek, white bottle with a pump applicator that prevents spills and wastage. It comes out like a light liquid with a foamy texture. Although this product works well, you tend to have to use A LOT of it to be efficient. It also takes time to dry.
Pros - Fairly inexpensive & cleans well
Cons - Takes a lot to work & takes time to dry
Rating: 8.5/10
#1 - Beautiac Brush Subscription
It’s like the makeup genies knew exactly what you needed. This revolutionary subscription delivers brand new, high-quality brushes right to your door every month. The company invented snap on / pop off brush heads that you replace every month. What’s more? They are recyclable.
You know exactly what you are getting each month and can be confident they are 100% germ-free every single month.
The only downside? Because Beautiac is launching in March 2019, you can only reserve your kit as a pre-sale. BUT they are running a super cool deal - if you subscribe before their launch, you get a free VIP Kit.
Pros - 100% germ-free, saves time, recyclable, convenient
Cons - Only available for Pre-sale
Rating: 9.5/10