How to Clean Makeup Brushes the Right Way, According to Makeup Artists

You have a few options when it comes to cleaning brushes and sponges. Here's what the pros recommend.

1. Dedicated makeup cleansers

Since sponges are so tough to clean, it's best to stick with the pros: “Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser work wonders being that they are designed for makeup tools with professional grade anti bacterial properties," says Gabbard.

You have a few options when it comes to brushes, though. Spickard prefers to use a liquid brush cleanser like Cinema Secrets between uses since it’s “able to penetrate the bristles and really get in and break up the makeup.” However, he warns that the liquid cleanser can leave a bit of a residue, so he likes to use the Beautyblender Solid Blendercleanser for his weekly deep-clean.

Meanwhile, our editors also love a brush cleaner spray (which is basically like dry shampoo for your makeup brushes) for a quick, less intense clean. All you do is spray it on your brush, then wipe on a paper towel. It’s especially helpful if you’re traveling and aren’t bringing a whole pack of brushes with you, because you can clean between foundation and blush easily.

2. Gentle shampoo or dish soap

You don’t have to buy a separate soap for your brushes if you prefer not to—the shampoo hanging out in your shower will likely do the trick. Just make sure it’s sulfate-free, says Ciraldo. “While you want to rinse the brushes out thoroughly, it’s good to avoid sulfates that may possibly leave a residue on the brush and lead to some irritation or pore clogging.” Some pros also recommend gentle dishwashing liquid for a thorough clean.

If you're really in a crunch, you can even use dish soap or baby shampoo. “Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo is strong enough to do the job yet gentle enough to protect the bristles,” says Gabbard. “But my tried and true dish soap is Dawn. Nothing cuts through heavy build up better than this, plus, the tiniest drop is all you need.”

3. Cleansing mats and pads

While you can use your hands to clean, Gabbard highly recommends using a silicone mat or pad to help with the process. “Paired with a disinfectant soap the brushes get the deepest clean ever," she says. "I love the Real Techniques Blush Cleansing Palette and EcoTools Makeup Brush Cleansing Pad, though an inexpensive generic silicone cleaning mat works.”

The best way to clean makeup brushes, step by step

Now that you’re setting aside time at least every two weeks to give your brushes a bath, follow the steps below to get them looking brand-new.