How to Best Clean Makeup Brushes and Sponges Quickly & Easily

Tools and materials:

• Your dirty makeup brushes
• Silicone makeup tray
• Clean hand towel
• Dishwashing liquid soap (made without parabens but with essential oils)
• Sink
• Warm water

1. Wash the makeup brushes and sponges

Place the silicone makeup tray in the bottom of your sink and turn on the water to run warm. 

Squeeze a little dishwashing liquid onto your brush. 

Then, under the running warm water, rub your brush against the bottom of the silicone tray until no residue is coming out of the brush bristles. Add more dishwashing liquid as needed. 

2. Rinse the makeup brushes and sponges

Pull through the bristles with your thumb and forefinger while the brush is underwater, to make sure that all of the dishwashing liquid is rinsed out and there is no soap or makeup left in the bristles.

Use your fingers to squeeze out any excess water.

3. Thoroughly dry the makeup brushes and sponges

Lay the brush flat on a clean hand towel and leave them to dry overnight. Make sure they are fully dry before you put the brushes upright. If you don’t, then any remaining water will run down into the piece that is holding your brush bristles and damage the bristles.

Use the same technique on all your brushes whether you use them for cream or powder makeup. You can even use this same technique for your makeup sponges.

How to clean makeup brushes and sponges tutorial

Cleaning anything is probably not your first choice for how to spend some spare time, but if you clean your makeup brushes and sponges regularly (about twice a month) you will definitely reap the benefits.

You’ll get better makeup application and will be able to keep your precious makeup brushes a lot longer. Leave a comment if you tried this cleaning technique and let us know how it worked for you!