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Oh make up brushes! How we adore you. Until you get dirty and funky and gross and we don’t know what to do with you anymore!
When you use a makeup brush, you are not only transmitting makeup onto your skin. The dead skin, dirt and bacteria from your skin also gets transmitted on the brush. So you definitely need to give it a good cleaning.
(PS, this dirt and bacteria then gets in your makeup if you dip the dirty brush into your new compact. So please stop sharing makeup. And stop using those nasty Sephora displays. I say this because I love you. xoxo)
If you aren’t experiencing major break outs, many experts agree that once a month is fine. I actually prefer twice a month, but I am kind of obsessive about sanitation.
Some makeup pros swear up and down that shampoo or soap will ruin the brush bristles, and recommend you wash brushes with a specific brush solution. My go-to method is baby shampoo, but I also have a kid at home and easy access. I wet the brush in warm water, add a dab of shampoo into my palm and gentle wash the brush, then rinse clean. I blot with a paper towel and reset the bristles. Then I lay the handle on the counter, with the brush head hanging off, to dry.
Ok, so that last part is awkward. But if you leave it upright to dry, water can get under the seam of the brush and ruin it. Laying it flat give you flat bristles on one side! Some actually blow dry their brushes, but I don’t have the patience to blow dry my hair, never mind my makeup brushes!
I soak my professional brushes in alcohol. Again, experts warn that this will damage the bristles, but I am more concerned about bacteria and contamination than the life expectancy of my tools. If you have bad acne, I do recommend using alcohol to be certain that the bacteria is not re-transmitted to your skin.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I saw one method where antibacterial dish soap is mixed with a small amount of olive oil on a plate, the brush is dipped in the mixture and swirled in a circular motion, then back and forth on the palm, then rinsed in tepid water. This supposedly both disinfects and conditions the bristles. I tried it and while it was pretty time-consuming it seemed to work just fine. I used brush guards to dry them upside-down in a cup (presumably to keep moisture from leaching back into the handle). They are pretty cool but don’t work for short-handle or double-ended brushes.
Ooooo, that’s a neat trick. I’ve never heard of using antibac soap and olive oil.
And I should have mentioned in the post that tepid water is important. Don’t want too hot/too cold.
You know, I have yet to see a brush guard, but yeah the point is that you don’t want water to leach into the handle. It’ll ruin the brush.
I do like my balance method though. Gives the bathroom a sense of danger. Keeps the Manly Man on his toes.
That was great
I wipe my brushes on baby wipes… I’m not sure how good it is or the brush but it works great for me 
Where did you get that picture of the fan brush?