Guide · Kitchen and dishes ·
How to Clean Makeup Brushes
Makeup brushes and sponges pick up foundation, concealer, powder, blush and eyeshadow residue, skin oil and dust with every use. As residue builds up, the bristles stiffen, stick together and makeup no longer spreads evenly on the face. A makeup brush is easy to clean with lukewarm water and a little liquid soap or dishwashing liquid; what matters is not wetting the metal ferrule where the bristles are attached and drying the brush correctly. This guide explains how to clean and dry makeup brushes and makeup sponges.
How to clean makeup brushes? Step by step
- Wet: wet only the bristles of the brush under running lukewarm water, with the bristles pointing down; do not let water run onto the metal ferrule and handle.
- Lather: put a small amount of liquid soap or TETİK Dishwashing Liquid in your palm.
- Clean with circular movements: gently move the bristles in circles in your palm; the makeup residue comes out with the lather.
- Rinse: rinse the brush under running water with the bristles pointing down until the water runs clear; repeat the lathering step if necessary.
- Squeeze and reshape: gently squeeze out excess water with a clean towel and reshape the bristles with your fingers.
- Dry: leave the brush lying flat on a towel or with the bristles pointing down and wait until it is completely dry.
How to clean a foundation brush?
Oily and creamy residue builds up more heavily in foundation, concealer and cream blush brushes. Repeat the lathering and rinsing steps several times on these brushes until the water runs clear; gently work out the foundation left at the base of the bristles in your palm. If the oily residue is very heavy, add a little dishwashing liquid to lukewarm water and swirl the bristles in it briefly, then rinse thoroughly. Washing foundation brushes more often than powder brushes keeps them from stiffening.
How to clean powder and eyeshadow brushes?
Dry residue builds up in powder, blush and eyeshadow brushes. After using these brushes, you can remove excess powder by sweeping them over a clean, dry paper towel or cloth. For regular washing, follow the same steps; do not bend the bristles when squeezing soft, fluffy powder brushes and keep the brush's shape while it dries.
Natural and synthetic bristle brushes
- Synthetic bristle brushes: common for foundation and cream products; easy to clean with lukewarm water and liquid soap.
- Natural bristle brushes: more delicate; wash gently with lukewarm water and a little mild soap — hot water and strong products dry out and break the bristles.
- Manufacturer's instructions: for special or expensive brush sets, follow the cleaning method recommended by the brush manufacturer.
How to clean a makeup sponge?
- Wet the sponge with lukewarm water; the sponge will swell and grow.
- Apply a small amount of liquid soap or dishwashing liquid to the stained areas of the sponge.
- Remove the residue by squeezing and releasing the sponge in your palm and rubbing it gently; continue until the lather is clean.
- Rinse the sponge under running water until the water that comes out when you squeeze it runs clear.
- Squeeze out excess water with a clean towel and leave the sponge to dry completely in a well-ventilated place.
- Replace a sponge that is torn, starting to fall apart or permanently discoloured.
How to dry brushes?
- Dry brushes lying flat on a towel or with the bristles pointing down.
- Do not stand a wet brush upright in a cup with the bristles up: water runs onto the metal ferrule and handle, the glue can loosen and the bristles can fall out.
- A hairdryer, radiator heat and direct sunlight stiffen the bristles and spoil their shape.
- Do not put brushes and sponges in a bag or closed box before they are completely dry.
- For combs and hairbrushes: how to clean a comb.
- For a makeup or cosmetic bag: how to clean a makeup bag.
- For hair dryers and hair straighteners: how to clean a hair dryer, how to clean a hair straightener.
- For curling irons: how to clean a curling iron.
What not to do
- Immersing the brush with its handle in water or wetting the metal ferrule.
- Washing brushes in hot water.
- Using bleach, acetone, alcohol or strong chemicals on brushes.
- Leaving a brush wet with the bristles pointing up.
- Storing wet brushes and sponges in a closed box.
For beauty salons and hairdressers
In beauty salons, hairdressers and makeup studios, brushes and sponges are used on many customers throughout the day; washing brushes regularly, drying them completely and storing them in a dry, closed place makes it easier to keep the business organised. For basins and counters, see hair and beauty salon cleaning supplies. TETİK Dishwashing Liquid is produced in 750 g, 5 kg, 20 kg and 30 kg packs; for our liquid soap products, see the soap category; for bulk purchases, you can request a quote.
