Learn How To: Clean Your Brushes

Cleaning is removing particles of dirt or debris from something. Sanitizing is reducing the amount, or removing completely micro organisms and/or viruses.

 As a makeup artist I daily make sure that the brushes I use are not only clean, but also sanitized. When it comes to my set for my own personal use, I do the same. You should too. You want to cleanse with a conditioning brush shampoo and then sanitize with 70% Ethyl alcohol. Why so specific with the alcohol sanitzing? This is because according to the CDC, "Ethyl alcohol at concentrations of 60% to 80% is a potent viruscidal agent inactivating all of lipophilic viruses (e.g. hergpes, vaccinia, influenza and many hydrophilic viruses.)... Isopropayl alcohol is not active against the non lipid entero viruses... Studies have demonstrated the ability of ethyl alcohol to inactivate the hepatitis B virus... and HIV, rotavirus, echovirus and astrovirus." So in plain English you must use Ethyl alcohol found in a beauty or medical supply storenot Isopropyl alcohol that is found in most drug stores. And the percentage of the Ethyl alcohol must be 60% - 70% percent. Anything higher will evaporate before it has the chance to work.

You want to clean your brushes at least once per week and sanitize at least once a month if you are only using for personal use.

Here’s how:

1.  Wipe your makeup brush on a lint free paper towel to remove any excess makeup. 

2. Use a solution to cut oil based makeup if necessary.

3.  Shampoo the brushes with a conditioning brush shampoo. You can use a gentle baby shampoo if necessary.

4.  Gently shake or wrap in a clean towel to squeeze out excess water.

5.  Reshape and dry with brush side down or lay on a flat surface where the brush can hang off the edge. 

6. Once dry, spray with 70% Ethyl alcohol.