Here’s how to clean your makeup brushes at home

You reach for your makeup brushes on a daily basis but after each use toxins like sweat, oil and bacteria, along with makeup residue, sit within your brush’s bristles, causing skin imperfections like breakouts. But how often should you clean your makeup brushes?

Experts say that brushes used for face makeup like bronzers, foundations, and concealers, should be cleaned at least once a week.

And what can you use to clean your makeup brushes? It’s not as complicated as you think. You don’t need to buy any fancy cleaners or soaps you can clean your brushes using some common items you probably already have in your house!

Cleaning your brushes at least once a week will leave you with bacteria-free bristles in no time. But how can you clean your makeup brushes without breaking the bank on fancy makeup brush cleaners? We’re sharing five DIY makeup brush cleaner hacks that will make your brushes softer, cleaner and long-lasting.

As an au naturel cleaning solution, mixing vinegar and lemon is the perfect combination to clean your makeup brushes. Mix two tablespoons of white vinegar into a cup of hot water, dip your brushes, swirl, and rinse off with lukewarm water. To counteract the vinegar smell give your brushes a lemony scent by softly rubbing them against a lemon.

You trust your kitchen dish soap enough to clean the grime off your kitchenware, so using it as a makeup brush cleaner is a no-brainer. Simply wet your brushes under warm water, add a little dish soap and remove any product by massaging them against a clean dish sponge—you’ll see the makeup residue appear on it instantly. Finish by rinsing your brushes and then let air dry.

*Note: Concentrate the water only on the brush’s bristles. Do not submerge the entire brush as it can loosen the barrel and cause the bristles to fall out.

That shampoo your parents used when you were little is sensitive enough not only for a baby, but for makeup brushes too. Simply wet your brush with lukewarm water, add a bit of the baby shampoo and rub it in circular motions in your sink to get rid of any makeup. Rinse and repeat until your brushes “locks” are squeaky clean.

Best used on smaller makeup brushes, olive oil not only acts as a natural makeup brush cleaner but as a conditioner too. Submerge the brush into a small bowl of olive oil (note: it’s okay that the brush’s barrel goes into this as it will not loosen) and massage it onto a sponge or work it into the bristles with your fingers under a running faucet. To deep clean your brushes even more, whisk together olive oil and shampoo to create your own cleaning concoction.

Apple cider vinegar can be used for a mirage of things, from salad dressings to toning your face. It should be no surprise then that this household item can be used to clean makeup brushes too. Combine one cup of warm water with a teaspoon of vinegar and clean as you would with our vinegar + lemon directions. You can also use lemons to take care of the apple cider vinegar scent too.