How to clean makeup brushes (and how often)

Makeup brushes are tools. They touch your face, your products, and the air, and then they sit in a cup until the next morning. Cleaning them is not a virtue project; it is maintenance, like washing a water bottle.

The research on contamination is not subtle. A 2025 study of 57 cosmetic brushes in Jeddah found a diverse bacterial profile, with Gram-positive bacteria making up 81% of isolates, including Staphylococcus and Micrococcus species, plus Gram-negative Pseudomonas. In the survey of 370 participants, 44.3% said they rarely cleaned their brushes, and 27.8% reported skin problems potentially linked to contaminated tools.

That does not mean every brush is dangerous. It means the brush you use on a breakout is not the tool you want to skip.

How often to clean

Tool	Wash schedule	Replace when
Sponge or beauty blender	After every use, or at least weekly	Every one to three months, or if torn
Foundation and concealer brush	Once a week with daily use	It sheds every use or smells after washing
Powder, blush and bronzer brush	Every one to two weeks	Bristles go stiff, sticky or matted
Eyeliner and lip brush	After each use, or every few days	It sheds or keeps a smell that washing does not clear

There is no single schedule, but these are sensible defaults:

• Sponges and beauty blenders: after every use, or at least weekly. They are damp, porous, and hold product.
• Foundation and concealer brushes: once a week if you use them daily.
• Powder, blush, and bronzer brushes: every one to two weeks.
• Eyeliner and lip brushes: after each use, or at least every few days.
• Brushes used on acne-prone or sensitive skin: err on the shorter end of every range.

If you cannot remember the last time you washed a brush, wash it today. Then put the next wash in your calendar. The five-minute face is a good anchor: wash brushes on the same day you reset your routine.

The wash

You do not need a special cleanser. A gentle shampoo or a fragrance-free brush soap works.

1. Wet the bristles only. Keep the handle and the ferrule (the metal band) out of the water. Soaking can loosen the glue and warp wooden handles.
2. Add a small amount of soap. Massage it into the bristles with your fingers or a silicone mat.
3. Rinse until the water runs clear. For foundation brushes, this may take a few rounds.
4. Squeeze gently. Do not pull or twist the bristles; that is how they shed.

For a quick disinfection, a 70% alcohol spray is useful. In the 2021 study of reusable applicators, 70% ethanol eliminated bacterial growth entirely, while bactericidal soap reduced it but did not eliminate it. Alcohol can dry out natural bristles, so use it as a periodic disinfectant, not a daily wash.

The drying

Drying is where most brushes get ruined.

• Lay them flat with the bristles over the edge of a counter, so water runs away from the ferrule.
• Do not stand them upright to dry. Water runs into the ferrule, loosens the glue, and can cause shedding.
• Reshape the bristles with your fingers while damp.
• Let them air-dry completely before storing them in a closed container.

If you are in a hurry, a microfiber towel and a gentle squeeze remove most of the water. Do not use a hairdryer on high heat; it can melt synthetic bristles and damage natural ones.

When to replace

Cleaning extends life, but it does not make a brush immortal.

• Shedding: a few hairs is normal; a brush that sheds every use is done.
• Smell: if it still smells after washing and drying, replace it.
• Changed texture: bristles that have become stiff, sticky, or matted are not going to recover.
• Sponges: replace every one to three months, sooner if they tear or smell.
• Mascara wands: do not share, and replace with the mascara.

The budget beauty guide covers which tools are worth spending on; a good brush you clean beats an expensive one you do not.

The capsule makeup bag is the right frame: a small number of tools you actually clean beats a drawer of brushes you never touch.

The two-minute weekly reset

If a full wash feels like a project, put it on the same day as something you already do.

1. Gather the brushes you used this week. Leave the clean ones alone.
2. Wash the foundation and concealer brushes first, since they hold the most product.
3. Lay them flat with the bristles over the edge of the counter.
4. Set a reminder for the next wash before you walk away.

Two minutes of maintenance is cheaper than replacing a brush, and it is certainly cheaper than treating a breakout. Clean tools are part of a sane night routine; the evening routine guide covers where they fit.

Who this is not for

If you have a diagnosed skin condition or a compromised immune system, ask a dermatologist about your tools and cleaning routine. If you are a professional artist working on multiple faces, the hygiene standard is higher than a personal kit; follow your insurer and local regulations.

And if you use disposable applicators, do not reuse them. That is the one case where cleaning is not the answer.

Sources

• Attar RMS, Imam MA. Assessing the Levels and Types of Bacterial Contamination in Cosmetic Brushes: Implications for Beauty and Hygiene in Jeddah City. International Journal of Microbiology, 2025.
• Załęcki P, Twardowska J, Nowicka D, Andrzejewski W. Effectiveness of the Disinfection of Reusable Make-Up Applicators — Initial Experiences. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021.