How do you clean your makeup brushes?

[MayimBialik]

Embarrassing/disgusting confession - I don't think I've EVER cleaned mine. I want to give them a new lease of life, not to mention be a tad more hygienic.

I have a varied selection - some MAC and Bobbi Brown, Bare Minerals, Boots No 7 and Stila.

So what do you use? Shampoo and water? A special brush cleaning formulation? Do you leave them to soak? How do you dry them so they don't go hard and crispy?

Thanks knowledgable ones :-)

[PlumSykes]

Baby shampoo, then lay them on a towel in the sun/on top of a radiator to dry.

[Bonsoir]

Woolite, hot water, then squeeze them out in a towel and leave to dry gently in a warm place.

[mrssmooth]

I use a facial cleanser .. Have to say the best one I've tried so far is the Avon men's one!! Cleans my foundation & blusher brushes an absolute treat!

[WillSingForCake]

That's spooky, I just came onto S&B to ask the exact same question. Mayim I've never cleaned mine either

[MayimBialik]

Thanks ladies

Do you leave them to soak at all or just swish them around in the water for a bit?

[MayimBialik]

WillSing that is spooky!

[PlumSykes]

Don't leave them to soak, the bristles will come out.

[lurkingaround]

Shampoo here too. You will be surprised at the amount of dirt that comes off them. They always look fantastic after washing.

[crackcrackcrak]

Shampoo with hot water until it runs clear. Thru won't go crispy if thru are rinsed enough. All go on the radiator or windowsill. If you have a short squat powder brush give it a big squeE out and shake then mould it wet into a sort of tulip shape. - so the fibres are going upwards and inwards then put it on the radiator. Sometimes I dry it with a hair dryer too

[Havingkittens]

If you put them on the radiator you will kill your brushes! It will dry out and crack the glue which holds the bristles in so they will start moulting. It can also make the wood of the handles expand, which can either make them crack or make the ferrule (the metal bit which holds the brush part on) loose and fall off.

[MagdalenaAlec]

I use the Body Shop special cleanser - cheap and efficient.

[bopfactory]

I use washing up liquid - I used to use some fancy Clinique brush cleaning stuff that cost over a tenner a bottle, but good old fairy does the job just as well!

[luckylavender]

There's a great elf make up brush cleanser - cheap, quick and easy. Makes a HUGE difference.

[OneLittleToddlingTerror]

I use cold water and baby shampoo, then natural dry on a window sill. Is there a reason why we need to buy some fancy £10 a bottle? I reckon baby shampoo is pure and gentle enough! I've got the same bobbi brown brushes for 10 years now.

[Havingkittens]

The more expensive ones contain conditioning products and often something which kills bacteria, which is quite important, especially for professional use if using them on various different people (including those with coldsores, acne etc.).

Most good quality make up brushes are made from real hair so although washing with washing up liquid will get them clean, it will do them about as much good as washing your own hair with the stuff. They will eventually get brittle and bits of brush will start shedding on your face. Shampoo is fine. Conditioning occasionally is good, but make sure you wash it out properly otherwise all your powder products will just stick to the hairs and then get all manky.

[Littlepumpkinpie]

I wash mine once a month with a spot of shampoo rinse them well and air dry them on the windowsill all dry by the time I need them again :)

[PippiL]

I have a cheap set of 'MAC' brushes I got of eBay, so they will probably disintegrate when I try to wash them, but feeling totally slatternly after reading this so motivated to clean my act up.

[sarahseashell]

I use bobbi brown brush cleaner, which lasts ages and wash mine once a week.

[ThighsTheLimit]

A mixture of washing up liquid and olive oil, then rinse til clear. Makes them sooooo soft.

[Napoleon66]

I wash mine with whatever shampoo I'm currently using.

[violetbunny]

For daily cleaning I use isopropyl alcohol (you can buy it from Maplin, it's cheap as chips). I pour it into a spray bottle and add a splash of liquid leave-in conditioner (a cheapo one from Boots). I spray my brushes and wipe them clean with a tissue. They dry within a couple of minutes. Easy and no faff. My brushes are all high quality (MAC, Laura Mercier, etc) and have lasted for years so far.

Once I week I do a deep clean with baby shampoo.

[Raspberrytorte]

I'm a make up artist and I clean mine with baby shampoo for the real hair ones and fairy liquid on the synthetic ones that tend to be used on the more oily products such as concealer and cream blush.

[user1489437473]

Hello I'm new and following this with interest!