how to clean your make up brushes?

[ThatVikRinA22]

i recently bought some Estee lauder double wear foundation and with it i bought a horribly expensive foundation brush...

sales woman said if i look after it should last a lifetime.

so ive tried to clean it using a bit of shampoo and warm water...and its gone sort of "sticky"

so i tried again with a solution of washing up liquid and left it overnight

its better. but not restored to its former glory!

what can i use to clean it? that double wear is brilliant but its staying power on the brush is as good as on my face!

I don't use a make up brush any longer, but when I did I just rinsed it out with hand soap and warm water, and left it to dry in the toothbrush mug.

I used to wash make up brushes with regular shampoo but they always ended up sticky just you describe. I now use Bobby Brown Conditioning Brush Cleanser and it is miles better! For years I resisted spending a tenner on it, but I do use a lot of brushes (eye make-up, blusher, Secret Camouflage etc), so it is definitely worth it for me.

(Note to self: need to clean all the brushes pronto.)

cheers umnitsa....i had no idea you could buy something purpose made! i think i may invest.

any gentle shampoo eg baby

Shu Uemera also do a brush cleaner I've used in the past which was good.

Otherwise, a bit of shampoo.

Not that I have time to use brushes since having DD...and anyway, she has played with and hidden all of my gorgeous Bobbi Brown brushes

The best brush cleaner, especially for getting foundation, concealer and lipstick off (basically, anything thick and emollient based) is this stuff www.dauphines.co.uk/p-kryolan-brush-cleaner-100ml.htm - you can also buy this in Screenface in London (either Powis Terrace W11, or Monmouth St WC2) or Charles Fox (Tavistock St WC2). You can buy it in 3 different sized bottles depending on your use. It's great because it evaporates really quickly too so if you forget to clean your brushes and need them quickly you don't have to let them dry overnight.

The MAC one is rubbish in my opinion, especially for getting out anything more than powder based products. I find any of the shampoo/detergent type cleaners can leave residue on the brushes leaving them a bit sticky.

Whatever you do, I don't mean to be rude, but don't follow Getofmoiland's advice! Hand soap will ravage your brushes, as it would your own hair, and drying a brush up-ended like that in a mug will cause water to drip down into the ferrule (metal bit that holds the bristles) and damage the glue holding the bristles together, causing your brush to molt!

If you do shampoo brushes, do it with the bristles pointing downwards, rinse thoroughly avoiding getting water anywhere but the hairs. You don't want water in the ferrule or on the handle. When rinsed, blot with kitchen roll or tissue, shape the bristles and leave to dry horizontally, away from any heat source (which can also crack the glue inside and the handle). Use baby shampoo or similar. Nothing with silicone!

That's advice from a make up artist and someone who also spent 5 years selling make up brushes

thanks havingkittens, ill try some of the product you recommended. i want the brush to last!

I wash mine in Woolite hand wash and hot water.

baby shampoo has always worked for me

got some of the kryolan one from DD for mothersday - it is fabulous. only got a teeny bottle though so will have to look for the bigger ones

thanks havingkittens! brushes are restored!