Cleaning Make-Up Brushes

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My own brushes are a random crew. M&S, Barbara Daly, Body Shop, No7. I wash in a very mild shampoo (like Aveda Shampure) and stand in a glass, brush side up, to dry.

I've just invested in some Real Teqhnique brushes for DD (Thank You BOGOHP and Boots points) so didn't cost me loads'n'loads but they were an investment.

How to clean them? They seem different to mine, smoother. I don't think they'll tolerate my sloppy cleaning methods

i have a bare minerals spray that i use after every use and wipe the remainder on a towel - i also have a clinique brush cleaner that i use about once a month to get rid of any make up ive missed

You don't need expensive brush cleaners.

Baby shampoo in a sink full of water. Clean the bristles thoroughly without submerging brushes.

Leave to dry on a towel at downward angle (roll one end of the towel as a ledge). If you let them dry upright the water will settle in the ferrule and can cause bristles to fall out.

I wash real techniques brushes in tepid water using baby shampoo, blot on kitchen roll and leave to dry. They seem ok so far.

13 year old DD has some specific brush cleaning solution from Mac which she says is fab, but it's £11!

Baby shampoo here, too. Lay on a flannel in the airing cupboard to dry. Do it once every 10 days or so.

Washing them ruins them ime

Just made sure you don't dry them on a radiator - I ruined my RT stippling brush after doing that only once.

I do them once a week with fairy liquid
Then i let them dry and spray with antibac makeup brush spray.

Ooh I hadn't thought about the water settling in the base of the bristles (good job I don't wash mine very often , I'm not a real make-up wearer)

Years ago, I read in a magazine that a Make-Up Artist washed theirs in surgical spirit to sterilise (between clients) . I tried this, it made the sponge applicators go all flabby and detatch from the handle, the brushes went crinkly .

DD will be more adventurous with her make-up (as soon as her and her mate get together, out comes the make-up) I keep a good stock of good make-up remover for her

I think hers will need washed .

I got one of these Brusheggs off eBay for about £3. Makes getting the two month old congealed make-up out of the bristles a doddle. Would highly recommend. I don't use anything fancy to clean them, just whatever supermarket shampoo with mythic or argan oil in it I can find on special offer. Anything too cleansing makes the brittles go all dry and wiry.

Do you know, I had a blusher brush and didnt wash it for over 5 years, it just never occurred to me! I have a lot to learn......

I had some eye makeup remover that I didn't really like much, the watery sort, not creamy stuff. The other day, I was about to throw it out when I suddenly thought 'I wonder if...'

So, poured some onto a muslin cloth and wiped dirty makeup brush round on the cloth. Repeat until brush is clean. It worked a treat and dried far quicker than my usual shampoo and water technique.

Baby shampoo and warm water here too! Dry horizontally balanced on the candle on the windowsill with the window on the latch. Mine are Liz Earle brushes and they come up fine.