How To Naturally Clean Makeup Brushes

Does your makeup brush need a good clean? Let me show you how to naturally clean makeup brushes with this homemade eco-friendly cleaning solution. Made in seconds with simple sustainable ingredients, your brushes and skin will love it!

I’ll admit I didn’t even own a makeup brush until last year.  I used to just apply makeup with my fingers because I felt I never wore enough makeup to justify buying fancy tools.  My makeup bag literally consists of four items.  And also, who doesn’t like finger painting?!  

Then I bought a makeup brush last year. Notice, singular – I’ve not gotten carried away with myself! After that, I wondered what on earth I’d been doing all these years.  It’s so much easier applying makeup with a makeup brush.

Then I found out you actually need to clean your makeup brushes…

Do You Need to Clean Makeup Brushes?

The thing about makeup brushes is that whilst they do make applying makeup so much easier, they do need regular cleaning.  This is to help keep your skin clean and healthy.  Without cleaning your brush, you’re just brushing dirt and bacteria around your face.  Which, let’s face it, isn’t so appealing.

I wanted to know how to clean makeup brushes. As such, I’ve been trying out a few different methods to make a DIY makeup brush cleaner and have decided that this natural makeup brush cleaner solution is a) by far the simplest and b) by far the best.  When it comes to cleaning makeup brushes, no one wants to be messing about with lots of different ingredients.  Therefore, I think it’s best to keep it simple.

How to Naturally Clean Makeup Brushes

The main ingredient I use to clean my makeup brushes is Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap*.  I use this in lots and lots of different ways around my home, and always have a bottle in my bathroom cupboard.  It’s a little on the pricier side of things, but you only ever use it diluted.  Therefore it does work out at incredibly great value.  

The thing about Dr. Bronner’s is that it’s certified organic and made with only pure plant oils, so there are no nasties in it whatsoever.  It’s also incredibly gentle on your best makeup brushes.

Here are the steps you need to clean your makeup brushes:

Ingredients

You will need:

• A small pot
• 50 ml lukewarm water (approx 2 inches of water)
• 1 teaspoon of liquid castile soap*
• 50 ml of white vinegar

Cleaning Instructions

Add the liquid castile soap to the lukewarm water and stir to combine. It’s important to use lukewarm water as too hot water may melt the glue that holds the bristles of your makeup brush in place.

Next, place the bristles in the soapy solution and swirl a few times to loosen the old makeup.

Keep going until the brush looks clean, and then rinse in some clean lukewarm water.

If you want to ensure all the soap has been removed, then next dip your brush bristles in a small jar of white vinegar. White vinegar is amazing at cutting through soap, leaving your brush super clean. Once your brush is dry it won’t smell of vinegar, as the vinegar dries without an odour.  Trust me!

Whether you rinse your brush in water or vinegar, next you need to mould the brush back into shape, and then leave it to dry on a flannel.

Viola, naturally clean makeup brushes with very little effort!

One last top tip, don’t leave your brush sitting in water.  You only want your brush to be in soapy water for as long as it takes to clean your brush.  It doesn’t need to steep for any length of time, otherwise, it may damage the metal and/or wooden components of your makeup brush, shortening its lifespan.

ps: check out my guide to zero-waste and plastic-free makeup if you are looking to upgrade your makeup supplies.