How Often Should You Deep Clean Makeup Brushes
Deep clean makeup brushes used around the eyes or lips every one to two weeks, and brushes used for foundation, concealer or powder every two to three weeks. Makeup sponges should be washed after every two to three uses, since their damp texture holds bacteria more easily than brush bristles. Spot cleaning with a brush cleanser between deep cleans helps keep brushes usable for longer.
Makeup brushes come into direct contact with skin, oil and product residue every time they are used, which makes them one of the easiest places for bacteria to build up without any obvious sign. Yet cleaning frequency is one of the most commonly overlooked parts of a makeup routine. Here is exactly how often to deep clean different brush types, and why the schedule differs depending on what the brush is used for.
Why Cleaning Frequency Depends on the Brush Type
Not every brush needs the same cleaning schedule. The deciding factors are what the brush touches and how much product residue it holds.
Eye and lip brushes come into contact with the most sensitive areas of the face, including the eyes and mouth, where bacteria can cause irritation or infection more easily. These should be deep cleaned every one to two weeks.
Face brushes, used for foundation, concealer, blush or powder, hold onto oil and product buildup but touch less sensitive skin. These can generally be deep cleaned every two to three weeks with regular use.
Makeup sponges are the exception. Because they are used damp, they hold moisture and bacteria far more readily than brush bristles. Sponges should be washed after every two to three uses, not weeks apart.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Brushes Often Enough
Skipping regular deep cleans allows oil, dead skin cells and bacteria to build up in the bristles. Over time this can lead to breakouts, particularly along the areas where foundation or powder brushes are used most often. Product also builds up on unwashed brushes, which affects how makeup applies, foundation can look patchy or streaky, and eyeshadow can appear muddier than the true shade, simply because old product residue is mixing with new product on application.
How to Deep Clean Makeup Brushes Properly
- Wet the bristles with lukewarm water, angling the brush downward so water does not run into the ferrule, the metal part connecting the bristles to the handle, since water here can loosen the glue over time.
- Apply a gentle cleanser, either a dedicated brush cleaner or a mild soap, and work it through the bristles using circular motions against the palm of your hand.
- Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear, repeating the cleanser step if product residue is still visible.
- Reshape the bristles gently with your fingers to restore their original shape.
- Dry flat or slightly angled downward, ideally on a towel with the bristles hanging slightly off the edge, rather than standing upright, since water pooling in the ferrule while drying upright can weaken the glue holding the bristles in place.
