If you’re making the effort to clean your makeup brushes, you’re already doing something great for your skin and your tools. But many people don’t realise that how you clean your brushes is just as important as how often you clean them.
Small mistakes during the cleaning process can damage your brushes, reduce their lifespan, or even leave bacteria behind on the bristles. The good news? Most of these mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look out for.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common makeup brush cleaning mistakes and how you can avoid them.
COMMON MAKEUP BRUSH CLEANING MISTAKES
Mistake One: Using water that is too hot
Hot water might seem like a good idea when you’re trying to remove stubborn makeup, but it can actually damage your brushes. Excess heat can weaken the glue that holds the bristles inside the ferrule (the metal part that connects the bristles to the handle).
Instead, always use lukewarm water when rinsing your brushes. This is warm enough to help break down makeup while still being gentle on the brush structure.
Mistake Two: Letting water run into the handle
One of the biggest mistakes people make is holding their brush upright under running water. When you do this, water can travel down into the handle where the glue holds everything together.
Over time this can cause the brush to loosen, shed, or even fall apart completely.
To avoid this, always hold your brushes with the bristles pointing downward when rinsing them.
Mistake Three: Not cleaning brushes often enough
Many people wait until their brushes look dirty before cleaning them, but by that point bacteria has already had time to build up.
Liquid products like foundation and concealer are particularly problematic because they create the perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
Ideally, brushes used for liquid products should be cleaned after every use, while brushes used for powders should be cleaned at least once or twice per week.
Mistake Four: Not rinsing the soap out properly
After swirling your brush into soap or cleanser, it’s important to rinse thoroughly. If soap residue remains in the bristles it can cause them to become stiff, affect how makeup applies, and potentially irritate your skin.
Always rinse until the water runs completely clear.
Mistake Five: Drying brushes upright
It might seem logical to stand brushes upright in a holder to dry, but this can actually cause water to drip down into the ferrule and handle.
Instead, gently squeeze out excess water and lay your brushes flat on a clean towel to dry. This keeps water away from the glue and helps maintain the shape of the brush.
Mistake Six: Being too rough with the bristles
Scrubbing brushes too aggressively or squeezing them too hard can damage the bristles and cause them to fray or shed.
When cleaning, be gentle. Swirl the brush softly into your cleanser and avoid pulling or twisting the bristles.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR BRUSHES IN GOOD CONDITION
Taking proper care of your makeup brushes doesn’t just keep them clean, it also helps them last much longer.
Regular cleaning removes product build-up, oil, and bacteria, while gentle handling helps maintain the shape and softness of the bristles.
If you notice your brushes beginning to shed excessively, lose their shape, or feel rough against the skin, it might be time to replace them.
Well-maintained brushes will always give you better makeup application, making it easier to achieve that smooth, flawless finish.
So if you want to find out how you should be cleaning your brushes, go check out how to clean makeup brushes next.
So tell me, have you been making any of these makeup brush cleaning mistakes?
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