DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner and Drying Techniques

Until recently, I cleaned my makeup brushes using a (very) old bottle of the pink makeup brush cleaner solution sold in MAC stores. It worked well enough, but even after cleaning them my brushes never looked quite as pristine as they did the day I bought them. That is until I decided to experiment with DIY makeup brush cleaner recipes…

This DIY makeup brush cleaner recipe requires only two ingredients (that you definitely already have in your kitchen) and cleans my brushes FAR better than any store-bought cleaner ever has. A mix of 1 part olive oil and 2 parts dish soap is all it takes!

First run your brush (bristles down!) under some water to get it a little damp. Then swirl your brush in the soap and olive oil mixture and rub the brush gently back and forth across the palm of your hand to loosen any lingering makeup. Rinse again under water and repeat as necessary until the water runs clear over the brush.

Also did you know that brushes need to be dried with the bristles facing down? If you dry them propped with the bristles up (or even flat) you risk water mixing with and loosening the glue that holds the bristles together!

The first way I sometimes dry my brushes with bristles facing down is by using a cutting board and two rubber bands. I place the rubber bands about an inch away from one another in the middle of the cutting board and weave the brushes between the rubber bands and the board in a sort of lattice design to keep them steady.

Another option if you don’t have rubber bands on hand would be to roll up a dish towel. Lay a paper towel over one edge, then place the brushes bristles down leaning against the towel.

Lastly, the most creative option I have tried is to use a hanger and chip clips to hang dry each brush!

How do you clean your brushes? Any other tips? Let me know!