Cruelty-Free Makeup Brush Cleaning

Hi, everyone.  I am thrilled to be writing this post in response to my very first reader request, yay!

So, basically, I’d say you can do this super affordably with literally one product (other than your brushes, of course) or you can splurge on a few additional implements.

Product #1= brush cleaner/shampoo.  There are a lot of brands that sell shampoos specifically for makeup brushes, some inexpensively, some higher-end.  I’ve also heard of people mixing their own cleaner (tutorials with recipes abound on YouTube) and of using regular for-hair shampoo.  Personally, my fave cleaning product is my trusty Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap.  Gentle, yet cleansing on my hands; gentle, yet cleansing on my brushes.  Once you’ve got your shampoo of choice, you can use the hand you’re not holding the brush with to lather up the brush.  You could also mix a bit of your shampoo with some water in a bowl and dip into your very own brush-bath.

Product #2= gloves.  I actually use a brush cleaning glove I purchased from Sigma Beauty, aka my Sigma Beauty Spa Brush Cleaning Glove .  I like using it because it keeps my hands from getting dried out from all the cleaning (brush-pan hands?).  It also has different sized ridges to help get the brushes clean.  That said, it occurs to me that you could use dishwashing gloves, many of which do have little ridges and grooves on them.  Just be sure you reserve those gloves for brushes-only cleaning!

Product #3= drying apparatus.  Could you get by without this?  Of course.  Just keep a few things in mind.  Make sure you’ve rinsed very well, squeeze out excess water, and keep your brush pointing down at all times so water doesn’t run into/get trapped in the ferule (that metal thing between the handle and the brush itself that’s holding all the bristles together).  Water- logged ferules can lead to breakdown of the glue holding your bristles in place.

That said, I have 2 drying implements I like.  One is another item from Sigma Beauty, the Sigma Beauty Dry’n Shape, which is a brush roll that has bands into which you can insert your brushes to absorb water and help them hold their shape while they dry.  I like it particularly for times when I need to wash my brushes, let them dry overnight, and then roll up the brush-roll and pop it into a suitcase.  Yes, to the bane of my travel companions, I am a last minute packer.  The other gadget I have is a Benjabelle Brush Tree, a stand I use to hold my brushes upside down while they’re drying.

**Points to keep in mind**

• The only person my brushes touch is me.  If you are using your brushes on other people, you may need to investigate a more thorough cleansing/sterilization procedure.
• All of my brushes are synthetic (no animal hair), which may make a difference relative to the best cleanser to choose.

I hope this has been helpful; please let me know your requests via email or comment…  looking forward to my next reader requested post 🙂

*These are only my opinions, formed through my personal experience as a consumer.  I am not a medical doctor, an aesthetician, or a health/beauty professional.  There is no guarantee what effect, positive or negative, these products may have on anyone else.

**All products were purchased by me from brands that, to the best of my knowledge, are cruelty-free.