How Often to Clean Makeup Brushes and Sponges: Weekly Schedule (Video)

Transcript

How often should you clean makeup brushes? The answer is simpler than you think.

How often should you clean makeup brushes? The answer is simpler than you think.

Cleaning Schedule

How often should you clean makeup brushes? The answer is simpler than you think.

At a glance

You’ll wash foundation and concealer brushes weekly, eye and powder brushes every one to two weeks, and rinse sponges after each use with a deep clean weekly. It only takes about fifteen minutes on a Sunday.

How often should you clean makeup brushes and sponges?

Every brush that touches your face gathers oil, dead skin and a bit of bacteria. Creamy products stay wet deep in the bristles, so they need cleaning more often. Powder brushes stay drier, so they can wait a little longer. If you only wear makeup for special events, give the tools a quick wash after each occasion. A brush left with old foundation can turn mouldy.

How to wash makeup brushes, step by step

Start by wetting only the bristles under water, pointing them down so the ferrule stays dry. Squeeze a pea-size drop of shampoo or dish soap into your palm. Swirl the brush in circles for twenty to thirty seconds, watching the lather change colour. Rinse the bristles again, keeping them down, and repeat until the water runs clear. For a beauty sponge, squeeze it, work soap through, rinse repeatedly until clear, then press out excess on a towel and it air-dry.

The busy version

Pressed short on time? Focus on the foundation brush and the sponge today; they touch the most product and skin. Do the eye and powder brushes next weekend. If you missed a week, just clean them tonight and set a new Sunday routine.

Myth: a quick-dry brush spray is as good as a wash

Spray cleaners are handy for swapping eyeshadow shades quickly, and they dry fast because they’re mostly alcohol. They only lift surface colour, they don’t pull oil or product from deep inside the bristles. Use a spray between looks, but never as a replacement for a proper wash. Microwaving a damp sponge to sterilise sounds risky, it can scorch, melt or even catch fire. Stick with soap, water and regular replacement.

Why dirty brushes and sharing matter for your skin

A brush loaded with week-old foundation pushes oil and bacteria back onto your skin, which can trigger breakouts around the chin and cheeks where you buff the most. It also makes the next layer of makeup look patchy and streaky. Eye, mascara and lip brushes can spread infections, so never share them, even with close friends or family.

When to replace makeup brushes

Good brushes can last years if you wash them regularly. Instead of watching the calendar, look for signs: bristles shedding onto your face, a head that won’t reshape, a loose ferrule, a lingering smell after rinsing, or bristles that feel rough. Cheap brushes tend to give up sooner, especially natural goat-hair ones that soak up liquid.

Dry brushes bristles-down or flat. Upright, the water runs into the glue and the brush sheds within weeks.

Who should be careful

Avoid using brushes or sponges on broken skin, active cold sores, or an infected eye. Stop any makeup that stings, itches or makes the eye red, and always patch-test new products on your inner arm first. Keep adult makeup and tools away from babies and small children.

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Read the full guide

For the full guide, with every detail and answers to common questions, visit thecareonline.com. You'll find more short videos like this one on our YouTube channel. This is general information, not medical advice, so check with your doctor about your own situation.