How to clean your makeup brushes

There's a hidden beauty saboteur haunting your makeup kit: dirty makeup brushes. Not only are unclean makeup brushes dangerous (bacteria, ew), but they can seriously ruin a beauty look with just one swipe.

What to use: There are so many different types of brush cleaners out there that it can be a bit daunting to choose one. The good news is there's no wrong choice—except not cleaning your brushes at all! Check out some of the options below.

Liquid/gel cleaner: The most common type of cleaner, easy to use.

Bars: Good for deep cleaning.

Mats: Pairs with cleanser to help work product into the brush.

Spray: Although a sink and water are recommended for best practices, in a pinch a spray can get the job done.

How to clean: Now that you're familiar with the different types of cleaners, how do you actually get your brushes looking like new? There are only a few steps!

Step 1: Wet the bristles, making sure to keep the water away from the base and handle, as water can loosen the glue that binds the bristles to the handle and make your brushes wear down faster. You can do this by either dipping your brush in a cup of water or running gently under the faucet.

Step 2: Apply cleanser to your brush. Depending on the product you're using, you can apply the cleanser either to a clean towel or the bristles themselves. If you're using a liquid, apply the product to a clean towel first and swirl brush head around on the towel to remove makeup. If you're using a spray, apply the product to the brush bristles directly. If you're using a balm or solid, gently swirl the brush head in a circular motion in the balm.

Step 3: To ensure your brush really gets squeaky clean, make sure you swirl your brush head around in a circular motion on either a clean towel, your hand, or a brush mat. Gently work the the product into the brush. If you're using a solid cleaner, after dipping the brush into the solid, dip the tip of the bristles in a cup of water. Then, swipe the brush in a circular motion on a clean towel to remove makeup.

Step 4: Next, rinse the cleaner out with water. Again, be sure to keep the water on the bristles and not the handle or base. You can either dip your brush into a cup of water or run it under the faucet gently and slowly. Repeat above steps until makeup brush runs clean through the water.

Step 5: Squeeze the excess water out of the bristles and use a clean cloth to reshape your bristles. Lay your brushes flat on a towel to dry. Do not immediately put them back into your beauty bag or store them brush head up!

How often: Brush cleansing is really important for combating built up bacteria and makeup that accumulates in our brushes over time. I suggest washing your brushes—especially your foundation and concealer brushes—once a week.

And we agree! If you're using your foundation brush or blender every day, you really don't want all that excess product and dead skin getting smothered all over your face, day after day. And if you wear contacts or have sensitive eyes, cleaning your eye makeup brushes often is also quite essential. I recommend washing your eye makeup brushes weekly as well.

What are some of your favorite makeup brush cleaners? Let us know!