Brush accessories

Brush cleanser and accessories to clean your make-up brushes

Why clean and store your brushes properly?

A mix of foundation, powder, skin oils and dead skin cells stays behind in the bristles of your brush. That is not only unhygienic, it works against you: a saturated brush picks new product up less well and lays colour down unevenly, so blending suddenly takes far more effort. Dried product also stiffens the bristles and pushes them out of shape, and that is why brushes look more worn out than they are. Storing them wrong does the same: bristles that get squashed or put away damp never come back into shape.

Which brush cleanser should you choose?

This is the largest part of our range, and the choice mainly depends on how many brushes you wash at once. A liquid brush cleanser is the fastest and works well if you do your whole collection in one go; you will find it with a spray top for quick touch ups and with a pour top in a large bottle for a full wash. A brush cleaner with a detachable dip tray is handy if you work brush by brush. A solid brush soap lasts a long time and lets you dose very precisely, which is nice with dense foundation brushes. And an instant cleaner dries within a minute, so you can use the same brush again straight away. Looking for something that works on your hands and sponges too? A combined brush and body wash is the most versatile choice.

How often should you clean your make-up brushes?

For brushes you use with liquid and cream products, like your foundation and concealer brush, once a week is the rule of thumb. Brushes for powder, blush or eyeshadow can go a little longer, but count on a thorough wash every week or two there as well. Sponges need more attention than brushes: those are best washed after every use.

How do you clean make-up brushes?

Wet the bristles under lukewarm water and keep the brush pointing down. Then work some brush cleanser or brush soap into the bristles, for example in your palm or on a cleansing mat, and move in circles until the lather no longer picks up colour. Rinse well with the bristles still pointing down, squeeze the water out gently and reshape the bristles back into their original form.

What does a cleansing mat do?

A cleansing mat is not a cleanser but a tool: the ridges and nubs rub the product out of the bristles without you having to scrub hard, and that is exactly what a dense brush needs. You lay the mat in your sink or hold it in your hand, add some cleanser and move the brush across the different textures. Many people combine a mat with a liquid cleanser; there are also sets where the two already come together.

Cleaning brushes without water

If you want to switch quickly between two colours, a spray or dry cleaner is handy. You spray or dab the bristles, wipe them on a cloth and can use the brush again within a minute. Note: this kind of quick clean is meant for powder products and does not replace the weekly wash.

How do you dry your brushes?

Never leave brushes standing upright with the bristles pointing up. The water then sinks into the metal ferrule, attacks the glue holding the bristles in place and over time bristles start falling out. Lay them flat on a drying towel with the bristles over the edge of your sink, or hang them upside down. A drying towel absorbs the moisture and keeps the bristles in shape at the same time, which saves you a brush that dries crooked.

Brush holders, organizers and brush belts for storing your brushes

A brush holder is the simplest way to store your brushes: you stand them upright with the bristles pointing up, so no moisture runs into the metal part and the shape stays intact. Do you have a large collection? Then take a roomy holder where you sort by type, face on one side and eyes on the other. A transparent organizer shows you at a glance what you have and has room for pencils and sponges too. And if you take your brushes to a shoot or a wedding, a brush belt rolls them into separate slots so they do not squash each other and you have everything within reach while you work standing up.

Brush shields and protectors keep the shape intact

A brush shield is a silicone sleeve you slide over the bristles, and protectors do the same with a fine mesh. You use them after cleaning, while the brush still has to dry, and during transport. They hold the bristles together in their original shape, so a fluffy blender stays fluffy and a precise liner stays precise. Small tool, big difference in the long run.

What you are better off not doing

Do not use boiling water or harsh soap, because those dry synthetic bristles out. Do not submerge the brush up to the handle either, because moisture then gets into the ferrule. And only store your brushes once they are completely dry: a damp brush in a closed case is an ideal spot for bacteria.

Shop brush cleanser and accessories at Boozyshop

Ready to bring your brushes back to life and give them a fixed place? Discover the brush cleansers, brush soaps, cleansing mats, holders, brush belts and brush shields at Boozyshop, or head back to all make-up brushes. Order before 8 PM, shipped today. With every order you pick your own free gift at checkout. Not sure what suits your brushes? Our beauty experts are happy to help via chat or email.