How to use household products to clean your makeup brushes

The tools we use to apply our makeup are just as important as the products we use on our face, but they often get neglected when it comes to hygiene. Cleaning makeup brushes regularly is important, as it stops the spread of bacteria, which can lead to blemishes and breakouts.

Ideally, they should be washed once a month, and while there are products available specifically for this purpose, they can be cleaned just as effectively using products most people have in their homes. Time for some DIY!

1. Clarifying or baby shampoo

Add a dollop of baby or clarifying shampoo to a bowl of lukewarm water, then swirl each dirty brush around until you have worked up a lather, using your fingers if necessary. Then rinse under a cold tap until all the soap has gone.

2. Unscented soap

Basic, unscented soap is really effective at cleaning makeup tools. Wet your brush, swirl it around on the bar of soap, then rinse it under the tap until the water runs clear.

3. Dishwashing liquid

Dishwashing liquid is quite harsh, which makes it great at stripping product from makeup brushes. It can be used instead of clarifying or baby shampoo, and yields the same great, squeaky-clean results.

4. Olive oil

Dunk your brush in olive oil and massage until the caked-on gunk has become soft, then rub the brush on a clean sponge to remove all the makeup. To get rid of any excess oil, wash with detergent or shampoo. Voilà!

PHOTO: iStock/lokisurina